Achieving Resolutions: Work

In review:

1) Work half as much - Using an old post's data, and not counting Christmas vacation or when I had an unexpected vacation due to a relative passing away, I'd say I worked about 70-80 hours a week. Similar to J.Money at Budgets are $exy, that makes my goal to work a "typical" 40 hours a week! So what is the plan to achieve this? (1) Create productive routines (2) Delegate ... For now, I think these are going to require weekly focuses
      Week of 1/7/2012:

• I have this great program called Things, based on GTD concepts. I love it, but have yet to truly use it functionally. Since I have a little more "office" time. I want to spend this week getting it all set up and ready to use functionally.
• Schedule in routine to-do: (1) Updating timesheets in Quickbooks (2) Client reviews (3) Expense recording (4) Depositing payments and reconciling them in QB.
• Empty business "To File" box

2) Make twice as much - This one will be a little bit tougher. I am going to base it on my AGI (minus investments my father has in my name.) While I haven't calculated it exactly, I think it will be somewhere around 90K. That means the goal is 180K. Phew... that's high. So what is the plan for this?!

• Build the business so I can take on more clients
• Provide a larger variety of products
• Delegate more work to my employees
• Systematically increase rates

December 30, 2012 UPDATE: These are hard to measure as the business has taken turns even greater than I expected! I think I may have come close on the first goal. I was able to be gone for two weeks for my grandfather's passing and basically not work and everything be fine. We went from 5 on staff to starting 2013 with 17!  Had we not chosen to open a large facility in a great location I think I would have made goal two without any problem. Instead, the business is in debt! But it's a good thing in some senses... now it's going to be gazelle focus to pay it off!

Achieving Resolutions: Relationships

In review:
Relationships


(1) Be intimate 400 times (the boy helped set this one!) - I didn't get back until the 4th, and the boy left on the 1st, so we are only at 2 so far... hoping for another 2 today! We are planning on making a fun goofy sticker chart for this one!


(2) Rekindle friendships I have let slip - I have even been awful at calling people back. This week I need to call at least 2 friends back, and do something social with one of our close couple friends. The problem I run into is when I actually have some free time, all I want to do is a big fat nothing. Perhaps the Work resolutions will help with this!

December 30, 2012 UPDATE: For number (1) we managed just over 100... quite short of the goal. This will be repeated for 2013. Number (2) should be repeated as well... and not just rekindle but make some new friends as well. We've started hanging out with some new couples, whose company I enjoy!

Achieving Resolutions: Personal

In review:
(1) Follow training plan... a plan that is more flexible and reasonable than I used to set.
I have agreed to do a Triathlon with T on Labor Day. He is going to do the full, but I am only committing to the sprint. I can run, but biking and swimming are not strong points as of now. The training plan I have developed focuses more on what I want to accomplish each week, and it broken down into months.
      January:

•       Run 120 miles
•       Long Run minimum: 18 miles (I am doing a half marathon at the end of the month)
•       Bike 1x/week
•       Swim 1x/week
•       Try 1 Spin Class

Since I haven't exercised yet this year, I need to bike and swim at the gym today!

(2) Run 1000 miles - if I follow the first goal, this should work itself out!

(3) PR (in half and full marathon) - I PR-ed last year in this half marathon, and it's known as a overall downhill course, so I am hoping to do so again! I would love to achieve a sub 2-hr half marathon.

(4) Floss! - What I have learned in the past is I need to make this one easy, or I'm just not going to do it. One of my goals today, is to go to Target and buy two of the flossers on a stick; one for at home and one for carrying with me.

December 30, 2012 UPDATE: This past year was not a good year on the personal side... I bailed on two half marathons and one full marathon, and never signed up for the Tri. I have just started running again despite doing a 10K, full marathon, 10 miler, and a half marathon since October (and a whole 5 miles outside of those races!) I did run the marathon with true enjoyment, running when I wanted, walking when I wanted, and it wasn't my slowest yet! This year needs to be a big focus on self-care and relationship care. 

Resolutions?

I love making goals... sticking to them is a whole different issue. I'm great with ideas, not as good with follow-through. I work hard, but tend to bite off more than I can chew.

But at the end of the day, I love to push myself.
The big theme for this year is: Follow-Through

I want to not feel like I am always behind!

