2017 Resolutions

2017 New Years Resolutions_feistyharriet_Jan 2017

I really love New Year’s Resolutions, I’ve made them my whole adult life and probably have, on average, a 60% completion rate in any given year. Frankly, I am quite thrilled with this (totally extra super scientific) statistic. However, over the last few weeks as I’ve been trying to come up with resolutions for 2017 I went back through the last several years and realized, with a bit of horror, that my resolutions are almost exactly the same, year after year.

Let me explain.

Once upon a time (cough, 2011) I read 13 books for the year. This may seem like a pretty solid number for some of you, and that is TOTALLY FINE! But for me, it was jaw dropping, because I liked to describe myself as a bookworm, I would drive hundreds of miles for a used book sale for crying out loud, how could I–a self-professed bookaholic–only manage to read 13 books that year? Well, part of it was I was finishing my last semester of college, and I wasn’t counting college texts as “reading” (Das Kapital, I’m looking at you, you big lug!). But I realized that I was not prioritizing reading in practice nearly as much as I was in my head. So, for 2012 I made a resolution to read 50 books, a huge jump. Goodreads tells me I read 59 that year, a number that has continued to increase year after year. At this point, I no longer need to make a resolution to read a suitable-to-me-number of books per year, because bookaholic-level reading is now enough of a habit that I would do it regardless.

But my other annual resolution things? The ones involving healthy eating and regular exercise and more financially savvy spending/saving habits? Yeah…those aren’t habits yet. I will go a few months doing really well, and then make a flying leap off the bandwagon and go wander around in a corn field for a while. Or something. Metaphors aren’t always my thing, okay?

Finalizing my resolutions, I realized that some are so similar year after year because I have yet to commit them to Life Habits That I Don’t Need To Check Off A List, they are still aspirations that need constant reminding and tending and some kind of reward system. And…I think that’s okay? Yes, I think it is. I know I will be happier and healthier if I replace some of those cookies with green beans, and some of the Netflix sessions with a walk around the neighborhood. But my natural state is more sloth-and-cookies, not green beans-and-cardio, so back onto the Resolution list it goes.

Like previous years, I tend to have a few categories with a couple of co-dependent goals in each one, the goals work together to help me accomplish something great within that category. So, here it goes.

2017 Resolutions
   Self:
  • Create a weekly schedule every Sunday, stick to it (this has worked SO WELL for meal planning and grocery shopping, time to apply that kind of planning to the rest of my life.
  • Write daily, including posts three times per week on feistyharriet.com.
  • Dedicate time to create something/work on a creative project at least twice per month.
  • Select a Master’s program and submit the damn application.
  • Figure out a “Date Your Spouse” project with Mr. Blue Eyes, deliberately creating time and space for our relationship to strengthen and deepen.
   Health: 
  • Back to my “fighting weight” (I have never been in a physical fight), which requires another 25 pounds of weight loss. After losing 25 pounds earlier this year and then keeping it off, I am ready to start Phase II of this project!
    • Sweat or be active four days per week, at least 30 minutes.
    • Three 4-week stretches of no sugars whatsoever (including most carbohydrates). I am in the first week of stretch #1, I’ll choose two other months to do this kind of “reset” thru the year.
    • Continue regular meal planning, cooking dinners at home, and healthy eating.
   Home:
  • Landscaping in the front yard (we did the backyard this year and I LOVE IT SO MUCH!)
  • Finish painting the kids’ bedrooms
  • Host six dinner parties (something I’ve always WANTED to do on the regular, but am always too worried it won’t be perfect so I don’t even send an invite. Want to conquer this bizarre fear this year.
   Money:
  • Three “no spend” months (January, August, and another one, TBD)
  • Make an automatic monthly transfer into my savings account that is untouchable, it’s not being saved for a project or trip, it’s just being set aside for later.
  • [Redacted resolution about work/money stuffs…not ready to blog about it yet]
   Travel:
  • Use my passport! Twice!?
  • Visit two new National Parks
  • Go camping, at least overnight, four times this year. We’ve got all the gear, I want to use it!

And there it is! It’s kind of a lot, but also most are things I am at least attempting to make a consistent part of my life already, my hope is that 2017 will be the year I finally level up in adulting: taking care of my body, taking care of my relationships, taking care of my finances, and taking care of my needs for a creative outlet, and adventure.

What are your resolutions this year?

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16 thoughts on “2017 Resolutions

  1. Jen

    “My natural state is more sloth-and-cookies, not green beans-and-cardio.” I’m going to emblazon this on my family crest. Also, yay for goals! I always feel overly ambitious with mine but I’d rather overdo it and fall a little short than not try to do anything at all…and still fall short of that. (Sloth tendencies and all.)

    Reply
  2. Britt

    Yes! Love it! And I appreciate your perspective on continuing to make resolutions until they become your lifestyle. I’m all about that!

    Reply
    1. Feisty Harriet Post author

      I hope that mentality helps me commit more, I tend to rebel against rules–even the ones I make myself–so I’m trying to help myself help myself…I’m very tricky. Clearly.

      xox

      Reply
    1. Feisty Harriet Post author

      You have a standing invite to any and every party I throw, bookish, foodie, or otherwise.

      xox

      Reply
  3. grace b

    Hi Harriet! I’m new to your blog but I already am really enjoying it! I really love the point you made that those “recurring” resolutions are just not Life Habits yet — so true. I’m looking forward to sticking to a consistent routine this year.

    Reply
    1. Feisty Harriet Post author

      Hi Grace! Welcome! The Resolution vs Habit realization was kind of an a ha! moment for me, I really hope I can get a few of these to be permanent parts of my life this year!

      Thanks for reading and commenting!
      xox

      Reply
  4. Katie

    Love them all! Using my passport twice in a year would be amazing!! I’m lucky if I use it once every 2 yrs.

    “But my natural state is more sloth-and-cookies, not green beans-and-cardio” pretty much describes me to a tee. It’s work to stay active and eat healthy, but it’s worth it. I love feeling fit and strong. I’m working my way back there after a too long hiatus. I’ve had spurts of activity/workouts, but my food has been a free for all for the past two years and it’s definitely caught up to me.

    Reply
    1. Feisty Harriet Post author

      I have never once gone on multiple international trips…I’m more a “once every 4 or 5 years” kind of adventurer. This will be a stretch! (Although, Rocky Point, Mexico is just 4 hours south…although that wasn’t exactly what I had in mind…)

      I went to the gym tonight! And I did cardio! And…I definitely would benefit from some new and more supportive running shoes, my feet are not happy with my choices right now. Sigh.

      xox

      Reply
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  6. San

    I think we all have these resolutions that we ‘carry over’ every year… but if we can manage to commit ONE to life habits, that’s a huge accomplishment. As they say, you can’t change everything at once… one thing at a time. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Feisty Harriet Post author

      Yes! Exactly. I can’t believe it took me several years + one moment of clarity to stop feeling guilty about missed resolutions. Onward and upward!

      xox

      Reply
  7. Sarah

    I have the exact same bizarre fear about hosting dinner parties — or really hosting anyone at my house. I’m also hoping to push through that this year!

    Reply
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