So, despite my ambiguous relationship with new year’s resolutions, here I am jumping on the bandwagon to make 12 changes in 2012. Well, it’s a slightly different approach to the classic list of new year’s resolutions and I figured that it might be worth a try. I know I am a little late, considering that it’s already the middle of January, but I assure you I started with this project on January, 1. I just haven’t gotten around to blog about it.
Stephany and Katherine, two lovely blog friends, came up with a new concept – on Twitter, mind you! – to think about 12 changes that we want to make in 2012. And instead of overwhelming ourselves by trying to make all these changes happen all at once, we’ll tackle one resolution at a time. For each month we focus on one goal and by doing so, we’ll hopefully turn that change into a habit, so we won’t even notice it as a “task” anymore when we move on to the next goal the following month.
Pretty smart, eh?
I haven’t come up with a complete list for the whole year yet, but I’ve set my goals for the first three months. Let’s not overwhelm ourselves with a complete list right away. Let’s focus on small steps.
January: Drink at at least 64-oz. of water every day. This has been an ongoing goal for me and I have days where I do better and days where I don’t do that great. I really need to kick this problem in the butt, because I know how important it is to take in enough liquids.
February: Meal planning. I might have mentioned somewhere on this blog before that I am not much of a meal planer. I like to eat what I feel like eating when I feel like eating it and I think I also might or might not have used J as an excuse not to plan our meals in advance, because he’s somewhat spontaneous when it comes to food, too. However, I do think it’s a good idea to change my attitude about it, because let’s be honest: meal planning makes shopping once a week a lot easier and more efficient and we (hopefully) throw less food away (although I do want to say that we don’t really waste much food as it is right now). I hope to be more aware of what’s in my fridge/pantry and how to use it.
March: Read a chapter every day. I know, for some of you that might sound like a really silly monthly goal, but as much as I love reading, it always takes a backseat to most other things I do in my free time. I also think I have figured out why: reading a book demands my full attention. When I do other things, like crocheting or crafting, it’s easier to multi-task, which allows me to do “more” in the same amount of time. I kinda dislike myself for thinking that way, but this is what it boils down to. Seeing that I already feel like I don’t have enough time for the things I like to do, I try to do as many things as possible at any given time. In an effort, to re-discover my love for reading and focus on making more time for it, I pledge to read a chapter every day in March.
I am really excited about “12 changes in 2012” (yes, there is a blog and more than 60 participants! Is that number even still accurate, Katherine? Stephany?). As with everything else in life, it’s easier to do things when in good company. It’s a huge motivating factor and breaking the list down into one resolution at a time makes the whole thing feel more tangible. So, let’s do this!
Are you participating? There is still time to join! I mean, technically, now is as good a time as any to make a change in your life!
lauryn
January 17, 2012 at 6:15 amI am right there with you when it comes to the reading goal! I LOVE to read, but I’m bad at making time for it. Yesterday I read 100 pages in a new book and it felt amazing. I’d love to try to read, even just a few pages, each and every day!
Great goals for 2012 my friend!
Maribeth
January 17, 2012 at 6:40 amI am right there with all of those!
Holly
January 17, 2012 at 7:45 amI’m doing something similar – I had no idea it was a whole big blog “movement” – I’ll have to check out the blog, maybe I can sign up :) I have to meal plan – I can’t go to the grocery store if I don’t have a menu and list made up! Being spontaneous with food means eating out for our family – and that gets expensive!
Vanessa
January 17, 2012 at 11:17 amMeal planning definitely saves me a lot of wasted time and groceries. Lately I’ve been sitting down with weekly coupons/flyers and using those to help guide my choices. It really helps me stay on budget!
Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks
January 17, 2012 at 11:46 amI like the idea of monthly goals. Sometimes they’ll stick and become a habit. Other times, it’ll just be an achievement you made that month. But, so long as you stick with it, you’ll look back and 2012 and be proud of what you’ve accomplished.
That said, I’m not participating, although I do have an equally achievable list of goals for myself this year.
Irene
January 17, 2012 at 1:26 pmI know myself so I am not making a list of things to do, not even one, I will fail miserably and that will make me sad in the end :) (but it’s all good, I got used to that part of me) I want to get back into reading more though, I neglected it after I had kids and now with a part time job even more. And I decided one thing: I am not making one of those stupid “I am going to lose weight” new years resolutions, I decided I want to look great in a bikini during my summer vacation in August…and if I don’t to lose weight I will just have to feel great the way I look :)
Melissa
January 17, 2012 at 4:22 pmYay, welcome to 12 Changes!! :) I’m excited that you’re participating too! It’s definitely a work in progress for me, but I’ having fun with it. I love your goals so far!
katelin
January 17, 2012 at 5:41 pmi’m not participating in this but i love the idea, it’s so good. and i so need to be better about meal planning. that is one of my life goals, haha.
mandy
January 17, 2012 at 5:46 pmI think that this is a great idea. I need to be better able meal planning too. Right now I cool one big meal and then have leftovers all week and by midweek I’m tired of that meal. Which usually means I eat cereal or a pb&j sandwich.
I like the idea of reading one chapter a day. I love reading but sometimes go days without picking up a book.
Ti
January 17, 2012 at 7:51 pmI love your March goal. May copy-cat.
Miranda
January 17, 2012 at 9:41 pmwhat a great idea…haven’t seen this before but def checking it out now! :)
Suburban Sweetheart
January 19, 2012 at 6:27 pmI love your reading goal. I, too, always end up putting reading on the back burner!
erin
January 26, 2012 at 5:51 amOHHHHH!!!! I love this idea!