It’s hard to believe we’re at the half-way point of the year. As such, I thought it would be fun to share a mid-year 13 in 13 update, and I’d love to hear how your goals for the year are going, too. This is the first year that I have decided to set goals throughout the year, adding one new goal per month. I have to say, I love this approach so much! It’s keeping goal-setting fresh and fun and much more top of mind than in year’s past. I also find that I’m much more aware of how much time I have to work on my goals, which makes my goal setting more realistic. I’m not taking on too much and when I do have conflicts between goals (two goals vying for the same slice of time) I’m aware that this is happening and can intentionally choose to ratchet one goal down for a while to make space for a different goal. All in all, I love this approach and plan to do it again in future years.
Alright – here’s my update.
Goal #1: Run 500 miles in 2013.
I’m right on track. I hit the 250 mile mark just before the halfway point of the year – hooray! I absolutely love this goal. Several of my goals this year are about running which is great because my word this year is happy. Running definitely makes me happy. So this is a very good goal.
Goal #2: Read The Happiness Project.
Complete.
Goal #3: Do Project Life.
This goal is sort-of getting the best of me. I’m definitely not keeping up with it, but I’m definitely not giving up on it either. Things started to fall apart in April…when I started getting ready for Goal #5. I continue to take photos and document. And I’m still excited about this project…it’s just that since Goal #5 came into play (and Goal #4 as well) this has gone on the back burner just a bit. I feel okay about it though. I love the project…and it’s kind of fun knowing it’s there waiting for me. It also feels good to be honoring my priorities…and letting this one percolate for a while when other goals need to rise to the top of the priority list.
Goal #4: Create 4 new online classes in 2013.
This goal is in process. The FUNdamentals of Getting Organized is done and we’re putting the finishing touches on The Secrets of Staying Organized which opens on Thursday! This means…two more classes to go!
Goal #5: Attend the National Association of Professional Organizers annual conference.
Complete. I’m really glad I went. I hadn’t been in several years and it is definitely an energizing experience. Plus it was loads of fun which means it supported my overall goal of making 2013 the year of being happy.
Goal #6: Run in at least one race per month from April through December (with the possible exception of August.)
I’m on track with this one and it’s another really fun goal. So far I have run in one race in April, one in May, two in June, including my first 10K, and I have a race scheduled for July. I may not run in a race in August…and count one of my June races toward that. I have to figure out how it all fits together with my half-marathon training, and see what the weather is like in August. It can be ridiculously hot here then; not ideal for running.
Goal #7: Refresh my home.
This is my July goal. Essentially, this goal is about giving my home some extra TLC all month long. I go into this with my eyes open…as it means poor goal #3 will suffer a bit more. But, it’s what I’m inspired to do. It feels right and it will definitely make me happy. The goal is to get some lingering home improvement projects done and just freshen things up a bit. Nothing major is planned…just a few little projects that I’m hoping will add up to a refreshed feeling in my home. So far…things are going as planned. It already feels better. 🙂
Goal #8: Run in my first half-marathon.
I have scheduled this goal for August because that’s when I will officially start training. I’m excited and nervous all at the same time.
So that’s where things stand so far. As I said earlier, this approach of adding a goal a month has really worked well for me. I’ll definitely use this approach again in future years, though I’m not sure I’m up for adding another goal each year (i.e. 20 goals in 2020.) But, I love the focus this approach is providing me. I can think about what’s coming next all month long…and then, let inspiration be my guide.
Did you set any goals or resolutions in January? If so, how are yours coming along? If you didn’t and you’re feeling inspired to set some goals…don’t let the calendar stop you! Any day is a great day to set a goal and take steps in the direction of creating a life that fulfills you and makes your heart sing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts in the comments.
I am super excited about two new classes from you! How fun!
Seeing your goals is so inspiring. I just basically hit reset on my goals for the year during your Goals class. So I’m really focused on improving in the next six months, as I feel I floundered around the first half of the year.
Sometimes the reset button is just what we need. I certainly don’t hit all of my goals on time – far from it! The key for me is to try to figure out what isn’t working with my current approach and try something different until I find the formula that works for me. This year, focusing on fewer things at once has definitely been a good formula for me. 🙂
Good luck with the second half of the year, Alissa!
Aby
I was inspired to do “13 in 2013” by your blog and by the lovely RED leather bound notebook my husband gave me for Christmas. Most of mine are ongoing, like my daughters October wedding–some are completed, like the celebration of my parents 60th anniversary. All have seen some progress, and I think it has helped me focus on things that are important to me rather than letting time slip by.
That’s great Jean! Thanks for sharing your update. 🙂
I set my goals around my birthday each year. That happens in about 4 days. (Yes, December 31 means very little. I save my annual freakout for the anniversary of my birth).
I set some big, hairy, audacious goals last July and I realized about 1/4 of the way through that life wasn’t really creating the proper environment for my goals to thrive. By half way through the year, I realized that if I got 3 of my 12 goals things really would have worked out for me by the end.
Here I am at the end, and I realize that the one goal I did succeed in completing in the past year was nothing short of a miracle, even when I had to stop doing it for several months because my life was not conducive.
None of my plans worked out in 2013, and if things don’t change in the next 7 days it looks like 2014 might also be a bust.
Hi, Lori,
I’m sorry things haven’t turned out as you hoped in 2013. I hope you don’t write off 2014 completely in the next 7 days…since it’s six months until it starts. There’s still time! Hang in there!
I wrote an article a while back what to do when your goals don’t go as planned. Maybe there’s something helpful in here for you:
http://simplify101.com/setting-goals-tips/persevere-to-acheivwhen-your-goals-dont-go-as-planned/
Hugs,
Aby