Goals for 2013

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   I enjoy the reflective nature of this time of year. Without reflection and the gain of greater understanding from those considerations it is difficult to move forward because the basis from which steps are taken is unknown. 2012 posed it's challenges, but through those moments my perspective and approach to life has been shaped. It never ceases to amaze me the necessity of difficulty for the production of growth. I believe God is entirely in control of those moments to not necessarily create in me happiness but holiness. My marriage has been through a similar course. My heart is full of joy when I consider my marriage and my husband. Is it because we're "lucky?" I don't believe so in the least. I believe it is because we've never given up on putting forth the work aspect of love, and moreover allowed God to work in us through our marriage. Greatest blessings of this year has been the continued strengthening of our home and marriage, and subsequent resolve to use those entities for God's glory. Reviving Homemaking has been a source of encouragement and inspiration for that endeavor. I'm grateful for every individual who has joined or followed me on this homemaking journey!

    The new year also offers a fresh start. Granted, each day could be considered a new beginning, but there is something about a new year that really solidifies the idea. It's the time for evaluation of the time spent last year and determination for the desire for the time to come. Resolutions are set, and often quickly broken. Nonetheless, I continue to enjoy setting goals and attempting to make the most of the time I'm given. This year I tried to keep them simple and  achievable in a measurable manner each month. I also created some printables that will go in my home management binder so that I could stay organized and focused. 

 {2013 Goals}

Financial

Debt: $           paid

Savings: $           saved

Sorry, the actual numbers are confidential. The method, however, isn't- little by little! As always, I love having a visual for progress made.

Intellectual

 Read 27 books.

Pinterest board for books to possibly read. What would you suggest adding? I'm always open to suggestion for good books! :)

 Spiritual

 Read the Bible each day using a Chronological Reading Plan

Physical

 Exercise daily- walking/pilates/yoga etc. 

The little calendar will allow me to put the first letting of the activity done, and hopefully I will stay motivated to keep filling it out.

Family

 Planned date with hubby at least twice a month. 

Organizational

Establish a daily routine 

Personal

 Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative!

 (Keep a gratitude journal)

Service

 Complete one service effort as a family each month.

 Hubby and I will get together today to pick out 12 activities. It's so much simpler to accomplish when you look at it as just twelve. Of course, there is plenty of room for more effort, but it's a start to making service a part of everyday life. 

Business

 Release Reviving Homemaking eBook. (eek! :D)

Social

Extend an invitation of hospitality to one family each month to join us in our home for dinner, dessert ect.  

For even greater organization and focus, I have a monthly sheet in which I can break each category down to a specific action (family to invite, service project, books to read etc). 

Even with all my intentions and plan, I know that 2013 will be filled with many surprises. Beyond hoping or praying for a "good" year, my heart is for it to be a God-filled year. 

{{Do you have goals or resolutions for the new year?}}

Also Read: Goal Setting (for 2012)

Linked up at:Growing Home, Far Above Rubies, Heavenly Homemakers, Raising Mighty Arrows, Our Simple Country Life

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Goal Setting for 2012

I like to set goals in various categories, and then break them
down into tiny bites to be munched on each month thoughout the
 year. Keeping all my monthly small portions in a visible spot in my
homemaking binder serves as a simiple & organized reminder as to what is current.:)  

       I love new beginnings- fresh, unblemished and full of potential. The start of another year is a perfect time for reflection on that which was decidedly stale, blemished, and at a dead-end. I believe it's the possibility of cleaning the slate of all the challenges and disappointments that held us back the previously that makes new year resolutions so appealing and attractive. Interestingly enough, nothing has really changed other than night to day. So, is it truly necessary to have a designated yearly timeframe for reflection and goal setting? JWhy don't we do this more often? Just a thought.

      Resolutions are notorious for being broken nearly as soon as they are made. How do we create notions of improvement without the limitation of impending failure? I've discovered a few guildlines as I thought of the upcoming year's potential myself:

1. Think small. Small doesn't mean limiting achievement, it means maximizing success. When expectations are too gradiose, then the shortcoming may be accompanied by disappointment and unmotivation to press on. Perhaps this is why we often wait until the next year to re-resolute after the intial one failed. So, think small and celebrate the joy of achievement.
 
2. Get specific. I could say, "eat healthier." Or, I could say, "replace one conventional food item (name it- milk, eggs, lettuce etc) with an organic/local alternative." Which one would you be more willing to apply? Precisely, the second statement. We often use terms of comparison (better, more, less, -(i)er etc) to set goals but then stumble in clearly understanding how to apply such ambiguious statements.
 
3. Determine an extensive timeframe (ie realistic). New Year may happen overnight, but change doesn't. The focus is too often on the result and not on the process. The process, by the way, is practice. If we determine that we will practice a new characteristic or behavior rather than accomplish it, then we're more likely to see it stick. Let's go back to the food example of desiring to eat healthier replace conventional item (defined) with organic/local. I could now say, "replace milk with an organic option for the entirity of this month." The following month, I may keep the milk change and add ...say..eggs. The four weeks gives me the chance to adjust purchasing and usage of the product. In other words, I've given myself the opportunity to practice the behavior before moving on to something more complex or something else entirely.

      I could post my list of goals for the year, but thought it may be less overwhelming and more rewarding to do so as a montly reflection. Yes?

      As I thought further upon this tradition of reflection and resolution, I'm reminded of Jesus and how He can wipe our sins clean. Continually I must humble myself to reflect upon my sin and ask for forgiveness. From there I am reaffirmed and encouraged to seek and walk with Him. Of all the goals or resolutions I may desire to set for myself for the upcoming year, the greatest of all is this understanding. An excellent resource for spiritual reflection and resolution can be consulted in this article: Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year

     

Do you set goals for the new year? How do you determine yours?

p.s. With the start of 2012 is also the restart for the Reviving Homemaking Etsy Shop! I think giveaway is in order for that, yeah? Watch for the relaunch and giveaway later this week!!! :)

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