So About Those 2012 Resolutions

If I learned one thing from my 2012 resolutions, it’s that I don’t do well with vague goals. I’ve kind of poo-poo’d the idea of SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) goals before, thinking all that detail wasn’t really necessary but now I’m can attest to there being a bit of truth there. Without specific and realistic targets, I get very little done as reflected by my lackluster (and even nonexistent) success with some of last year’s resolutions.

Experience the everyday

At times, I still overcommitted to different projects as I tend to do but I learned to be o.k. with taking a time-out  every now and then to spend time with the family, especially around the holidays. I even managed to say no to a few things I really wanted to say yes to but I’m still a ways from having a sustainable schedule. I also did better about saying yes more than I did no when the kids asked me to play with them.

Let God be my one thing

I’m really excited about how consistent I’ve been with my Bible reading and prayer time. I still miss a few days here and there but not too often. I’m finding that I as read the Bible more and more my views on everything from my role as mom to music selections is shifting more and more to be in line with God’s way. However, one thing I didn’t do well is listening to God. I was so focused on meeting my goal and taking in the word from everyone else’s devotionals and books that I rarely just sat and listened to what He wanted to speak to me. This year, I want to do more to still the noise and just sit in His presence and listen.

Eliminate debt

Judging by my success, or rather lack thereof, I was not really committed to this resolution. My intentions were good but without the effort to match, this was laughable. It was so bad that I’m pretty sure we’re sitting on far more debt than what we started with. I still want to be debt-free so this year I’m planning to regroup and make he goal more manageable by starting with baby steps. My targets are to create a workable budget and the discipline to follow it, along with being more diligent about reviewing our finances on a monthly basis.

Read at least 24 books

I’m pretty sure there’s a strong connection between the fact this goal had a measurable target and my success with achieving it. At some point in November, I stopped counting at 64 books read (about a quarter of these were shorter eBooks available in electronic version only). Given that I’d read 23 books the previous year, you could say this girl was on fire!

Live Well

Around this time last year, I had high hopes for eating and exercising my way to looking as fit as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. I did pretty well for about a month…then gradually slid downhill from there. Fortunately, my small frame hides most of the damage but suffice it to say I’m now the heaviest I’ve ever been aside from being pregnant. I was already 10 pounds heavier prior to my recent eating fest during the holidays, and I’d guess I’m now at least 15 pounds heavier. (I’m too chicken to get on the scale to confirm). Needless to say, I’ve now decided that committing to at least ten minutes of exercise a day is better than what I’ve been doing which is nothing at all.

How’d you do on your 2012 resolutions? Surely, you all fared better than me.