Last year, I set 10 goals for my Year of Yes. And while I didn’t accomplish all of them, I am really happy with how they motivated me to make big strides and focus on those areas that are big priorities in my life.
An Update on My 2017 Goals
Here’s my update from my 2017 goals:
Personal Goals
1. Run 3 miles in 30 minutes — While I did a lot of running this past year, I didn’t quite increase my pace as I was hoping to. But I definitely increased my endurance and I realized how much I love running!
2. Make it to Phase 4 of the nutrition plan — Done! I was so excited that I was able to graduate and halfway through the year, my nutritionist told me I was officially ready to go out on my own and create my own menus. I’m really proud of the fact that I have — for the most part — stuck with everything I learned, including not drinking coffee, rarely having caffeine, getting so much more sleep, drinking so much more water, and really limiting my sugar intake.
3. Read 48 books I already own — I read almost 90 books this past year and at least 40 of them were books that I already owned at the beginning of the year. Yay!
Marriage Goals
4. Go on a 4-day completely unplugged trip — Jesse and I ended up going away on a marriage retreat in the Knoxville, TN area. It wasn’t completely unplugged and it wasn’t 4 whole days, but it was a weekend and it was so good for our souls. And I know that having this goal on our list was one of the big reasons we said yes to this marriage retreat.
Family Goals
5. Go to South Africa as a family — We ended up not being able to go to South Africa because during the few-week block when we could go in the summer, the timing didn’t work out for our friends in South Africa. But we are determined to make this happen in 2018. Instead of going to South Africa, we went on a 14-day road trip to a number of states that our kids had never been to before. It was such an amazing trip and one we will cherish forever.
Financial Goals
6. Sell our 3 rental houses in Kansas — DONE!! Did you hear me let out a big cheer?? That was because this was a big one for us to check off the list this year!
7. Save up to pay cash for a house here in TN — DONE!!! And this merits an even bigger cheer (or maybe yelling and screaming and dancing would more accurately describe how I feel about this!) This was a HUGE goal for us and I’m so thrilled to tell you that we signed a contract an amazing home that has almost everything we were looking for/hoping (including a real BASEMENT — something that we miss dearly since moving from KS to TN and something that is rare in TN!) and we’re supposed close on it on January 12. We’re thrilled, humbled, and grateful!
Business Goals
8. Release 2 courses — We blew this one out of the water! Because we launched FOUR courses as part of YourBloggingUniversity.com AND we launched the Say Goodbye to Survival Mode course + the 15 Days to a Healthier You course!
9. Start 3 new blogs — Well, for a lot of reasons, I decided to change this goal and I only launched one new blog, YourBloggingMentor.com. I discovered that running two blogs is enough for now! I’ve loved having the challenge of building a new blog from scratch and I’ve loved having a place to teach beginning and intermediate bloggers how to build their blogs!
10. Learn YouTube/iMovie — I had fun learning how to edit and upload videos to YouTube this year. And while I ultimately decided to not make YouTube a focus, the things I learned in iMovie have been really beneficial in a lot of areas of the business and I’m so glad that I did it.
My Goals for 2018
I told you yesterday that my Word of the Year for 2018 is SLOW. I chose my goals this year with this in mind — things that would encourage me to slow day and would promote stillness in my heart.
Personal Goals
1. Read 100 non-self-help books that will build me up/encourage me/inspire me/recharge me. (Fiction/story-driven/biographies/inspirational living books/devotionals.)
2. Read through the entire Bible.
3. Write one handwritten note to someone every week.
4. Run 500 miles.
Marriage Goal
5. Go on an overnight trip with Jesse without the kids.
Family Goals
6. Read 10 books aloud with the kids.
7. Take the kids to South Africa.
8. Go on a family road trip.
Financial Goals
9. Save up to pay cash to finish off an office for me and workout room for Jesse and me in the basement in our new house.
10. Replenish our Emergency Fund (we dipped into it to replace my car when it got totaled because of the carpet beetle infestation.)
Business Goals
11. Increase our gross income from the business by 8%.
12. Launch 5 new courses.
2 Habits I’m Working on Developing in 2018
- Week day coffee dates with Jesse after we drop the kids off at school — We’re planning to go out for 30-45 minutes every week day morning to just touch base and enjoy a little one-on-one time together before our day begins. Oh and yes, I don’t drink coffee any more, but we still call them “coffee dates” even though I drink tea. 😉
- Stay completely offline from 4-8 p.m. to focus on my family/home — Last year, I made the commitment to have more offline time and this was such a good thing. I want to continue that this year since I’ve sort of fallen off the bandwagon in the last few months.
