January 7, 2016

2016 Goals: The Year to Be Bold

Here we go, another post about someone's goals for the new year and vague feelings about getting better, faster, stronger. How original. 

john-oliver-new-years-resolutions


Real talk and thinking out loud, I think setting goals is a useful reflection activity. It's a way to think about improvements you'd like to make in yourself and keep yourself accountable for positive changes in your life. Past January when life gets in the way, things can get hard to keep. I know it's really easy to set goals that are way too high or unrealistic. Sometimes goals are set and shit happens, and therefore the goal is unattainable. 

Anyhow this year I plan to set some goals not resolutions and am keeping them fairly broad. I don't really want to hold myself to running X miles a week or hitting a PR in everything, or losing weight, or having 10 things I want to do every week because I know it won't happen.  So here are my goals for 2016-let's hope that I can check most of these off as completed in a year!

2016 Goals

2016 Goals: The Year to Be Bold


1. Journal everyday in my One Line a Day journal.  
I started this journal last year and majorly slacked. All I'm asking for is at least one line of journaling a day so I'm trying to stick with it this year because I think having a record of some private thoughts and a space for reflection is important. 

2. Stay in strong running shape year-round. 
 I always say this and then winter hits like it did this week and instead of running I just want to put on a million layers and cuddle under a blanket on the couch with Netflix. Here's to keeping my running fairly consistent throughout the year! 

3. Get back to lifting regularly
At first I had written at least 2x a week added to this goal, but specific goals seem really restrictive. Ugh I've been saying this but honestly since I stopped Crossfit because of money and haven't belonged to a gym it just doesn't happen. I'm not a lift at home kinda gal. I plan on joining a gym and actually making this happen because I miss my baby muscles and feeling strong.   

4. Work on being confident. 
Always a work in progress and as most everyone probably feels, how I feel about myself fluctuates day to day. Here's to taking chances, speaking up, loving my body, and believing in myself. My word or mantra for 2016 is "Be bold." Bold is a little different from confident in that it means not hesitating based on fear and being brave. I think I need to have confidence but also be bold in putting myself out there and taking chances without fear or doubt. 

5. Fuel my body. Eating pizza, french fries, and dessert is delicious and is something I will not give up because life is too short for steamed broccoli and boneless skinless chicken breast everyday.  However trying to get some more veggies in never hurt anyone. I need to work on having solid, satisfying meals, especially once school starts up again this semester and all I want and am surrounded by is junk. Fueling my body isn't just healthy, it leads to me feeling better and better workouts! 

6. Budget better. 
 I realize that as much as I don't want to be, I am actually a full blown adult. While I have most things under control, I really need to budget better. I need to actually have a solid savings account and not spend money on frivolous and unnecessary things (I'm looking at you Target and Whole Foods). That means buying things online and especially food shopping, thoughtfully. It also means looking at monthly spending and using my credit card less. It's easy to buy things, but I know I want to spend the little money I have after all of my bills (don't even talk to me about student loan debt I'm piling onto my undergraduate debt) on travelling and things that are actually important to me. 

7. Travel to at least two new places.
Because of my wanderlust, I probably don't really need to have this as a goal however I think having it in writing is a nice thing to hold myself to. I'd love to go out west again and explore a little more of the North by going to Vermont or Maine. 

8. Set a running PR.  
My goal for qualifying for the Boston Marathon happened last year, but my time is just under the qualifying time so I know I won't get accepted this year. Getting a faster qualifying time is a goal, but I really don't want to put pressure on myself this year, especially because full-time school AND work really impacts my free-time and training. I am still figuring out racing plans and what I want to accomplish in 2016, but let's just say I'm shooting for a PR. Whether that's a half marathon, 5K, 10 miler, or marathon PR-I'm cool.

Here's to a 2016 filled with more adventure, love, and happiness!

Do you set a goal or resolutions? What is one of your goals? What would be your word of 2016? 

