Make an Old Year’s Resolution

Where has 2009 gone, eh? It seems like only yesterday I was reeling from our kickass wedding, throwing myself headlong into planning our Europe Adventure and frantically checking the Wacken website every ten minutes waiting for a new band to be announced.

I’ve achieved so much this year and had a total blast. I’ve travelled to 19 countries, spent four months trekking the world with my husband and kickass friends, said goodbye to some old friends and made some amazing new ones, finished a new edit of my book and have a promising future with two editors, seen some of my favorite bands perform live, found our dream house, stayed healthy, learnt to bake my own bread, brought a Mac, started my blogs and Etsy shop, and survived my first year of marriage to a wonderful man and his drumkit!

But 2009 isn’t over yet. I’ve still got a month and a half left, and I intend to use it. Goal setting is a hobby of mine – it’s pretty much the only way I get things done, so dammit if I ain’t gonna let the next month run by without a little intense action.

It’s nearly New Years Resolution time – if you’re down with that kind of thing. But before you start thinking about New Years Resolutions,  you should think about old years resolutions. Think back to your life in January this year – what were your goals and hopes and dreams for the months ahead? How successful have you been at putting all your kreig plans into action?

If you’re feeling like a failure because you haven’t achieved what you set out to do this year, don’t give up! You’ve still got a month to go. A month is plenty of time to:

• Finish your novel
• Record your new song
• Learn to make your own spagetti
• See your favorite band perform
• Make your friends homemade christmas gifts
• Tidy your house
• polish your motorbike
• Eat a really hot curry

So go on, set yourself a old years resolution!

A resolution of any sort needs to adhere to the five rules of SMART goal-setting. This means, your resolution has to be:

• Specific: the who, what and why of your goal.
• Measurable: create a barometer to measure your success.
• Attainable: set your sights on something you have control over achieving.
• Realistic: stretch your skills and knowledge, but don’t break yourself.
• Timely: set a timeframe for your goal – probably the 31st Decenber.

This year I still want to:

Pass my Braille Exam

I finished the exam last week, so I’m just waiting on the results. I need 70% or higher to pass, and it’s a very difficult exam. But with Odin on my Side, I shall prevail!

Plant the Garden

We move into the new house on friday and I am so excited to get stuck into the garden. I’ve been watching lots of River Cottage recently, and I . I’m also looking forward to a line a fresh herbs growing outside the kitchen window.

Write a Housework Schedule

I suck at housework. My brain only has room for so much before it starts to push information out my ears, and “clean the windowsills” and “vacuum the floor” always seem to be the first to go. So my aim is to write up a housework schedule for each day of the week so I don’t HAVE to remember. My next task is to STICK to the Housework Schedule.

I shall update you near the end of the year with progress on my Old Years Resolution and advice of creating goals for 2010 without feeling like a complete doofus.

Horns Up!
Steff