I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. It seems silly to only look at ways to improve your life once a year. Plus, these resolutions tend to be too general to effectively act on them. I.E., 'work out more' can be anything, but 'work out twice a week' is specific enough to take action. And then, it becomes a goal.
I do believe in goals. I have lots of them, and I revisit them throughout the year to make sure I'm on task, or to readjust what I need to. I also look back on the year to see how well I did meeting my goals, or at least taking steps toward meeting them.
I'm making a new list of goals for the year, so I thought I'd share some of them with you.
Read 100 books.
I read 67 books last year, which is considerably less than the last two years. Granted, this year was far busier, but I'm convinced I can manage my time better and read more books. There are so many great ones out there!! And I'm going to start with the enormous stack next to my bed. :)
Comment and visit other blogs at least once a week.
I felt a bit like a hermit this year, sequestered away in my corner of the world. I managed to keep my blog posts going, but I didn't get the chance to reply to comments very well. Some months were busier than others, and I did SO many revisions this year it's insane. Still, I can take one day out of the week to comment on my own blog, and other great ones around the blogosphere. I miss you guys. :)
Finish my new WIPs.
On top of all the revisions I did this year, I also finished a first draft of two new WIPs. I'd like to revise and polish them up this year, then get started on the next book in the queue.
Keep up with my karate training.
I joined a dojo last year, and have been loving every part of my training. I have my yellow belt, which is about a third of the way to black belt. I'd like to get halfway there by the end of the year.
That's pretty much it for me. What are your goals for the year?
I do believe in goals. I have lots of them, and I revisit them throughout the year to make sure I'm on task, or to readjust what I need to. I also look back on the year to see how well I did meeting my goals, or at least taking steps toward meeting them.
I'm making a new list of goals for the year, so I thought I'd share some of them with you.
Read 100 books.
I read 67 books last year, which is considerably less than the last two years. Granted, this year was far busier, but I'm convinced I can manage my time better and read more books. There are so many great ones out there!! And I'm going to start with the enormous stack next to my bed. :)
Comment and visit other blogs at least once a week.
I felt a bit like a hermit this year, sequestered away in my corner of the world. I managed to keep my blog posts going, but I didn't get the chance to reply to comments very well. Some months were busier than others, and I did SO many revisions this year it's insane. Still, I can take one day out of the week to comment on my own blog, and other great ones around the blogosphere. I miss you guys. :)
Finish my new WIPs.
On top of all the revisions I did this year, I also finished a first draft of two new WIPs. I'd like to revise and polish them up this year, then get started on the next book in the queue.
Keep up with my karate training.
I joined a dojo last year, and have been loving every part of my training. I have my yellow belt, which is about a third of the way to black belt. I'd like to get halfway there by the end of the year.
That's pretty much it for me. What are your goals for the year?
11 comments:
I'm like you. I like having goals vs. New Years resolutions. And that's a great idea to revise them as the year progresses. Sounds like you have solid goals to move you forward. Happy New Year!
Yeah, I like specific goals to work toward, otherwise I feel like I'm spinning my wheels. That's no fun. :)
Happy New Year!!
I've never believed in resolutions because they are meaningless. Like you, I set goals instead. And I stick to them. My goals are to write three novels and build my platform before my January 2013 YA debut.
Happy New Year!
I revisit my life goals usually once every 5 years as that seems to be when my turning points happen, I think I may be overdue for revision as this year I achieved a few things that I hadn't consciously set as goals.
But off the top of my head, finishing my current WIP, reading a book a week and getting a short story published come to mind.
Goals v Resolutions feels a little like playing semantics a little - it's all the same thing - just focus on what you want to do and get it done - - #hyphens
I don't make resolutions since I tend to either forget or ignore them. However, it would be good to write that first novel already, I hope to get another short story collection published, working out (not more, just working out) would be extremely useful, and managing to read more would also be great.
Kelly - that's a great goal! I stick to my goals too. Otherwise how are you going to know if you're getting anywhere? :)
Clairemca - wow, I don't think I could set a goal and then leave it for five years. Well, that's not true. I have some long term goals that I've been working toward for five or more years, but I break them down and work on a certain part one year, another part the next year, etc. I guess I always need to see if I'm making progress. :) good luck with your WIP!
Brian - except a new year's resolution only happens at the new year. I think that's silly. :) I prefer to set my goals throughout the year, not just at the beginning--I will set goals at the beginning of the year sometimes, but not because ut's the beginning of the year. I'll do it because I need to, but most often I don't because I've already set my goals and have a plan for completing them. It makes no sense to assess where you are in life only at the beginning of the year. :)
Angel001 - new year's resolutions tend to be too general to be effective. :) But setting a specific goal, with a plan for achieving it, will get you far. Good luck with yours!
Your second goal, about visiting other blogs, brought to mind what I found to be the most satisfying part of blogging: other writers' blogs, yours included.
Me too! I'm all for long- and short-term goals instead of resolutions. A year is too long, I think, to know what you might need or want to do months down the road. Things change.
But the one thing I like the calendar year for is for keeping track of books read. I really wanted to hit 100 books last year too, and didn't get close enough either (61 for me). I'm going for it again this year with hopefully more success. I agree, there are so many good ones out there!
Best of luck with your goals!
Kip
Every time I state I'm going to finish my current WIP, I start a new WIP...WTH?
I've never drawn a distinction between goals and resolutions but the idea makes sense. There's something about beginning a new year that does put me in the mood to write down some resolutions and goals. That doesn't mean I am restricted from revisiting them throughout the year. Your goals seem ambitious, fun, and inspiring.
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