Checking In--2016 Goals. 48? Weeks / 11 months into the year

[Lizard Queen]

How are your goals going so far?  I thought it could help keep us on track if we review what we've done each week.



ETA:  I've gotta run for now, but here's an inspirational blog post to pass the time  :


waitbutwhy.com/2015/03/procrastination-matrix.html

[Deleted]

Still alive!  Doing great! 

[giramomma]

I need to write my goals down...

I'll get to it later.

[Artemis Windsong]

My friend said I am sufficient and enough.  Goal met. 

[ArchietheDragon]

Not well. The market is screwing us all

[kittensaver]

Jan 7, 2016 17:34:14 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Not well. The market is screwing us all

Markets do that occasionally

[lurkyloo]

At the risk of sounding smug...I try to set goals that depend on my actions.  Maybe next year I'll set the goal of including stock market performance in that category 
Doin' ok so far! Mostly coasting on getting everything really necessary done for 2015 though.

[Apple]

I'm doing well here, since most goals were "continue good habits".  I bought a $500 cookware set with half my overtime money (goal is to save 90% for college), but did that on New Year's Eve, so I'm still good on my 2016 goals  The made in China set was $300, but I paid the made-in-USA premium and hope this set will last my lifetime.

I spent today going through some of my son's old toys (I had him put everything he didn't want in one spot), tossing the broken stuff, saving a few for whenever kids are here, and loaded the car with the rest.  I have a bag of clothes I'll add to the load and I'll make a trip to Salvation Army tomorrow.

[zibazinski]

Got round one of my taxes done and meet with tax guy today at ten. I see I donated a lot to church and temple this year. I also see I put a lot of money into the rental to prep it for sale. Yes, it sold for full price and in a week but I spent foolishly. I won't make that mistake with this last one. It was a check here, a check there but I spent way too much for a good roi.

[resolution]

I went to the gym last night, which is the only goal I have started on so far. It was crammed full of people - about double the number from before the holidays.

[cronewitch]

My goal is to control the stock market, so far so good the worst open in the history of the markets. I should have made my goal to have them go up but what is done is done.

[Lizard Queen]

Jan 8, 2016 7:22:11 GMT -5 resolution said:

I went to the gym last night, which is the only goal I have started on so far. It was crammed full of people - about double the number from before the holidays.

Yeah, I went to the gym the week before new year's, and will probably start again in February--to avoid the new year's crowds.  It's hard enough to make myself go without dealing with all kinds of people too.  I have some workouts I can do at home in the meantime.

[Lizard Queen]

Okay, my first week check-in:
Started out really well, and slowed down considerably in the last day or 2.  Gotta keep going if I really want to get anywhere with this!

Goal 1:  I'll rename this manage career, as getting a job is one and done thing, and I'm trying to make these sort of ongoing.
No job prospects, unless I want to commute 45 minutes for $12/hr. (My limited time availablility is killing me on this front.) Will still consider it, but only if it comes with a real boost to a future career field, as it will be mostly a hassle for not really netting anything at all.
Big fail on the enrolling in the one class.  Might take an SQL class--need to talk to DH more about it because--schedule.
Finished the one book I was reading, which had great tips on managing your career.  ( www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Mirror-Gene-Bedell-ebook/dp/B001D23SU8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452264947&sr=1-1&keywords=millionaire+in+the+mirror  , if anyone is interested)
Started reading The Intelligent Investor

Goal 2:  Spending $$:
Set up YNAB in a half-ass way so far, and am actually updating it with activity, which is farther than I've gotten before.
Made some returns to stores that have been hanging around the house
I've always been cost-conscious, but have been more so.
Used some random giftcards that have been hanging around.
(Having a paying job would help tremendously with this goal, but you do what you can with what you have at the time.)

Goal 3:  Better habits:
Being stuck on goal #1 tends to get me really down and I have little motivation to do much.  I've improved on this a lot, except for maybe yesterday (busy with mom's Dr appts the last couple of days).  My DH really helped me get unstuck while he was home.
Tracking daily accomplishments on my calendar.
1 extra grooming task everyday (These are things done occasionally, like doing nails or plucking eyebrows.  I wouldn't tend to notice until things got more out of hand.)
Tracking fruit/vegetable/water intake on calendar.  Hey, awareness is the first step. right?
Established baseline weigh-in and measurements.  Actually down slightly already from a few days before.  No idea how THAT happened.
More conscious focus on decluttering.  At 34/2016 for the first week.  Started out strong, but fell off the pace slightly.
Reading my books, instead of internet based stuff all of the time.
Keeping up on housework a bit better.
Making sure I'm taking meds more consistently.

