Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Goals for 2014


Today I am linking up with The Broke and The Bookish for Top Ten Tuesday. It's time to talk about our goals for this year: goals for reading and blogging and general life.


Goals for Reading and Blogging

1. Read at least one classic per month
Like a lot of bloggers, I tend to get caught up with all of the books that are being released. But I know there are a ton of classics that I haven't read yet and I think reading a variety of books from different places and times makes you a better reader (and writer!).

2. Read at least one non-fiction book per month
I don't do a terrible job of this. In 2012, I read 19 non-fiction books, but I want to make sure I'm not just reading fiction. There is so much to learn from non-fiction and I'm game to learn it all!

3. Find a new blogging thing
I've been blogging since the summer of 2011. There are a few things I do regularly now, such as It's Monday, What Are You Reading? and Dewey's Readathon. This year I want to find one new thing to do - a meme or readathon or challenge that will be new for me and this little corner of the bookish universe.

4. More pictures!
I think I would like to do something like this project. It's a great way to make sure I am taking pictures of my kids (and maybe me too) each week during the year.

5. Pay off my library fine.
Yup. Enough said.



Goals for General Life

1. Stay in Touch
Now before you start laughing about signing my yearbook, I have to confess that I'm not great about talking regularly with my friends and family. Some of this has to do with the difficulty of having a conversation with a crying baby and a constantly hungry little boy. The rest, I think, comes from my weird introvert/extrovert balance. I'm perfectly happy to stay at home and read and just be with my family until I am suddenly and very seriously not okay. I think there won't be such a drastic shift if I do a better job of talking to people and spending time with them.
So I'm going to try to do one thing each week - call a friend, have a Skype date, or send an email.

2. Find a new drink
I do pretty well with drinking a lot of water. But most days, I hit mid-afternoon and I'm looking for something that actually has a taste. I will sometimes have soda or juice if it's in the house but I feel like I need a go to drink other than water.

3. Exercise
Ok, so it's the time of year where we all go to the gym for a few weeks or dig our Jillian Michaels DVDs out of the closet. I want to be realistic here, realizing that I need the benefits of exercise with the flexibility of a mom with two littles who freelances from home. So I am starting out slow and resolving to exercise for at least 15 minutes at least three times a week. I can always do more, but I know my goal is reachable even with crying babies and crazy fluctuating schedules.

4. Night Time Routine
If I'm being honest, most nights I just crawl into bed with a book and that is that. I know (somewhere in the back of my mind) that I should be washing my face and doing some sort of nightly skin care routine. I'm just not sure what that should be. Any ideas?


What goals are you making for this year?

28 comments:

  1. Great goals! You're a faster reader than me, but reading one non-fiction book a month sounds great! With regards to your goal to stay in touch--I actually made a point of doing this last year myself. It was a fun and interesting experiment. Some of the people I contacted took a long time to get back to me, but they always did. I'm keeping at this goal this year because it brought me so much joy last year. I hope it does the same for you as well! Also now that I'm in my late 20's I've adopted a skin care regime as well...and it took lots of time for me to actually stick to it. At night, I usually just wash my face with a non-soap-based cleanser and put on a night moisturizer. I love waking up in the morning with a super soft face! :)

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    1. Thanks Heather! I'm glad to know that staying in touch was so rewarding for you. Grown up relationships are complicated sometimes, with the crazy lives we all lead...

      What cleanser and moisturizer do you use?

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    2. I've sort of floated around on the night moisturizer. My current favorite is Boots No 7 Lift and Luminate Night (only available at Target I think). My favorite cleanser is Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser. It gets my makeup off and doesn't make my eyes sting horribly if it accidentally gets in them (since I'm a klutz lol). Hope you find a routine that works for you!

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    3. Thank you! I will have to look out for those.

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  2. I'm doing a non-fiction picture book challenge that a friend of mine is hosting. I definitely need to beef up my non-fiction reading!

    Good luck with the classics!

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    1. Non-fiction reading can be tough! For me, at least, it moves more slowly than fiction and there are just so many interesting novels out there!

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  3. I have only read one classical book since I have been out of school, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I should try reading more of them this year as well.

    It sounds like you have your hands full with the two little ones. I wish you the best of luck in achieving all of your goals for this year.

