Better Late Than Never: My 8 Goals for 2017
So we’re a week into the new year and I’m just now narrowing down my goals. Usually I have them set and ready to go day one, but this year I really spent some time thinking about these and what I want out of 2017.
Do you set goals for the new year? Or resolutions? I don’t really call my new year list a list of resolutions because that sort of has an air of “I wasn’t doing things right before but I’m going to change” to me. I like to call list simply a list of goals for the new year. And they usually involve a fun challenge of some sort.
My priorities this year surround learning and health. I wrote down a list of goals with Lil’ J, but then I went back and re-worked some of them to be more specific after reading these New Year’s resolution-keeping tips from Allstate.
1. Drink more water. Specifically about 65-75 ounces a day. I haven’t been drinking nearly that much. But I have a 25oz water bottle and I’m trying to fill it up and empty it at least three times a day.
2. Practice piano every single day. In my 30s I want to learn both piano and Spanish. I wanted to get Rosetta Stone this birthday (next week), but I’ve decided to hold off and really focus on piano this year. I’ve posted a few shares on Instagram and Snapchat, maybe I’ll upload a monthly video on my blog of my progress. I’m really excited about this.
3. Workout more Lose 20 pounds. I was debating some sort of healthier eating/fitness goals of working out a certain amount a week, but the truth is I just want to lose about 20lbs. I’ve done it before, I can do it again, and by cutting out some evening ice cream indulgence and a few less helpings of fries every week I don’t think this should be too hard to achieve.
4. Volunteer at least once a month. At the end of the year we had so much fun doing acts of kindness and volunteering around the city. I’d like to keep it up all year. At least once a month my kids and I will give back. Whether it’s our time at a nursing home, or a donation of some sort, we’ll lend a hand.
5. Read 365 Books. This was another goal that started out vague: “read to my kids every day.” But I’ve decided to go a step beyond that and read 365 books. I know this won’t be a cake walk. We don’t own that many books so we’ll be spending a lot of time at the library. I’ll start another post soon with a link to all of the books we read (we read 6 today and more of 2 novels we are working on).
A few other goals that don’t need as much explaining:
6. Wake up by 6am 2-3 days a week for some “me” time and/or work.
7. Plan and cook a family dinner at least once a week.
8. Teach Lil’ J how to sew and sew at least 7 things in 2017.
And there you have it. My 2017 goals–Probably my most boring list ever. Last year I met The Rock and next year I hope to meet Oprah. This year I want to drink water and learn piano… Snore. Maybe I’ll come up with something more exciting in another week or so, but for now I’m going to enjoy working on my old lady goals of 2017.
What are your goals for this year? If you’re having trouble setting or keeping them, be sure to check out this handy list by Allstate.
This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.
Tags: goals, motherhood, new year resolutions, new year's resolutions, parenting
Great list of goals. I love the reading goal the most. I really enjoy a good book.
Very good list. My goals are always to stop yelling and exercise more. More exercise makes me more calm, which makes my fuse longer so they go hand in hand, I guess. I’m not an insane yeller, but I tend to raise my voice to get my kids’ attention, despite all the reading about it I have done.
I’m totally curious — what do meals look like if you don’t cook and eat together? What do you guys do? Do you wait until the kids go to bed to eat? Do you skip dinner? Do you go out to dinner? Do you get takeout? Just curious. 🙂
Totally a valid question Anna! You know honestly, we do eat home a lot but it’s pieced together things like the kids love those veggie pasta noodles… Or at least my daughter does, so she eats them 3-4 times a week. My son will eat grilled cheese or pasta too, and she’ll eat hard boiled eggs. Then I’ll give them apples, grapes or some fruit and carrots. My husband and I will either heat up something frozen or eat out, or eat cereal. Haha! It’s pretty sad! My kids are SO picky but I think if I kept the fruit/veggie sides familiar they’d eventually come around to whatever I’m making.
I gave up making “Goals” for a year forever ago.
They almost never seem to make it from the page to real life in my neck of the woods, Good luck with yours!!
Aww, I’m sad to hear that. Hope it’s just the “goals” and not all goals 🙂 But thanks for the luck!
Great list! I especially love your #2 and #5! You are so awesome for challenging yourself to learn new things, and 365 books is a really cool way to make sure you read every day as a family! Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
Yea! I think it’ll be a great way to keep me accountable. Plus expand our reading horizons! haha
Where exactly are you hiding these 20 lbs that you want to shed?! My one of my goals is to work out and tone up. I won’t even say how pounds I packed on last year from last night stress eating. And happy reading! We love books as well.
