While I didn’t cross off any goals in March, I did make some good headway on a number of goals. Those little bite-sized chunks that I’m tackling on a daily and weekly basis will add up over time!
If you’re brand-new to goal-setting, be sure to read my post on How to Change Your Life By Setting Goals.
Here’s my list of 25 Goals for 2013 and an update on how I did in March:
Personal Goals
Read through the Bible in a year using this plan. {I’m on track with this so far.}
Run in at least one 5K race. {We signed up for one in June — yay!}
Complete the Couch to 10K program.
Memorize Romans 1 and 2 with Jesse. {This has been slow going, but I almost have the first 10 verses from Romans 1 memorized.}
Wake up by 6 a.m. and exercise, shower, and dress by 8 a.m. every day. {Still working on this! The Early to Rise Challenge really helped!}
Read 150 books/ebooks {See my list of 48 books I’m for sure planning to read here — I’ve read 46 books/ebooks so far in 2013, so I’m on a good track to hit my goal!}Marriage Goals
Read 3 marriage books.
Finish reading through the Psalms together as a couple.
Have overnight stay (sans children) at least every other month. {Jesse & I went to the Killer Tribes conference together in March.}
Go on at least one date per month. {Done in March.}Mothering Goals
Continue memorizing together from the Grace and Truth memory book.
Ice-skating lessons for all three children during the first quarter of 2013.
Swimming lessons for all three children during the summer.
Finish at least 37 read-aloud books. {We’ve finished 16 books so far this year, so we’re on a good track here.}Ministry/Friendships/Extended Family Goals
Weekly accountability meetings with a friend.
Get together with friends for a playdate or lunch at least once a month. {Done once in March.}
Continue being involved in our local church, couple’s group, and blogging accountability group.
Continue with weekly get-togethers with both sides of our extended family.Financial Goals
Use a portion of the proceeds from my next book project to fund a well project.
Fund our Child Survival Program for 2013.{Done — yay!}
Buy a new bedroom set.
Invest in another rental property.Business/Blogging Goals
Release two new ebooks.
Attend one speaking conference.{I attended the She Speaks Intensive in January.}
Finish and submit the manuscript for my next book.
Did you set goals for 2013?
If so, tell us how you’re doing in the comments or leave a link to your blog post update below. Let’s encourage one another to live lives of intention and purpose!
Denise says
Just joining in the goal-setting. There are some in there that I’m confident I can do and some that I know will stretch me. Looking forward to the challenge!
I’m so impressed by all the reading you and your family are doing. It’s very inspiring and I’ve decided to make a reading goal with my son because of it. Thanks!
Denise 🙂
Annie Kate says
My theme for the year was: “With joy, gratitude, and reliance on God, do what needs to be done.”
So now each month I purposefully plan how to accomplish what needs to be done, and it’s making a huge difference.
Thanks for your encouragement and good example, Crystal!
jennifer says
Can you share more about your weekly accountability meetings?
Crystal says
I’m currently meeting with a mentor on a weekly basis. She’s keeping me on track for goals in my life and speaking into my life with wise counsel and advice. It’s been a huge blessing and I feel so grateful that she approached me about wanting to do this for me in this season of my life.
Susan in St. Louis says
For a few years we’ve had the goal to pay off our house in 2013, and we were able to do that on Valentine’s Day! We are so excited to be moving forward with the next steps, which include (in our plan, anyway) getting the house ready to go on the market and selling it in a year or so. Then it’s on to something that fits our family better…
Krissy @ Just Take Two Bites says
That is fantastic! Congratulations!
Crystal says
I’m so thrilled for you and your family! How exciting!!!
Elise says
I’m so impressed with all of your goals and progress! I’m expecting our first child soon and I’d love to hear more about the Grace and Truth Memory book. What’s your overall review of it? Thanks!
Crystal says
We’re enjoying it!
A Scripture Memory book I love for wee ones is the ABC Memory Book from Scripture Memory Fellowship:
http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/ABC+Memory+Book+%28NKJV%29/004421/e7017036c165897def698026?subject=13&category=3706
Shelly says
I need to get my April update on my 2013 goals up. I am a little behind this month. I have been making fairly good progress on most of my goals. I have a goal to read a book a month and have actually read 4 this year so far so I am a little ahead. I am a very slow at reading but I do enjoy it.
I have also continued to get up early since the Early to Rise Challenge and I have found it has helped me to get my exercising in each day. So I am making slow small progress towards my weight loss goals too.
Deanne Townshend says
Looks like you’re doing well! March was a tough month for my goals too, but it is important to celebrate progress!!!
Cathy says
I also read, a TON, but lately am having trouble with staying motivated to read “needed” books (parenting, Christian living, etc…) as opposed to fiction or non-fiction topics I find more interesting. Do you ever have this problem and, if so, how do you keep yourself on track?
Crystal says
Setting reading goals and posting them publicly has helped me. 🙂 I also don’t allow myself to start a new fiction book until I’ve finished at least one non-fiction, meatier book.
One thing that has really helped me is to try to read 1-3 chapters of a non-fiction book each morning — I typically read for 5-10 minutes right after I’ve read my Bible and before I turn on the computer and then I read for another 5-10 minutes while I do my walking warm-up and cool down on the treadmill.
Annie Kate says
I’m trying to be intentional about reading more for my teen’s schoolwork, and it’s tough but wonderful.
I just reread How Should We then Live by Francis Schaeffer, and still am convinced that every Christian should read it once a decade.
zilly says
Hi Cathy,
Why not read what you like? At some level, you’re probably finding it more interesting because it’s what you need in your life right now. I think we can gain something valuable from any reading and should read what speaks to us, not what we feel we “need” to – sometimes I read kid’s fiction (just by myself, not with my kids) because it’s what I feel drawn to. I wouldn’t feel guilty for any kind of reading you are doing, you are getting something beneficial from it regardless. That said, I sometimes try to intersperse a non-fiction title in with fiction, the fiction being almost the reward for getting thru a non-fiction I want to read but find a bit of a drag. Just keep reading!
Michele says
I am always impressed by how much you accomplish, but I am truly in awe that you have read 46 books in the first three months of the year – that’s approx. a book every other day! Do you read in your sleep? 😉
Crystal says
A number of them were ebooks, so it’s not quite as impressive as it sounds. 🙂
Since I travel 2-3 times most months, I’ve found that I can fly through ebooks pretty quickly while waiting in line at the airport, on the jet bridge, and then I usually finish quite a few chapters from regular books during the take off and landing, too. So I’m kind of spoiled to have these built-in times to get quite a bit of reading done each month. 🙂
Here are some tips for how I fit reading in when I’m not traveling: http://www.thebettermom.com/2013/02/15-ways-moms-can-fit-more-reading-into-their-day/
Christine says
Do you manage your rental properties yourselves? Also, do you do maintenance repairs yourselves? We are interested in doing this and would love information.
Crystal says
We are blessed to be working with a great rental management company and we have a great maintenance guy who does any maintenance work needed, as well.
This has freed us up to be able to enjoy the process so far! 🙂
Melissa says
Year long goals aren’t for the faint of heart. 🙂 It can take months before you actually accomplish something on the list, but there is pride in knowing every month you’re making progress.
You’re doing great with your reading, and you inspired me to start reading again this year. I’ve read about 25 so far!
Crystal says
Way to go on reading 25 books — that’s fantastic!
Tammy @ SkipperClan says
I had a rough time even doing baby steps in March, but glad to be back on track in April – thank you for encouraging us weekly!