I will be giving you updates on my progress on my reading goals, my running goals, my Bible reading, the books I’m reading to the kids, plus more as the year progresses!
What are YOUR goals for 2018? I’d love to hear! Let us know in the comments!
I have been working on a surprise project the past 2 months and finally get to tell you about it! I’m launching a live group coaching in January called 4 Weeks to a More Productive Life where I’ll be walking you through some life-changing principles to help you live a much more productive and fulfilled life.
It’s designed for you if you…
- Wish you could change your life, but don’t where to start
- Hope to find a way to become more productive and get more done, but feel overwhelmed by the thought of taking yet another productivity course or reading yet another book on time management.
- Want to make 2018 the year that you actually stop wishing and hoping and planning and start DOING.
Doors will open for a few days only beginning January 1, 2018. If you are interested, you’ll want to sign up to be on the waitlist because you’ll be the first to know when it’s available and you’ll also get access to my brand-new printable called 6 Ways to Start your New Year Well.
Go here to sign up — I can’t wait to have you join me for the live coaching!
Your blog is really inspiring me to get my act together. It’s been a rather rough 2 years. My husband went through 15-months of unemployment, our church closed, our pool closed, and our local Sam’s Club closed!
My husband did start a new job at the end of May, but took a HUGE salary pay-cut, which for a family of 5 has been a nightmare. He is actually starting a different job on Monday (Jan. 8th). I’m praying this is the place God intends him to be working at long-term.
I’ve always struggled with sticking to my commitments – I think that has something to do with my ADHD, so it makes me nervous to set goals and then fail. However, it is good to have those set to strive for.
I did read through the New Testament in 2017, well almost. I never got through all of Revelation! However, I do plan to finish that book of the Bible this year. I have read many of the Books in the Old Testament, but really want to read Psalms and Proverbs and study them.
A lot of my goals though stem around building my blogging business. I have to get very intentional with maintaining a regular posting schedule. My biggest issue is coming up with quality content! I need to build up my blog to help my husband out financially too. I hate that everything falls on his shoulders. Plus, we are so far in debt from not only the unemployment but the underpaying job.
I love your reading goals! I have reading goals too, but no nearly as enthusiastic as yours! lol
Happy New Year!
Crystal, it seems like when I try to read the Bible in a year, I always fail. Do you know of a shorter reading plan what would work for me? Thanks!
I’m not crystal but I recommend reading through the New Testament and Psalms and proverbs in a year. I’ve been doing that one this year and it’s excellent!
I love how you adjust your goals as needed Crystal. And congrats on the house!
I posted about my goals and how I set them here: https://thepeacefulmom.com/2018/01/01/how-to-set-goals-make-them-happen/
Congrats on your house! It must be so exciting! We just closed on our house a few days ago and we paid cash too! I was so excited!
Crystal
I seriously love your goal report. I enjoy seeing those that set goals reach them. Congratulations on all and best of luck in 2018.
You will have to tell me how you sold all your rentals. We have our first home we need to sale in 2018. It’s just sitting empty and I get overwhelmed when I think about it.
Happy New Year
~Amanda
Well, we didn’t get as much $$ from them as we were hoping to, but we turned a good profit, so we’ll take it. We just put them on the market with a good realtor and made sure they were in great condition at a price that they would sell at.
Thanks Crystal! I’m not sure about other states and areas. But I feel like it’s not a sellers market and no one is looking to buy 🙁
I appreciate your advice, and I do think we have the price too high!! We need to prayerfully consider just getting out of it what we “need” and praising God he put us where he did!
My goal this month is to empty the attic and give it a good all over cleaning and list it with someone better than we previously had it and hope it sells in the spring.
Thanks Again!!!
I’m always so amazed at how many books you read! Maybe cause I’m a slow reader due to the fact that a book at bedtime makes me fall asleep!! ?
Well done with your 2017 Goals!
My three BIG goals for 2028 are:
1. Have a quiet time every. single. day – (quite a challenge with my gigging lifestyle)
2. Publish my first book
3. Record and launch my second album
Those are BIG goals — I’m cheering for you!