    Thanks for stopping by my TTT!!

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    1. Thanks Jacque. The classics can be harder to get through, but they are so rewarding. Which one did you read?

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  4. I read one classic per month for the classics club, to stay on track for my goal, and it's totally do-able. Although I must admit that some months I choose very short classics! :P

    Good luck meeting all of your goals in 2014!

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    1. I can certainly understand that! I'm starting with a long one (Arabian Nights), but I think I might go with a shorter book in February!

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  5. I have a goal to read one classic a month this year, too. And I also hope to read more non-fiction. I wish you luck with ALL your goals! (And be sure to blog about any great non-fiction books you read this year...I'm on the lookout for new titles to add to my list.)

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    1. Thank you. I feel as if non-fiction books are less hyped than novels. It's difficult to hear about great non-fiction, but I know it's out there!

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  6. These are great goals! I don't think I'd ever be able to do it, but I love that you put classic and non-fiction books as as goal. For nighttime routine, I personally brush my teeth, floss, wash my face, and try to remember to put lotion on my legs and arms. :) Good luck with all your goals!

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    1. I find it's good to have a mix of books. Thanks for sharing your nightly routine - I've got to learn to do a few things before passing out at night! :)

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  7. Ooh, the one classic per month goal is a really good one. And so is the non-fiction. I'd never be able to accomplish the latter, unfortunately; non-fiction is not for me. Too dull. :(

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    1. There are definitely some dull ones out there. I think some of it has to do with pacing. I don't anticipate reading a biography as quickly as I would a novel. I know it's going to be a longer commitment.

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  8. I totally agree with you on the non fiction book thing. I've read some amazing non fictions, but I don't think I've read a single one since I started blogging! And I say YES to starting a nighttime moisturizing routine. I've been very diligent for many years washing and moisturizing at night. I'm sure you're younger than I am, so if you get in the habit now, you'll really be thankful in 15 years or so! Thanks so much for visiting Books, Bones & Buffy!

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    1. Thanks for the advice, Tammy! It's one of those things I know I should be doing but I'm not sure where to start.

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  9. These are great goals! I'm right there with you on the exercise thing. I have two little guys at home and it's hard to find time/energy. I got Yoga for Dummies from my library & so far so good. It's easy and pretty relaxing but I still feel like I'm getting exercise.
    And thanks for the reminder to pay off my library fine... Also, for visiting my blog. Happy 2014!

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    1. I think the hardest thing is the changing schedule. School is on break or the baby is teething and her nap schedule is off...The library DVD is a great idea! Good luck with sticking with your exercise plan too. :)

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  10. Because you want to read more classics and find a new blogging 'thing', have you considered joining The Classics Club? It would be a good way to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Also, the 52 pictures feature is one I like to see on other blogs.
    Exercise is something I want to try and make time for in 2014. Pre baby, I was lucky to be blessed with a very high metabolism. Post baby, its disappeared! I'm trying to be good and watch what I eat - taking in more fruit and veg and such - but exercise plays a (big) part in being healthy too. It can be hard with a little one, but I know there are times when I could squeeze it in. I just need to stop with excuses when it comes to that.
    I wish you luck with achieving all your goals Lindsey!
    :-)
    Bits & Bobs

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    1. That's a good point. I remember looking at the site, but didn't sign up for some reason. I should go take another look.

      It's so hard with the little people. When they finally fall asleep, you just want to sit down and actually drink a hot cup of coffee! We can do it though. :)

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  11. I love all of your reading/blogging goals! I love that you're challenging yourself to read one classic and one non-fiction book a month. My goals for myself were so much more lax, just to generally add non-fction and classics. Wishing you the best for both of those goals!

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    1. It seems so easy to read lots of novels. It takes a bit more work to get in those other books! Good luck with your reading goals in 2014!

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  12. Paying off your library fine is a noble goal. :)

    I'm terrible about letting the fine sit until I need to check something out.

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    1. Thanks! Our librarians are very kind about letting us still check out books, but we do get a giant "delinquent" that shows up every time we log into our library accounts...That's no fun for anybody!

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  13. Wonderful goals for 2014, Lindsey! Hope you are able to achieve all of them! Wish you all the very best!

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