Last week, I wrote a post about my goals for 2011. Well, one of those goals (redesign Carrots āĖN’ Cake) was achieved the very next day. It turns out that my new web designer is really efficient. I didn’t expect my blog resign to happen so soon! (FYI: My web designer is offering a great deal right now, if you’re interested.)
Now that I’m down a goal, I want to replace it with a new one. Thankfully, my mom reads my blog and contributed her own suggestion:
Ahh, yes, #11.
If you click over to my Life’s To Do List, you’ll see that #11 is āĖTake Mom on a sweet vacation.’ Apparently, an elephant never forgets!! (Just kidding, Mom. You’re not an elephant!) So, my newest goal for 2011 is to take my mom on a sweet vacation.
I already have something in the works for early August, so, Mom, get ready for some serious R&R. You deserve it!
Here are my revised goals for 2011:
- Run a marathon
- Take Mom on a sweet vacation
- Get back to my Feel Great Weight
- Meet with a financial advisor
- Kick my sugar habit
- Run 4 half marathons (one each season)
Breakfast
I knew the butterscotch extract would be trouble. The possibilities are endless with that stuff! I used it in my oatmeal this morning.
Banana-Butterscotch OIAJ
- 1 empty nut butter bar
- 1 banana, sliced
- 1 tsp butterscotch extract
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup soy milk
- 1/2 cup water
- Chia seedsĀ
Question of the Day
How do you ensure that you achieve your goals? Are there strategies that you use?
P.S. Check out how I save time at the grocery store. Mal and I have a divide and conquer method!
87 Comments
I think the biggest thing that helps me achieve my goals is writing them down and looking at them everyday. I look at them every morning and evening.
I agree with Jessica! Writing down my goals and looking at them every single day is huge. It keeps me focused š
That is such a nice new goal! I have been trying to plan a weekend getaway with my mom and sister for a while now. Can’t wait to see what you plan!
I think looking over my goals every few weeks helps keep them fresh in my mind. It’s so easy to write them down then forget!! Also, I like to focus on a few rather than a ton. It makes them easier to accomplish!
I wish I had strategies…I need to get on that ASAP.
The butterscotch extract sounds really really good! It’s gotta tastes fantastic with some peanut butter š
I love the idea of bs extract in oats- I have to get some!
I view life as each day. I try to take it one day at a time and do things I know will improve my quality of life and work towards my goals as possible each and every day. The smaller focus helps me achieve the bigger plan.
Ohhhh! That’s so sweet! I can’t wait for the day when I can take my mum/parents on vacation. Right now, I have to settle with afternoon tea escapes together š
Writing down goals and looking at them often is what I always try to do. And almond flavor is my go-to extract, so good!
Usually it’s my dad that takes me on a sweet vacation!
It’s nice that you’re taking your mom!
have you found a financial advisor yet… I want to meet with one as well, but I have no idea how to go about finding someone, and I also don’t want to pay a lot… haha
Yep! I already scheduled the appointment! š I can email you the if you’re interested?
Tina, I think writing out your goals makes them much more attainable & constantly referring back to the list to remind yourself of what you really want out of your life is also key! I strongly believe that if you want something bad enough & are determined to achieve it will happen š Looks like you are well on your way!
definitely listing them out and having them somewhere that i’ll see them every day…i keep mine in the bathroom on the mirror and on a list on my iPhone…i always look at it, so i’m always reminded to strive for the things i want!
I ensure I achieve my goals by making sure they are measurable, realistic, and enjoyable š I feel like you can’t really reach a goal unless you’ve measured your progress. Can’t wait to see where you take your mom!
Haha! Your mom is funny! I’m still in the works of processing my goals for 2011, but I did pretty awesome in 2010 so I’m hoping whatever they are, they will be just as successful. A strategy I’ve been trying to implement to ensure I achieve my goals is to do away with the word “should” as often as I can. I guess you could say that’s one of my goals in and of itself. Basically, whenever I have the thought “Man, I really should [fill in the blank],” if it’s something that I could very easily do right then, I try to just do it. This strategy is how I managed to actually get my Christmas tree taken down the other day within a few minutes of thinking about how I really “should” do it, when knowing myself, on any other day I would’ve sat there and looked at it and it would’ve remained up for several more days. I’m hoping this strategy will serve me well in some bigger areas of my life this year too. You really “should” give it a try! š
I am actually working on achieving things this year. I am focused on what I want to achieve and I will make my goals happen. I think being precise at what it is you want to achieve is a big part of that too.
I just did a post this morning about how not to fall off the ‘goal wagon’ http://wp.me/pSUCS-1sM and part 2 is coming up on Thurs! Hopefully you can find some tips there. I think you are doing an amazing job on the sugar goal by the way Tina! You’re so inspiring!
Like others said, writing them down is key! I like to revisit them, go make lists of the action steps I need to take, and change things up if it doesn’t feel right.
Love that you’re taking your mom on a sweet vacation!
You meant 4 half marathons right? At least that’s what I think you wrote the other day!