Personal
(1) Follow training plan... a plan that is more flexible and reasonable than I used to set.
(2) Run 1000 miles
(3) PR (in half and full marathon)
(4) Floss!
The first three will be tracked in more detail on my running blog

Relationships
(1) Be intimate 400 times (the boy helped set this one!)
(2) Rekindle friendships I have let slip

Work
(1) Work half as much
(2) Make twice as much
(Note: This were "borrowed" from J.Money at Budgets are $exy! Perhaps the most inspiring New Year's Resolution post I read!)

In order to keep myself accountable I am going to make a pretty reminder sign for them all and a tracking spreadsheet like Little Miss Moneybags.

More detail and monthly goals to come...

2011... over already?!

Apparently, I've been gone since around April/May... I just took a look back at my 2011 goals. How did I do?! (Without every looking at them again since the 1st quarter?!)

Happy: * Find a two hour time each week to have "me time". This could be sitting at a coffeeshop reading, or hiking by myself. I need this time. Semi - Fail: I would do this occasionally but no where near the regularity that I need. * Have a 1 hour a week check-in/organize for the week time. I also really need this time. Semi - Fail: I would do this occasionally but no where near the regularity that I need. I'm trying to do it more with the business too, but it doesn't always happen. * See friends an average of 2 times per week. Fail: Depression slightly took ahold of me at times, and life was overwhelming. ::Sigh:: * Take my dogs hiking/long neighborhood jogs 1x/week Semi - Fail: This would go up and down... I'd to great for a week or so, then stop. One dog hurt his doggy ACL so he's been sidelined as well.Healthy:  This is going to be one of my big pushes this year... * Set a PR in Austin Marathon on 2/20/11:  Success: Did!!!  By 5 minutes, plus a 5min bathroom break! * Run a sub 2:15 half on 4/16/2011 Success: Not on that date (I had to pull out of that race), but on one in January 2011! * Set a PR on a half or full marathon after the above Success: At the Nike's Women's Marathon I ran a new PR of just under 5:15... a 15 minute PR from February! * Run a sub 55 min 10K Fail: Only ran one 10K and ran/walked with a friend.  * Run 1000 miles (trying again after last year's miserable fail) Fail: Yeah... no excuse here. I'm going to keep trying for this one. Heart: * At least one visit to NYC & Baltimore to visit family Halfway - Due to a family death and a family wedding, I ended up in Baltimore 4 times instead of my usual 1 (if that). So I'll consider it a success even though I didn't make it to NYC. I did see my brother a few times in Baltimore and Cali.  *Have intimate time with my guy at least 4 time a week... things get so busy and I need to make sure there is plenty of time for us. Semi - Fail: Depression sidelined this one in the spring, but it is something I have really been working towards in the fall.* Read and follow through with a personal development book I have Fail: Haha... I got through another chapter or two in my time management book! * This isn't measurable at all, but just be more present in my relationship. I am bad about letting deadlines and other times get in the way. Work in Progress: I think this will always be a work in progress. Since my life has changed a little with only running my own business instead of a job that made me miserable everyday in addition to my business, I've been really focusing on this one  So there you have it... less than 50% success. I've been working on adjusting my goals for 2012 and will post those soon Happy New Year!!!

28 Truths to Live By

I turned 28 the other week. 27 was a strange year for me; while there were many times I had a wonderful times, there were also many times of stress, sadness, and even anger. I have been working to feel like myself today and in honor of turning 28, I wrote down 28 Truths to Live By.

Sleep does my body and mind good.
Giving love allows me to be loved.
I need time to myself to re-energize.
I run to be balance.
Reading provides me with a mini vacation; TV does not.
Drinking enough water helps me feel stronger.
Jewelry makes me feel pretty.
Healthy eating energizes me.
Everyday I am capable of being the best me.
Laughter makes life feel easier.
Sometimes it’s okay to enjoy the view instead of climbing higher.
To keep a friend, I need to be a friend.
Water makes me happy.
Clutter clutters my mind.
I am most productive in the morning and my schedule should reflect that.
Remember how much fun it is to be a girlfriend.
It’s okay to say “no” as long as it’s not always to self or loved ones.
Make time for those around you, before they go away.
I do have control of my life.
Working out calms me and is important.
Relaxing does not make me a lazy person.
Swimming is my yoga.
A day is made up of many moments, not just one.
Don’t forget to take pictures.
I can reset once a week, once a day, once an hour. It’s my choice.
I am working of giving and receiving intimacy.
Breathe.

