Sunday 26 December 2010

Resolutions Roundup

In the absence of December goals, I have been looking over the resolutions I made for 2010.

1. Lose weight. 15lbs by the end of the year
Fail. In fact, I think I am heavier now than I was this time last year. I will have to come up with a better strategy for next year. My reasons for weight loss are not (all) vanity, but health too: I'd like to be able to ski more easily; to fit into a plane seat more comfortably; to climb Ayers Rock next summer without having to take the next day off to recover...

2. Read a book every month.

Fail. I read more since the Kindle arrived, granted; but in July I started reading, for the third time, Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres. This time I made significant inroads into it but then it became obvious that tragedy was coming up so I had to put it aside for a while. I am 50 pages from the end. I think, if I finish it this week, that will be around 4 books read this year.

3. Declutter the house.
Getting there, but always going to be a work in progress. I've certainly taken an awful lot of stuff to the charity shops this year.

4. Finish a knitting project every month - at least one.

Lost my knitting mojo a bit halfway through the year and I'm struggling to rediscover it. I think I need to start some new projects, but have quite a few on the go already.

5. Halve my credit card debt.
Done! Thanks to getting the car loan, I almost cleared the debt. It's built up a little, thanks to foreign travel, but I am going to be bullish about getting it down ready for the Aus trip this summer. I am marking January modules next month and will put all of my earnings to it.

6. Make an effort with the garden on a regular basis.

Well, it wasn't regular, but it is better. I had a couple of days blitzing it and we had massive success with the vegetables, as evidenced by this photo set. Like decluttering, this is going to be a work in progress.

7. Not get sunburned.

I think I managed this. There have been a few pink occasions but in the main I have been successful.

8. Make inroads into stash. This is not just yarn; this also includes wax tarts, perfume and bath products.
Knitting yarn: no. The rest: mmmm, kind of.

9. Buy less. At least whilst decluttering.
I think I have been successful in this. When I want to buy something new to wear, I think very carefully about it and whether I would be willing to get rid of something in my wardrobe for it, and this has been a good strategy for me.

10. Take more photographs. Of everything.
I have taken lots more pictures this year. Coupled with my more organised approach to blogging, I really feel like I have a good record of 2010.
Next year I might participate in Project 365, and see if I can use Mr Z's fancy camera a little more.

I take my NY Reslns quite seriously, usually, and put a lot of thought into them. I suppose it comes from my job: planning SMART targets and success criteria and so on; but last January I bashed this little list out without thinking too hard about it, and so I find myself with more fail than win.
Meh. Win some, lose some!

Next year, however, I will be more successful.

4 comments:

Christine E-E said...

oh my gosh! we have SMART Goals in California... do you have to submit monthly or quarterly reports on how you are progressing with your SMART Goal? ooopss! reminds me - I didn't submit my updates before I left for Winter Break!

Love this post - I'm going to seriously think about any resolutions I make since I have problem making a habit of making tasks a habit unless it is written down!

Kat said...

I thought about leaving this comment for a long time. I love reading your blog and everything that you share, and I am a huge fan of end of year round ups (and good on you for what you've achieved!). But - the one thing that jumped out at me straightaway was "climbing Ayers Rock". Please consider this very carefully. The local Anangu people ask visitors not to climb it because it has such spiritual significance for them. http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru/visitor-activities/do-not-climb.html
Thanks for reading and happy new year!

Sally said...

Oh Kat, I didn't know that! Thanks so much for sharing the link. I am intending to go on an organised backpackers tour of the area so hopefully they wouldn't have let me scale it...as my old friend Burhan would say, "I'm not ignorant, I just don't know" (blush)

I shall henceforth intend to improve my fitness so that I can walk all the way around Ayers Rock ;)

Burhan Ali said...

Haha, and you would be right. ;)