Yikes! No way! I better fix that! Thanks! š
you’re running four marathons this year?? I think I missed the post on that!
MAJOR typo! š
After reading about the butterscotch yesterday, I went out and did some extract shopping. I came home with a hazelnut flavor that I used in my oats this morning…. Wowzie Woo, it was delicious! Thanks for the idea!
i cant wait to be able to take my mom on a vacation! we’re already planning the wizarding world of harry potter this fall (we’re both nerds!), but we’re splitting it. i want to be able to actually take her away. i think i achieve my goals best when they are reasonable and direct. rather than saying, “go to the gym,” i narrow it down to “take 1 spin class/week, run x number of miles/week, etc.” it makes it easier to follow through.
Having goals written down definitely helps me stick with them, but also if I tell someone it keeps me accountable. How sweet that you’re taking a trip with your mom – that’ll be a blast!
I am loving the new design! I wasn’t a huge fan of the previous one, but this one is very cute and elegant at the same time.
My main strategy to achieve my goals is basically to choose them very carefully (on the theory that I will only do something if I truly want to do it).
I am interested about where and what kind of vacation you are taking you mom on! I have been thinking about taking my mom someplace for the last two years. She never gets to go anywhere. So, i think it would so special! I just can’t decide where to take her.
I’ll be sure to share the details once it’s all worked out.
I am going to guess…San Diego! For BlogHer 11. Ok…I’m just really excited about the idea of tons of awesome bloggers coming to my neck of the woods, but SD is certainly a “great mom vacation” town and BlogHer is in early August!
I would love to take my mom on a vacation! It is such a nice gesture š Butterscotch extract sounds like a great addition to oatmeal. Hope you have a good Tuesday!
Writing down the goals is huge for me, but I also develop a plan for reaching the goals-an action plan. I also write down small steps that will help me work towards the large goal. This helps big goals seem more attainable.
I break big goals into little goals. I think it’s the academic mentality — end goal = graduation. But along the way, there are semesters, assignments, etc. So I start with the big picture, and then break it down into chunks.
now i am getting inspired
I am having revive my blog help me now! So far so good. Love the new design.
That’s so nice of you to take your mom on vacation. I see spa days and pedicures in your future. š
I think there are 2 types of goals: the ones I know what it takes to achieve them (e.g. like go on vacation), and those where it is not that clear of what I need to do to get there. The second type can be tricky. Any advice how to deal with those?
I would love to take my mom on vacation, but I’m a broke college student right now! Maybe once I get a good steady job. š
The best way I go about achieving my goals is to write them down and take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. You never know where it may lead you.
I love the idea of running a half in all four seasons!
I must purchase some butterscotch extract…I get a little obsessed with extracts myself (the past month it’s been peppermint extract) and it’s time for a new one!
I don’t have a strategy for my goals, which is probably why I never accomplish them :/
That’s so sweet about taking your mom on a vacation.
Can the revive my blog guy do a resdesign if you are hosting through WordPress, or only if you self-host?
He does any kind of blog redesign.
I wrote out a plan of activities & tips to help achieve each of my goals. It makes them much more realistic and achievable.
I would like to take myself on a sweet vacation! Haha.
I make one big goal, and then several small sub-goals to help me achieve that one big one!
what a nice goal you have for 2011! I would love to do the same thign for my mom.
It’s so nice that our mom’s give us so much our whole lives and now we want to give back to them š
a sweet vacation sounds nice! haha those are all such wonderful goals!
Four marathons, wow! Go you! You will do great with your goals! š
I’m definitely a write-things-down kinda girl. That and I have my husband keep me accountable. I tell him about my goals and ask him to check with me about them from time to time. Definitely keeps me on my toes. š
Love the additional goal š I took my Mom to London a few years ago and it was such a fabulous girls’ trip.
I need to see my goals daily in order to achieve them..
The best way that I have found to achieve goals to tell people that you’re going to! I would hate to go back and admit that I didn’t do something I said I would, so I would get it done š
I started my morning with OIAJ too – so exciting to reach the bottom of that jar, for whatever reason!! š
I am always considering ways to improve myself or my impact on the environment. To achieve goals, I just work toward the same ideals that I hold myself to everyday. New Year’s is just the opportunity we all get to make a list of them all!
In order to keep to my goals I have to constantly be reminded of them. This means posting them everywhere I am…. including my desk at work, my fridge, in my purse, in my organizer… everywhere.
This keeps me reminded so that I do not stray.
I think it is so sweet to take your mom on a nice vacation. That is awesome!!! I love the new design, I have posted my resolutions today. I have one to run 2 halfs, but your one to run four looks tempting! You should run the Run to Remember as your Spring half. I am already signed up!
I love the idea of taking your mom on a vacation. I should really add that to my goal list too. And good work with your sugar cravings! I went through breaking the sugar cravings 3 months ago and now don’t crave sugar EVER.
That is super sweet to take your mom on a vacation! I’m sure she will love whatever you pick!