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Who Cares If Resolutions “Don’t Work”?

By on January 4, 2011

I knew it would happen.  The landslide of awesome and inspirational 2011 resolutions posts from last week were, of course, followed up this week with posts about how “resolutions don’t work”.

Who cares?

Yes, for the most part, many people forget about their resolutions/goals/dreams by the end of January.  The new hope that rolled in with the New Year is easily forgotten with the monotony of the daily grind.  Many people will sign up for gym memberships (I know because I saw them all at my gym tonight) and many will stop going to the gym in just a few short weeks.

But, guess what?  Some won’t forget their resolutions.

There will always be a few who emerge from the year victorious (and buff?).  Some will meet their resolutions and maybe even make permanent changes in their life.

Goals give us hope and motivation.  They encourage us when we don’t have anything to look forward to.  They give us something to work towards.  While it’s true that we’ll never meet many of the goals that we set for ourselves (like that goal I set for myself to be on the 3rd season of Jersey Shore … dang it), we WILL meet some of our goals.  And if we never made those goals because someone told us that we wouldn’t reach them, well, we would never have reached them!

Take my friend, Matt, for example.  Matt was overweight until he was twenty years old.  One year, Matt made a New Year’s resolution to get in shape.  That was about 8 years ago.  Since then, Matt has already ran 2 marathons and is now a total gym rat and health freak.  (I didn’t even make that story up, I swear.  Matt is a real person and that story is totally real. ;) )

I made 9 goals last year.  I succeeded at 7 of them.

Dream about being the next president.  Dream about being the next new model in the Victoria’s Secret runway show (anyone else do that?  Just me?).  Dream about being the next blog that Time magazine will name in their 25 Best Blogs of the year (Just me, again?).

Make goals for yourself. In fact, make outlandish, ridiculous goals for yourselves.  Who cares if you don’t meet all of them?  At least you tried.

Did you make New Year’s resolutions or goals this year?

Categories: Evolve, Goals19 Comments

Amber’s 2011 Goals

By on December 29, 2010

Write, Write, Write. 

2011 will be the year of writing!  I love writing, but, like with everything else, I don’t get around to it as often as I like.  The hardest part is getting started (especially after a long day in cube land).  But, I NEED to write more.  I was meant to start this blog (after not writing for many, many years) and start freelance writing. 

The more I think about it, the more I realize it was meant to be.  I always had “writing folders” as a little kid.  I thought having a journal or diary was the coolest thing ever.  I won writing awards in high school.  Writing papers always came easy to me.  I was always in honors writing classes and even took elective classes in Advanced Creative Writing.  I seriously geek out over every word in On Writing Well (which I just recently discovered on the recommendation of one of my freelance editors).  I don’t care to ever be a famous author or even have people read what I have to say.  I just want to write.  And I want it to be good.

And even after all those writing “moments” in my life, I’m just now realizing that I need to be writing more.  It’s funny – although my career choice has lead me down a very non-creative path, I’m starting to merge that field with my true interests.

Find Balance. 

This blog is supposed to be about finding balance in life, health, and money.  Er, to me, it basically sounds like a personal finance blog.  I’ve got some great ideas for balance and lifestyle posts next year and I think it will take this blog in the direction I want it to go. 

Sometimes I forget that people are interested in all sorts of topics that will improve their life.  From putting an end to the never-ending week, to getting into a good routine, to eating more greens, to avoiding “cubicle butt”, to being more physical when you have a sedentary job, to getting organized, and the list goes on and on.  I TOTALLY GEEK OUT over things that help improve the little details in our day to day lives.  Yes, I am a nerd.

Find a Routine. 

For the longest time:

  • I’ve wanted to be a morning exerciser.
  • I’ve wanted to enjoy my Sundays instead of rushing around to prepare for the upcoming week.
  • I’ve wanted to feel structure in my day instead of just trying to get through it.
  • I’ve wanted to be more organized.
  • I’ve wanted to have more time to enjoy the things I love (family, reading, writing, Yoga, etc.)

You know what’s getting the way of those things?  My unorganized routine.  I could blame my flexible work schedule for the demise of my routine, but I’d be lying.  This is mostly what’s to blame:

  • procrastination
  • laziness
  • time sucks
  • disorganization
  • distractions

I want to live life to the fullest.  I lead a pretty stellar life right now, but I want to make it better.  In 2011, I’ll find a routine.

P.S. Rumor has it that there is a new phrase around town called “lifestyle design”?  I guess you could say I plan to design my lifestyle in 2011.

Love, Love, Love. 

Love is the essence of Christian faith, which I will spend my entire life trying to fulfill.  Sure, I love right now.  I love my fiancé, but sometimes I don’t care about his needs as much as I could or should.  I love my parents, but I’m learning to love them more.  I love my siblings, but I could give more. 

