Setting goals.

Happy New Year. I used to be one of those people who eschewed New Year's Resolutions. I figured that no one ever really stuck to them, so why make them in the first place? As I've gotten older (and perhaps wiser), I've learned that I am very goal-oriented. I like having a clear end point and then backwards mapping my path to achieve that goal. It works for me and in the process, I grow and develop positive patterns.

The new year seems like a good time to begin that planning process on a clean slate. In order to increase the likelihood of achieving my goals and sticking to my resolutions, I need accountability and I've found that if I resolve to do something, I need to tell people about my decision. "Weren't you going to..." "Didn't you sign up to..." It's easier for me to stay focused and honest if I have told others.

That said, my goal this year it to increase the Happiness Quotient (HQ). I want to engage in activities that make me a happier person. The overarching goal is to try new things and find my "happy" but that's really rather abstract. Therefore, my first official, concrete goal of the year will be to commit to running twenty miles every week. Why? My mood and overall focus is significantly improved when I engage in regular, strenuous exercise. I run anyway but putting a number to reach weekly will help my commitment. I'm telling you so that when it's pouring rain or 100 degrees in the shade, I'll have made this public announcement for motivation.

That's all for now. Rather than having a one day extravaganza of promises, I figure I'll work to develop and then implement my resolutions for happy living over the course of the year thereby increasing the likelihood that these will become good habits, not simply good intentions.

Happy 2013.

What's your resolution this year? How about past years? Did you keep it/ them? What helped?

Simplification for better living.

I've decided to embark on a "happiness project"; actually, it's more of a "Simplification for Happiness" project. I'm not sure exactly what form it will eventually take, but clearly I work better with some sort of a plan in place. (I've learned that much from my marathon training.)

First I want to get rid of stuff. I really just want to clear out and give myself some space.

Then I really need to get a handle on my finances. (I probably should start with that. It would relieve a lot of stress.)

Connected to this is to just quit spending. If I don't need it and I don't love it, I shouldn't buy it. Period. (I was thinking about instituting a "consumables only" rule but it seems rather harsh. I think I'll start with no new clothes. That seems reasonable to try again.)

Then the focus needs to shift to what matters. What do I want in my space? How can I start working towards what I want to do?

So this is where I am on this new year. It's not exactly a resolution and yet, I guess it is. It's a resolution to live better.

Oh-- add time management into this as well. Procrastination and "drifting" are problematic.