For the past 5 years (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and (2009), at the beginning of each year, I’ve set goals for the upcoming year. These have been met with varying degrees of success, but regardless of the past (lack of) results, I still feel this is an important exercise for me (and everyone!) to do. This provides a roadmap, a direction for my future, showing what I deem important and on which areas of my life I want to work and improve.
As I’ve written about in previous years’ posts, I don’t like setting resolutions. Resolutions are a recipe for failure, usually involving changing a behavior immediately, then trying to keep that behavior change over a time period. When a resolution is broken, motivation is quickly lost and the resolution falls to the way side. (The typical resolution lasts through mid-February.) Goals, on the other hand, are something for which you strive to complete, taking baby steps along the way to keep up motivation and to mark progress. Goals are a steady climb towards new behavior and lasting change, not an unrealistic immediate change. For example, imagine how many more people would get into the shape they want if they changed a resolution of “Lose weight by going to the gym every day this year” to a goal of “Lose x pounds this year by: going to the gym with a friend once a week for the first 2 months, then twice a week for the next two months; sign up to walk a 5K in June, etc…”
One of the best ways to create and follow through on goals is to make them S.M.A.R.T. These goals that are:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely
You can read more about S.M.A.R.T. goals at goal-setting-guide.com, as well as numerous other sites on the web.
Keeping this template in mind, my goals for 2010 are as follows:
Goal: Increase emergency fund
Category: Financial
Time Frame: End of the year
Specifics/Comments: I currently have one month of expenses stashed away in a money market account at Vanguard. I will increase this to three months by the end of the year by adding 7.35% of each paycheck to the account.
Goal: Get to work on time
Category: Personal
Time Frame: Daily
Specifics/Comments: As I get more comfortable and settled at a job, I roll in to the office later and later, largely because I’m not a morning person and hit the snooze a few times too many, but also because I spend too much time on the web in the morning. I will reduce the amount of times I hit snooze to one and/or set my alarm for an earlier time (7:00 instead of 7:15) in addition to reducing the amount of time spent on the web in the morning, leaving the house no later than 8:20, instead of 8:40.
Goal: Perform a Random Act of Kindness at least once a month
Category: Charity/Community
Time Frame: Monthly
Specifics/Comments: I have been blessed more than I deserve and have been inspired by Southland’s John Weece to make a difference in people’s lives. At least once a month, or as God lays on my heart, I will perform a Random Act of Kindness (RAOK), all anonymously (or at least an anonymously as possible). RAOK’s I have in mind are leaving an extra large tip at restaurants, paying for the meals of people behind me in the drive-through, bringing donuts into the office for co-workers and sending encouraging cards to friends.
Goal: Participate in a 5K/10K
Category: Exercise/Health
Time Frame: End of October
Specifics/Comments: I didn’t do any 5K or 10K events last year and missed the feeling of being fit that resulted from the training. I will sign up and participate in at least one event this year. Events in mind right now are the Flying Pig in May, the Redlegs Run For Home in June and/or the Susan G. Komen in September. Decision on which one will be made by early April.
Goal: Read a chapter of Proverbs every day
Category: Spiritual
Time Frame: Daily for 6 months
Specifics/Comments: I will read a chapter of Proverbs each day as a way to reinforce the wisdom therein and to keep it “written on my heart.” There are 31 chapters, so I will read the chapter based on the current day (chapter 6 on Jan 6th, Feb 6th, etc.). Starting in July, I will choose a different book of the Bible (James?) and continue reading a chapter a day.
Goal: Visit Cuyahoga National Park
Category: Travel
Time Frame: End of the year
Specifics/Comments: One of my life goals is to visit every National Park. This is a baby step toward achieving this goal. As close as it is and despite having been to Cleveland a few times over the years, I have not yet made it to this park. First, I will research this park to determine the best time to visit and how much time should be allotted to visiting the park. Then, I will schedule a time to make the trip and start saving.
Goal: Read 20 Books, at least 12 of them non-fiction
Category: Hobbies/Leisure
Time Frame: End of the year
Specifics/Comments: This list may will change over the course of the year, but here’s the first few in the queue, in no particular order –
Non-fiction:
Fiction:
Goal: Finish painting house
Category: Home Improvement
Time Frame: End of May
Specifics/Comments: I painted the main level of my house last year, but procrastinated when it came to the 2nd level. My goal is to have this job completed by the time the weather starts getting nicer, though hopefully much sooner. I have the paint and all the supplies, so it’s just a matter of forcing myself to do it. In finer detail, the stairwell and upstairs hallway will be done by end of January and one of the bedrooms done by the end of each following month.
[UPDATE: Added this goal]
Goal:
Reach 175 found geocaches
Category: Hobbies/Leisure
Time Frame: End of the year
Specifics/Comments: I’m currently at 146 found geocaches.
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Still remember you emailing me about Car-Part's website.
never flown?! that blows me away! typo in the 'caliper'. 
