Why I Only Set 4 Goals This Year

If you got my newsletter this weekend, you know that I’m pretending like today is the first day of January. I was so NOT ready for 2016 to start on Friday! We have family visiting, Emmy’s birthday was Saturday, and life has just been HECTIC since Christmas. So, since I rarely start new things on Fridays, I let myself pretend like today was the first day of the year.

I know, I know. But pretend with me for a second. Don’t you feel relieved?!

Anyways, since it’s the first Monday of the year, I’m finally ready to share my goals with you!!

In the past, I’ve set a variety of goals, chosen a word, chosen a verse, and really done a ton of different things to start the year off on the right foot. But this year, I am determined to simply focus on the things that matter, and when I get right down to it, there aren’t a whole lot of those.

So, this year, as I worked through my PowerSheets, I chose four things that kept coming to the surface. I also set a few action steps for each of those things, so that I have a plan on how to actually accomplish them. Here they are…

My 4 Goals for 2016

1. GROW IN MY FAITH – My primary goal this year is to grow in my faith. I want to know Scripture better so that I can learn from it and teach my kids. I want the Gospel of Christ to be the center of our home!

• Action Steps:
  • Start each day in God’s Word, using my Bible Reading Plan, and She Reads Truth.
  • Memorize 12-15 passages of Scripture, also using my Bible Reading Plan.
  • Read the Bible to my kids daily. (This is our Bible of choice right now. I LOVE IT!!)
  • Make a book list of Christ-centered books for encouragement & learning. (Coming soon!)

2. PAY OFF STUDENT LOANS – Our hope is to be debt-free as soon as possible, so that we can both save for our future, and also be able to give more than we can now. Those pesky student loans are no fun.

• Action Steps:
  • Create and STICK TO a budget, using Every Dollar. (This is the best budget program we’ve ever used. And we use the free version – it’s really everything you need!)
  • Track every single purchase using Every Dollar, so we can see where our money is going.
  • Purge the house again and find more things to sell. Then sell them.
  • Write 2 new eBooks this year.

3. GET HEALTHIER (LOSE 50 POUNDS BY DECEMBER 31, 2016) – Um, I’m pretty sure I had this goal last year too. But it needs to be done. And mentally, I’m in a better place, and part of a group that is really encouraging. Plus I’m sleeping through the night now, so there’s no excuse not to work out, right?

• Action Steps:
  • Complete the 21 Day Fix by the end of January.
  • Meal plan ALL meals each week (not just dinner).
  • Develop a consistent workout plan for each week. (I’m starting the 21 Day Fix tomorrow, and plan to workout in my bedroom in the morning before Nathan gets up. 30 minutes. I can do that, right?)
  • Create a loss tracking & reward plan. (I need visual motivation and a reward system. Eating right and exercising are not strengths of mine. So I’m bribing myself. But it can’t be with food… Hmm… Ideas?)

4. LOVE MY FAMILY WELL – This goal is a bit vague, but I feel like last year we all kind of just survived together. This year, I want to be more intentional about family time, eating dinner together at the table, putting our phones away, and being present. This is what I’m called to as a wife and mom – loving my family well. I’d like to actually do that.

• Action Steps:
  • Set boundaries for all social media & electronics – times we can and cannot be online. (Look into Circle. Have you guys seen this? It seems pretty awesome.)
  • Set a schedule for work/writing hours so that I can be 100% present with my family during all of the non-work times.
  • Put 2 date nights a month on the calendar.
  • Put 1 one-on-one date with each kid on the calendar every month.
  • Start the habit of a daily reading hour with the kids. (I want to start regularly reading chapter books to the kids. Nathan isn’t quite ready for it, but Emily totally is. And I want to start sharing the stories I loved growing up. I need to actually make this a habit each day!)
  • Write one letter a month to each of the kids in their journals, and one card/note a month to Jon.

And there you have it! I’m excited about only setting 4 goals this year, because it keeps things simple. And simple is what I need! These are the things that matter, and now I have a plan for how to make them actually happen.

I did choose a word for this year – ENCOURAGE. My heart is to encourage, rather than tear down, those I interact with – my family, my friends, and YOU, this online community!!

This is especially true for me and my kiddos. I think so often I struggle with seeing the things my kids need to work on – behaviors and attitudes and more. But really, I know my kids need encouragement most of all. So I’m committing this year to looking for and pointing out the good, building up my kids, and approaching discipline issues with a calm voice and heart. I’m sticking with 1 Thessalonians 5:11a as my verse for the year: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”

I also want to remember to fill my mind and heart with things that are encouraging to me – not things that suck up my time and tank my attitude. (Sorry, too-much-TV, we had a good run.)

I’m excited for this year, both at home and on the blog. I feel like, for the first time in a long time, I’ve got my head on straight and I actually have an idea of what I’d like to work toward this year. Like I said in our Christmas Letter, I’m finally coming out of the fog of babies, and I can begin to think clearly again! I know what season I’m in, and I’ve got my focus for it, with Jesus as the center.

How about you? Have you set any goals for 2016? Or did you choose a word instead? Maybe you threw caution to the wind and said “Whatever happens this year, happens!” I’d love to hear! Share your thoughts for the new year in the comments below!

Happy New Year, friends!!

In Hope,
Kayse

P.S. I hope this post was encouraging to you, but there’s a chance that my goal setting just made you feel overwhelmed and pressured. I’ve totally been there. Today, you might be in a totally different place. Maybe you’re sad to see 2015 go. Maybe you’re just entering The Baby Fog!! Maybe you’re juggling more things this year than ever before.

If you’re starting the year already overwhelmed, I would love to invite you to join us for the winter session of Stop Settling For Overwhelmed!! It’s a 10 day course full of practical steps to help you embrace your season, find a focus that fits your life right now, and develop a daily and weekly plan that actually works for you! You can read all the details here, including the amazing new bonuses that come with this session! Today is the last day to enroll (and the last day it’s only $9!!), since we’re starting the course today! We’ve got an amazing group of women who are all ready to get started, and we’d love to have you join us!