Happy New Year, everyone! I'm excited to usher in a new year, but I have to say that 2016 was a great year for me, all in all. Sure there were some challenges, like my hip surgery/recovery, but I ended the year engaged to a wonderful man that I'm excited to marry so I really can't complain about the year.
I love this time of year as there's something so pleasing about a fresh calendar full of possibilities. In the past I've created a somewhat lengthy list of detailed goals. However, this year I have decided to change my approach to goals and cut back a bit. I know that the first 5 months of year will be busy with wedding planning and such so I am giving myself a bit of a break. So here is the short list of goals I'm looking to achieve this year, none of which will really be "stretch" goals. Well, except the wedding plan one, possibly.
2017 Goals:
1. Plan a wedding and try not to lose ourselves in the process. I know planning a wedding can be time-consuming and expensive. There's bound to be periods of stress and frustration along the way but I want to try to keep a sense of perspective through the process. The most important thing is that we'll be married on May 19th. Yes, I want a memorable, beautiful day, but I am going to try to not get too caught up/stressed out by all the details.
2. Read 52 books, including 6 physical books I already own. A goal list isn't complete without a reading goal! I'm taking a different approach to my reading goal this year, though, and want to give myself the freedom to read whatever I want to read (i.e. no reading challenges). I included reading physical books I already own, but dropped it down to 6 books this year instead of 12 like I've done the last 2 years. I think it will be nice to have less structure to my reading.
3. One shouldless day/month. I am keeping the goal of having a shoudless day each month as this is so good for my mental health!
Monthly Goals: The Happiness Project
Additionally, I am going to spend the year reading the Happiness Project which has a focus for each month of the year that is meant to bring you more happiness. I have read this book before, but I didn't actually put the book into practice. This time I am going to read about the project for each month in the final week leading into that month (so last week I read about the January project). Then each month, I'll share the focus for the month and tell you what I did to bring the focus for the month to fruition.
I'm excited that one of my goals will be a monthly focus as I feel like I'll get more out of temporary goals/areas of focus than I do out of broad goals that I work on throughout the year.
Do you have any goals for 2017?
I think that it's a great idea to be more meaningful with your goals this year, especially since you will be very busy planning the wedding and you don't want to minimize that experience at all! It should be a great thing to look back on and remember, not a stressful experience that you can't recall because so much (too much) was going on!
ReplyDeleteI am still working on my goal list for this year, but it will be similar to last year's list to a certain degree. There will be a couple of running/fitness goals, definitely some reading goals and a few travel/life goals. I already signed up for a 100 mile race in June but need to be sure that I train smart and don't over/under do it!
These all sound like terrific goals -- especially not losing yourself in the wedding planning process! You want it to be fun as well as productive!
ReplyDeleteI still haven't finished my goal list either. I'll cut back on my reading goal because several of the books I want to tackle this year are going to be VERY big. LOADS of tiny-type pages! And some more in-depth/historical which means I can't gloss through them. I may go for 52 which seems do-able, even with the big ones. The others -- watch this space!
I have several goals in mind, and one is to whittle off the 6 pounds I gained last year, and maybe make it 8 just to have a cushion.
ReplyDeleteI don't set a reading goal by books but try to spend time each day doing spiritual reading that can help me become a better version of myself. Then I read other books when I have the time, but don't complete very many in a year! It amazes me that you can read that many books in a year! WOW!
I think it is so important that you are setting a goal to enjoy the wedding preparations as it leads to a much happier event! Not everything will turn out perfectly but you will be the only one to notice! Enjoy the journey!
Enjoying the process of wedding planning. It all works out -- and you've got it right. No matter what happens - - at the end of the day, you are Mrs Segner. That's what it's all about!!
ReplyDeleteI do have some pretty big goals for 2017. Some running goals, a big career goal, a few travel goals, spiritual goal, cooking goal. I will be sharing that soon on my blog! 😊Happy New Year!!!
Wedding planning is quite a chore! I hope it all comes together really smooth. Love the idea of the Happiness Project too, i'll have to look into that book.
ReplyDeleteMy 2017 goals list is not coming together. Don't know that I'm really going to set anything outside of basic survival. It may become the year of "this is really happening" acceptance kind of thing. ha!
If you can blog about the happiness project each month I'd appreciate it! I read it once before but I haven't read it lately, and sometimes find parts to be too dry. I did buy 2 books to help challenge my current mindset and open myself up to new experiences, we shall see how they go.
ReplyDeleteIt's a plus that the happiness project is divided up monthly - that's so much easier to accomplish and absorb than a yearly, lump goal.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy your wedding planning! I didn't hate mine, but then, I had a pretty small, low-key wedding. It was still more hassle than I'd have liked. I guess the hardest part is balancing my distaste for planning a party all about me with the expectations of our families and friends who desired to celebrate with us.
I always love the yearly goals you set because they always seem so achievable yet challenging. I think you'll have another successful year - and I'm excited to learn more about your happiness project.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading about your Happiness Project throughout the year!
ReplyDeleteOne goal of mine is to blog more. :) Seriously, I fell off the blog wagon, and it's time to hop back on. :)
ReplyDeleteI think that you will enjoy the wedding planning and you won't lose yourself. You do an excellent job of keeping centered, look at last year when you went through the recovery process. I like how you're handling goals for this year! I'm taking my next CRM (certified risk manager) class. This is 2 out of 5 for the designator. Fortunately this year the class is earlier, so it will be out of the way and not hanging over my head!
ReplyDeleteI have actually never ever read The Happiness Project. I didn't realize it was broken down into monthly goals like that. Might be something I need to check out. I really enjoy setting monthly goals. Like doing Whole30, or trying to hit 12,000 steps a day or running a mile a day. I kind of have the "I can do anything for 30 days" perspective on it. ha!
ReplyDeleteThese are some great goals. I am particularly interested what you're going to accomplish with your monthly goals.
ReplyDeleteGreat goals! I'm excited to hear about what you guys end up doing for wedding plans :-)
ReplyDelete