Haha! Oh you’re nice. No, they are there, my too-tight jeans are telling me. I think toning up is a great goal! I had SO MUCH late night stress eating last year too! Solidarity sista. I’ve been working on that! haha
Love these goals. The book challenge is one after my own heart. I LOVE to read!
I Love your goals! I am also adding water to mine. Great reading goal, I hope you achieve it. You look so peaceful at the piano, post a video mid year for us to see! Here’s t0 2017!
Haha, thank you! Ok I think I will. I’ve been trying to play for anyone who will listen. lol
Love your blog (I’m a regular reader/lurker). Love your voice (straight talk and positivity you don’t have to be a parent to appreciate). Loving your goals. Are you taking book recs because I just (over Christmas) launched a picture book – a Caribbean fairytale – I think you and the little ones might appreciate. It’s called With Grace and you can check it out here https://wadadlipen.wordpress.com/2017/01/08/with-grace-now-available-online
Just a suggestion. Good luck with your goals either way, and either way, I’ll still be reading your blog. Happy New Year to you and the fam.
Joanne! You’re so sweet! YES! I’d love suggestions! I really want to expose my kids to all kinds of books this year and this will be a fun challenge. Just read the synopsis of With Grace and added it to my Amazon shopping cart. Can’t wait to read it!
Cool. I hope they like it.
Your goals are awesome! Practicing piano might be a lot of fun and it will be nice to have a new skill.
Yes! I’ve wanted to learn for years, time to make it happen 🙂
Great goal list. I am trying to drink more water, too, hoping that it will lead to weight loss. ? The fact that it’s cold where I live helps, because I drink a lot of hot tea right now, and that’s basically water, right? You will fly through those 365 books with your kids. I signed my two year old up for a program through our library called 1000 books before Kindergarten. I thought it would take a long time, but we finished the program in four months! I am sure it will be a little more challenging since J is getting older, but I know you can handle it. I totally admire the fact that you’re learning to play piano, too. That’s so awesome!
WOW! 1000 books in 4 months?! Holy crap! That’s amazing. We are flying through pretty quick right now but reading some of our favorites but I’m excited to find new ones. I need to set a goal for how many novels we’ll read this year too. I’m hoping to get a couple in each month at least. Those take a bit longer. Have you heard of the read aloud revival podcast? I need to start listening to it, I saw the host speak at a homeschool conference recently, it was pretty inspiring.
I have but one goal set for 2017 – donate platelets as often as I can. I went to donate on Christmas Eve and my blood pressure was too high to donate. Now I think there were other issues with the process, but I want it to be normal and healthy at all times.
Oooh that’s an awesome and generous goal! I used to do that in college.
I love the word goals versus resolutions. For me, resolutions look back and goals look forward. I love your solid weight loss goal and I share that one with you. I am presently in the must drink more water mode, too. Best of luck and happy new year!
That’s a good explanation. I never thought of it that way!
These are great goals and will make you feel so good about yourself! I especially love the book challenge! I for one get tired of reading the same children’s books but 365 stories adds quite a bit of variety! It’s also super great how measurable your goals are! Wishing you much success!!
Thanks so much Alex!
Love your goals! You can do these! I love the idea of reading more books, it is one thing I love doing, but am not sure I can make 365 books happen. Maybe between reading with my kids, and books for my own reading I could get close. Good luck!
All incredible, ambitious, exciting goals! (Although I’m with the people who can’t figure out where you need to lose 20 lbs). As a voracious reader, I love the 365 books a year. Can’t wait to see how that works out!
I think these are great goals! I also like to set goals instead of resolutions. You got this!
I wish you all the best with your goals this year. I’ll tag you in some of my recipe posts so you can use them!
If you find a spare minute in your busy world, Duolingo is a free language program. Friends have recommended it, and I am just starting it. Heard it is comparable to Rosetta Stone, but free!
I admired you for your goals. I think I should be added drinking water on my lists too.
Hi jennifer,
really good and important goals i like your goals keep your goals and experience as a book keep go ahead all the best…
Trim your goals to the top five most important—or desirable—goals. Create a specific time frame and action plan for each goal. Re-evaluate after a month.