Despite my efforts to make this ‘publish’ whilst I was enjoying life, I failed 🙁 But that’s given me time to reflect (and enjoy my time off) and so I’ll ensure everything listed still fits reality!
Financial
– Save a total of $20k by 22 Dec (for mortgage refinancing): Current balance is $13,487.55. Whilst this account doesn’t pay bills, it is dipped into occasionally for ’emergency’ spending (which sometimes means ‘a flight’s a really good deal, and I can save that money up again’!)
– Continue to meet all bills with weekly savings contribution of $200 per week
– Aim for $100+ ‘generosity’ per week – charity, church, random acts of gifting and kindness (this is setting the bar HIGH – but it’s in the ball park of 10% of salary, if others can do it, I should try it!)
Health
– Cook at home at least twice a week – living alone, cooking semi-regularly means I have some healthy food, and limits my take out. It also means I don’t have to buy lunch (which I hate – not the buying as much as the decision making process… and then the money spending… I hate spending money and then finding it was ‘wasted’ because I didn’t like what I bought!)
– Limit wheat intake – try to make the ‘right’ choice more often
– Limit sugar intake – maybe ‘dessert’ once a week. No sweet snacks…
(both the above aren’t measurable… so not very exact. The rule I used between 12 Nov (my return from my last trip) and Christmas was to not eat any sugar. Whilst that wasn’t strictly adhered to, I certainly lowered it significantly. Whilst I was away, every day pasteries was the order of the day!! )
– TRAIN and play water polo – I’m good at attending every game (been known to reschedule holidays around games!), but not so good at training, so I need to commit to a weekly training, and stop making excuses!
Cultural
– 2 films a month – a few years ago, I counted my ticket stubs on new years day, and had 40 for the year! That’s INSANE but an indication of how much I love immersing myself in the cinema (musty carpet smell and all!) It’s truly a few hours where I can escape. It’s not the same to steal it from the internet, and do your mending or cook dinner at the same time. When I go to the movies, I don’t text. I don’t let ‘normal’ life interfere (though… I do chatter away to someone who has been silly enough to come along with me – sorry!)
– 2 books a month – So far I have had 52 loans at my local library, and given I’ve only been ‘in area’ for a year, that would be more like one a week (actually seems I started lending in March, so more than one a week!). That being said, some of them aren’t ‘read’ – I did borrow some CDs. I also borrow magazines, and they aren’t something I’m willing to count as ‘books’.
Social
It does seem weird keeping targeted lists on social front. But there are a lot of friends who I don’t keep in touch with as much as I’d like to. I’ve certainly been better since I stopped being a student (Being a student just sucked life out of me – there was always something I ‘should’ have been doing, and it never seemed there was enough time just to live… to enjoy life…) In the past I know I set a goal of calling a friend a week (obviously targeting ones I wasn’t seeing regularly, so largely those who live interstate) This was a big deal for me, as I realised I don’t call people ‘just for a chat’ and felt awkward about it. One thing I have mastered in the post card sending whilst on holidays, as well as Christmas cards (though this year the latter list was severely truncated…)
– touch base with an out of town friend once a month
– make time for friends around regular commitments (work, church, water polo): I’m mindful that a close friend mentioned I was ‘always busy’, and therefore did lessen my load with water polo. I want to make sure my friends don’t feel like they are neglected, but at the same time, not that I’m leeching off them to spend every hour together -it’s a balancing act between needy and hoity independence sometimes!
Professional
– Get my certification: Agh this is something I have to do, but have NO enthusiasm. I shouldn’t take the next week off, I should stay at work at write career episodes – but the friends goal above is winning out!
– Start looking for my next role: career progression targets at work mean this is the year I need to look for a new role, so I can meet the certification + experience targets to continue progressing. I’m loathed to leave where I am – I have a great boss, I’m still learning, I love my work, and I don’t want to risk any of those things by moving. But if I don’t move, then I might be closing doors for my future (and I’m young, there’s a lot of ‘career’ ahead!)