[The gorgeous Calgary, Alberta]
If you haven’t noticed over the past few years, I’m definitely on team goal setting when it comes to the New Year (and well, the entire year for that matter). I know a lot of people don’t believe in setting resolutions or goals at the start of the year, but I find goals are a great way for me to figure out what I want to strive for and how I’m going to get there. I look at it as a way to review the past year, see what worked and what didn’t, and then decide how I want to proceed, grow, and challenge myself in the new year ahead.
I also don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing when you get to the end of the year and there are goals that weren’t completed. As many of you mentioned in my 2011 recap post, having uncompleted goals is completely natural. As the year progresses, often do our plans and goals. One person can only do so much and it’s normal for uncompleted goals to carry over into the new year. To me, the point of a goal is to move in the direction where you want to be, not attain perfection.
This year, Eric and I had a fun discussion about 2011 and what we want to accomplish in 2012. It was a great way to share our own goals, current struggles, and things we want to do in the future. Many of our goals are the same, but many of them are different so we created a spreadsheet to write down his goals, my goals, and goals we share together. It was a fun experience because I feel like I can now support all of his goals (since I know about them) and the same goes for him.
My theme of 2012: Break out of the comfort zone
As a Taurus, I crave comfort and routine (and hate change most of the time), however this can easily translate into lack of growth and failing to step outside of my comfort zone. I often prefer to take the safe and comfortable choice instead of trying something new. In 2012, I will challenge myself by doing things that I normally avoid out of fear and just take the leap anyways. I’ve been working on this since fall 2011 and I’m ready for more. There are a lot of things I want to do with the blog (such as visiting an animal sanctuary and doing an interview), so I’ve made a list of things to keep me on track. My plan is to write at least one thing on my calendar a week that I want to try.
Goals for 2012:
1. Track expenses and create a budget using mint.com
Eric and I recently decided that we need a budget overhaul, so we’ve decided to use Mint.com after much debate.
2. Sign with publisher & finish cookbook manuscript in 2012
This is my biggest, time-consuming, scary goal of 2012.
3. Submit to Foodgawker and Tastespotting on a regular basis
I used to submit my photos and recipes to Foodgawker and Tastespotting on a regular basis, but I got out of the habit last year when things got busy. It can be quite time-consuming (especially if you’ve had 10 rejections in a row like I have!! ^#%^&%#@#^&), but it’s also a great way to share recipes with the food community and encourage new readers.
4. Train for a couple races and strength train 2x a week
After a break in 2011, I‘m ready for more racing. I’m planning on running a 5k in April so far and I’d like to train for another 10k or half marathon, depending on my schedule. I also want to keep up with my strength training to a minimum of twice per week using at-home DVD workouts and effective body-resistance exercises such as push-ups, squats, lunges, etc.
5. Organize & Simplify
Being bad at organizing like I am is not fun. For one, things are disorganized, cluttered, and difficult to find. Secondly, it ends up taking up more of my time in the end because I’m often searching for missing items or documents. If I would’ve taken the time to slow down and do it right, I would not only feel more orderly and calm, but I would probably end up saving time.
I started by cleaning out all of my cupboards and pantry at the end of 2011. I donated a bunch of things I don’t need and opened up a lot of cupboard space. Other organizational goals include keeping my virtual and physical desktops clear, organizing my photography files, legible hand-writing (ha), creating an organized system for my cookbook materials, and simplifying living space and doing away with annoying clutter.
I’ll let you know how that one goes.
6. Get back to my positive mindset
I’ve felt internal negativity creep up in my life lately and I need to get back to my positive mindset. Negativity is absolutely toxic in so many ways, isn’t it? It prevents us from being all we can be by sucking the life out of every thought, action, and intention. It kills creativity, personal expression, and the courage to believe in ourselves. The same thing goes for negative people in our lives. As Caitlin says, negative people are Energy Vampires. Not only do they drain themselves in the process, but they can suck the life out of you if you let them.
Zen Habits has a great article on 7 simple tips for dealing with negative people if you want to read more on the topic.
7. The Wild Card from 2011 will happen in 2012
Hopefully sooner than later because I can’t keep it a secret much longer.
And that’s all she wrote.
Congrats to Veronica! I have emailed you to collect your contact info. Thanks to everyone for participating!
How will you step outside of your comfort zone in 2012?
I personally I am not that into the foodgawker stuff but I think they are popular. Don’t forget finding vegan too!
I think you’d love to visit an animal sanctuary, it would change your life! What’s the closest one to you? Farm Santuary in Ithaca is great but maybe a little far, not sure what’s over the border…found this list though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animal_sanctuaries#Canada
Thanks! I will check out the list.
Great goals, inspiring, as usual! But the one thing that struck me most from your list is: I was right all along about Tastespotting and Foodgawker–their “approvals” are totally, totally, TOTALLY random!! If YOU got 10 rejections in a row, it’s clear that there is actually no logic behind their choices at all (which I’ve suspected for a while–especially when I review which of my own photos they have or have not accepted). Your photos (and recipes) are among the very best of all food blogs out there, vegan or otherwise.
