I won’t go ahead and say I like New Years MORE than Christmas but let’s just say I like the flow of things. The decadence of Christmas and then the week to recuperate and shop :). And then a holiday where we start a new beginning. I love New Years resolutions, I love goals and I love change. I love that there is a whole holiday specifically devoted to a new beginning.

New Years Resolutions have a reputation for having a two or three week shelf life. I’ve learned to not set goals like “exercises daily” because I usually last the typical two weeks. For me, concrete goals like: run a 10k or get a new “look” by March 1 or clean out closet by February 1 work better. The goals I make that are event oriented seem to have a better survival rate than the daily goals.

I start planning my goals in early December, then the week after Christmas I give some of the goals a trial run so I am prepared for January 1. If for some reason I change my goal or don’t accomplish all of them I don’t beat myself up. I go into it knowing I won’t finish all of them. That is why I make a lot of goals.

Here is a short list version of my new years resolutions. {There are more but it feels weird to put up all of them.}

1. Read ten books this year. {this is wussy for an English major but last year I read two books so I’m taking baby steps!}
2. Run 16km race in January {I was already training for this one.}
3. Learn Calligraphy
4. Take a cooking class
5. Take two classes at Center for the Book
6. Hire a cleaning lady.
7. Plan wardrobe every month {I look so much better when I spend a few hours planning outfits.}
8. Remember everybody’s birthday