I have a theme for this year. I usually don’t do themes but I felt like I really needed one this year to help me organize my goals.
And the theme is…
Get Back To The Basics
This year, I want to get back to the basics.
Last year I ended up with so much on my plate that it felt like I was in constant motion and I missed out on a lot of the basic things that I normally enjoy doing.
So this year I am approaching my goals a little differently. No big giant list of things I *need* to do. But things I *want* to do.
In no particular order, here’s a list of the things I want to accomplish this year:
Unplug
Implement a New Writing Schedule
Instead of writing 6 days a week, I’ve decided to scale it back a little and only write on the weekdays.
Instead of popping on the blog every Sunday to update my goals, I’ll be writing them on Mondays so I can take the weekends off.
Spending time on the internet is cool and everything, but sometimes you just need to set some boundaries and intentionally unplug.
Noise Pollution
It’s real. So is constantly picking up your phone. To check an email, the time, a text, a quick fact.
I was in a specialty craft store not too long ago and I was talking to someone who worked there explaining what I do {hook rugs} and blah blah blah and I instinctively pulled out my phone, dropped eye contact with her and started scrolling through the {4500+} photos on my phone looking for a rug to show her.
She was talking, I was listening to her but at the same time staring at the brick in my hand and not giving her the attention I should have. I was flustered that I couldn’t {quickly} find what I was looking for to show her.
I finally gave up, put the phone away, looked her in the eyes and TALKED to her. And I instantly felt better.
Old school polite human interaction. We need more of it.
Also, I’d like to be more intentional about spending quality time with my husband. While we work really well together, I want to make sure we are taking time each week NOT to work.
To be doing stuff that is not work/house/project related. You know, like hanging out. I’m not saying I’m going to start watching cat videos with him or anything, but I need to make more of an effort to relax.
I’m kind of a high energy person. 😉 And I have a really hard time not squeezing every bit of productivity into every second of the day.
I need to learn to mellow out a little bit. I’m hoping that forcing myself to unplug 2 days a week will help with that.
There’s always hope, right?
In The Kitchen
Master the pear frangipane tart from Standard Baking Company. It’s my all time favorite pastry they make and I buy one every time we stop by.
Put my Weck jars to use. I haven’t been able to can as much as I have wanted to for the past 2 years. I’m excited to get back into it. Partly because I like the process, but also because I like the way the jars look on a shelf and the sense of achievement that comes with it.
And there’s the eating of the contents of the jars too. 😉
Use the two bins of beans that have been sitting in tubs underneath the stairs, since we moved in. I mean I know beans pretty much last forever, but seriously, I need to use them.
Rug Hooking
1. Finish drawing out all my patterns by January 31st.
2. Finish making all my kits by February 28th.
3. Finish dyeing wool by March 31st.
4. Release 10 new rug hooking patterns/kits. I already have all the patterns drawn out. Now comes the hard part. Hooking, assembling and resisting the urge not to produce more. {Which is harder than it sounds.}
5. Hook HALF the patterns I’ve had stored in the “someday I’ll hook these” pattern bin.
There are 54 in there. The deal I’ve made with myself is if I don’t hook at least half of them {27} by the end of the year, I have to sell what’s left in the bin.
Go New Places – See New Things
Travel someplace {internationally} that I’ve never been before.
Travel somewhere in Maine {overnight} that I haven’t been before.
Walk And Stretch More
This past year was really the first year that my bones seriously ached. As in I’d wake up every morning and have to hobble around for a few seconds before I’d be able to stand properly.
I mentioned this to my Doctor. She did a blood workup and nothing exciting popped up. I’m just getting old. My parts are wearing out. I need to be kinder to my body.
We talked about the need to start stretching on a daily basis. And walking more regularly too. So while I plan on working on those two things. I’ve also decided to sign up for a 5k, 10k and half marathon this year as well.
I think the days of me rolling out of bed with zero training and doing a marathon or walking 15 miles around town are over. 😉
* I suggested to the HH that we should get a treadmill and he was like… “We’ve already had three {and sold them all!} we aren’t getting a fourth.” HA HA HA.
Garden
Rework the driveway and garden areas between the house and the cottage.
Go crazy and plant a ridiculous amount of flowers at the Cottage
Step out of my comfort zone and plant some flowers I’ve never planted before.
No matter where we lived, I’ve always planted the same series of plants. Mainly hydrangeas, boxwoods, tulips, coneflowers, foxglove and hibiscus and wisteria.
I know what I like and I LOVE seeing pale pinks and purples in the garden. But this year I’d like to broaden my flower palette and try a new flower or two.
I’m just not sure where to start.
Paint
Finish all the painting projects at The Lobster House that I didn’t get done last year.
- The Van Gough wall
- The gallery wall down stairs
- The captains wall in the hall
- Trim and walls
By getting all these things painted, and more importantly HUNG ON THE WALL, The Lobster House will be done {except for the kitchen cabinets}.
Secret Goals
And then there’s the three personal goals I set for myself that we’re not going to talk about {but that I want to declare} until the end of the year.
I just had to write them down. Announcing my goals always keeps me motivated. 🙂
- Super Secret Goal #1
- Super Secret Goal #2
- Super Secret Goal #3
So those are my goals for this year.
Slow down. Be kinder to my body. See some new things. Play in the dirt. Carve out more time with the HH.
Seems pretty do-able, don’t you think?
How about YOU? What’s at the top of YOUR list for this year? What do you hope to accomplish?
~Mavis
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