Great goals! Mine is to cut way down on the amount of garbage my family creates. I read this amazing article in People where this family creates only a mason jar full of garbage each year! I usually take bags to the store with me, but, I am now reusing the produce plastic bags and crushing all the boxes I get. When you pay attention it is unbelievable the amount of garbage we make. Anyway, thanks for your amazing blogs and recipes. I really appreciate it.
Your theme for 2012 is mine too…actually, it’s a constant work in progress. Oh, how I love living in the comfort zone, yet you identified the downside so well: stagnation.
But, I think you deserve some big praise for pursuing and attaining that book deal last year – certainly that effort qualifies as going for it!
I’m intrigued by your wild card news esp. since it’s not baby news. Second guess: a move to the states?
Ange I’ve followed you forever. I adore you. Be gentle with yourself, be patient with life, enjoy it lovely. We all get sucked into being negative vampires and I find it’s when I back off a bit, and give whatever space the event or my own mental head space needs room to breathe that I find my feet again. Sending love! You’re doing amazing things! xo
I bet the wild card is moving to beautiful Calgary! (where I live, and your mom, right?)
Hence the pic above!
Happy 2012 – and congrats on taking down your X-mas stuff! :)
Rob and I have decided to go with an amazing budgeting tool – (psssst…you can download it free from the net) – its’ called YNAB – or “You Need A Budget”…check it out and let me know!
Cheers,
Natasha
Sounds like it’s going to be a great year for you. Best of luck with all of your plans! In terms of decluttering, I am still working on it. Another benefit is you can make a few bucks selling your items. We found it helped to dedicate all of the money we collected to a certain goal, the first of which was adopting a rescue dog a year and a half ago. We are saving for a trip to Italy now. It is more satisfying to do it this way than to just spend the money as it comes.
Ooh ooh…I agree with Natalie – you’re moving to Alberta, aren’t you? ;)
Ooooh pleeeeeeeaaaaaaassse tell us what the wild card is!!!!! If it is not a baby or a career move, I cannot imagine what it could be!!!!
Hi Angela,
I’ve been a reader for quite some time now and I was wondering how the granola bar business is going. I haven’t seen a mention of them in quite some time now and was hoping things were still going well. I’m very interested in starting my own business in the future, so I always liked hearing about that side :)
Hey Neiry, I actually wrote last year that I closed the business to pursue the blog, recipes, and writing full time. Goodluck with your business! If you have any questions, shoot me an email and Im happy to help.
Mint.com has been so helpful for me as I head out into adulthood! I make a point of it to log in for a long budget session once a week or so in order to categorize everything and make sure nothing strange is going on. I don’t think I could have survived my first semester of grad school without it!
Also, what a beautiful picture of Calgary! I’ve had the chance to enjoy Alberta twice in my young American life and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more gorgeous place…. and I don’t hesitate to tell my friends from the American Rockies that the Canadian Rockies just walk all over them :)
Thanks for sharing your goals- I feel like all the goal sharing going on in the blogging community right now is giving everyone the extra little push they need to git ’em done :)
Good luck with everything. I’m sure 2012 is going to be AWESOME for you!
I so need to step outside the box! Starting my blog, The Food Allergy Chronicles, was a big step for me. As a fellow Canadian, you are certainly an inspiration. I admire your photos, stories and recipes. Decluttering, reorganizing, setting a budget and researching and adapting new recipes are all goals of mine. I too undergo setbacks that make me question myself. I need to learn to keep negativity at bay and focus on the positive. Not always easy when you are dealing with multiple food allergies, eczema and asthma issues with your boys. We have been living in a bubble and we need to spread our wings. We have planned our first family getaway…it has been many years since we have ventured outside our comfort zone. I hope our little venture will encourage others with food allergy issues to expand their horizons. Good luck with your goals! Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles
Everything you said is so true. Yes, you can begin new resolutions/goals any day, but New Years definitely just feels right. It is winter and we usually have more time to work on ourselves before we are chomping at the bit to get outside in spring. They say it takes 21 days to make a habit, so far 12 days in and I am doing well with my resolutions.
Keep posting your results…it is very motivating.
Love that line: “To me, the point of a goal is to move in the direction where you want to be, not attain perfection.”
I really want to start stepping outside my comfort zone too. I read a quote somewhere that said “Life begins where your comfort zone ends” – it’s really inspired me to start taking more chances!
Thanks for sharing your goals. It’s so inspiring to know that those I admire struggle with some of the same things I do. I am sharing your organization goals. I am trying to live by the one touch rule this year. Put things where they belong the first time you touch them. It really does make life easier.
Those sound like great goals angela!!! wishing you the best for 2012. I’ve definitely stepped out of my comfort zone this year but I know I’ll be rewarded if I keep heading towards my goals.
I definitely want to move out of my hometown! I’ve lived in SD county my whole life!
Wishing you a wonderful 2012…hope you meet all your goals and can forgive yourself for the ones you don’t. (something I’m working on from 2011!)
PS. Intrigued by the wild card!
I’m a Taurus too and I thrive on staying in my comfort zone. But you’re definitely right that it means that I’m not growing. I’d like to put myself out there more, but it is absolutely something that I’m going to have to work hard at.