This year I want to make a lifestyle change and develop a healthier relationship with food. I’m starting an Instagram account to help keep me motivated in my weight loss and health journey. I’ve always been overweight and lave lost and slowly gained it back. My plan is to post every day to keep me accountable and on track. Very nervous since I’m very private and don’t post much on social media.
Way to go!!
Wow! Doing mini goals is a really good idea! I usually do one big one and never accomplish it. This is so much more doable. In the past the three months, I’ve had my ninth baby and a surgery, so I have a lot to catch up on! Mini-goals is just what I need. Thanks for the inspiration.
Yes to mini goals!
I am so thankful for your inspiring post. It really helps me keep my head above water and stay focused. Is there anywhere I can buy this “Sweet life planner”?
Thanks again.
Be blessed.
Here’s more info on it: https://moneysavingmom.com/2017/12/get-sweet-life-planner-50-page-companion-printable-pack-just-52-shipped.html
I am disabled so am limited in what I can do – but here are my plans for 2018
Read 218 books (0/218)
Read the Sheila Connolly Orchard series
Do 13 new recipes (0/13)
Go to Clinique for a make up lesson
Finish red on Winnie the Pooh
Finish brown on Winnie the Pooh
Finish lavender on Winnie the Pooh
Finish pale pink on Winnie the Pooh
Finish yellow on Winnie the Pooh
Cut out patchwork bag
Stitch 1st section of patchwork bag
Knit shrug
Pick up and do the shawl collar on purple sweater
Knit 13 sampler squares (0/13)
Wear make-up at least 13 times (0/13)
Only have alcohol on a Friday and Saturday nights (apart from when we are away and our Wedding Anniversary, birthdays, Christmas and New Year’s Eve!)
Work on Shawlette
Knit a scarf
I LOVE these goals! I’m so inspired by them! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Crystal – I hope I achieve them all!
I started back to school after 20 years (scary!) to finally get my degree in the fall. So, one of my goals is to continue school with the high grades I got my first semester.
Pay off our debt. We have a plan in place.
Finish the cross stitch I started for my sister.
De clutter the upstairs of our house.
That’s where I’m starting. I know I’ll add to it as time goes on. I can’t start with too much or I’ll just get overwhelmed.
What great goals! Thank you for sharing!
Love it! Good for you 🙂 ?
This was very inspiring – thank you. Happy New Year! Best wishes, Wendy (NZ)
Happy New Year to you, too!
Congratulations! You are my idol and inspiration! It is so hard to stay motivated and alot of time the sheer thought of everything is exhausting! I know you aren’t going to be too busy going to Africa, being a Mom and running a business but how about a podcast? I think you can do it!! Lol! I would love it if you had one! I find you very real and motivating! Happy New Year!
A podcast is something that I’ve long wanted to do… but I’m waiting for some things to happen before I pursue it. Who knows? This might be the year things align so that it is a reality! Thank you so much for your encouragement!
Awesome goals! Thanks for sharing and encouraging:) I am right there with you on the self-help books. I have a friend that picks on me in good fun about reading my self-help books- So I will be joining you in that goal this year right after I finish…Present Over Perfect ( lovin’ it) and Grace Not Perfection and Grace for the Good Girl. I just wanted a little or maybe a lot of encouragement to be more relaxed this year, and not striving for perfection.
I LOVED Present Over Perfect and wouldn’t really consider that a self-help book. I’m still going to be reading devotionals and inspiration books – just no books that are going to challenge me that I need to be more, do more, add more to my plate.
Way to go on your goals, Crystal!
My goals this year are to:
1. Read the Bible in a year.
2. Declutter my home one day at a time.
3. Get organized in my classroom as I plan moving classrooms as the school is being reconfigured.
4. Save money to pay cash for a new van.
5. Keep up with exercise so I can fit into my smaller size clothing.
6. Something related to marriage, but I can’t even get my husband to go out on a coffee date with me. More praying about this.
7. Add some nice details/finishings to our home.
Best wishes to a successful 2018!!!
What does your husband love to do? Is there any way that you can ask him if you can go do that with him — or even just sit with him on the couch while he watches something he loves? I’d see if you can figure out his love language and then love him in that way. The more it can be about pouring into him and loving him where he’s at instead of trying to get him to be who you think he should be/want him to be, the more it will likely speak love to him.