30 Day Organize-athon Day 1

Although life is still really crazy... there is a bit of light come May and the end of the tunnel is June. In the meantime, I do need to keep some level of organization in my life, or I'll never make it. Enter: The 30 Day Organize-athon at Get Organized Wizard

The purpose is to spent about 5 minutes on a specific area each day in April. Yesterday's challenge was to declutter your living area.  Since it's just me and T at the house, I didn't need to go through everything with a trash bag. I did mainly the "if you have extra time part" which involved taking everything that didn't belong and putting it back where it does belong. I also very quickly vacuumed just the living room. (This is where the dogs mainly hang out, so the carpet is awful.) It needed to be done and the whole thing took me less than 15 minutes....

Now let's see what Day 2 has in store for me!

Goals on Hold...

The past month or so has been tough for me. I'm struggling with feeling like I have any sort of control right now. In February, I spent 245 hours out of the house for work. My mom was in town for 3 days when it didn't work at all. This means that over the remaining 25 days, I was out of the house, on average, 9.8 hours EVERY day. This doesn't count the house I work on things for my business at home, which I would guess it at least 10 hours a week. (Should be more, but as you can see... I don't really have the hours!)

Back to goals... while I'm doing okay on most of them, they just stress me out. They feel like another thing that I have to try and squish into my days. The PsyBlog had an interesting article on The Dark Side of Goal Setting. I know goal setting is important, but I think I'm setting goals that I won't reach...and I really don't need another reason to beat myself up. Right now I need to focus on trying to actually swim a little instead of just treading water.

I am a list and goals type person by nature. So what does that mean for March. My goal for March is to get done things for work the day before they must be. To make some progress on my massive to-do list (which doesn't even touch the goals I set), and to try and abide by the one goal of not working past 8pm (so far I've only worked by 8pm twice this month.)

I spent yesterday mostly in bed feeling mentally crappy. I started to come around by the evening. I have today and tomorrow to just get things done and relax. I'm planning on today being on the more productive side and tomorrow more on the relax side, with a bit of balance on both.

Wish me luck. Happy Monday!

March Goals

I'm still feeling overwhelmed, but I have somewhat of a plan now... more on that later. For now, let's see what I have in store for March.

1) Be intimate 24 of 31 days.

2) Morning stretching routine 21 of 31 days.

3) Floss 21 of 31 days.

4) No work past 8pm.

5) Run 80 miles.

6) Review AIM Modules

7) Go camping

8) Go out with friends 6 times

9) Cook dinner 10 times (T cooks a lot of the time)

10) Breate. (I think this one might be the most important of all!)

February Goals Wrap-Up

February was not my best month over, although I was the most social I've been in a while. I'm busy working on my life plan to achieve more balance, but I'm not there yet.

1) Take dogs running or hiking 10 times: 6 times total. Poop.

2) Run 80 miles: 47 Total. Better than I usually do. Still not awesome.

3) Finish taxes: I am going to owe. So I'm in a holding pattern.

4) Do a morning stretching routine at least 18 of 28 days: 15/28 days

5) Be intimate at least 18 of the 28 days: 13/days days. This needs to become a focus.

6) Review AIM Modules: nada...

7) One social outing a week with friends: I went to happy hour with T on Friday, and Thai food and jazz music (by a friend of ours) on Saturday the 12th. This past weekend my mom was in town, so we did things together... not sure if that counts, but it was social! The last weekend of February was a crazy one, which involved me working a ton, Blue Man group, house party, grand opening of a friend's gym, and a comedy show. I think I did great with this goal!!!

8) Schedule a vacation... even a small one: tentatively planning NYC for my birthday... and camping in March. No more progress on that.

9) Finish organizing work materials in spare room: I have decided that this is a very low priority while everything else is crazy right now. This will be a summer project.

10) Have a dinner party: nope

3rd Week of February Goals Update

1) Take dogs running or hiking 10 times: 5 times so far...

2) Run 80 miles: Added a marathon!  That's another 26.2 plus I'm counting the mile walk my mom and I did the evening of the marathon. So 45 miles!

3) Finish taxes: I'm just waiting on one thing! (no change)

4) Do a morning stretching routine at least 18 of 28 days: 13 days so far

5) Be intimate at least 18 of the 28 days: 9 days so far ::sad face::

6) Review AIM Modules: nada...

7) One social outing a week with friends: I went to happy hour with T on Friday, and Thai food and jazz music (by a friend of ours) on Saturday the 12th. This past weekend my mom was in town, so we did things together... not sure if that counts, but it was social!

