I woke up this morning and suddenly it’s December 29th and all I could think was how can this be? Are we really just days away from another year beginning?
Usually by now I know what my goals for the coming year are. Typically I start jotting down my ideas and all the things I want to accomplish in the new year about Mid-July. But that didn’t happen this year.
And while I have a small list scribbled down, it’s not complete. Or rather it doesn’t feel complete. Yet.
So that will be my focus for today. Finalizing my big goal/to-do list for 2024.
Because if I don’t write it all down… The likelihood of getting anything done is pretty high. I need something to focus on! Don’t you?
Having goals, something to reach for, something to keep you moving forward. It’s a big deal. At least it is for me.
I recently came across an article on the BBC website about willpower. Basically they said some people have it, and some people don’t. Well, duh!
So if you’re looking for some tried and true ways on how to make New Year’s resolutions and keep them, you might want to read an article I posted a few years ago on the topic. There’s actually some useful tips in there. 😉
As for me and my goals for 2024… I still have a few days to work on them. But I’d love to hear about YOUR goals for 2024. {And maybe steal one or two of them.}
Have a good one,
Mavis
Tracy says
I always admire your list of goals and how well you do at accomplishing them. This year for me will be all about cleaning and organizing my house. After 28 years of living here I seem to have an awful lot of stuff tucked away. A lot of it need to go. Also, pulling out all of the craft projects I have assembled over the years but never completed and seeing which ones I really want to do and rehoming the rest.
Lucy says
This is definitely part of my goals as well. My church has many ministries so plan to donate as much as I can.
Toni Wood says
I haven’t finalized by goals for this coming year either. I do plan on expanding my knowledge of things I may need to know in a SHTF situation. Sourdough bread and yogurt are on the list. Normally I have craft projects but this year I’m more realistic.
Wendy C. says
You’re actually the one who inspired me to make goals and document progress on them throughout the year. I made some significant goals this year with some financial goals and some career goals and relationship goals with my husband and daughter. However, I failed horribly at getting in shape. So 2024 that will be my focus to exercise 3 days a week. Even if it’s just 10 minutes to start, I have to start somewhere. I need to stretch, build strength and just move more generally. So that’s my focus for 2024 (among other things).
Rosemary says
I have a list of “Things to do (eventually)”. It is not necessarily for 2024 – more of a reminder of things that I want to do. There are days when it seems like I have nothing to do, and I mope around being bored. Then, when I am very busy, I remember all the things that I need to do. I am hoping that I will remember to look at this list when I feel like I have nothing to do.
1) Bleach coffee cups
2) Soak dish towels in oxyclean
3) Scan address books
4) Make note pads
5) Go thru medical paperwork
6) Copy videos for kids (DONE)!!
7) Create garden plan
8) Update labs spreadsheet
9) Figure out how Slice works
10) Scan Important documents
11) Scan Bible study notebooks
12) Learn to play piano
13) Re-Learn Spanish
14) Re-Learn sign language
15) Create Family Tree book
16) Scan memory items (cards, calendar) from 2023
17) Finish updating 2023 photo book
Mellie says
I have just 3 goals this year. I am trying for zero food waste, zero Amazon spending, and saving enough to pay cash for a new car. Every year I make too many goals and it starts to fall apart around March. So, this year I only have three and I feel confident I will do it!
Kari says
I have one BIG goal—pass all four sections of the CPA exam!
Ashley Bananas says
I’ve really enjoyed your goals over the years.
Paula says
I am still working on my goals. But, here are a few…
1. Take an online class
2. Do a challenge a month: walk daily, meditate daily, declutter, lose 10 pounds , go to the gym, intermittent fasting, walk in the forest, eat from freezer/Pantry (2x) January and June), journal daily, reduce sugar, and 2 meatless meals a week.
3. Do I adventure with husband a month. We are currently chasing waterfalls. I live in western NC and we have hundreds of waterfalls,
4. House Projects: reseal tile, repair stone on back deck, finish nightstands, paint main level of the house, plant a butterfly garden
5. Start a new hobby: Archery.
5. Travel: Stay 2 days at the Inn at Biltmore, Lisbon, Miraval, Arizona, 2 days in a local cabin, wedding in CT.
6. Buy more local products.
I love reading about other people’s goals.
