Goals for 2016

Now that it is 2016 you know what that means? New Year’s Resolution time!

I always start out with the best intentions, but by mid-February I am completely off of my New Year’s resolution list. This year, I am starting with some very open-ended questions, so they aren’t so specific. Hopefully this will help me to hit these goals.

Below are my thoughts on each goal and what I’d like to focus on in 2016.

1. break a bad habit
This one is tough, because I have a few bad habits I’d like to break. But, I am going to stick with the one that came to mind first: eating/exercise habits. This is very high on my list, because I am on the verge of my cholesterol being too high. My doctor’s parting words to me after my physical in November was, “Watch those carbs and work out 4 times a week!” Well, there you have it. Now that I am in my 40s (Ugh!), the older I get the harder it is to lose those pesky pounds. So, this year I vow to lose 15 pounds, eat healthier (low carbs, clean eating, and possibly adopting a vegetarian diet), drink more water, and work out at least 4 times a week.

2. build a good habit
I have been blogging off and on for a few years after closing Crafting with Cat Hair in 2011, but I never really felt like I got my blogging groove back. My main goal of this year is to blog on a consistent basis. To start out I will commit to blogging once a week, most likely on Mondays. There is always a possibility that I’ll post more than once in a week, like Yarn Along Wednesdays, or a monthly yarn palette post. But for now look for a blog post once a week. This should be easy enough for me to get my groove back!

3. write something important
It has been awhile since I wrote a new pattern. Again with the lack of craft mojo. But I’ve had some really fun ideas pop up in the last few weeks to get me thinking about new patterns again. And I might even get enough together to make my own book. Yikes! I’ve been published in magazines and a craft compilation book, so it might be time for me to write my own book. It is a tall task, but I think I’m up for the challenge.

4. learn a new skill
I have two crafts that I’d really like to learn in 2016: knitting and weaving. I was so excited to hear Vicki Howell tell her Facebook readers that she will be hosting a Knit 101 class online in 2016. That is really awesome! I actually took a knitting class in late 2014, but couldn’t get it. I don’t know if it was me or the teacher, but I learned crochet by an online course so that makes me feel a little better. As far as weaving goes, I’m going to try some easy weaving projects I found on Pinterest. I’m going to get a Pinterest board set up for all of the weaving/loom projects I’ve found in case this is something you are interested in too.

5. do a good deed for someone who can’t thank you
I want to craft more for charity this year, so that is what this will be. Most of the time the recipients can thank you if you give your information, so that isn’t exactly what I’m looking for. So, in the fall I am going to make some scarves and wrap them around trees for the homeless or anyone who is in need of a scarf for the cold weather.

6. take a break and relax
I’ve been so consumed with making room for everything, whether it is writing or crafting or working on the computer. I forget how it is to just sit back and relax. I remember when I got my first computer. I loved to sit in front of my PC Jr. for hours and hours and play games. My favorite was King’s Quest. Oh, how I loved that game. I’d spend hours trying to get past the witch, jumping up to grab a hold of the bird so he could take me to the next land, and keeping close to the rocks so I didn’t fall in the chasm. But, I think this was the beginning of the end of reading for me. I was consumed by my new computer, and that has happened again with social media. My goal is to go back to a simpler time, even if for an hour a day, when I would lie on my bed and read, which leads me to goal #7.

7. read more books than last year
It is sad, because when I was younger I would read all of the time. I always took part in the summer reading program at the local library. I seem to have lost that love over the years. I think it has to do with TV, videos, and the internet. Goodreads hosts a yearly reading challenge, and I have signed up committing to reading 25 books. That is a lot for me, since last year I only read about 8 books. But, I am all in and have even joined some fun reading challenges to help me reach my goal. I’m also adding reading a daily devotional to this list. I want to get back to reading the Bible on a daily basis.

8. learn to cook a new food
Since I will be eating healthier this shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish. I am especially interested in learning to cook more vegetarian meals, even some tofu. I’d also like to learn some clean eating and healthy desserts. When I start craving sugar I reach into the back of my freezer for my box of Thin Mints. Maybe there is a healthy version of Thin Mints. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

9. visit someplace new (local & out of town)
I tend to be a homebody. I think it is the writer/crafter/reader in me. I like to go home make a cup of tea and chill while doing one of the aforementioned activities. But this year I plan to make a little change. I want to spend some time exploring local shops, restaurants, and places. One shop that I want to visit soon is Black Cat Cafe. They have a large vegetarian/vegan menu, which is going to help with #1 on my list.

10. take an important risk
I’m not sure what this will be yet, but it might be with my writing or career path. We’ll have to see what 2016 brings my way!

So that is my list. Did you make a New Year’s resolution list this year? Do you have any similar goals?