Hello, my name is Audrey and I am a goal-fudger. I make them, I feel good about them, & then I remove all pressure to actually achieve them.
(Oops, sorry. Insert obligatory “Welcome to 2018” sentence here.)
Ok, back to goals. My lackadaisical attitude is definitely a coping mechanism to avoid failing or feeling overwhelmed, but it’s also a piss-poor way to meet goals. So I’m going to start holding myself a little more accountable. With my morning confession out of the way, let’s get to the goals…
Drink 64 oz. of water a day.
I know this should already be a thing but it’s not with me. (Is the key number still 64?) Honestly, I barely get one glass of water in my body a day, let alone 64 ounces. Coffee, tea, and wine probably make up 90% of my blood right meow.
Read 50 books in 2018. And complete one of Erin’s Challenges.
No more excuses. I like to read, I have so many unread books, I own a library card.
Start exercising.
This was on my list for 2017 and I tactfully avoided it. I have a unique set of skills.
Annnnywaaaay… we have gym memberships and we didn’t use them ONCE in 2017. Pathetic.
Keep up with meal planning.
This was probably the only 2017 goal that I held myself to, although selling the house and moving really threw us off for a few months. No excuses like that this year 🙂
Practice kindness, patience, grace, and peace.
I am a fiery person and I’m proud of that. I enjoy discussing politics and voicing my opinion and standing up for the right people and critters and causes. I also think that I try to extend patience and kindness in new situations or to those in need. On the flip side, I can be extremely harsh and grumpy and snide to those closest to me, particularly K and my mom. I’d like to start curbing the snark and allowing myself to be a little sweeter and vulnerable with my loved ones. I know that sounds silly and backward, but it’s how I’ve operated all my life and I’m looking for a serious attitude overhaul 😉
So there we have it. In addition to these yearlong resolutions I’m also planning to make and check off seasonal/quarterly goals. If you recall, I have a few wintertime ones in place right now.
What are your goals for 2018? Did you pick a word for the year? (I find that doesn’t work for me.)
Life as Louise 
These sound like really good goals – mine are pretty similar, plus grow my little business. Bring on 2018!
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Thanks! I’ve started on them a bit with the reading and water but I need to get on that exercising one 😉 Best of luck with the businesses! I know you’ll do great things in 2018!!
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Happy New Year!
Your list is great and I’m tempted to join in and make my own but this is the first year I’m not making any resolutions.
I simply want to be happy and mindful. I didn’t even buy a diary (obviously have one for work but not at home) because I’m keeping a journal and will just write when I want to.
I do have a word for 2018 (release) 🙂
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Thank you!
I definitely think folks should do what’s best for them. I’ve found that a word doesn’t work for me, but I’m always inspired by people who pick words and stick with them! And everyone always thinks of such good words! Release is a great one for 2018! Good luck!
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Happy new year! !
I wish you a year filled with peace, good health and happiness.
Ryoma.
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Thank you!
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i just finished a good book called Behold the Dreamers…add that to your list!
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Ooh, I definitely will! Thanks!
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I saw a formula on Pinterest (I think) using your body weight and activity level to calculate how much water you should drink each day, which makes sense because there’s no way my body would need as much water as a 6ft tall man who spends two hours at the gym each day.
I chose ‘magic’ as my word of the year and made categories for goals but haven’t decided how to approach them yet, whether it’s seasonally/quarterly or monthly, maybe even weekly although that seems overly ambitious. I am excited about getting back into blogging again!
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I found a formula on there that said 82 fluid ounces for me weight. WHOA. I’m going to TRY and hit 64 for now and work my way up. I bought a 32oz. water bottle so I just have to fill and empty it twice each day. Fingers crossed.
I think goal categories are the way to go, especially for words of the year. A blogger friend Elyse at Just Murrayed (https://justmurrayed.com/2018/01/01/december-2017-recap-january-2018-goals/) does it that way!
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We have such similar goals.
My water drinking has slacked so much, its pitiful.,I’ve got my big ole cup right here ready to tackle it today
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I bought a 32oz. water bottle from Amazon and I know I need to fill it and empty it twice a day to reach my goal. (Easy math for the win!) I haven’t done it yet, but my stupid cold got in the way and I started drinking lots of tea this past weekend.