Susan says
Hi Paula,
We stayed at the Inn at Baltimore a few years ago and it was absolutely lovely! If you haven’t been before, it is certainly a treat. We loved the “Highland Moor” cocktail that is served there.
Good luck with your goals and have a safe and happy new year!
Erin says
I haven’t decided on my personal goals yet, but my spouse & I have ironed out our annual financial goals. That feels good! We’ve always been really good about budgeting but only started setting actual money goals about 5 years back. It’s made a huge difference in our finances. Plus, I’m a former bookkeeper/finance nerd. I get more excited about the financial goals than my personal goals anyway – ha!
J in OH-IO says
Always admire your energy and all that you accomplish throughout the year!!!
I recently decluttered and organized my dish towels and folded them so they are easy to grab and not all randomly flung in the drawer.
My goals: DECLUTTER and organize. It’s my resolution every year for the past 20 years! It is very hard for me to go through my stuff and difficult to get rid of things- it’s overwhelming and emotionally draining and I cry. It emotionally and physically hurts! I keep stuff and can’t find it so why keep it? My children do not want my stuff that I saved for them so I just have to let it go and be realistic.
Lose weight (30 lbs), start to exercise, lift weights to get stronger, and eat plant strong whole food plant based.
Wishing everyone good luck on their goals! Happy New Year 2024!
Pauline in Upstate NY says
Take at look at the book, “Decluttering at the Speed of Life” by Dana K. White (also available in audio form on Libby, only a 6-hour listen). She addresses several of the issues you raise that are frequently obstacles to making progress clearing out the stuff. While my house has a (long) ways to go on this front, I have found Dana’s funny delivery and down-to-earth approach to this task very user-friendly.
J in OH-IO says
Pauline in Upstate NY-
Thank you for the book recommendation and for letting me know it’s in audio form and available on Libby! I will check it out.
PattiCinCO says
Stay off the Diet Coke and get off Aspartame
No independent travel for me unless I have points or travel credit
Dining out budget of 2000.00
Grocery budget of 7200.00
Household Budget of 3000.00
Learn Spanish (at least enough to talk to customers)
Savings goal of 20000.00
Jennifer says
My main goal is to get my finances under control. 2023 was a hard year for us. We were blindsided by a large tax bill ($4000) and that triggered us having to make estimated payments so another $4000 over the year. Combined with 2 cars being totalled and having to be replaced (darn kids!) and numerous appliances breaking – and you know life stuff. It was a rough financial year. We have managed to stay out of credit card debt but I have a car loan that I would like paid off by June. We owe $6000 still. I think we can do it with belt tightening and working extra. I have other goals but it doesn’t make sense to pursue them until I get this debt taken care of.
Nancy says
We are doing the last room in our house that needs to be remodeled. It is the master bath. We will be gutting it and starting over. We are doing a separate shower and a separate steam shower with curbless entry ways. The bathroom is being designed so it will accomodate us as we age. This project will take the contractor some time to do. This project will take up quite a bit of my time . However, I still plan to volunteer, plant and harvest my gardens, take online classes, and learn calligraphy.
Lindsey says
Nancy: we redid our bathroom, including the curbless entry way. One of the things I like best is the shelves for shampoo and the like, which are also grab bars. We forgot to inset shelves in the shower and now I am thankful that we did forget because I would have needed to add grab bars later. I believe we got them at Lowes, and they were available in a variety of finishes.
Sandy says
I lost two pets this year (brutal) and am recovering and paying off all the vet bills. That is goal number 1.
I have a lot of deferred maintenance on the house because of all the expensive vet bills. This year I need to:
1. Replace the gutters
2. Fix a window/siding issue
3. Have a plumber come look at a minor pluming issue
4. Replace dining room drapes and hardware
5. Carpets cleaned and hopefully replaced later in the year
6. Paint the inside of the house (this is a big one). I keep telling myself if Mavis can do it, I can do it!
7. Overseed the lawn and try to get it looking decent again.
8. Drink 80 oz of water a day.
9. Meditate once a day for at least 10 minutes.
10. Exercise 30 minutes a day 5x a week. Walking outside with friends counts!
There’s some short term and some long term. Like I said, I have a lot to catch up on after having sick pets for almost 18 months. Having said that, I would do it all again as I loved them so much and miss them terribly.