Congratulations on your 2017 goal accomplishments! My (draft) goals for 2018 will be to read through the entire Bible (by Sunday I will have read everything except Jeremiah…2018 I’m doing it all); to be offline while my children are awake; and to exercise two days per week. I like the idea of making it a goal to get away with the husband. I’m going to talk to mine about that idea.
What great goals! And congratulations on almost reading through the Bible!
In 2016 I read everything but Isiah, lol I.will.get.through.the.major.prophets! I will! 🙂
I love the idea of a set time offline – haven’t thought of doing that before, setting a particular time period.
It’s made SUCH a difference for me!
Crystal, you are such an inspiration!!! My word for this year was intentional. I was intentional with everything I did and everyone I spent time with. My word for 2018 is Focus. I will focus on what I need to do. My husband gave me a wonderful Christmas gift, a blog…I am so excited to go full force. Thanks to you and reading moneysaving mom everyday, you inspired me. I will focus on this next year and I know God will open doors not only for me but for others to save and give 🙂 I am happy for you and your family and cannot wait to see what God has in store for you.
Aw, thank you so much for your kind encouragement! Your words blessed me!
Congratulations on your new house! I can’t wait to hear more details and see photos!
Thank you so much! We’re thrilled!
I LOVE your goals and really love your word of the year!! My main goal for this year is to embrace the role of mama/wife/housewife and learn to relax 🙂 haha! I am a blogger, too, and have found that I can become totally obsessed with it and let my family fall to the wayside. In 2018, while of course I will still be blogging, my fam will be my focus 🙂
Thanks for being such an inspiration, Crystal!!
Yes to the learning to relax! I’m right there with you!
My goals for 2018:
1. Finish building (and move into) the house we started building in 2017
2. Run a 10k
3. Complete a half marathon
What GREAT goals!
Wow, congratulations. For me the hardest part is writing it down in the first place, because then I’m committed to it. Writing it down in public, ack, I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet! I have, however, joined a private forum and share my goals there, which is the first step I guess. Good luck for 2018, although I suspect hard work and determination have more to do with it than luck!
Way to go on joining a private forum and sharing your goals there!
I’m reading through the Bible in one year too! I highly recommend the She Reads Truth app (free) and Bible plan (free) It breaks it all down into daily chunks you can check off at your own pacing. It also shows what percentage youve completed.
I’m planning to use the plan at the back of the She Reads Truth Bible!
I have a few goals. One is knit scarves for charity, and greatly reduce my yarn stash. One goal I accomplished this evening and that was to purge my book case and donate older books I own. Loose weight. Eat at home more, and try to save money. We are looking at some big expenses in the future so we need to ahve some $$$ on hand to cover some or all of those expenses! My main focus this year is contentment and rest!
Great goals!
Crystal, congratulations on achieving your goals for last year. I admire that so much! I have enjoyed following your blog and the inspiration you offer. Your plans to go to South Africa are particularly close to my heart as my oldest son is heading there for 6 weeks soon and also you visited my friend Jonna when your were there. I was able to see her this summer for the first time in many years when she was in the states.
Last year my word was discipline and things were going well until my husband and I separated in August and now I find myself acting as single mom to 4 kids. I am so thankful for God’s provision and faithfulness during this time. And though things are different and more stressful, I would still like set goals for the coming year. I was wondering if you had any advice or suggestions for me as I begin 2018? Thank you and blessings in 2018!
Hugs to you Heather!!
Thank you Mel! Praying your 2018 is full of blessings!
I’m so sorry that it’s been such a rough year! {Hugs!}
My advice would be to focus on simple, shorter term goals. Right now, there’s probably a lot on your plate and you are probably feeling not only the physical strain but also the emotional strain. So, think about what would help give you life and hope and plan a few simple goals accordingly.
Maybe that’s getting up every morning and turning on worship music and doing a quick 10-minute workout. Maybe that’s prioritizing going to counseling or therapy. Maybe that’s doing something fun with your kids every week. Just think about what would feed your soul right now and set some little goals every week for that. I’d also focus on setting goals only on a weekly or monthly basis instead of thinking much further beyond that.
One of my really good friends who recently went through a divorce said that you just have to focus on getting through the next day. If that’s where you’re at, please know that that is entirely okay. Give yourself a lot of grace. Accept all the help that is offered. And soak up the truth of God’s Word to give you strength to do the next thing.