Goal 4:  Finish/follow-through
Putting clean clothes away more promptly.
Finished 1 book, on to another that has been waiting for me.
Keeping up on YNAB entries.
Made returns to stores.

So, a mixed week for me, but a big step forward in getting unstuck.  My brain doesn't feel as scattered either.  Need to add exercise and eating better in the near future.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I haven't lost my job.

DH hasn't found another job yet.

That's pretty much it as far as my goals for 2016 planning anything else until we meet the second goal is an exercise in futility.  Surviving is all I am focused on right now.

[zibazinski]

Yikes, death and taxes, no kidding. I owe 13k by January 15th..ugh.

[ArchietheDragon]

Jan 8, 2016 12:10:32 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Yikes, death and taxes, no kidding. I owe 13k by January 15th..ugh.

for what to who?

[resolution]

Jan 8, 2016 10:25:11 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Okay, my first week check-in:
Started out really well, and slowed down considerably in the last day or 2.  Gotta keep going if I really want to get anywhere with this!

Goal 1:  I'll rename this manage career, as getting a job is one and done thing, and I'm trying to make these sort of ongoing.
No job prospects, unless I want to commute 45 minutes for $12/hr. (My limited time availablility is killing me on this front.) Will still consider it, but only if it comes with a real boost to a future career field, as it will be mostly a hassle for not really netting anything at all.
Big fail on the enrolling in the one class.  Might take an SQL class--need to talk to DH more about it because--schedule.
Finished the one book I was reading, which had great tips on managing your career.  ( www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Mirror-Gene-Bedell-ebook/dp/B001D23SU8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452264947&sr=1-1&keywords=millionaire+in+the+mirror  , if anyone is interested)
Started reading The Intelligent Investor

Goal 2:  Spending $$:
Set up YNAB in a half-ass way so far, and am actually updating it with activity, which is farther than I've gotten before.
Made some returns to stores that have been hanging around the house
I've always been cost-conscious, but have been more so.
Used some random giftcards that have been hanging around.
(Having a paying job would help tremendously with this goal, but you do what you can with what you have at the time.)

Goal 3:  Better habits:
Being stuck on goal #1 tends to get me really down and I have little motivation to do much.  I've improved on this a lot, except for maybe yesterday (busy with mom's Dr appts the last couple of days).  My DH really helped me get unstuck while he was home.
Tracking daily accomplishments on my calendar.
1 extra grooming task everyday (These are things done occasionally, like doing nails or plucking eyebrows.  I wouldn't tend to notice until things got more out of hand.)
Tracking fruit/vegetable/water intake on calendar.  Hey, awareness is the first step. right?
Established baseline weigh-in and measurements.  Actually down slightly already from a few days before.  No idea how THAT happened.
More conscious focus on decluttering.  At 34/2016 for the first week.  Started out strong, but fell off the pace slightly.
Reading my books, instead of internet based stuff all of the time.
Keeping up on housework a bit better.
Making sure I'm taking meds more consistently.

Goal 4:  Finish/follow-through
Putting clean clothes away more promptly.
Finished 1 book, on to another that has been waiting for me.
Keeping up on YNAB entries.
Made returns to stores.

So, a mixed week for me, but a big step forward in getting unstuck.  My brain doesn't feel as scattered either.  Need to add exercise and eating better in the near future.

It sounds like you have a ton of goals for this year. I know you only have them numbered as 4, but "better habits" could encompass dozens. I would be a bit overwhelmed. If you find yourself slowing down you may want to just focus on a couple of them instead of trying to do all at once.

[resolution]

I will try to do the weekly check in but I am not so good with staying power.  I have 4 goals.

1. Meet current retirement savings goals - This is behind because we just spent $12k on our house. I probably won't start investing "catch up" money until February when we have had some time to rebuild regular savings.

2. Increase exercise to at least 5 days per week -  This week I flew home from a month long trip. I exercised Sun, spent 12 hours in various airports Mon, crashed Tue,  exercise Wed and Thu. I will try today and tomorrow to reach the 5 days.