While I have a lot of love for everyone, sometimes that love is shadowed by the love for myself.  Right now, my needs are at the top of my list.  In 2011, I’d like to take some time to put others’ needs in front of my own.  It will be hard (and I’m sure becoming a mother down the road will improve my loving abilities naturally), but I think know it’s something I need to focus on more.  And getting married might teach me things I never knew about this whole love thing.

Get Married! 

No explanation necessary!  :)

Lose 10 pounds. 

Gosssshhh, I am so embarrassed at how cliché this goal is.  But, it’s one of my top goals for the first part of 2011.  It’s starting to get ridiculous.  If you follow my health and fitness blog (which I really don’t update … ever), then you know I am about 9 pounds heavier than I was before 1) moving in with G, and 2) studying for the CPA Exam.  Ohhhh-kayyyy, so it’s been like 6 months since my last exam and nothing has changed.  Not cool!  This WILL happen before the wedding!!!

It’s not because I haven’t been exercising or eating well.  I always exercise and eat well.  However, I only workout 3-4 times per week instead of 5-6.  I eat clean maybe 60% of the the time instead of 80% of the time.  By making small tweaks like these (which should be easy, I used to easily live like this), I know I can lose those last 9 annoying pounds. Update:  Since writing this and cleaning up my eating, I lost 2 pounds.  Only 7 more to go.  In your face, extra poundage!!!

Financial Goals:

  1. Wedding budget:  Stay under wedding budget of $20,000.  Yikes.
  2. Combine finances:  Combine finances without killing each other. ;)
  3. Start house-hunting:  Yes!  We are on track to have our down payment ready next December.  In December 2011, we plan to start house-hunting!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  SO EXCITED!!!
  4. Make a lot more side income:  I’m looking at you, blog.
  5. Start a dog fund:  We’re going to buy a big, black mutt pretty soon after we buy the house.  Dogs are expensive.  But, they’re super cute and I love them, so we’ll make it work through a savings plan.

What are YOUR goals for the new year?

Categories: Blogging, Dollars, Goals, Life, Writing23 Comments

2010 Goals Recap

By on December 22, 2010

As 2010 comes to a close, it’s time to take inventory of the year and see how things went.  2010 was a pretty monumental year for me, what with the CPA passing and the engagement and starting the new blog and all (no more Carrie … On The Cheap!).

So, did I accomplish everything I wanted to in 2010?  Let’s recap my goals for the year that I set back in December 2009:

  • Pass the CPA Exam. CHECK!
  • Implement/Use Quicken software.  CHECK!
  • Max out Roth IRA.  CHECK!
  • Move blog to self-hosting.  CHECK!
  • Reveal self on blog.  CHECK!
  • Become a fashionista.  SORTA CHECK.
  • Makeover bathroom.  FAIL.
  • Make a daily to-do list.  SORTA CHECK.
  • Stretch everyday.  FAIL.

(Original goals post is here.)

What did I accomplish? 

I passed the CPA exam (YAY!).  I started using Quicken (which I love).  I maxed out my Roth IRA this year (score).  I’ve obviously moved my blog to self-hosting and revealed myself on my blog.  I go by my real name everywhere in the blogosphere and I’ve shared a lot of personal details on the bloggie.  I’ve even told a couple people in “real” life about the bloggie (hi Noelle and Mom … if you’re reading. Heh.).

What did I almost accomplish? 

As far as becoming a fashionista … I didn’t do that, per se. What I did was embrace my style.  During the summer, I live in tank tops, cute flip flops, skinny jeans and/or shorts.  I take extra care to pick out the cutest tank tops and flip flips since that’s pretty much my entire wardrobe. ;)   In the winter, it’s a different story.  I’ll do anything to stay warm and I don’t care what that looks like.  All I can say is that I am SO happy those Ugg boots (and cheap knock-offs for us frugalistas) are in style!   Who cares?  It’s my style.  What I’ve realized is that all that really matters is that I know what I like.  I know I like a simple, clean style (a la Jennifer Aniston).   And, to me, embracing your style is becoming a fashionista in itself.

And thanks to the apps on my new Android phone, I’ve gotten a LOT better at making to-do lists.

What didn’t I accomplish? 

Even though 2010 was totally awesome, I didn’t meet all of my goals for the year.  I decided not to makeover the bathroom.  I just don’t care to since I know we’ll only be in this apartment for another year or so.  (But you can bet that I’m going to be decorating the bathrooms in our new house like crazy!) 

I also didn’t stretch every day.  G and I started the year off right.  We stretched together for 5 to 10 minutes every night for a couple of months.  It didn’t last.  On the bright side, I took Yoga more often this year than I ever have in my life.  So, not all is lost.

What’s next?

A post on my 2011 goals is coming shortly, but for now I’ll leave with you with a sneak peek at my homemade, beautiful wedding invitations (including reception and RSVP cards) that are saving me HUNDREDS of dollars!  The best part?  I love, love, LOVE them!

9sjk (source: ME!)

Categories: Excel, Goals, Life9 Comments