Making New Year’s Goals That You Can Actually Achieve

Would it really be January if bloggers didn’t take to their blogs to announce to the world their goals or their “word” for the year ahead? I think not!

Instead of big sweeping goals that many (including myself) have declared in the past, I am sharing with you a handful of goals that are small, achievable and impactful. While I certainly still have larger hopes and dreams both personally and professionally for 2019, I’m more interested in sharing these “little” goals with you as I feel they are something that most anyone can implement and make a real change in your life and/or the world. Yes, I went there – the world! 😀 

Making New Year’s Goals That You Can Actually Achieve

I’ve talked about this concept in a Facebook Live with my friend Laura just after Christmas that instead of making these huge goals, most of us would be better off with smaller goals that we can turn into habits. And with that concept in mind, I’ve created my small list of goals for 2019. Things I can do on a daily and weekly basis that will ultimately contribute to larger goals I have without overwhelming myself.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

The Unread Shelf

In case you haven’t heard, I’m a reader. I’ve read over 100 books each of the past two years and have no intention to slow that down in 2019. I’m an avid library user, but I’m also an avid book buyer. I have on occasion banned myself from borrowing anything at the library for a month or so at a time while I try to catch up a bit on the books in my TBR (to be read) stack, but it’s always short lived. In 2019, I’m not putting a ban on borrowing books from the library or others, but I am putting a ban on buying books until I have at the very least trimmed my TBR pile down to one little cubicle on my bookshelf.

RIght now my unread books span 3 cubicles and as you can see, more than fill all three. I’ve got some really great books sitting there that I want to get to, but I am requiring myself to get through all my borrowed books before I move onto my TBR shelves.

One big thing I did to help me keep this goal in the front of my mind is I moved my TBR collection from a shelf behind a door in my office where I didn’t see it unless I was purposely looking for something to the prime location on the bookcase beside my desk. Now anytime I walk into my office or go to the bathroom I see all those unread books and it reminds me of all the great titles I have waiting for me and will hopefully reduce my FOMO on buying new books!

Like any good book addict I’ve built in a couple exceptions to the new book rule and those are:

1. Sophie Kinsella has a new book out in February. I will be purchasing it on release day. No question.
2. I’m allowed to inherit or swap books. I’m lucky enough to often get books from Zoe and since she gets so many from publishers and I am still allowed to accept all the books she offers me that I honestly think I’ll read.
3. If I get down to one cubicle (straight across, no books piled on top), I am allowed to buy more books, but only those that will fit on that one shelf. If I’m being honest, I don’t think that’s going to happen for a while, haha.
4. If I need to purchase a book for work purposes (training, and/or bloggy projects) I’m allowed to do so but must choose the e-book over the physical book whenever possible.

Is that enough exceptions? 

Annual 1st Quarter Spending Ban

This is nothing new, each year I try to implement a spending ban on non-essential items from January-March. I’m usually pretty well stocked of things I “need” after the holidays and it’s an easy way to cut out unnecessary spending, save some money and pay off debt. This year I’m a tiny bit more flexible about the ban than in other years. I’m still not allowing myself to buy stuff I don’t need, but when things do come up that I need to buy I’m trying to keep it thrifty.

Last weekend I ripped my favorite jeans and needed to buy a new pair so yesterday after Zumba Gold I went out in search of a pair. I was going to head to Mark’s but decided I would take a swing by Value Village first to see if I could find anything and I did! I was able to get a pair of Buffalo Jeans for $12.99 plus I had a 20% off coupon so got them for under $12 total. I could have also gone to Frenchies but I’m a bit lazy and paid the extra $$ to be able to look at them sorted by size to save time. Even still, I’m happy with my “like new” $80-90 jeans for under $12.

I’m not aware of any other clothing items I will be needing right now, and I can’t say that I will thrift everything because depending on the item it can still be cheaper to buy new (like tanks and t-shirts), but my goal will be to be as frugal in the clothing and “Extras” dept as possible when possible. 

Exceptions:

If I need a new bra or something like that, I’m going to have to drop the big bucks to get the kind I know fits and works for me, but I’m ok with that.

Reducing Waste

Single use cups and straws are a real problem and are entirely unnecessary. I’ve kept a little baggie of reusable straws in my glove compartment to use instead of plastic straws for ages, but I’m trying to kick it up a notch this year. 

The big one is that I’ve started keeping a clean travel mug in my car at all times so if I do happen to stop for a latte somewhere, I can get my drink in my travel mug instead of a single-use cup.

A couple bonuses for this goal is that it gets me to use my pretty travel mugs (like this Kate Spade mug) that otherwise sit in the cupboard unused,

and it also keeps me from using my backseat as a trash can of single-use cups. And since I got a new car I really want to try to keep it nice and not full of garbage and crap so this is a win-win-win! As long as I keep it up!

Finally, I have ordered this little collapsible straw that I can keep in my bag for those times I’m traveling with someone else so I never have to use those darn plastic straws. I ordered it a week and a half ago and it hasn’t arrived yet so I’ll let you know what I think of it once I’ve got it and had the chance to try it a few times. I’m hoping I really like it!

Exceptions:

In this category, the only exception is McCafe coffee/lattes. I’m still going to get those in the take-out cups in order to collect my stickers. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do to earn free lattes…

That’s it, folks. Three goals and two of them aren’t even necessarily goals for the whole year. Each of the goals has exceptions, but also have clear guidelines. 

I hope that this has given you some ideas of goals you might be able to implement in your life this month, this quarter or this year. Remember, they don’t have to be huge all-encompassing goals in order to make a real impact!

Did you make any “little” goals for 2019? I’d love to hear what they are!!