On new year’s eve we make all kinds of promises to ourselves. Some hold onto them for a couple of months before falling of the bandwagon, while others keep their promises. I want to belong to the later group and therefore I’ll restate my goals and tell you about my progress. If this spurs you to pick up your goals for 2011 again, I’ll be happy I helped.
My goal was to make this the year of Mind over Matter. I was, and am, tired of being lazy, of feeling useless when I have accomplished nothing of importance. Therefore I decided that 2011 would be the year of acting on my dreams and wants.
Goals of 2011
- Write the first draft of a novel.
- To get leaner, preferably by both reducing fat and gaining muscles.
- To finish up all school studies, and apply to and start going to university.
Progress so far (26th April)
I’m getting close to finishing pre-planning my novel. I’m following a course and reading non-fiction writing books on the subject to help me.
I’ve started exercising. It’s still irregular (several times one week and almost none the next), but I’m getting better at being consistent. Before 2011 I didn’t exercise at all, so it’s a completely new habit. As long as I keep putting it back into my routine, I’ll eventually reach a state where I will physically miss it if I “don’t have time”.
I’m not on a diet and I don’t believe in any of the fad diets who tell you to cut this, or that, out of your food sources. However I’m changing my food choices for more healthily options and I completely quit soda last year. This year I hope to cut the amount of candy, cookies and cakes I consume. Still pretty bad at skipping the dessert, but my mind is getting to the same kind of point as I did with soda.
I’m now one month from finishing up my old studies (they’ve been delayed for different reasons) and it’s going good. It’s not perfect, but then that’d require the perfect life too (and doesn’t that sounds boring?). I’ve applied for the university I want to go to, and have a second choice. I won’t know if I’m accepted until 14-15th July, so it’s a long wait.
Ending notes
I’m overall satisfied with my progress with my different goals. After all I’m starting a lot of new habits, both with writing and my health. I’m also taking my studies more seriously, so I devote more time to them (which is good!).
I’m reducing the impact laziness have in my life. There are still hours, days or sometimes whole weeks lost to nothingness, but I’ve reduced laziness by at least 50%. If my week is starting to feel empty, or useless, I don’t stick my head further into the sand anymore. Instead I yank my head up and start back on my goals, usually with the one that I enjoy the most (and why not? I’ll more easily get back into the saddle then).
There is no use burying myself in guilt and self-loathing for forgetting my goals, because it only makes it harder. Instead I take a deep breath and examine if there is an emotional issue I need to deal with to get back on track, and then I move on. I continue working on my goals, while dealing with the emotional issue.
What are your goals for 2011? Do you have a special issue you’re working with? Have you tried naming a year, or giving it a motto? Did it make a difference?