3. Lose 10 pounds - I lost 10 last year but still have 10 to go. - I haven't weighed in yet after my trip to survey the damage done.

4. Develop a better relationship with my SIL. - I haven't done anything yet, but maybe this weekend I will call her and try to schedule something for next weekend.

[zibazinski]

Jan 8, 2016 12:11:35 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Jan 8, 2016 12:10:32 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Yikes, death and taxes, no kidding. I owe 13k by January 15th..ugh.

for what to who?

IIRS. To add insult to injury over DH's passing

[Lizard Queen]

Jan 8, 2016 12:12:31 GMT -5 resolution said:

Jan 8, 2016 10:25:11 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Okay, my first week check-in:
Started out really well, and slowed down considerably in the last day or 2.  Gotta keep going if I really want to get anywhere with this!

Goal 1:  I'll rename this manage career, as getting a job is one and done thing, and I'm trying to make these sort of ongoing.
No job prospects, unless I want to commute 45 minutes for $12/hr. (My limited time availablility is killing me on this front.) Will still consider it, but only if it comes with a real boost to a future career field, as it will be mostly a hassle for not really netting anything at all.
Big fail on the enrolling in the one class.  Might take an SQL class--need to talk to DH more about it because--schedule.
Finished the one book I was reading, which had great tips on managing your career.  ( www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Mirror-Gene-Bedell-ebook/dp/B001D23SU8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452264947&sr=1-1&keywords=millionaire+in+the+mirror  , if anyone is interested)
Started reading The Intelligent Investor

Goal 2:  Spending $$:
Set up YNAB in a half-ass way so far, and am actually updating it with activity, which is farther than I've gotten before.
Made some returns to stores that have been hanging around the house
I've always been cost-conscious, but have been more so.
Used some random giftcards that have been hanging around.
(Having a paying job would help tremendously with this goal, but you do what you can with what you have at the time.)

Goal 3:  Better habits:
Being stuck on goal #1 tends to get me really down and I have little motivation to do much.  I've improved on this a lot, except for maybe yesterday (busy with mom's Dr appts the last couple of days).  My DH really helped me get unstuck while he was home.
Tracking daily accomplishments on my calendar.
1 extra grooming task everyday (These are things done occasionally, like doing nails or plucking eyebrows.  I wouldn't tend to notice until things got more out of hand.)
Tracking fruit/vegetable/water intake on calendar.  Hey, awareness is the first step. right?
Established baseline weigh-in and measurements.  Actually down slightly already from a few days before.  No idea how THAT happened.
More conscious focus on decluttering.  At 34/2016 for the first week.  Started out strong, but fell off the pace slightly.
Reading my books, instead of internet based stuff all of the time.
Keeping up on housework a bit better.
Making sure I'm taking meds more consistently.

Goal 4:  Finish/follow-through
Putting clean clothes away more promptly.
Finished 1 book, on to another that has been waiting for me.
Keeping up on YNAB entries.
Made returns to stores.

So, a mixed week for me, but a big step forward in getting unstuck.  My brain doesn't feel as scattered either.  Need to add exercise and eating better in the near future.

It sounds like you have a ton of goals for this year. I know you only have them numbered as 4, but "better habits" could encompass dozens. I would be a bit overwhelmed. If you find yourself slowing down you may want to just focus on a couple of them instead of trying to do all at once.

Thanks for the advice.  I didn't know the best way to handle it, as they are really, small simple things that I want to do more often.  It all kind of relates to my one big bad habit, which is feeling so stuck that I get very little other things done.  I figured focusing on my progress in other areas will boost my mood, which will motivate me to do more.  It's really early, but so far, it's working.

[Lizard Queen]

Jan 8, 2016 12:20:07 GMT -5 resolution said:

I will try to do the weekly check in but I am not so good with staying power.  

I'm not either.  I'm very much and out of sight, out of mind sort of person.  I was hoping that a weekly review here will keep it fresh in my mind, and make me more accountable.  

[giramomma]

Here's my goals. I'll probably work on some of these yet this weekend and edit as I go along.