8) Schedule a vacation... even a small one: tentatively planning NYC for my birthday... and camping in March.

9) Finish organizing work materials in spare room: nothing done yet...so much to do though

10) Have a dinner party: nope

2nd Week of February Goals Update

1) Take dogs running or hiking 10 times: 3 times so far... no change

2) Run 80 miles: 18 miles, not quite as excited as last week

3) Finish taxes: I'm just waiting on one thing! (no change)

4) Do a morning stretching routine at least 18 of 28 days: 10 days so far

5) Be intimate at least 18 of the 28 days: 7 days so far

6) Review AIM Modules: nada...

7) One social outing a week with friends: I went to happy hour with T on Friday, and Thai food and jazz music (by a friend of ours) on Saturday!

8) Schedule a vacation... even a small one: tentatively planning NYC for my birthday

9) Finish organizing work materials in spare room: nothing done yet...

10) Have a dinner party: nope

1st Week of February Goals Update

1) Take dogs running or hiking 10 times: 3 times so far!

2) Run 80 miles: 16 miles! (so excited)

3) Finish taxes: I'm just waiting on one thing!

4) Do a morning stretching routine at least 18 of 28 days: 5 days so far

5) Be intimate at least 18 of the 28 days: 3 days so far

6) Review AIM Modules: nada...

7) One social outing a week with friends: This week we went to a Super Bowl Party and has a blast!

8) Schedule a vacation... even a small one: not yet...

9) Finish organizing work materials in spare room: nothing done yet...

10) Have a dinner party: nope

Snow Day!

We have a snow day today!  (Texas is not equipped to handle any amount of snow, much to my amusement.)

I'm going to try and use the day to my advantage
1) Plow through my to do
2) Spend some 1 on 1 time with my guy
3) Get in a workout
4) Relax!

What do you do on your snow days?

February 2011 Goals

Some of these goals are leftover from last month; others are new:

1) Take dogs running or hiking 10 times

2) Run 80 miles

3) Finish taxes

4) Do a morning stretching routine at least 18 of 28 days

5) Be intimate at least 18 of the 28 days.

6) Review AIM Modules

7) One social outing a week with friends

8) Schedule a vacation... even a small one

9) Finish organizing work materials in spare room

10) Have a dinner party

Thoughts?

January 2011 Goal Review

It's February 1st and I'm working on finalizing my 10 monthly goals. Some of these are going to be goals that I did not accomplish in January. Here's how January ended up:

#1 - Host two parties at home: I had one party... allergies knocked me out so horribly this month

#2 - Run 3 days a week, strength train 2 days a week: Once again... allergies killed me, but I still managed to PR on my half marathon this past weekend!

#3 - Less than $700 on the credit card (minus the cost of windows): If you take out the extra gift I bought my mom, I am under $700... I am quite happy about this one. I even had an extra splurge or two and still semi-made it.

#4 - Read 2 books: Yes!  I read The Help and The Abstinence Teacher

#5 - Be intimate >= 20 days: :-( I managed 12 days... while I have excuses, I really shouldn't get excuses.

#6 - 1 coffeeshop personal time per week: I did make it twice to get work done, but not really for personal time... 

#7 - Have taxes mostly done: I've kept up as much as I can!

#8 - Take dogs running or hiking 10 times: Just twice... darn.

#9 - Review AIM modules: Negative... I need to get on this!

#10 - Volunteers (my friends and I are trying to volunteer 1 time per month at a different place each month): Did not happen... I tried to sign up for some CPR training (as the trainer) but others had already taken the slots I had. I did do some free babysitting for a friend of T's. So semi-credit.


So even being generous with myself, I only managed 4/10 goals. I need to keep focusing on this! Do I need to be more serious with myself? Or more realistic?

Investing in Myself?

I had my credit card budget set at $700...then moved it close to $800-850 since I bought my mom an extra birthday gift that was $250.

Yesterday, after my last personal training, we found out they were offering a 20% off deal, but you had to buy at least 12 sessions. So my friend and I talked about it and decided we should do that and spread them out over 6 months. With us splitting, they are $22 each an hour. If we can bring a 3rd friend, then it is split 3 ways.

So there is a nice $528 charge on my card, but I'm going to keep track of it when I "actually" spend the money (i.e. personal training). That wont' start until February.

Am I tricking myself? Or do you understand my logic?!

Allergies, Cold, and Goal Review

Despite a great first week of 2011, allergies hit me, and I think a good ole cold as well. The remaining two weeks have been miserable. 