Crystal, thank you for these insights. They give me a great starting place for setting goals and priorities. As difficult as this time is…there is still so much hope! God is gently guiding and faithfully providing. I will ponder these things over the next few days then post my goals.
I’m so grateful that it was helpful to you!
Thanks so much for sharing! Your goals and progress are very inspiring. I am trying to be much more intentional with setting goals this year. ..and hopefully sticking to them!
P.S. Thanks so much for sharing my Bible reading plan and accountability group! I am so excited.
You’re so welcome for sharing your Bible reading plan!
Congratulations on the house selling and buying!
I recommend the Wheel on the School if you haven’t read it yet. It’s a kids book, but a good one .
Thanks so much for the recommendation!
Congrats! You did awesome on your 2017 goals and congrats especially on the new house! Woohoo! Your 2018 goals sound great, too.
My biggest goal accomplished for 2017 was getting my counseling license reinstated (after a long “break” to start a family/SAH) and starting to serve PT at a place I love.
My goals for 2018 are a LONG list but I’ll just go ahead and C&P them here:
This year, I hope to:
• Increase my annual income by 250% (not saying much ;)).
• Have a reunion weekend with good friends in LA. (Been saving for this!)
• Get body fat down to 25% or below and maintain.
• Do my last few KonMari projects.
• Paint at least one room in our house.
• Set a new 5K PR (i.e. below 29:20).
• Read at least 40 books.
Ongoing Goals:
• Be intentional about what relationships I invest in.
• Be involved in a community and/or accountability group each semester.
• Unplug more often. Manage energy and adrenaline well. Do things that are life-giving.
Each day, I would like to:
• Spend at least 5 minutes in prayer and Bible reading before getting out of bed.
• Spend additional quality time with God.
• Find a way to bless and encourage my husband and each of my kids.
Each week, I would like to:
• Do strength training at least twice.
• Exercise at least 10 minutes a day 5 days a week.
• Have an in-home or otherwise date with my husband.
• Go to bed by 10:30 at least 4 nights a week (11 in summer).
• Play the guitar at least once.
• Update our budget spreadsheet at least once.
Each month, I would like to:
• Memorize one Bible verse.
• Have at least one out-of-the-house date with my husband.
• Have at least a mini-date with one child.
• Have at least two get-togethers with a friend.
• Stick to the budget for the month!
These look like great goals! And I love how actionable so many of them are!
Thank you! 🙂
Reading your posts about setting goals always inspires me! I just looked up my 2017 goals and cringed. It’s safe to say this year was an epic fail on accomplishing goals. However, I am proud of a few things: my family took a long road trip (CA to TN) to visit colleges for our older son; I attended a Christian Writer’s conference and mapped out a course for my writing; my husband and I had a week-long getaway in New England; and I finished a book I’ve been working on for almost two years. So I guess it wasn’t a total fail!
I’ve not written out my 2018 goals yet, but this time I’ll be more realistic! For sure, I plan to publish three books (one new and two revised); attend the Writer’s Conference for the second year and pitch a manuscript to an agent; teach our boys life skills as they are 1-2 years away from college; and take a long vacation (Australia) as a family since this could be the last summer we’re able to do this. Books – I’ll say 50, since I’ll be busy writing my own! I read about 75 this year.
It sounds like it was a GREAT year! Way to go! And so fun about the vacation to Australia!!
Hi! Awesome goals! What kind of planner is in the picture? It looks like it would be very helpful to me, not to mention it’s cute!
The two planners shown are the Brilliant Life Planner: https://moneysavingmom.com/2017/11/get-early-bird-pricing-brilliant-life-planner-just-45-shipping.html and the Sweet Life Planner: https://moneysavingmom.com/2017/12/get-sweet-life-planner-50-page-companion-printable-pack-just-52-shipped.html
I think these are wonderful goals, and congratulations on your new home! I am curious – how much time do you think you need to read daily in order to read 100 books a year?
I can read about 80 to 100 pages per hour and most books I read are 200 to 300 pages each, so if I read an average of 30 minutes per day and then an extra hour or two on the weekends, I can pretty easily average reading 2 books per week.
Congratulations, Crystal, on meeting so many great goals this year!
I decided to take a different approach to my 2018 goals. Usually, I make a list of goals for the year, and by the middle of February I’ve given up on most of them.
In the upcoming year, I’m planning to make goals for just one month at a time. We’ll see how this goes!
I think that sounds like a FANTASTIC way to set goals!