5 December Goals

I have to say, sharing my monthly goals with the thousand-plus people who stopped by here last month really helped my accountability! ;) Nothing like knowing you'll have to admit to the entire world that you slept in, rather than go to the gym, to get you out of bed at 5AM when the alarm goes off!

So, without further ado, here are my five goals for this month:

 
1. Gym. I'm still committing to 5x per week, but I'm adding five minutes of weights per day (5 minutes may not sound like much, but if you knew how much I detest weights, you'd be impressed I'm willing to commit to that long. I'd rather sit in the dentist chair having my gums scraped while simultaneously watching CMTV videos than lift weights.).

 

2. Read with Callie. Since this summer, I've fallen out of the routine of reading with Callie on a daily basis. She is so close to actually reading instead of just sounding out letters, that I know 10 minutes a day would get her there quickly! So five days per week we're having reading time.

Image from here.

3. Destash my craft supplies. This is a toughie for me! And since I know it will take DAYS to go through everything (and decide if I'm going to donate it or put it up for sale), I commit to one hour a week for the month of December. Maybe more will happen, but maybe not. An hour is a good starting place.

 

4. Finish the books I'm in the middle of. Just like with knitting projects, I often start more books than I finish. A lot of times, it's a matter of interest: There's a book I know I SHOULD read, but something else more interesting supersedes it (The Millionaire Next Door is a good example). Sometimes the book contains a lot of great info, and so I need to allow time in between reading for the contents to "marinate" and sink in before I take on more. And sometimes I just get distracted, or have to be in a certain mood, or start a new book and forget the old, etc. etc. However, all these partially read books take up space in my brain, and actually make me ill-at-ease. Finishing them gives me a feeling of completion and allows me to check things off my mental to-do list. And that feels...!!! ;)

So this month I will finish:

• The Millionaire Next Door
• The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything
• Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
• Inkheart
• The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
• Organizing for the Spirit: Making the Details of Your Life Meaningful and Manageable
• Cherries in Winter: My Family's Recipe for Hope in Hard Times

Image from here

5. A Photo a Day. I am very picky about what I commit to doing "every day." As you can see from above, I already have a couple of things on my daily list! But for the month of December, I'm going to take my own spin on Ali Edwards's "Daily December" challenge. I'm going to take a photo every day and create a weekly scrapbook page, like the ones I've been posting on Sundays. (This would be fun for you to join in on -- any takers?)

Got any goals you'd like to share this month? Please do! I'm trying to add one of those McKLinky thingies below so we can keep track of each other! Let's see if it works.  

Comments

[Maureen]

I myself prefer the weights to the cardio.....my goal is to finalize my list today, I am going to add reading to my 5yo, I too have been slacking on that a bit. I commit to post back by midnight.

[Michelle Moore]

Now, see, I can't read more that one book at a time. It drives me nuts, and I start getting things mixed up. The only time I try is when I have finished my current book while I am out and about, and find five minutes to wait on something. Then I pull up a e-book on my iPhone. But it takes a little bit to remember what the storyline is on that book. Argh!!

I ought to do the weekly layout, too. We are SO busy in December, so I would have lots of opportunities to take pictures!

[Jennifer McIntyre @atthebluebarn]

I am reading Organizing the Spirit, too. It's a really thin book - let's tuck it into our purse and see if we can tick it off the list by Monday?

[Nathalie (famille1999)]

Mmmm my goals for December? Actually enjoying the holidays instead of just trying to get there at the same time as everyone. I think that's going to be a big enough one for this gal. LOL

As for picture-a-day, I'm in. Too funny that the same day that you talked about this project, two friends of mine "invited" me to accompany them for another round of picture-a-day for the month. So, hopefully I'll be able to do it for the whole month and I'll also be joining you in the weekly-review scrapbook page idea which I find awesome. I might not be able to do it all before the month is over, but I'll try to. :) Thanks for the push Lain! Good thing I have you and Barb to make me scrap once in a while! LOL ;P

[Lonely Scrapbooker]

This is motivating but I'm scared to commit to a goal and then not meet it! Maybe January... I do like the idea of goals for a MONTH rather than for a year though. Much more measurable and doable.

About thinning your craft supplies: I am doing that with my own, and everything is going into a stash that I plan to share with new scrapbookers as I try and spread the scrapbooking love here in Jamaica where I live. I've held a few workshops, and people are interested, but noone sells SBing stuff here (or, at least, there is very little available). People will make the effort to get it from North America, but they need a little fillip to get started. I've been doing (free) workshops to introduce people to simple techniques and pages, but then there's nothing for them to follow up with. Soooo if you are thinking of donating your stuff, please consider sending it to me! It's not a charity, per se, and I know there are charities out there for scrapbooking stuff. But it will be for a good cause. I can pay shipping in the US and get it from the US here.

[elinjanne]

Hm...I think I will join you in making goals for December.
And no - my goals will not involve:
* gym...
* books...
* stash reducing...
* reading...
* or healthy eating.
Now - what to do?

[Danielle]

I absolutely agree that posting goals is a great way to be accountable for them. You can do it!! My goals for December working on my December Daily AKA Celebrating the Season book, I also want to continue on my 5K Training!

[Maureen]

1. Following my diet (lame, but it is something different to try for my thyroid involving 140 oz of water a day, and 8 vitamins)
2. 20 mins 5xweek studying my new software programs
3. Read more to my youngest (thanks for that suggestion)
4. Reduce internet time
5. Get my wrapping done by the 23rd.

It is out there, now I must comply.

[Ann]

Okay Goals for December:
1) Start in on my paperwork clutter (actually complete Aby's class).This is kind of an extension of last month's goal of a clean entry/laundry room.
2) Have all Christmas shopping completed and wrapped by December 20 (that includes being Santa's helper with stocking stuffers).
3) Have tree and Christmas decorations up by December 12 (in time for soccer party).
4) Spend (2) 15 minute blocks of time a day picking up the house and getting the rest of the family to do so too (am and pm).
5) Complete some kind of Daily/Weekly December/Holidays in Hand project.

[Alissa]

Hey Lain - I need to finish made to stick too, so now you've encouraged me to get it read!
Also, I wasn't much of a weightlifter, but this spring I discovered Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weights book (which you probably could find at the library) and it provided really good reasoning for lifting weights as well as a detailed 20 min strength routine (actually 4 routines) to follow. I used it and really saw results. So just wanted to encourage you with that! (not that you need another book to add to your pile!)

[Deanna - Fun Mama]

I loved Inkheart - although I listened to it rather than read it. Maybe some audiobooks would help you with your slump?