Last Updated on 29 October 2020 by Colette
So I have a confession. It would appear that, at the start of 2019, I wrote a post entitled “Sixteen Goals for 2019” . . . and guess what? I promptly forgot about it again until I was writing my Top Ten Most Viewed Posts of 2019 earlier this week – I literally never looked at it again! So I thought it would be interesting to look back at those goals I set and see if I actually, accidentally, achieved any of them!
1. Hit earnings target consistently
Towards the end of 2018 we set up a new budget where we basically tried to factor everything in for a whole year and then divided it up over the months giving me a baseline target and then a goal amount that would cover the “would be nice to haves” – I hit my baseline every month bar two, and then hit my target enough times that I pretty much hit my target for the whole year but it’s still hard to predict and my earnings are definitely not consistent!
2. Get a cleaner
We finally employed a cleaner fairly early on in the year – she does three hours every two weeks for us. In an ideal world we’d have weekly clean of two hours but our cleaner doesn’t have the availability for that unfortunately. Fortnightly isn’t quite enough to keep on top of things, by the end of the first week I can see that everything needs doing again and that dreaded dust starts to reappear. I keep hoping that at some point she’ll be able to give us that extra clean but for now I’m grateful for what I’ve got as it’s made such a difference!
3. Keep the kitchen side clear
Jokes.
This is something I’ve said I’m going to do for the last couple of years but never quite achieve. That said, it’s definitely much cleaner and tidier than it used to be!
4. Develop a routine
At the start of the year I talked about trying to settle into a proper routine during the week where I make time to exercise and plan in time for myself. Again I can’t say I’ve totally achieved this but I’ve definitely made some progress – more so since Michelle went part time in September and we’ve spent quite a few Fridays together! I definitely need to work more on the exercise bit . . .
5. Find more time to write for the sake of it
This isn’t a new goal, it’s one I had last year and one continue to work towards. I really do miss writing for the sake of it and sharing our story as a family. Of course as the children are older it isn’t as easy – but it is something I do want to continue to work towards in the new year!
6. Finish off half written posts in drafts
So at the start of last year I said I had about 40 posts sat in draft, waiting to be finished. I’ve definitely finished and published quite a few of them however today there are 45 posts, partially written, in my drafts – it’s just the way I work I think but definitely need to keep ploughing through those ideas!
7. Wear jeans
FAIL FAIL FAIL. Definitely still wearing leggings. Definitely not wearing jeans. Am wearing more dresses though.
8. Finish redecorating the living room
Whoo this one is a complete success – our living room has been re-plastered, repainted and completely refurnished and I love it!
9. Stop wasting time on people who don’t have time for me
This is an ongoing thing for me. I’ve always been the sort of person who is really good at staying in touch with people and organising catch ups but every now and again you realise you’re the only person doing it. As I get older I’m getting better at concentrating my efforts where they are appreciated and realising that I shouldn’t be prioritising spending my time on people who aren’t prioritising spending time with me. I would say that I’ve definitely got better at letting things (or people go) this last year but it’s a tough one for me!
10. Achieve a combined social following of 50k
Rather than individual targets for each social account I decided to aim for a round 50k across the board – I haven’t hit this but I’ve also stopped counting follower numbers for pinterest and of course google plus is no more – so I would probably hit 50k if those old figures were factored in.
11. Deal with PMT and cramps
No real progress on this one – I tried to have the coil fitted and failed. The nurse told me I’d have to go to the hospital to have my cervix forcibly dilated. I’m sure it won’t come as any surprise to hear I didn’t do that . . .
12. Drink more
Yep – still a camel surviving on Diet Coke, hot chocolate and the odd gin cocktail. Must do better!
13. Sort the back garden
That artificial lawn I was planning on getting? Yeah my back garden is still a right old mud bath! We’ve done very little work on the garden to be honest – Dave had a good old clear out at some point but other than that it’s the same old same old. Having recently swapped the dining room and playroom round though we are now sitting and looking out in to the garden more often so I do think it’s going to be something I prioritise for the coming year!
14. Manage my urticaria
Last year my urticaria was a right pain – but thanks to the increase in my medication and hiring a cleaner, we’re definitely keeping on top of it now. Every now and again I do something like dusting the pictures or emptying the vacuum and my skin reacts – but I’ve definitely learned what causes it to flare now so I can avoid these things!
15. Watch more films
“This year I’m going to start going to the cinema on my own occasionally during the day” – ha. That never ever happened. Not even once. I did try a couple of times but found the timings didn’t work for me – maybe I’ll manage it this coming year!!
16. Travel more – both at home and abroad
Well we nailed this – May half term saw us drive to the South of France for a second Eurocamp holiday. July we flew to Portugal for a week’s holiday with my parents and sister and then in August Dave and I went to Minori on the Amalfi coast with Kirst and Chris for our friend’s 40th birthday celebrations!
So considering I didn’t actually pay any attention to these goals these seem to have managed themselves for the most part. I guess I’d better think about some goals for next year so I can ignore those too!
