I crossed off three more yearly goals this month — finishing the Couch to 10K program, having all three kids take one round of ice-skating lessons (they just started their second round), and submitting my manuscript.
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 January:
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.
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 has really helped!}
Read 150 books/ebooks {See my list of 48 books I’m for sure planning to read here — I’ve read 30 books so far in 2013, so I’m on 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. {Done three times so far this year.}
Go on at least one date per month. {Done in February.}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.{Finished first round of these two weeks ago and just started our second round.}
Swimming lessons for all three children during the summer.
Finish at least 37 read-aloud books. {We’ve finished 7 books so far this year and we’re almost done with a few more, so we’re on pretty 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 twice in February.}
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!
liz says
I started setting goals at the beginning of the year and its helping so much! I can’t believe I waited this long to start doing this! 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!
Cathy says
I’m interested in what you call your blog accountability group. Is that physically meeting with other bloggers or virtually meeting with them? How do you meet bloggers for that sort of thing? No one I know around me (physically, geographically around me) blogs.
Crystal says
We meet in person… and I met the bloggers through blogging. But you could also do a similar thing online. I know some who meet once a week via Skype to share goals, etc.
Ac says
I love the idea of having overnight stays with my husband but am curious how you manage the childcare part. Do you pay a sitter to stay overnight or do you have family willing to stay with your kids?
Congrats on all your progress!!
Crystal says
We’re blessed to have family who often watch our children for us and we also pay a sitter sometimes. It just depends.
Melissa says
What is the Grace and Truth book about? I looked on Amazon but you can see the inside. Looking for great things for my LO to memorize!
Crystal says
It’s just memory verses and hymns broken down by age level.
Shelly says
This is my first year of doing yearly goals and I think I am making some good progress. Congratulations on getting your manuscript submitted.
Crystal says
I’m proud of your progress!
Shelly says
Thanks for the encouragement.
Ryan Hart says
Do you ever get ‘goal overwhelm’ with 25 ambitious goals? How do you prioritize them?
From my own experience I’ve found that setting too many big goals at once can often be counterproductive.
Crystal says
I answered this question fairly in-depth here: https://moneysavingmom.com/2013/01/qa-how-do-i-avoid-becoming-obsessed-and-overwhelmed-with-goal-setting.html
Thanks so much for stopping by and asking!
Anna @ Feminine Adventures says
Somehow this post was oddly encouraging. I’m just getting over morning sickness and we are in the middle of round three of the stomach flu since Christmas.
My goals have been laughably simple: keep food down, hold sick kiddos and making sure they stay hydrated, keep the laundry going and some food prepared, and try to keep the germs at bay.
It’s nice to rejoice in your progress and remember that this isn’t going to last forever! Maybe in March I’ll have “real” goals. 🙂
Jennifer says
Linked up! So far, I feel like we’re doing really well with our goals AND a brand new baby!
Toni says
Hi Crystal,
I noticed your goal of rising by 6am and working out. Question. Does working out in the early a.m. tend to awaken your children? I would love to work out early in the day, but only if I could truly accomplish it as part of my quiet time. Just wondering if the kids get up, and if so, what works for occupying them until you’re done?
Hannah says
I first ran across the goals idea in your make the most of your morning’s series. Not only has that made my sleep schedule a lot more regular, and thus more effective, but I also set some goals for this year.
My goals were to: Get a certain amount of money in my saving account, read 24 specific books(2 a month), get in shape, and memorize Colossians.
I am about half way there with the money, am exactly on track with the books, and have memorized 31/95 verses. As for the getting in shape, God worked a pretty cool miracle there. In late January I got a flu for about 24 hours, but then for the next week I was unable to eat really at all, and consequently lost weight, and dropped 2 full sizes. Now my stomach is much smaller, so I can’t really pig out, and with a little bit of exercise I can stay in really good shape. PTL!!! Thanks so much for your encouraging blog!
Sandra says
I make a goals list biweekly, but now that I see your yearly goal list I’m inclined to create one for myself.
I’m curious to know if you are reading the bible for your own pleasure or with your husband/children? I read the bible to my mother and undoubtedly it was one of the greatest gifts I gave to her and to myself. I can’t urge you enough to do so with your children.
Kate says
I was motivated to start setting goals because of your blog.. Thank you!
Kate
Crystal says
Yay! That makes me so happy!
Victoria says
You have read 30 books so far already! Wow. I have managed 13 and I was aiming at 24 for the year so I am happy. What is making the most difference bringing the books to the Y with me to read while I warm up and cool down or to read during the entire 30 to 60 minutes I am on the stationary bike. That tip from you made a huge difference, and since being brave enough to bring my book to the gym, I have noticed others doing it too!
Angie@ Creating Our Home says
I am so inspired that you ran a 10k. I am working on running a 5k and it is killing me!! I can’t figure out why running is so hard for me. By 4 minutes, it gets super difficult. I have pushed through and am up to 7 minutes. I guess I wonder if it gets easier?? (Please say yes!!)
I also want to comment that I was almost ready to give up running because of some personal issues. (Let’s just say I have had 4 large babies and sometimes I have issues coughing…running isn’t going much better) When you posted about running your 10k on your treadmill, I was elated!! I don’t have to give up, I can just complete my 5k at home. This is a goal that I really want to prove to myself I can complete. Thank you for the inspiration! 🙂
Crystal says
Have you tried starting out really, really slowly and just gradually increasing your pace? That’s the only way I was able to run at first. And it’s still the only way I’m able to run longer than 3 miles at a time.
Tiffany @ Wife.Mother.Teacher says
I’m always SO impressed by your reading schedule! Please tell me these books max out at 100 pages each! 😉 LOL
Crystal says
Some of them were ebooks and shorter books which definitely helps me be able to get through books more quickly! I also did a lot of traveling the first two months of the year — which means I get in a *lot* more reading! I find that I don’t read near as much on the weeks I’m home.
Sarah says
We had a finanacial for we hoped to reach by May 1st. We hit it prior to March 1st (but didn’t realize it)! We were blown away by how quickly we made our goal a reality.
Melissa says
Can’t wait to hear more about your book!
Jenny says
Look at you Crystal, you’re a runner! A 5k race last year and now you’re running 10k at a time. Fantastic! And it wasn’t long ago that you were posting about the revelation over the kitchen sink as you considered whether or not to write that first book and now you’ve submitted a manuscript for another. You’ve really made a lot of major progress in your life achieving your dreams.
Crystal says
Thank you so much for reminding me of those things today. I can often forget!
And isn’t God good and amazing?!