Hey Sunny Siders, welcome to blogmas day 23! Today, I’m sharing some of the goals I want to set for myself in the new year. I know we all make crazy resolutions and barely stick to them, so I’m all here to offer some advice for setting these new year goals. When setting goals, make sure they are SMART, that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. Setting goals with these five objectives in mind will help create realistic goals you can actually accomplish. So this year I’ve set some SMART goals for myself that I’d like to share.
1. Exercising 4-5 times a week
I used to be someone who tried to exercise every single day, but that really just leads to burnout and injuries. I also used to think exercise could only be done at the gym. Now I know that rest is important, and exercise can be done just about anywhere. Ideally, I’ll get to do some lifting at the gym because I enjoy it, but I also enjoy walks and riding my bike too!
2. Drinking 48-64 oz of water a day
I’m horrible at drinking water, and I set a water drinking goal every year but never stick to it. In 2023 I will be sticking to this goal. I’m going to start slowly and work my way up to 48-64 oz (the daily suggested amount of water). By the end of 2023 I want to be doing this with ease.
3. Only use social media for 30 minutes a day
I spend way too much time on social media when I’m “bored.” I want this to stop. There are so many other things I could be doing with my time that are still relaxing and fun. I want to use my free time more wisely, rather than scrolling for hours on end.
4. Cook for myself 3 times per week
I find that I tend to put cooking off, or wait for someone else to help me because I’m not that good at it. I want to prove to myself that I’m not a bad cook, rather I just don’t do it enough. I’m going to start by just cooking 3 times a week, then as I get better start incorporating new recipes.
5. Don’t go over budget any month in 2023
I almost did this in 2022, but I want to do this in 2023. Being on a budget has helped me so much financially. My savings have grown, and I’ve become a lot more intentional when buying things. I want to prove to myself that I can keep my budget and stick to it!
6. Put $100 into my savings per week
I saw that if I put $100 into my savings each week I’ll end up with $5,200 by the end of the year. If I can do this for 3-6 years I’ll have enough to put a down payment on a house! That’s incredibly enticing to someone who is just a few years away from the work force and being completely on their own. I want to make sure that by the time I am getting a job, I’m also able to buy/rent a place to live.
7. Journal my thoughts 4-5 times a week
I always start the year out strong with journaling, and then lose my touch my April or May. This year I want to keep up with the journaling. To make it more attainable, I’m only setting the goal of 4-5 times a week. This allows for days off so that if I miss one day I don’t automatically feel like I failed the goal.
8. Do 10 pull ups without assistance
This is a goofy one, but I’ve always wanted to be able to do I decent amount of pull ups at one time. As of right now I can do about 5 in a row on a good day. I’d like to work my way up to 10 high quality pull ups before 2023 ends.
9. Spend 15 minutes learning Japanese 4-5 times a week
By the time I’m 30, I want to visit Japan. I also want to be able to speak Japanese so I can understand the locals and truly be immersed in the experience. I do my daily Duolingo, but I want to spend more time learning. I think if I can do 15 minutes worth 4-5 times a week that will have me learning a lot more than ever before.
10. Read at least one book for enjoyment per month
I love to read, but when school picks up and I’ve got so many other things to do, it falls to the wayside. I want to replace some of that time scrolling on social media with time spent reading for enjoyment. I should be able to finish at least one book per month even with my busy schedule.
11. Clean my reusable water bottle daily
This is another thing I’m terrible at. I really need to start cleaning my reusable water bottles more often, so I’m being harsh with this goal. I need to make this a daily habit so I don’t waste anymore bottles because they got moldy.
12. Receive all A’s during my graduate courses
This is probably my most challenging goal I’ve set for myself, but I’m ready to tackle it. I want to earn all A’s in my graduate courses this year. It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I’m going to put in the time to make this goal happen.
13. Text my family and friends once per day
When I get into the work and school mode, I often forget to reach out to friends and family. I’m going to try and be better about this. I’m going to try and text at least one person I know and care about every day.
14. Call my family at least twice a week
My family is a big part of my support system, and talking to them always makes me happy. While I used to be able to talk to them almost daily, my schedule has gotten pretty hectic. I want to at least talk with them twice a week, and if my schedule permits maybe more.
15. Spend at least 2 hours doing something I enjoy each day
I started a goal similar to this one last year and it worked very well for me. I want to continue this goal in 2023, so I don’t get burnt out. I need to spend at least 2 hours each day doing something that I enjoy. No school, no work, no studying, just fun for these two hours.
Sunny Side Up With Siri 