At the end of October 2018, I wrote about 10 Steps to Future Me. I was a bit worried that I would be cutting back on work but frittering away that extra time. Those 10 steps were meant to clarify my personal goals: improving myself, and/or finding new activities to give my life some purpose other than medicine.
In mid-February 2019, I reviewed my goals from October, and came up with some new ones. I had planned to check in again at the end of May, around Memorial Day, but because of my Dad’s illness, I didn’t have an update until mid-June. I was pretty forgiving about missing most of my goals, and I set some new ones.
It’s a little more than 3 months later, the summer has come and gone, so I think it’s time to check in again.
The long version of my plan includes 10 areas to work on, but I don’t have the time/resources/bandwidth to address all of them while working, so I had a smaller list of goals for summer.
The goals and the results
I have to say, it was a tough summer: lots of work, and a few summer colds. I don’t feel I conquered any of these targets, and there were a few total fails.
- Exercise.
- The goal was to get 150 minutes per week, and to do yoga daily for 1 month.
- I managed 150 minutes in 8 out of 15 weeks. Pretty sad, but it really was a tough summer. I did manage a short daily yoga practice for 2 and 1/2 weeks.
- Crafting.
- The goal was to knit more, adding 35 rows to a proto-baby blanket; and to complete a photo book for 2018.
- No knitting occurred. Also, I didn’t do the 2018 photo book. But that’s only because I didn’t realize the 2016 book was never completed. I got that done.
- Read More.
- The goal was to read The Scarlet Letter and another book from my TBR (to be read) pile.
- I started The Scarlet Letter. I think I now remember why I never read it voluntarily in high school. Nothing else from my TBR was read, unless I count one of the books I borrowed from my mom in June. I did read a number of old favorites, 4 of them, and 1 new novella by a favorite author.
- Declutter.
- The goal was to get rid of 14 more books and clear out the supposedly empty bookshelf. Also to start work on my overstuffed closet, finding new homes for 12 pieces of summer clothing and 12 pieces of fall/winter clothing.
- I got rid of some DVDs, but no books. The bookshelf remains jammed in my home office.
- I was too late to give away summer clothes in bulk, though 3 T-shirts have found a new home.
- I did get rid of 8 pieces of more professional clothing, and 3 casual pieces. My old ice skates await a new home.
- Religion.
- The goal was to attend one weekday service (in my own religion).
- This was a total fail, no excuses.
- Go Out and/or See People.
- The goal was to spend time with others on at least 12 occasions, and to attend at least 6 events.
- I did pretty well here:
- I socialized with girlfriends on 5 occasions.
- As a couple we enjoyed dinner twice with friends, and had dessert with the neighbors once.
- Had dinner with the sister-in-law 3 times this summer.
- Had the kid over for dinner twice.
- Had my cousin, who was visiting our town for the first time, over to the house for dinner.
- Threw a birthday party in our backyard.
- We also attended 2 concerts, went to a street fair, went to two museum exhibits, and a sports event.
- The total comes to 15 social occasions and 6 events.
new goals
A few goals are so close to being achieved, I think most of my goals for the rest of the year are going to look very familiar. However, I can see that some of my proposed activities are things I really want to do (I can tell because I work on them), and some are more… aspirational.
- Exercise.
- My goal continues at 150 minutes a week of exercise. Now that I am working with a trainer, I expect to work up to 60 minutes a week of strength training.
- Creative Stuff.
- A little more progress on the baby blanket would be nice. Someone I know is expecting in February, it would be nice to give the baby a finished blanket. Perhaps my goal could be to have the blanket 2/3 done by New Years.
- I would also like to do the photo book for 2018. There tend to be plenty of deals on photo books as the end of the year approaches.
- Reading.
- I am going to get through The Scarlet Letter, and at least one more book from my TBR pile.
- Clear the Clutter.
- I will finish off that bookshelf once and for all! I have 14 books to clear, and then I will have to find room for all the remaining things. And find a home for the bookshelf.
- I will continue to clear my closet(s), where many things hide forever. I think clearing another 12 items should be eminently reasonable; this might be clothing, or my old ice skates, or even the overhead light I want to have installed in the room.
- Go to one week day religious service. Clearly I am struggling with this. And yet, I know I will be happy to have gone. I will have to think about how to make this work.
- Connecting with friends and family.
- There are 13 weeks to the end of the year, I would like to do 13+ social things. Maybe a stretch goal would be 18 get-togethers?
- I felt very good about mailing the holiday cards out last year before the holidays. I would like to get that done again this year, say, before December 21.
- I tend to get out less in Winter, I think I would like to get out a bit now, especially before it gets cold. I think aiming for 6 outings is more of a stretch as the days get shorter, but I’ll put it forward as the goal.
- Volunteer. This is a newer category, but I would like to look into something I can do to make the world a better place (besides practicing medicine).
Looking at this list, I see a lot of things to do, and a little less of investigate what I might become. I’m not sure how I feel about this, but it’s also true that I have picked some of these goals to push me out of my routine of work, then vegetate on the sofa.
I’ll check in at the end of 2019.
How about you? Any goals (stretch or otherwise) for the rest of the year?