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These are all attainable, friend! You can do it.
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Thank you!!! I’ll take all the encouragement I can get!
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LOL! Goal-fudger. I am a goal-fudger too. I always made them proudly and promptly forgot about them. 😀 I’ve picked words the past couple of years and never really lived up to them the way I intended. So I’m leaning towards doing something different. Last year, getting healthy wasn’t my stated goal but it is what I ended up focused on and I’ve made great strides there. I actually think 64 oz is the universal amount we are told to drink but what each individual needs to drink does vary. Alcohol sadly does not count towards your water intake but things like fruits, veggies, soup, etc. do. And while there are some conflicting reports on whether coffee/tea does, many say it does. I typically don’t count coffee (more so because than that is all I would drink and be bouncing off the ceiling) but I do count my green tea. 😀 I find plain water boring but I do enjoy it with a slice of lemon or cucumber slices and fresh mint. Good luck with your goals!
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Lately I’ve been writing my goals in my planner and I think that’s helped because I’ve been able to see them randomly and remember to work on them. I know that I’d be much brighter and bushy tailed if I’d exercise and drink the right amount of water. Honestly, I barely drink any 😦 I drink a lot of tea and coffee, though. (I think the argument is that coffee can be dehydrating? I don’t know.) Either way, I eats LOTS of fruits and veggies and I just bought a 32oz. water bottle so I know to fill it and empty it twice each day. Hasn’t happened yet, but I have faith that I’ll fall into a routine soon 🙂
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Oh gosh, it’s so easy to not actually fulfill your goals. I DO have a word for the year and while it doesn’t always work in all the ways I want, it’s a nice way for me to start the New Year I think. It’s really just a word that helps encompass a bunch of my goals. I definitely need to drink more water and be more active this year. I’m getting better with both, but it can be a struggle sometimes.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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I struggle HARD with water and exercise. I think I’ll be much easier to hit my reading and meal planning goals. The water one I’ve at least started on. Exercise- not so much…
lol
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I’m SO bad at exercising 😦 but I want to stay healthy for myself and my family- so I want to incorporate walking and doing stuff at home if nothing else! You will attain all of these!
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Exercising is seriously my worst enemy. I have been very luck with retaining the weight I’m at, but I know I’m not as healthy as I should be and my weight is going to be way more temperamental the older I get. The husband and I are considering turning the basement into a workout space.
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I think the problem with resolutions are that people aim too high! Even if you only achieve one of these you should be so proud! Even one would make a huge difference in your day to day life!
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I agree with you. Sometimes I tend to be super vague, though, which leads to me putting the goal/resolution off completely. Honestly, I don’t think I’ll struggle too much with the meal planning and reading goal, but the exercise one just keeps getting neglected year after year. I’d like to change that.
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I am the same way you are about goals. I can make them all day long but I don’t put pressure on myself or take them seriously because I have a huge fear of failure. One thing I like to do every January (well the last three years anyways) is do a round of Whole 30. I know that if I can get my willpower back for 30 days for my food choices, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to! I need to get back in to working out as well. Do you remember when I was hard core on it? Don’t know what happened to that version of myself other than I got LAZY! You can totally do all of these goals you have set out to achieve! Cheers to happy readying in 2018!
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I’ve seen SO many people take on the Whole 30. I don’t know that I could get K on board, lol. Plus, I’m terrible at “restriction” goals or diets. I think it’s an excellent jumping off point for you, though!! I always admire people who can take on that challenge.
Thank you!
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Great goals. Really inspiring. I need to set more goals for myself!
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Thank you! I need to hold myself accountable for more goals 😉
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I loved reading this, Louise! Fun, but pretty much straight to the point. I do think, however, that having a nice gym with no membership fees (but we’re paying tremendous amount of rent fee for) trumps having a membership fee and not going once at all. Anyway, happy new year, Louise! We got this!
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Oh man, I’d love to have a nice gym with no membership fee. Although I still don’t know if I’d go… *buries face in hands* We’re actually talking about quitting the gym and getting some hand-me-down equipment for our basement- treadmill, stationary bike, weights. I think we’d be more inclined to use all that!
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You know what, I think so, too! I remember being more motivated to work out at the comfort of our home (in Manila) because no one else is around to judge me!