Claudia s says
I had to put my best friend to sleep last May. I miss him so much
Your list has many of the things I need to do and hope you don’t mind if I use it also.
Sue S. says
So sorry to hear about your losses. I had a close call with my cat a year ago and I’m still paying off the vet bill. Thank goodness for Care Credit! But he recovered and he is so worth it.
Barbara Dougherty says
I just moved in to a new villa in November. So no yard, but I do have patio space so…
1. Small patio/container garden
2. Declutter. I’ve done a lot, but man, doing it again.
3. Save for a big vacation. Scotland?
4. Read 2 books per month
5. Stick to my budget
6. Make a quilt for my new granddaughter who will be here in May!!
Paula says
Scotland is always a good choice. We have been there 5 times.
Sue S. says
One of my goals is to finish the binding on 3 large runners that are sitting in my UFO rug hooking pile.
tc says
My goals are to get my office organized, scan in all the paperwork I have lying around, file it where it can be found easily both in storage and on the computer.
To get my HH to commit to the design and starting the renovation of the guest bathrroom and powder room. It has not changed since it was built in 1988 (we bought in 2008), We have done lots of exterior work, new deck, roof, solar panels, wood shed, storage shed and indoors replaced carpet with hardwood but still more to go.
Train someone to take over some of my volunteer work so I can have a little more time for me.
Lucy says
Are the solar panels worth the expense? How much difference did it make in your electric bill?
Brianna says
We bought a house with solar panels on the roof. It was a nightmare to close on because they were leased, so we made the owner pay them off as part of the deal because no way would I lease them. It took another six months to get the ‘generators’ registered in our name and get control of the srectrades. It was a royal pain. It costs me $400 to have someone clean them so they work properly, after the pollen season. We have 45 panels and I only notice savings in the summer months (I compare to my cookie cutter neighbor who doesn’t have solar, but same house). I am glad we didn’t buy this house for the solar as it wasn’t a feature I would have paid for. The system will never pay for itself from the initial investment (based on the lease the owner had to pay off at closing). At best we produce 2 energy credits a month(summer) and because of the PA market we have to sell to, it gives us a big $40 per credit after fees and such. I wish I could sell to a different market as we live just outside DC in VA and that market is almost $400 per credit. My electric bill during this time of year is about 80% the cost of my neighbors, so not a huge savings. We don’t have it tied to a battery backup, so when the power goes out on the grid, we also loose power. I was a bit shocked when my fridge wouldn’t power on a hot sunny summer day, but now I know why and I am not sure about the $4k+ investment just to have battery storage with the solar.
Mel says
We’re in Maryland and get nothing from the credits.
We own our panels, but our house has poor insulation, so they bring our electric bills down to reasonable instead of insane. Also, surrounding trees have grown up since, so they don’t get as much light.
The one potential upside for us is that we can install a system where the panels charge a battery that can run the house in the event the power goes out. Our power goes out ALL the time, so that would be nice, but it costs as much as the original system.
Katherine says
My 2024 goals are to remodel the kitchen and primary bathroom, replace the flooring in both rooms, hallway, powder room, full interior painting and build out 2/3 of our basement. Then make the needed external maintenance/repairs, power wash then paint the exterior. After 3 years I’m ready to make this house my home.
Annette says
A huge goal of mine is to somehow organize 40+ years of photos that are in boxes. Do I put them in albums? Or scan them all to store electronically? Do I toss the negatives? I don’t even know how to begin.
Sandie says
Yes, this is a big goal for me too. I keep saying that the pile of pics will be organized, scanned and that I will create 4 photo albums for each of my children but I never actually do any of it LOL But this year, if you do it, I’ll do it 🙂
Annette says
Hey Sandie, maybe we should check back the end of 2024 and discuss our progress! The thing that motivated me to start was when my MIL passed away in September and I wanted to find photos for her memorial. Wishing you the best of luck on your project.
Linda says
My goals are to try and get medical care for several problems, including heart health and lymphedema.
Lose weight.
Find enough energy to shop for an SUV and sell my present vehicle.
Practical Parsimony