Here is a look at my goals for 2013 and my final update on them. I accomplished some of them…but not all. I’m okay with that because my life has changed and I had to modify a few things based on where I am now….
My Goals for 2013
I used to get so discouraged when I would read other people’s goals for the year–especially when I had babies and toddlers. It seemed like everyone was accomplishing more than me, and I wondered how anyone could even think to do half of those things. Then, I had a realization…well, a few of them actually.
1) I am not anyone else.
Brilliant, right? 😉 I have a hard time with this though, because I struggle with comparing myself to others. I’m finally getting to the point where there are more times than not that I realize that I don’t have to measure up to anyone else. Instead, I need to connect with God and listen to Him! Then, I can focus on being who He has called me to be, and not who He has called you to be!
2) Different seasons call for different goals.
If you’re in the midst of babies or tweens or teens or all of them, your goals are going to look much different during each season of life. The point is to set some good goals for where you are right now.
3) I don’t have to accomplish every single goal I set.
This is a hard one for me! If I set a goal, I’m driven to reach it and I don’t want my checklist to go unchecked. The truth is that it’s okay not to reach all your goals. In fact, if you reach every single goal you set, you probably haven’t set the bar high enough!
Here are my goals for 2013. List subject to change! 🙂
Spiritual
Read through the Bible in a year using the YouVersion Bible app and reading plan. I missed some of this, but since I did better than the previous year, I’m making progress!
I’m trying this one again. I’ve just felt lately that I really need to make it a priority to stick with a Bible reading plan. If I can blog every day, if I can make meals every day, if I can read another book every day, I should be able to stick with this.
Make Prayer Cards. I did get these made for my family members. I didn’t end up doing it as a 30 day challenge, but I did make them!
I think I’ll make this a 30 day challenge. I was inspired by the book A Praying Life to make these.
Host a book/Bible study in my home. You can see my series on Made to Crave here.
I purchased the Made to Crave study when it was on sale, and I plan to invite some women over and go through it. I need to get started!
Go on a mission trip.
**This goal didn’t happen…but my “mission trip” ended up being my curriculum proceeds going to build an orphanage in India! I did renew my passport though, so I’m ready at any moment! 🙂
The last mission trip I went on was to Haiti before the girls were born. I need to renew my passport…
Financial:
Pay off our home mortgage as quickly as possible. (We don’t have it all the way paid off, but we’ve made great progress since we started focusing on this. Hopefully within the next year or two!! I’m so excited!!)
We’ll put extra towards the mortgage each month. Plus, we’ll make an extra lump sum payment in June and December.
Replace John’s 31-year-old truck. (Yay! We did it. In February, we were able to find the *perfect* truck that came in right at our budget. It’s been a great truck so far, and all of the circumstances of finding it and getting it were perfectly orchestrated!)
Over the past five years, I’ve been saving up to replace John’s truck. We finally have enough to do it, so now we just need to find one!
Try a 1-month cash-only challenge. (Oops! Didn’t make this one happen. Trying again next year…)
I didn’t do this last year, but I’m going to make it a 30-day challenge in March!
Have a no-spend month. (Did it in February! You can see all about the No Spend Month challenge here.)
I’ve always been intrigued by this idea, so I’m going to try it in the shortest month of the year! We’ll only spend money on essential groceries, fuel, and pay our bills. Should be interesting!
Fitness
Complete a Clean Cleanse.
I’m not actually going to purchase their cleanse, but I’m using the book to guide me. Everything you need is included in the book, and I plan to start that on January 16th. I’ll be sharing my progress as I go.
Complete P90X2. (Started…got tired and hit with adrenal fatigue again…so I gave up on this goal.)
I want to try this again this year, but I’m going to wait until next fall so I’ve gotten healed up and restored from adrenal fatigue!
Work-out 3-4 days per week throughout the year. (Did pretty well on this. A few weeks in Nov. and Dec. I didn’t make it, but I still feel like I accomplished this!)
I’m planning to start running with some friends. I’ll also do some simple work-out DVDs and walking.
Marriage
At least two date nights per month + 2 at-home date nights per month to save on babysitting costs.
Two overnight getaways together during the next year (one of them a FamilyLife Marriage conference). (Pushed off the Family Life conference until this coming spring, but we did two getaways in 2013.)
Mothering
Have 30 minutes of “fun time” each day. (Still working on this one. We definitely didn’t hit 30 minutes every day, but I did make progress.)
