My New Year’s Resolutions for 2015

I love making new year’s resolutions. If I were to claim two nerdy, organizational hobbies, they would absolutely be making lists and setting goals. There is something so intrinsically satisfying about writing down meaningful objectives and then crossing them off, knowing that your life is incrementally better for it. Needless to say, I’m stoked it’s that time of year again.

In our household, we follow my husband’s new year’s resolution tradition. His rule is that you make one resolution for every year you have been alive. Last year, I made 21 resolutions and completed 12. The goals I failed to meet were ones where I ignored my own resolution-making advice. They were either out of my control (as in the case of immigration paperwork), difficult to measure, or unrealistic for my stage of life. This year, however, I believe I have crafted 22 resolutions that follow my criteria of intelligent attainability while still being challenging.

And of course, because it’s me, they are categorized.

WRITING

This section of my goals is probably the most important to me, as well as the most difficult. However, I think they are still attainable. After all, if I can write an 80,000 word novel in one month with moderate challenge, surely I can manage half that pace. Again, super challenging, but still possible.

1.       Write for 30 minutes at least 5 days per week

2.       Write manuscript – April CampWriMo

3.       Write manuscript – July CampWriMo

4.       Write manuscript – November NaNoWriMo

5.       Write manuscript – January to March

6.       Write manuscript – May to June

7.       Write manuscript – August to October

As you can see, I am centering my writing goals around the National Novel Writing Month events, because that is a proven method by which I can produce a manuscript. You may also notice that I am not including editing in my goals. This is because I want to focus heavily on production in 2015 and more on publication in 2016. Edit: Obviously I had no idea how long the editing for The Cogsmith’s Daughter would take. But hey, we live and we learn!

BUSINESS

While writing is the most important component of my author business, I have decided to separate these goals into different categories. These are the more “business-y” things I need to accomplish in 2015.

8.       Establish my LLC (opted for a sole proprietorship instead)

9.       Publish my first novel, The Cogsmith’s Daughter

10.   Update author website and platform (and then revise each quarter)

11.   Write at least 3 blog posts per week (On average, I think I met this goal.)

12.   Send 2 email newsletters per month

13.   Read at least 40 books

MARITAL

Daniel and I have gotten off to a relatively slow start to our “real” adult lives (thanks immigration). Last year, I made the mistake of setting goals that were flat-out unrealistic for a recent college graduate and her attempting-to-immigrate, graduate student fiance. Therefore, this year, I am focusing on goals that are more within our reach.

14.   Go on a mini-honeymoon/vacation

15.   Sell/donate any belongings not moving with us

16.   Move into our first (rental) home

17.   Set up savings account or invest in a mutual fund

HEALTH/WELLNESS

These are the goals that are more for my personal well-being. However, I know that Daniel will join me in a few of them and that all of them will benefit my other goals by making me a healthier, happier person.

18.   Record 3 daily gratitudes

19.   Reduce migraines to under one per month (12 or fewer for the year) (SO close!)

20.   Exercise for 30 minutes at least 3 days per week

21.   Learn to cook (at least one week’s worth of meals)

22.   Reduce junk food intake to one serving per day

That’s it! Those are my 22 new year’s resolutions for 2015. I know that some of them will be a little easy and some of them will be really damn difficult. However, I also know that I have plenty of people in my life (you all included!) who can help keep me accountable for my goals. Seriously, though, feel free to pester me about any of these at any time. I need it! More importantly, I know that I have chosen goals that are challenging, attainable, and meaningful to me. And that’s all I can do for 2014!

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What are your new year’s resolutions? Do you think 2015 will be a better year for achieving your goals? Share your thoughts below!