Monday, January 7, 2013

2013 Goals

Happy Monday!  This will be my first full week of work in a couple of weeks!  I am actually ready to return to a normal schedule, though.  Except this week won't be completely 'normal' as I will be heading back to Charlotte for a couple of days for some meetings.  But I actually don't mind having to travel this week as I feel refreshed after having a month off from traveling!

I'm a little bit late to the goal revealing party, but Mondays seem like the right day of the week to profess your goals.  I call them goals as they are things I work towards with a end in mind, which is different than resolutions (in my opinion) as when I think of resolutions, I think of permanent behavior changes (giving up soda or eating healthy, etc.).  While there is nothing wrong with resolutions, there really aren't any that I feel the need to set this year.  So goals will once again be my focus.  Before sharing my goals for 2013, I thought I'd review my goals for 2012!

1.  Pass Level II of the CFA - DONE!  Phew.  That was my huge focus for 2012 and I was ridiculously relieved when I achieved this goal.

2.  Run a sub 4:10 marathon - I actually misremembered this goal - I thought I had set a goal to run a sub-4 marathon, but then I looked back and saw I made the goal for 4:10, and since I ran a 4:03:34, I totally achieved this goal!

3.  Save, save, save - I am going to say that I did not really achieve this goal.  Instead I had some unexpected things come up, like the expense of my sinus surgery.  I have more in savings than I did when I started the year and I increased my 401(k) contribution to 11%, but I did not set aside as much as I thought I would in my savings account.  But I definitely was way more mindful of how I spent money, and spent less, so I am still happy with the strides I made financially.

4.  Abstain from book buying - SUCCESS.  Ok, I kind of cheated by buying some books at a United Way book sale, but I donated more books than I bought and spent a total of like $6 I think?  So I still think I technically achieved this goal.  But honestly?  It wasn't that hard.  At all.  Sure I had to exercise some self control and there were books I was not able to read this year since they are not readily available at the library, but I still do not feel like I was 'deprived' by not being able to buy books.  I do look forward to buying my first book in 2013, though!

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And now for my 2013 goals!!

1.  Pass Level III of the CFA, and try not to 'lose myself' in the process - I think anyone who has read this blog can sense how much my mood and sense of happiness is impacted during CFA study season.  The last 2 years I have felt incredibly stressed, isolated, and well, almost depressed.  It's just such an overwhelming experience to prepare for this exam and I have sort of 'lost myself' in the process the last 2 years.  I don't want that to happen again this year.  I don't really have a game plan in mind for this yet, it's something I'll need to figure out as I go along, but I think having my boyfriend there preparing for the test along side of me will help.  He has already asked what he can do to help reduce my stress level, so it feels good to have his support (and the support of my friends and family who have been there for me the last 2 years).

2.  Pay off my undergrad student loans.  I did not set this as a specific intention last year, but I sort of thought I would pay down my loans more than I did.  Well this year, I am putting it out there as a goal.  I really want to be free of my undergrad debt.  I have been out of school for almost 10 years, it's time to pay off those dang loans so I can focus on paying off my grad school loans.

3.  Run a sub-4 hour marathon.  I came somewhat close to achieving this goal last year, and I know I can do it if I set my mind to it and have a healthy training season.  It also helps that I plan to run a flat marathon (Chicago in October).

4.  Read 52 books in 2013.  I just added this last goal at the last minute!  I started using the reading goal tracker on goodreads.com last year, so I might as well profess that goal on here this year.  Last year my goal was to read 50 books, and I read 57.  This year I am targeting 52, so 1 per week.  I think it's feasible.

So there you have it - 4 specific goals that I will set out to achieve this year!  I achieved 75% of my goals last year, this year I am hoping to achieve 100%!

Did you set any goals or resolutions for yourself?


23 comments:

Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said...

Looks like all great goals :) You will definitely do a sub 4 hour marathon this year! I am definitely more of a goals rather than resolutions person, I feel like resolutions are too vague for me and hard to keep up with for a year!

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

I cannot wait to see how the Chicago marathon turns out for you. Everyone that has ran that race just raves about it!

This year I set some vague goals, nothing super specific (except the book goal and 13 races goal) but I am really excited about them!

Stephany said...

Great goals! They all seem perfectly achievable. I'm really glad you have your boyfriend to help you through this last round of CFA studying. I know how lonesome it must feel and to have someone close to you going through it with you will hopefully help!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you have your guy to help make the CFA process less isolating, and that you're trying to achieve something that's so big and amazing in a way that's healthier for you! You can so do this & we're all cheering for you!