I feel like I’m always the teacher, rule-enforcer, task-master, blogger, cook, librarian, housekeeper, etc., and I really want to have fun with my girls, too. I’m setting aside dedicated time each day just to play!
Pick an ongoing service project to do as a family. We added another Compassion child this year.
Personal:
Read 30 books (I definitely read more than 30 books, although not all of them were on my list–and some of the ones on my list I didn’t read!)
Grow an herb garden. (Did not accomplish this.)
I do not have a green thumb, so this could be challenging!
Do another 30 Day Clear-the-Clutter Challenge. (Did not accomplish this.)
Blogging:
Complete Mom Blog, Money Blog.
I’d like to take my blog to the next level, so I’m going through Mom Blog, Money Blog. I plan to go through the 30 day series over the next 3 months. (I did day 1, but it’s taken me a week, so I think that’s a good goal!) The course is kind of expensive, but I’ll let you know if it’s worth it!
Blog for just 25 hours per week.
I am still needing to get back to tighter blogging limits (I’ve been overwhelmed with the deals since they come at me 24-7). I’ll be getting an actual “office” space, so I’m moving everything downstairs and making the laptop stay in the office. I’m also utilizing a timer to keep track of time.
Write another eBook and finish God’s Little Explorers preschool curriculum. I never got to writing a new eBook. Maybe next year…I kind of got burnt-out on the whole blogging thing, so I’ve just been enjoying my *real life* a little bit more and focusing on being a tutor for CC!
I have the idea and outline for both–I just need to get them written.
There they are! I may need to add some more or change some, but for now, we are good to go! Do you have any goals you’d be willing to share?
Tami says
for me, one goal is to have a weekly day off! i’d like to do my household chores/shopping/email stuff well on 6 days and completely skip them (except for putting the dishes in water to soak) on the 7th day–including having leftovers/freezer meals ready to eat! i’ve tried before, but never stuck with it completely.
Stacie Nelson says
That would be great! I love the idea of having a day off during the week….I’d never really thought of that! Are you thinking on Sunday or a day in the middle of the week?
Gina says
Love your list! I especially like your “spiritual” category. Good luck! I hope you’re able to accomplish much this year. 🙂
Stacie Nelson says
Thanks, Gina!
Hope you accomplish your goals, too!
Mary says
Stacie, when you lay all of your goals out it is obvious to me how you homeschool, run your home, and this site, and do everything else – you are focused and plan things. (I can take a lesson from you!)
Wonderful goals. You inspire me!
Stacie Nelson says
Aww….thanks, Mary! I’m trying to be very intentional and manage my time well to get everything done. Not that I’m even close, but grace abounds! 🙂
Molly says
I love the comment “I am not anyone else”. I’ve been struggling with that myself — it’s so easy for me to compare myself to others (which inevitably consists of me feeling bad about something I am or am not doing) when I should be trying to be the person that God wants me to be. That’s hard enough; why am I looking for something else to do??
This is the first year I’ve written down my goals. I’m looking forward to ticking them off as the year goes by! http://happilyahomemaker.wordpress.com/2012/12/31/goals-for-2013/
Stacie Nelson says
Thanks for sharing! I’m heading over to check them out!
Katherine says
Those are some amazing goals, thank you for sharing. After reading this I feel excited for the new year and inspired to set some of my own. My husband is starting his own side business this year, we are putting a new roof on our house, we are homeschooling four precious kiddos, putting in a new swingset and big sandbox, planting a big garden, all different fun and amazing things that I never imagined I would be so blessed to get to do in my life. I just need to quit getting so full of anxiety and also need to let go of the schedule and have more fun regularly.
You really are an inspiration to me and your hard work helps me to keep going when it gets tough, thank you so much and Happy New Year!
Stacie Nelson says
Thank you, Katherine! And thanks for sharing your goals, too! I completely understand how difficult it is sometimes to let go of anxiety….I have to regularly surrender that!
Blessings to you in this new year, too, and I hope you meet your goals! 🙂
Theresa says
I wish I lived in town! I would loved to do the Made to Crave study!
Natalia bejarano says
Thanksmfor sharing your goals,, very inspiring, (out of the subject) can you do a post about CC, i am starting next yearnwith my sons (foundations) and i would love to hear your advice as a cc tutor.!!!
Stacie Nelson says
That’s a great idea, Natalia! We are loving CC, so I’ll definitely consider it!