New Years Resolutions

I like New Years Resolutions. I like fresh starts on a new calendar (or a new month or new week). But starting up at the beginning of the year seems to lend a powerful synergy to setting new goals. The holiday season also messes up my routine so its a good time for me to restart my habits.

I try to keep my goals achievable while I assume I've gained a lot of weight over the past week (I think I've eaten the equivalent of three pizzas since last Friday). I am not going to resolved to lose 4 pounds instead I am resolving to exercise more and eat healthier because I can control what I do and I what I eat but I can't really control how much weight I lose.

I also like to make my goals specific if I can. Instead of saying exercise more I say exactly how many minutes of exercise I want in my life. Making my goals specific means I know when I am making progress. I also find that visually tracking my progress is really helpful and promising myself small (or not so small) rewards helps even more. Read Resolutions, Charts, and Carrots at Corporette for more on this strategy.

So here are my resolutions and goals for the new year . . .

Exercise Four Times a Week and
Stamp Every Day on My WiiFitU Calendar
I lowered my bad cholesterol significantly just by making some small changes in my diet (bye bye butter) and I hope that adding more exercise into the mix will lower it even more. I'd like each exercise session to be 20 minutes or longer and I'd like to exercise four days a week. I can do it. This is a goal I'll be tracking. If I make it through the first month I think I'll have to get some froyo as a reward.

Eat Less Sugar
I'll log my food intake in MyFitnessPal everyday (except for special days like when I'm traveling or there's a party) and try to make sure I don't go over 25 grams of added sugar 80% of the days (basically every business day). I may wait to start doing this in February after most of our Christmas candy is gone since I wouldn't want to waste that.

Use My Clarisonic Five Times a Week
I have a fancy machine to help me wash my face. It works very well to help keep my skin clear but I am too tired to use it when I'm getting ready for bed. I need to use it more often so I don't feel like I've wasted my money on it.

Floss 80% of the Time
My parents spent a lot of money at the orthodontist so I need to maintain their investment. I have no trouble brushing my teeth every night but I just hate flossing (it's so gross) and I do so between a third and half of the time. I want to floss more often.

Drink 8 Cups of Water a Day
It was so much easier for me to drink water everyday when I was at work. Now that I'm home I don't drink enough.

Practice Gratitude and Minimize Envy
I had been writing down what I was thankful for each day. I stopped. I need to start doing that again. I feel so ashamed because I am consumed by envy. I am so envious of my former classmates who have bought houses, who have dogs, who have children. I want to buy fancy purses, jewelry, nice clothes and am envious of those I know who have them. I have so much to be thankful for but I can't see that because I just think about all the things I don't have. I hope that by focusing on the wonderful things in my life I can help myself be less envious.

SAVE $ FOR A HOUSE
Mr. H and I want a house. We have a wonderful landlord. But we have neighbors (old hippies) who like to play loud music, I'd like to be able to paint the walls and pull out the carpet (to get rid of dust mites), and it would be wonderful to have space for children. I need to find a job (or make one), get serious about sticking to our budget, and buckle down and save the rest of the $40,000 we'll need for a down payment. I plan to have my next regular paycheck direct deposited right into our house savings account so that I'm not tempted to touch it and spend it on dresses.

Try to Spend Less on Beauty Products
I probably spend way more than I need to on beauty products. I did some math and my average hair product costs $32, my average skin care product costs $22, and my average makeup product cost $29! I'd like to bring my average down to $10 to $15 by next year by replacing what I do use with drug store brands or cheaper things from Sephora. I'm not going to stress if I can't find cheaper skin care products because my skin can be so sensitive sometimes. But I'd really like to find cheaper makeup since I don't usually wear it every day and I always end up throwing it out because it expires before I can use it up. The first thing I'll need to replace is toner. Any recommendations?

Be Nicer to Mr. H.
I am sarcastic. I don't need to be that way ALL the time. Mr. H shouldn't have to put up with that 24/7.

Don't Stop Myself Because of Fear
This one is a bit vague. There are so many things I don't do because I'm afraid that I don't know how to do them right. I need to stop thinking "I can't do that because I don't know how" and I need to start thinking "How can I learn how to do this?" There are other things I don't do because I am afraid of failing and messing up big time. I'm okay with making small mistakes (I make them all the time) but I am terrified of making a big mistake like getting in trouble with the IRS because my accounting is wrong or being sanctioned by the Board of Overseers of the Bar. I am incredibly risk adverse and I need to stop being so afraid of taking risks. Things probably aren't ask risky as they seem and there are probably ways for me to still take action while minimizing the risk.

Are there any changes you plan on making in your life this coming year?