Saturday, January 12, 2013

Goals by Numbers

This shirt is one of my new favorite shirts. I'm obsessed with it. It's from Old Navy. It has nothing to do with this post. But I have not been posting pictures so I figured I'd put it up. :)

Okay. So I'm going to be straight with you guys.

I have NOT been keeping up on my goals. It's just hard right now. I don't know why.

I was reading this article where someone was talking about how like only 10 percent of people who make resolutions actually keep them. I wasn't surprised at all by that. But what they then shared was a story about a man who had a resolution to run 500 miles last year. And he went a little bit over. What I loved was he didn't make a resolution to "exercise more" or "this many per day" or whatever. Like- it was a quantifiable goal that by the end of the year he could be like, "Yep! I had a great year cause I accomplished my goal". And it just clicked with me. I am SO much more that type of person.

Do you know how many lists I've made because I love looking back and seeing all the items crossed off?!

I am also such a rewards person. Like...all through studying for the CPA exam I'd say- Okay if you study x amount of hours, you can watch greys anatomy for 2 hours. Or something. It's so much easier to do a goal if you can count it. That's my opinion. Much more gratifying too. So I'm COMPLETELY SCRATCHING my past resolutions! And I've thought about this...cause you know the insecure me says, "Danielle...this is embarrassing. You just went all out doing these resolutions and planning and sharing and you're scratching and starting with new goals and isn't that just kinda awkward and embarrassing?" But I've come to the conclusion that this is my life. I change my mind and I roll with it. There REALLY isn't anything wrong with that. And I don't care what people think cause it's my life and this change will better it, I think. We'll see! haha.

Here are my goals by numbers:

Play 1000 songs on the piano
Read 12 new books
Make 52 new recipes
Have 12 memorable dates with Clay
Read Genesis through 2 Kings of the Old testament

Those are my new goals. The fact is- a lot of my other goals I will still be doing cause they are just things I should be doing in general. But these are more quantifiable and exciting for me.

Here are the rules:

Report monthly numbers the last day of each month
Take as much photographic evidence as I can

Well...wish me luck. Maybe I'll keep these goals at least until February and then make a whole other set of goals...lets hope not. Already though since I've been thinking about this I've made 4 new recipes! I am MAJOR ahead of schedule on that one! Hoorah! Hoozah! Oh and I'll clarify the piano one- they don't have to be 1000 new/different songs. Just play 1000 songs on the piano in 2013. It sounds like a lot but its only a few a day.

Oh- and funny sidenote- I totally started out thinking, "I'm going to read the old testament this year!" Then I googled how many verses the old testament has...and it turns out I'd have to read like 77 verses a day or something. Yeah...not happening. I have to be realistic. If I go past that goal, great for me. But I am happy with hopefully achieving 12 books in the old testament this year. Anywho- I'm a crazy pants. I know.


Happy weekend!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I love your goals! What a good idea to be able to measure them. Good luck! (I am saying "good luck" in a positive excited tone, not a weird sarcastic tone, you can do it!)
-Tess

Megan and Greg said...

Ok wow. So much to comment on. The bible reading. I grabbed the pages and it seemed so thin and I thought "great goal! That's not that much!" then I looked at the number and it was like 542. Wow. That is a big goal. But I like how you did it. Like, I'm going to get here, by then. Same with the recipes! I was like 52? That's one everyday! Are you insane! And then I was like, "Wo, check . . . that is one a WEEK. Much more doable." My brain has REALLY stopped working since i had my second babe. I like how you did the goals. I mean, you could do your 12 dates in 12 days, if it really came down to it.

And I love your pic. You are so dang cute. Really. And I mean that in a compliment. Not like you're a cute little girl.

Oh yeah, the way you do goals. Rewards have NEVER EVER EVER worked for me. If I say I can eat a brownie after I work out, I just eat a brownie whether I work out or not. It has NEVER worked for me. For me it's all about my plain determination and drivenness. Nothing else can persuade me except myself.

Well, I hope it all works out for me. Like the THEME thing, TOTALLY works for me. Like a lot. I think that's how it will be my whole life. So hopefully you just found what works for you! LOVE YOU!!!

Amy said...

Such a cute top!! I think that is great way of looking at goals. For me small goals along the way make it so I keep up with them :) Hope you are well!

Courtenay said...

love it. I made a goal that by the end of the year, Ill be able to do one pull-up...it's HARD to do a real pull up, and in order to do one, I have to practice every day, eat things that are good for my body, so far I have practiced every weekday, and it motivates me to do my stretches and play "just dance" for a leeetle bit of cardio haha, great job re-evaluating your goals...just because it's a "goal" doesn't mean it;s set in stone :)
Also, I love your sweater, and when I saw it at Old Navy, I was like, I love that and I'm gonna watch for it to go on sale, then I forgot, and then they were sold out...BOO. You totally rock it. :)

Grandma, Nonnie said...

I am still thinking.... about goals and I still haven't really stuck with a couple. My scripture goal is to read the D & C this year. Working on that. I love the top so cute and the pants are really cute too. Love all of that hair you have really let it get long. I love you and don't sweat the goals so much just use baby steps and you'll get there. Love you the waffles look yummy Hugs