25 comments:

  1. My word for 2016 is happiness.

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  2. I like the idea of setting goals that aren't super specific numbers. I'm working on the lifting thing myself- I love corepower yoga to get the stretching + lifting all at once, but sadly it's not a sustainable option for me. I need a class to motivate me to get out of my warm bed haha and some running buddies to keep me accountable

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    1. Getting out of my warm bed is always the first victory of the day, haha.

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  3. I'm not huge on setting goals or resolutions, but I picked two words for this year and they're: kindness and gratitude. I figure the world needs a little more kindness with all the negativity out there, and I've found that practicing gratitude has made a HUGE difference as far a my happiness levels go.... especially because there's always a tonne of stuff that we have to be grateful for.

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    1. Those are great words! I love having gratitude as a mantra and reminder each day.

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  4. As you already know, I am not setting goals this year, rather just trying to live through the year as it comes to me. But I am proud of and agree with the goals that you have set--they aren't about numbers or quantity, but about quality, which is how you should go about them!

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    1. Thanks, lady :) Quality is definitely what counts in the end!

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  5. I like your idea of having a word/phrase to work on in the New Year! I'm trying to just focus on one area of my life at the moment and we'll see how things change :) I also like the idea of "setting intentions", like letting go of what doesn't serve you or being in the moment. Good luck on your goals!!

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    1. Yes, I love the whole idea of setting intentions, which I borrow from yoga classes I take. Focusing on the small things can lead to big changes!

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  6. Yay! I love stepping out and traveling somewhere, because it totally takes this homebody girl out of her comfort zone and presses me to trust God even more.

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    1. Definitely! Travelling somewhere will probably be on my goals list each year.

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  7. These are all such wonderful goals! Giggling at "life is too short for steamed broccoli and boneless skinless chicken breast everyday". So true.
    I got one of those One Line A Day journals last Christmas and actually wrote in it everyday (but one) in 2015! I kept it by my bed so I wouldn't forget about it.
    Excited to see all the things you get up to in 2016!

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    1. It's so true! Kudos to you for actually sticking to the journal-I'm determined this year!

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  8. I love this Lauren. I think everyone could benefit from "being bold" or getting out of their comfort zone. I think you are going to Pr and hopefully qualify with a lower time for Boston. I think 2016 finally be the year we hang out. ha ha

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    1. Thank so for your vote of confidence. Yes! Diner time in 2016 for sure!

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  9. I love your goals and your goal word! I think that you can definitely reach them all. Good luck in 2016!

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  10. Your goals for the year are great and I love your mantra as well. I totally agree with you on #5. I gained so much weight in grad school because I stress ate junk food day after day. Now that I'm at home I'm trying to eat healthier and lay off the beer (I can't lie, I miss that carby goodness).
    My goals for this year are to successfully move and start my career and to keep improving my 13.1 time!

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    1. Thank you so much! I've been trying to limit my beer intake at least to cool off after the holidays, but I loe it so!

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  11. I love your goals for the year! I have a few similar ones as well but haven't really outlined mine for the year yet. Can't wait to see what's next for you!

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  12. Only because I don't live closer to either, shopping at Whole Foods and Target can never be classified as frivolous to me. But I can see how they can get costly, quickly.
    I think my best suggestion for meal planning and sticking to a budget is to try and meal plan based on what's on sale and plan out what you'll need for the whole week and buy that. I pretty much have nothing left in my fridge on Sundays. It's harder when there's nothing good on sale...or you really want berries and they're so expensive because it's January.

    I'm trying to workout for enjoyment not because one should - not there yet, really hate it. Hate everything about it. And since it's winter, mostly hate how cold I am afterwards, for hours. And get into a regular routine washing and moisturizing my face. Finally found something that doesn't make me breakout and want to use it regularly because blemish-free, soft skin has been amazing.

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    1. I definitely need to work on having a clear fridge each week. I have lots of crap sitting in there that is barely touched like sauces and dressings.

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  13. Great goals! I have a lot of similar ones myself. My word for the year is CHANGE :)

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