Last year, I made a list of 12 personal goals and 12 business goals I wanted to work towards in 2012. And while I actually did a decent job of following through with those goals (see below), I’ve decided that 2013 is going to be a year of ULTRA SIMPLICITY for me and for our family.
However, before I push ahead to everything I want to accomplish in 2013, I want to first take a few minutes to look back on how I did with my 2012 goals. I’m looking back through my 12 personal goals today; then tomorrow, I’ll look at my 12 business goals.
The results of my 2012 personal goals:
Personal Goal #1. Figure out my new schedule with a baby.
Yes… kind of.
The first few months were rough. REALLY rough. And when things start to spiral out of control like they were in those early months, my instincts told me to make a plan, to get organized, to follow the rules. Unfortunately there are no pretty plans, neat organization, or hard-and-fast rule for new moms and fussy babies… so I floundered.
It took me SEVERAL months before I felt confident in my abilities as a mom; and although there are still good days and bad days, we definitely have more of a routine to our days and weeks. I certainly won’t get “Mother of the Year” award… but we did survive the first year, and there has to be some type of award for that monumental accomplishment!
Personal Goal #2. Make time for hobbies.
Yes.
My main hobby that I wanted to focus on was keeping up with our digital photo albums. I updated the pictures on a monthly basis and just ordered our 2012 photo album last week!!
One hobby is enough for me right now 🙂
Personal Goal #3. Once-a-month date night with Dave.
Well, this depends on what your definition of a “date-night” is.
I think we technically accomplished this goal; however, it definitely wasn’t as glamorous as some of you might be envisioning. We went for lots of walks and car rides together (in attempts to get Nora to sleep), we periodically dropped Nora off at one of our parents’ houses so we could work on our kitchen renovation, and we watched a fair share of movies at home!
Quality time together I guess!
Personal Goal #4. Do 20 minutes of exercise 2 days a week.
Yes!
I almost said “no” for this goal… but then I remembered that Nora and I go for walks almost every day. And although I’m definitely not breaking a sweat, I think I can count that as exercise — especially since some of our walks are well over an hour long.
Personal Goal #5. Drink one extra bottle of water every day.
Yes!
I’m constantly drinking water and almost always have my reusable water bottle with me whereever I go.
Personal Goal #6. Give our kitchen a mini-makeover.
Um… yeah, I think we covered this one!
I had to laugh when I read what I wrote under this goal back in January of 2012…
No, we’re not going to do a full-fledged makeover just yet… but I would like to do a few updates to our kitchen this year {probably in the spring/summer}. I want to repaint the cabinets, repaint the walls, and possibly put in some open shelving. I also want to move the refrigerator and create a built-in pantry area where the current refrigerator is now.
Obviously, we DID go for the full-fledged kitchen makeover… and I’m so happy with how it turned out. It was definitely a long process, but completely worth it in the end!
Personal Goal #7. Create a “landscape plan” for our yard.
Nope.
We had ideas, lots and lots of ideas. However, we never actually put anything on paper. I blame it on our kitchen 🙂
Personal Goal #8. Fully fund both our IRAs.
Yes.
We actually have it set up so our bank automatically sends a payment to our IRA accounts every month. Then, at the end of the year, it’s fully funded — I like it when I don’t need to think about things like this!
Personal Goal #9. Learn one new skill.
Yes.
Personal Goal #10. Don’t over-do it.
Yes and No.
I work best when I have lurking deadlines and way too many things on my plate. Yet at the same time, I crave simplicity and organization (yes, I do know how crazy this sounds). So while there were definitely times when I felt like I was on the verge of a meltdown, there were also many other times when I said ‘no’ to a new opportunity or a new responsibility in order to save my sanity.
Personal Goal #11. Make lots of time for family.
Yes.
Although I could always be doing more, I think I’ve managed to devote a lot of time to Nora, to Dave, and to spending time as a family. We’ve also spent more time with our extended family (babies tend to do that I guess).
Personal Goal #12. Relax and go with the flow!
Let’s just say this one is a work in progress.
I still have a ways to go, but even if it doesn’t seem like I’m relaxed or completely “go with the flow”, I can tell that I’m improving in this area.
Progress, not perfection… right?
10 (and a half) for 12 — not bad!
I’m honestly a bit surprised at how many of my goals I DID accomplish in 2012 — considering how crazy our year was at times. However, I’m also super excited for another New Year, and my ultra simplistic approach to 2013!
Barbara F. says
You’ve conquered quite a bit, but I don’t think a woman can learn all there is to learn about motherhood just the first year, motherhood is a life long lesson, each child you may have is different, etc.
Kathy says
You have done well to get through the first year with a new baby…..it is a huge learning curve and one that you are on duty 24/7. It is way harder than you imagine but also way more rewarding and fulfilling than you would imagine. Also someone like yourself who is very routine and goal driven and if you put in a process to achieve something babies just don’t work to those goals. I remember one of the Australian Olympic Swimmers had her first baby and she said it was such a huge shock to her system because as an athlete you decide what you want, make a plan, stick to the plan and you get a result. She said with her first baby there’s not a plan, a rule book and even if there were your baby changes the rules daily. I did have a laugh to myself because before kids….no amount of people telling you things are going to change, you have to experience it for yourself. On the good side of things now your family is 3 and you are in a family routine with a little one, adding another one is actually much easier. Going from 2 people who as a couple but still single people in terms of their time etc. is a huge change but going from 2 to 3 is much easier and whilst the first baby you are learning everything yourself when you have baby 2 you are way more equipt for the 1st year because you have just done it. I enjoyed the 2nd baby more because I knew what to expect and knew what I was doing. This is not saying I loved my 2nd baby more, far from it….just that I was more relaxed because I knew what to expect. Some people are so in shock at the change from 2 people to 3 people but the 3-4 is not as huge impact as 2-3. Great work on your goals too. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia