keep my new years resolutions

My life has been a bit hectic over the last few months and so I’ve been very inconsistent about keeping my New Years Resolutions. Of course I’ve also realized that I made my resolutions very hard to keep track of, which is why I’ve decided not only to “get back on the wagon” but to condense my 22 (yes there were 22 of them) resolutions into 6 succinct goals for 2009.

I will maintain a morning and evening routine that will help to keep me grounded physically, spiritually and financially.

I will maintain a diet/fitness regime to keep myself feeling healthy inside and out.

I will cut credit cards out of my life (literally) and build a savings account.

I will pursue my education in ways both large (finishing my medical coding classes) and small (learning something new every day).

I will do something particularly nice and loving for the people I care about at least once a week and something particularly nice and loving for myself at least once a week.

I will complete at least 10 of my 43Things Goals and make significant progress on at least 5 more.

Now that I’m settled into my new home I’m ready to begin work on myself again! I spent the last couple of days working on a morning/evening routine and budgeting and I’m ready to put those to use. I feel like last year I was shown all the tools to make my life what I want it to be (the Artist Way, Medical Coding, the Writers Conference, running, etc.) and this year I need to implement those tools.

1. I will complete at least 10 of my 43 Things goals and make significant progress on at least 5 more.

i’m actually not sure where i am with this right now…

2. I will keep my apartment clean & organized.

i failed miserably at this over the last couple of weeks because i was housesitting. i cleaned all this weekend though so now i’m spotless.

3. I will meditate daily.

i haven’t done this at all. sigh.

4. I will write in my journal every day.

i’ve started again, though for a while i wasn’t doing it at all. for shame.

5. I will re-incorporate the Artist’s Way into my life.

i’m not doing so great with this one, since it’s been almost impossible to get myself out of bed each morning, meaning no morning pages. however i have done one of the exercises. still no artist date.

6. I will exercise every single day for at least 10 minutes and keep a fitness journal.

sigh. i have started doing situps when i wake up and before i go to sleep, though i haven’t been keeping track in my fitness journal. i really need to get back to the fit though.

7. I will do the Couch to 5k program.

this will have to wait until summer, when it is not raining constantly.

8. I will take myself out on a play date at least once a week.

i have yet to do this.

9. I will find random and creative art projects to do at least twice a week.

my soaping has been coming along VERY nicely. so i’ve been doing this more than twice a week. i’m also looking into doing most of the wedding as handmade crafts.

10. I will get my medical coding certificate.

i’ve done nothing with this. sigh. i really need to get on the ball here, as it has been literally months since i have worked on this.

11. I will finish the novel I’m currently writing and write the one I’m day dreaming about.

i’ve done this twice this year. sigh.

12. I will save a significant amount of money.

i haven’t been able to save anything yet – though maybe i will have some extra money soon, since i’m hopefully going to be moving out of my current (too expensive apartment).

13. I will pay off and cancel 3 credit cards.

one is a quarter of the way paid!

14. I won’t use my credit cards once this year.

i haven’t used them once this year!

15. I will look my best every day.

i struggle with this sometimes – especially if i don’t wake up on time. i’ve done fairly well though.

16. I will do something nice for myself every day.

i think i’ve completely forgotten this one.

17. I will do everything I need to when I need to and won’t put anything off until it’s too late.

i’ve been doing a bit better than usual. progress is being made.

18. I will do something particularly nice for someone I love at least once a week.

i’ve made a lot of nice things for people but have yet to send them out – hopefully i’ll be able to take care of that this week.

19. I will stay informed about current events.

ya…not so much. i did buy a newspaper yesterday though, now i just need to read it.

20. I will be try to be positive as much as possible.

sigh. i’ve felt pretty negative lately so i think i need to work on this one a bit.

21. I will learn one new word a day.

still no progress here.

22. I will make sure that this year is the best year of my life (thus far).

if i can complete all these other goals then it really should be.

The last week or so was a bit of a setback for me with this goal because Chris surprised me with a visit (definitely not complaining there) and we spent pretty much every minute together.

Then I was housesitting for his mom and the free internet and cable (both of which I don’t have at my apartment) were really distracting… especially since we talked again about getting married and he wants me to set a date (even though the official proposal hasn’t happened yet, sigh). So I’ve been online looking at locations and dresses and watching bridal shows.

This week I’m starting over again though and next Saturday I’ll go back to my resolution rundown. :)

1. I will complete at least 10 of my 43 Things goals and make significant progress on at least 5 more.

i’m actually not sure where i am with this right now…

2. I will keep my apartment clean & organized.

so far i’ve done fairly well with this. i’ve cleaned every other day and my messes are pretty small – usually they’re soap or cooking related.

3. I will meditate daily.

i haven’t done this at all. sigh.

4. I will write in my journal every day.

i’ve been very good about this. i’ve done so every day except for yesterday and the day before, due to extenuating circumstances involving a friend.

5. I will re-incorporate the Artist’s Way into my life.

i’ve been doing the morning pages but i haven’t gotten anywhere with artist dates or the exercises yet.

6. I will exercise every single day for at least 10 minutes and keep a fitness journal.

i’ve exercised for only 10 minutes a day except for 4 days so far. i use my actual journal as a fitness journal.

7. I will do the Couch to 5k program.

this will have to wait until summer, when it is not raining constantly.

8. I will take myself out on a play date at least once a week.

i have yet to do this.

9. I will find random and creative art projects to do at least twice a week.

my soaping has been coming along VERY nicely. so i’ve been doing this more than twice a week.

10. I will get my medical coding certificate.

i’ve done nothing with this. sigh. i really need to get on the ball here, as it has been literally months since i have worked on this.

11. I will finish the novel I’m currently writing and write the one I’m day dreaming about.

i’ve worked on my current novel once this year. very very bad. i need to do a lot more with this, especially since i’m so close to finishing.

12. I will save a significant amount of money.

i haven’t been able to do anything with this yet, since i’ve only been paid once and that has gone to rent and #13.

13. I will pay off and cancel 3 credit cards.

i’m working at paying off the first two by the time i get my tax refund (which i will finish them off with. i’ve also cut up all of them so that i can’t use them anymore.

14. I won’t use my credit cards once this year.

i’ve cut them all up… it’s a start but there’s definitely still temptation, especially with Amazon and Victoria’s Secret.

15. I will look my best every day.

for the most part i’ve been able to do this. i try to wake up in time to have my shower and straighten my hair, pick out a nice outfit and sometimes i even wear makeup.

16. I will do something nice for myself every day.

usually it’s something small like sleeping in a little bit longer or giving myself a facial. i haven’t done it every day though.

17. I will do everything I need to when I need to and won’t put anything off until it’s too late.

i’ve been working on this one. procrastination is one of the banes of my existence (2nd only to credit cards). i’ve been doing a lot better than usual but i still have a ways to go.

18. I will do something particularly nice for someone I love at least once a week.

lately i’ve been making people soap. ptsd soap for my friend and other soaps for my 2nd mom, my mom, my dad and my grandma.

19. I will stay informed about current events.

i haven’t done well with this one. i used to be really in touch but then the news started to depress me and i stopped paying attention. now i feel really ridiculous because i have no idea what’s going on in the world. however i have no tv and limited internet access (only at work for the moment) so it’s difficult. no excuse though. it’s my goal to go on CNN.com to read the headlines at least once a day.

20. I will be try to be positive as much as possible.

i think i’ve done ok with this one. i haven’t been making a concerted effort but i haven’t been negative that i can recall…

21. I will learn one new word a day.

bah. i have a list but i haven’t really looked at it yet.

22. I will make sure that this year is the best year of my life (thus far).

if i can complete all these other goals then it really should be.

I’ll post the resolutions I made on Saturday and then every Saturday from then on I’ll see how I’ve done so far. I made 22 Resolutions: 1 for each year I’ve been alive. If I complete them all I should be in a really good place by the time this year is over! :)