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These are all really great goals and ones that I think that you can totally achieve! My recommendation for drinking water is to get a bottle that tells you exactly how much your drinking so you can keep track easier. That’s always really helped me out! Good luck with everything!
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I totally took your advice and ordered a 32 oz. bottle off Amazon! Now I know that I need to empty it twice each day to hit 62 ounces!! 😀
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I’m totally with you on all the healthy stuff: water, meal planning, exercising. I didn’t pick a word either. I’ve never done that before and I’m not quite sure how to execute it. Haha!
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I’ve never executed a word of the year well, but I know some people do. Elyse at Just Murrayed incorporates hers into her goals (https://justmurrayed.com/2018/01/01/december-2017-recap-january-2018-goals/) and I love that! I’m just no good at it. Lol
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I don’t really set goals for the same reasons you mentioned, but I am so proud of friends that make them! You have such sweet and meaningful goals! Pretty sure I drink like 100oz of water a day thanks to nursing a baby…..if I pee less than 10 times a day I’m like, Wow I must be dehydrated! 😉
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Hahaha- I think I pee 3 times a day. Maybe. I know that’s SO unhealthy and I’m sure I’d be much more energized and awake if I’d drink more water. Working on it!!! Lol
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It’s strange how we can be the snarkiest towards those we love the most. I think it’s because we know they will always love us no matter what so we can get away with grumpiness that would fly pass with strangers & acquaintances. I love your goal to practice kindness patience grace and peace. I don’t have a word of the year either but those are all good words to live by in my opinion.
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Thanks, Kelly! Yeah… I am so rude and snarky to my mom sometimes. And K just gets the rough end of bad days and ill tempers. I’d definitely like to tone that down and show my appreciation for them in my words and behaviors. I know that if I changed my mood it’s definitely something they’d notice and appreciate.
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Does anyone even drink 64 oz. of water in a day? That’s what I really want to know. 😛 Or do all the health advisers simply set these lofty standards in front of us and then giggle at our attempts to meet these standards? I know water is good stuff, though, I’ve been craving water lately, which probably means I need to be drinking more…
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Hahahahaha. I can tell you that I definitely DO NOT drink anywhere close to 64oz. in a day. Like, AT ALL. I bought a 32oz. water bottle at the start of the year and, logically, I just need to fill it and drink it all twice a day. So far I’ve barely been able to finish the bottle once in a day. Ohhh boy. Hahaha!
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I’m doing affirmations right now (for a whole week – best streak I’ve had yet!), and one is entirely based around being more positive because I know my negativity most strongly impacts the people who deserve it least. In my case, it’s my husband and the dogs.
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Yep. I know my dogs are always affected by my anxiety and anger. It makes me feel terrible once I snap out of my mood enough to realize it 😦 The husband picks up on those vibes, too, and then we’re all in bad moods. No good. I just need to start being more aware of my attitude and tone and how I’m treating people.
Good for you with the affirmations!! Those are very effective for my sister-in-law, too!
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really love that you shared your goal list – those are really great goals! one thing i’ve found that helps me is adding a WHY to each of the goals so when i feel like throwing one away, i remember why i set it in the first place. you did that really nice for your last one about being less grumpy and harsh to K and your mom (for me it’s ravery and my dad). progress not perfection!
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That’s an excellent tip. I definitely felt like I needed to add a “why” to that last goal because on my blog/on the internet I think (hope?) that I come across as nice and encouraging. I think I posses those qualities, but I think we all have weaknesses and when I’m just not feeling *good* and my attitude is sh*t I know it’s K and my mom who get that side of me. Totally not fair to them.
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I really like your goals, especially the last one, which is very tough, I do admit! 🙂 I am majorly goal-oriented, but I struggle with similar things. The line between not pushing enough, and pushing wayyy too much is very thin for me! : / Good luck this year! I’m hoping to use IG stories to sort of accountability-ize (not a word) my self. Incentiveize! ha myself on things that I’m good at avoiding. Like exercise. LOL XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
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My mom has really been struggling with her parents’ health right now and it’s honestly forced me to be very gentle and patient and understanding with her. It’s been super tough to see her so stressed and sad so I’ve been trying to keep her pampered and happy when she’s not taking care of my grandparents. I suppose it’s a silver lining to their declining health.
Still haven’t found success with the exercising, though. Lol
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