1. Improve our financials
a. Continue to increase/acquire income: Started the appropriate promotion documentation at day job and set meeting with mentor to go through my documentation; acquired a new student
b. Rebuild my teaching business
c. Save

2. Career
a. Get in a position to apply for grad school in a year

3. Health
a. Exercise: Can't until after Jan 12. I'm in a medical study and you aren't supposed to exercise. Jan 12 is my last study day

4. Start working through my stash.
a. Knit for charity: cast on a baby hat
b. Finish one UFO (cross stitch) a month
c. Finish a quilt/quilt related project.

5. Work on our House
a. Declutter: Went through kid books, recycled some and donated some.
b Repair
c Update

What the hell, I'll shoot for the stars:
6. Read something other than blogs and messageboards.

[Apple]

I got the first run of toys dropped off, donation slip says "carload of toys", so yea, me, lol.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 7, 2016 12:21:51 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

How are your goals going so far?  I thought it could help keep us on track if we review what we've done each week.



ETA:  I've gotta run for now, but here's an inspirational blog post to pass the time  :


waitbutwhy.com/2015/03/procrastination-matrix.html

Fantastic idea!!!
Are we going to have a new thread each week?
I'm on the far end of the "needs structure" spectrum, so please know that I know that not everyone will like that idea.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Financial
Sell the MFH

Personal
Lose 15 pounds and maintain that loss
Reduce gossiping

Professional
Decide what to do with my career: stay in teaching or return to school administration

[Lizard Queen]

Jan 8, 2016 12:36:11 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Jan 8, 2016 12:11:35 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

for what to who?

IIRS. To add insult to injury over DH's passing

Damn!  Sorry about that. 

[Lizard Queen]

Jan 8, 2016 21:44:34 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Jan 7, 2016 12:21:51 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

How are your goals going so far?  I thought it could help keep us on track if we review what we've done each week.



ETA:  I've gotta run for now, but here's an inspirational blog post to pass the time  :


waitbutwhy.com/2015/03/procrastination-matrix.html

Fantastic idea!!!
Are we going to have a new thread each week?
I'm on the far end of the "needs structure" spectrum, so please know that I know that not everyone will like that idea.  

I wasn't planning on it, just keeping this one going--perhaps editing the title for each week.  I suppose we can if there's a lot of participation.  Maybe new ones monthly or quarterly?  Will wait and see.

[mojothehelpermonkey]

Moving: SO and I have been trying to set aside time at least once a week to start planning our move. We decided that the cats, our electronics, and maybe a box or two of sentimental things are all that we really need to bring. My mom and her fiance are buying new furniture for their new house, so the house we will be moving into will be fully furnished. Our plan is to pay the utilities and help out with maintenance at all of their places until we find jobs. Then we will either start paying rent or start making payments to buy the house.

Wedding: I was starting to stress out this week about the expense of moving and trying to plan a wedding at the same time. After talking about it this weekend though, it turns out that we are both on the same page in terms of wanting to focus on moving first. Then once we are settled, we will work on planning the wedding. We still want to keep it small and do it within the next year or so.

Career: I have been looking more into what I will need to do to get certified as a histotechnologist. I will need to track down my adviser from grad school and ask him to fill out a form verifying my experience. Assuming I can get in touch with him, that shouldn't be a problem. However, if I wait more than a year, my experience will be too old to count. I think I will also sign up for an online training course because the exam covers a lot of information, and it has been years since I have needed to know this stuff.

[Lizard Queen]

Okay, after 2 weeks, where are you at? Have you continued to make progress? One step at a time,and all that.


(I will update for myself later.)

[Apple]

No overtime for me this month, unless someone calls in sick, but still trying to throw money at DS's college.

I increased the "eating out" part of the budget for this month knowing we would go to "the big city" for a day.  Hope to not use it all (half way through the month and we haven't gone out, and I include fast food in "eating out", so will probably get to put it back toward college).

I think I'll be spending half my food budget on New York Seltzer  They don't sell it in my town and I can't wait to have some again, used to be such a big treat when I was little.  

We also do the big Costco run when we're there, so I had to plan for that as well.  We use everything we buy there, but I buy stuff to last a while (toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, etc) so it takes a chunk at a time and looks like I had a heavy spending month, even if it's planned for.

I am so much happier at this new job, and without the added drama.  I'm getting good at the "take a year to relax and recover" part, and even read a full book this week!  (well, close, I have about 20 pages left).