2009!

I've enjoyed reading everyone's New Year's posts--the motivation is really exciting and contagious, and I've decided, for the first time, to make New Year's Resolutions. Yes, you read that correctly. For the first time! I've never formally made New Year's Resolutions--I'm all about goals, but I usually don't make formal ones. I'm not going to beat myself up to these goals if I find I can't commit to them--the last thing I want to do is make myself feel inadequate when I miss a goal.

Here we go, by category:

Physical Health

• Lose ~30 pounds this year. I lost about 20 pounds this year, and 30 more will put me at my 150 lb goal. In addition, this goal isn't too strenuous--just around .6 lbs a week.
• Work up to exercising 4-5 times a week. January-March: 1-2x/week; April-June: 2-3x/week; July-September: 3-4x/week; October-December: 4-5x/week. Exercise has always been a weak point with me, so I'm not going to push myself too hard. 30 minutes once or twice a week to start with is more than enough for me to tackle.
  
• Keep improving my diet. This is the thing I've been most proud of in 2008. I started with Weight Watchers, then moved to SparkPeople, and eventually grew tired of counting points and calories, and began to eat intuitively and intelligently. I want to continue these improvements--homemade meals of whole grains, lean meats, lots of veggies and water--reminding myself to eat for health, rather than for weight loss.

Well Being (Spiritual, Emotional, Relational)

• Keep writing letters to Dustin; tell him (and frequently) what he is that enamors you. When you're frustrated with him, don't be pouty and annoying about it.
  
• Read 12 "leisure" books. The irony of getting an English degree is that reading novels for class leaves almost no time to read for leisure. I have a list of books I want to work through: In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan; Passionate Marriage, by David Schnarch; Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, by John Gottman, Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse, and other various fiction and poetry collections among them.
• Reconnect with old friends, and become closer with acquaintences in Oxford. I really thought I would be better at maintaining my friendships while living in Oxford, but I am, admittedly, a lazy friend. I avoid going out, when I've no reason to other than my laziness and mild social phobias.
  
• Do something crafty. Over Christmas, I taught myself to cast-on and the knit-stitch, and I'm about a third of the way done with a crude scarf. I'd like to continue those skills and make something a little nicer looking.
• Clean the house regularly--this involves making a schedule. For cleaning. And maybe gold stars.
  

Intellectual Health

• Plant and maintain vegetable plants--tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini--find something that works for Oxford's seasons and planters.
• Write a short story or play.
  
• Set up a working desk--clean, organized, functional. Move it out of the bedroom and in to the living room. Use it for studying so you can focus.
  
• Spend at least two hours (if you need that much time--you'll probably need more) reading every weekday. No more getting behind on your reading and skimming through those theory books. Take reading notes if a text is particularly difficult. Don't be afraid to take short breaks--walking around, glass of water, standing outside.
  

Financial Health

• Stay on top of my budget. I'm not used to maintaining such a strict budget, but I have to be. I need to look into some resources (better budget worksheets, perhaps?) to help me. Figure out where you're overspending the most, and why. Adjust as necessary.
  
• Make the most of your wardrobe: thrift, recycle (via Freecycle, Craigslist, Wardrobe Swap, etc.). Buy new clothes only when absolutely necessary. Try to wear everything in your closet, and get rid of those things that don't fit well and that you don't wear.
• Don't grocery shop without a list.
  

Wedding Planning (Because We're Getting Married Next Year!)

• I won't relist the things I've already posted on our wedding blog, but they all involve gathering inspiration and ideas, and choosing services and venues slowly.
  

I've written in my day planner to go over these goals at the end of each month. You've probably noticed, but almost none of these are things that can really be ticked off a list. I've really grown in the past year or two, and I want to continue growing.