Marlys said...

I truly know that once you set your mind to something, you achieve it! I know you will do well on the level III test and will be so happy for you to complete this saga! A long one it has been! I am also very happy you have someone to share the experience with!

Nora said...

The line about your boyfriend asking how he can help reduce your stress levels? Sweetest! The more I hear about him the more I like him :)

You already know my goals since I posted them on my blog today, too!

Melissa said...

You did amazing in 2012, and your 2013 goals are really thoughtful & definitely achievable if you put your mind to it. I think that having your boyfriend studying CFA(I didn't mis-remember that did I?)may also help you in the isolation department, because you guys have that common ground to talk about. I know how stressful studying is and it really IS easy to lose yourself in the process. You know, I'd like to try to be better at my studying this semester as well. I just did so poorly in the Fall in terms of studying for finals VS how well I did... You've inspired me!

This comment is enough rambling for now. Best of luck in 2013 Lisa <3

Raquelita said...

You did an amazing job with your goals in 2012 and I'm sure you will in 2013 too! My secret plan is to start making double payments on my student loans when Mark gets a job. I really hope that happens soon.

abbi said...

Great goals. I think I'm going to try for the sub-4 this year too. Sounds like you have a great goal for the next CFA exam!

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

When you're studying for something big, I think it helps immensely to have the support of someone else who also is studying for the thing or has studied for it in the past. I don't know, but people who run marathons know the ins and outs of it and can provide very specific support that even the best intentioned non-marathon runner cannot. It's good to have support, period, but I'm hoping your boyfriend's support will be the key to keeping you in a better place this year!

Marisa A. said...

You are going to crush that marathon and the CFA exam! I can't wait to hear what your sub 4 hour time is :)

Leigh said...

I think those are achievable goals for you! You are so close to a 4 hour marathon...I know you can do it :)

I didn't set any goals this year....but I'd really like to run a marathon!

Carolina John said...

Those are great! You're going to rock the cfa and chicago. Sub-4 is totally achievable.

Anonymous said...

My goal is to read 52 books this year, too! I still have a long way to go on my student loans, though. Good luck with your CFA III test!

Amber said...

You did awesome on your goals last year and I think those are all really achievable goals!

I am doing something totally different this year and setting monthly goals, which I will write about (and review the previous months) on my blog at the beginning of each month (like Kelly does!) I've never tried monthly goals before so we'll see how that goes!

Becky said...

I think these are all awesome goals and attainable! I set a goal to read 40 books last year and by the end of the year I think I'd read 50, so 50 is my goal this year. If I meet it, great, if I surpass it, even better!

Cherry Blossoms said...

these are amazing goals! I know you will surpass all of them! Love your determined mind site.

Elizabeth said...

GREAT goals and really they all kind of inter-relate. The running and reading are stress reducing for the test, passing the test and work in general helps with finances in the long run, and paying off your undergrad debt will feel GREAT. I remember when I paid mine off---sigh I can't wait to pay off my grad loans now but that will be quite a while :) Let us know how we all can support you also this year! I'm pretty sure all of us readers are 100% behind you! :)

Abby said...

Awesome set of goals, Lisa! You amaze me, because you set these HUGE goals (goals that many people set as their "life goasl") every year -- and end up achieving them!

What a feeling to get student loans paid off. They are such a dark cloud than hangs above. I hate my student loans because I have 3 separate accounts I have to pay off, since the lender changed several times throughout my 4 years in school! So annoying! They won't let me consolidate either!

Just think, by the time you're getting into the rhythm of training for Chicago...you'll be testing for your CFA. Actually, I don't know if that statement excites you or freaks you out. You are going to pass this! I know it!

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

I set a few goals for the year ... or just things I am looking forward to doing.

Jeanie said...

No real goals set that day, but in my head my goal is to refinance to consolidate my house and home equity debt before I retire; pursue free lance opportunities/research -- again, before retirement; ramp up my creative self, sooner rather than later. And, pay attention to health. That's more than enough for me!

Mandy said...

All fantastic goals! I am so excited for you to rock this level III and then be done with such an intense study schedule. I continue to be in amazement of how you study, read as much as you do, and still train for a marathon!

Kyria @ Travel Spot said...

Those goals all seem doable. I think 100% is going to be it this year! I always set some goals every year. I agree with you, resolution to me seems more negative for some reason. Goal seems more positive. I did pretty well on my goals last year -- 12 half marathons, BQ, no buying books, and a few more... I usually accomplish about 75 % of my goals too and I consider that a win!