This week I finally was able to get sufficient sleep to feel semi-okay, and went out for an evening jog on Thursday. I ended up doing 3 miles at a 9:47 pace which was exciting for me. Yesterday, I went for a short little over 2 miles at a leisurely pace. Then I came home, showered, and fell asleep. :-(

Having no energy is tough... I have a half marathon in one week. Oh boy. I'm not expecting to PR; I just want to make it through.

My friend and I are supposed to have the final personal training today. I did 4 of the 9 sessions with her... it was a nice kick in the butt to do more strength training. I also need to do more stretching.

#1 - Host two parties at home: We had our first one: our book exchange club. It was small but fun. 

#2 - Run 3 days a week, strength train 2 days a week: I've done 2 runs, and I'm going to the gym for strength today. So halfway... 

#3 - Less than $700 on the credit card (minus the cost of windows): I'm just over $610... This is going to be really tough with that unexpected $250, but I'm still trying. If I keep it under $800 I will still consider it a success.

#4 - Read 2 books: One book done, second, third, and forth books all started!  Haha

#5 - Be intimate >= 20 days: I'm only at 8... no progress. How sad :-( We were both sick this week and sleeping habits were all sorts of off. 

#6 - 1 coffeeshop personal time per week: Still not... but I am finding time to make tea and read at home.

#7 - Have taxes mostly done: I am keeping up with this still...just waiting on forms.

#8 - Take dogs running or hiking 10 times: 1 time!  3 milers with my lab, and a little cool down walk with the shepard.

#9 - Review AIM modules: No progress since last week.

#10 - Volunteers (my friends and I are trying to volunteer 1 time per month at a different place each month): Scheduling seems to make it tough this month... and feeling so blah. 

Second Week of January Update

Perhaps what I thought was allergies was more of a cold. I have been zapped of energy, which make it hard to do anything after work. But I still tried to make some progress!

#1 - Host two parties at home: We have the 1st one scheduled. I think the second one might be a smaller dinner party with just a couple of friends.

#2 - Run 3 days a week, strength train 2 days a week: This did not happen this week at all, due to feeling awful each day.

#3 - Less than $700 on the credit card (minus the cost of windows): I'm just over $500... This is going to be really tough with that unexpected $250, but I'm still trying. If I keep it under $800 I will still consider it a success.

#4 - Read 2 books: One book done, second book picked out. It is a field related book that I want to review on my business blog.

#5 - Be intimate >= 20 days: I'm only at 8... being sick puts a damper on these things :-(

#6 - 1 coffeeshop personal time per week: doh, not yet, but I need it!!!

#7 - Have taxes mostly done: I am keeping up with this. Each new form I get I enter in right away!

#8 - Take dogs running or hiking 10 times: Negative... freezing temps, and rain have deterred this one

#9 - Review AIM modules: No progress since last week.

#10 - Volunteers (my friends and I are trying to volunteer 1 time per month at a different place each month): Not technically... I did babysit a 3 month old last night so the mom could pick up an extra shift. I didn't charge them anything. T said that could count, but I still want to do something else!

First Week of January Update

So how I have done on my goals?  Not too shabby actually!  I would have done worse if my allergies weren't so bad. The two that really bother me decided to attack at the same time, which means I am foggy-headed and sneezing all the time right now. It's supposed to rain and lower the allergy count starting tonight.

Here is my goal review so far:
#1 - Host two parties at home: My book exchange club cohost and I are trying to get a date set...

#2 - Run 3 days a week, strength train 2 days a week: I have been to the gym 5 of the last 7 days, 2 runs, 1 walk/run, one bike, 2 strength days... yay!

#3 - Less than $700 on the credit card (minus the cost of windows): I'm just under $300 and that included an extra late $250 Christmas gift for my mom. :-) Cause she's awesome

#4 - Read 2 books: I finished The Help :-) The book is awesome.



#5 - Be intimate >=20 days: 5/7 days so far... looking good ;-)

#6 - 1 coffeeshop personal time per week: Not yet...

#7 - Have taxes mostly done: I have done as much as I can without any tax forms back (i've entered business income, and ordered 1099s)

#8 - Take dogs running or hiking 10 times: 0/10... with allergies right now, I can only exercise inside.

#9 - Review AIM modules: there are around 30 total... I've looked through 3

#10 - Volunteers (my friends and I are trying to volunteer 1 time per month at a different place each month): I have emailed my friends, but that's as far as I have gotten.