Great goals! Is your wild card going to be your going to try or have a baby? Oh, I hope so!!! Can’t wait to find out!
Being on a budget is a great idea, I need to do that!
I didn’t know that was a Taurus thing – going the safe route and not wanting to step out of my comfort zone. That totally explains things for me! I have such a fear of moving forward at times, It’s almost debilitating.
Can’t wait to see what you do for your cookbook. You’ll do great and I can appreciate how much work it is + running the blog at the same time!
Thank you for your ongoing inspiration and words of wisdom :)
FAB goals girl!!! I love that you and Eric also make goals together like Ryan and I do….
If one isn’t on board they’ll stop the manifestation process for the other. I think you two manifest nicely together :)
Ahhhh, I’m a HUGE goal setter, even every day! The life coach in me wants to tell you that you still just need to change the beliefs within so the negativity won’t creep back in….it actually takes 21 days {do 25 to be safe} of affirmations and visualization of seeing your new life and the old beliefs will drop off :) PHEW, long comment!
xxoo
I was laughing when I read about your organization goal. I am moving in April and just started going through all my things. I have made a rule that if I have not used, thought about, or needed something within the last year it is to be donated or trashed. Wow! Did I have alot if stuff that I have not done any of the above with! I cleaned out my library….which is code for “room filled with stuff I don’t know what to do with”……and it felt great to just get through it. Who knew?
I have a goal of cutting expenses and also to stop being such a people pleaser. I have accomplished both in moving. I need to do this to save money even though it was not the most popular choice. I am also setting a long term goal of completing my degree. I am in college as an adult and not getting tons of support from family. I will finish and I will also not let others negativity hold me back.
Good luck with your goals and have fun on your run!!!
I checked out www.mint.com…what a great site, and its free! I love it. Thanks for the idea, I usually need someone to tell me about stuff like that, I don’t like searching it out myself haha.
Thanks again! All of your goals are great too, I am all over the organization goals!! Pinterest gets me motivated with all the good ideas.
Great advice.
You may also want to check out a goal achieving software http://goalsontrack.com
First off, I cannot believe that any of your recipes have been denied! WHAT?????
I am all about my comfort zone and I am not great with change. But, 2012 is going to be my defining year! I hope to bring in more positivity and share my gluten free and vegan baking pursuits with others. In addition, I plan on executing the peacock pose in yoga…Yay!!!!
Wild card: perhaps opening a bakery shoppe for the public to peruse, another trip to Europe, moving to the US, going back to school for a holistic nutrition degree or starting a video series for the blog? I am highly anticipating your cookbook as I have already made my own version from printing out recipes and filing them in a binder. You are truly an inspirational cook and my husband loves you too! He joins me in the kitchen and has a passion for cooking and his comments regarding your recipes “this girl knows how to cook, that’s the technique I would use or add, and she loves spices!” thank you ten times over for the awesome recipes as we have made SEVERAL and they all work out well and deliciously with little tweaking! Lots of love and light and vibrancy for 2012. As for the baby thing… How about a new FELINE sibling for Sketchie??? :))))
Thanks for the link to zen site. That couldn’t have been timelier for me. I got caught up in a negative and bullying persons behaviour recently and after reading the blog realized that my dealing with her was spot on. I will admit the I’m going to continue greeting her in a cheerful and polite manner simply because I know how much it will annoy her but also because I don’t have to buy into her attitude.
As far as organizing your life & it’s stuff-ness that goes with life i’ve been following this lady’s program for 10 days now and can already see a huge difference in my home. Check out www.flylady.net she is simply amazing and very down-to-earth.
Thanks Caroline!
Glad ot hear that you are making progress with the bully.
I’m so glad to hear that you’re working on a cookbook. I know it will be awesome, and I’ll be first in line to buy it.
exciting! we are using mint.com too ~ good luck!
also can’t wait to hear about the Wild Card!!!
I stumbled upon your blog almost 2 years ago through one of your Foodgawker submissions. I’ve been a fan ever since!
Wow, that’s awesome! Thanks Natalie!
Hi! I want to tell you that you have an amazing blog. I am from Monterrey, Mexico and I am reading your blog since the last year. Please, please…. You have to continue with these goals and help us to accomplish our, too. So, I hope to help you with goal number 6 telling you about the impact of your blog in other bounderies. Regards.
Thank you Katy!
Angela, I currently am using Mint.com and my husband and I like it. It’s a great way to analyze where your money is going, without investing a lot of time. It’s a great tool for us, hope you like it too!
aren’t you afraid of allowing mint.com to go into your bank accounts especially with all the hacking going on? i actually signed up and then decided against it after i saw that they would have direct access to all my accounts. wow
Yea we are definitely uneasy about it…which is probably why we haven’t signed up yet. Eric said you can sign up anonymously , so we might try that.
My SO and I use mint.com and have found it helpful, but I recommend planning a day of review and updates weekly where you’ll sit down together and discuss your progress. Even if it takes 5 minutes max. Helps us a lot when we stay disciplined, otherwise we just let it go to hell until the next month. :)
beautiful, thanks for sharing and inspiring :)