Real Life Resolutions vol. 2

Another year, another opportunity to set goals, and if you're me, another chance to try and find the most effective goal setting/accountability method. In 2014-2015, I worked to check things off of my 30 before 30 list; in 2016 I pared my resolutions down to six things that I could easily remember.

Both methods had their pros and cons. The 30 before 30 list was varied and had a good balance of smaller and larger goals, but overall was rather ambitious. Having only six things to focus on in 2016 felt more manageable, although in the end I didn't feel like I achieved much more by having fewer items on the list.

For 2017, I've chosen three big goals as well as some weekly and monthly habits to work on.

Weekly/Biweekly

• Spend time on Sunday preparing for the week
• Work on a blog post
• Volunteer

Monthly

• Update calendar at the beginning of the month
• Try a new restaurant
• Have people over
• Review budget at the end of the month

2017

• Complete a half marathon
• Pass AICP Exam
• Go back to Japan

Okay, 2017 - let's do this!

Currently - January 2017

Happy New Year! It seems fitting for my first post of the year to be a part of the link-up that I look forward to each month and has kept this blog going when not much else has. To see what other's are up to this month, please go visit Anne and Jessica. 

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gathering - We hosted my family for Christmas, and it was so nice to all be gathered in one spot for a few days. My parents are now off to Peru for two weeks (lucky them!) and I am looking forward to going home to AZ in March for a wedding.

making - Handmade new year's cards. In Japan, almost everyone sends nengajo cards ahead of time, and the post office bundles them up nicely to deliver on January 1. I thought an extra week (vs. Christmas cards) might help us get them out on time, but I am still working on them.

sipping - I enjoyed a few glasses of egg nog laced with bourbon over the holidays, and found them to be a lovely way to enjoy something sweet and unwind after dinner. 

following - Political news in small doses, and trying to find the right balance between understanding what's going on and not becoming completely demoralized. 

resolving - While my goals for the year are still coalescing, I have resolved to not watch any Netflix/Amazon Prime for the month of January. One of my goals from last year was to make time for hobbies, and I probably would have made more progress without the binge watching! 

***This bright blue sky captured during the the first bike ride of the year on January 1 gives me hope for 2017.