New Year, New Goals

(Written Dec. 5th, 2023, accidentally re-posted Jan, 5th, 2024)

Happy New Liturgical Year! (Okay, I'm a few days late, but technically New Year's Resolutions have not even begun yet, so give me a break!) 

This brand new liturgical year, I will be cranking out the New Year's Resolution at the start of the Liturgical Year instead of at New Years, hoping to slow roll them in.

And let's be honest, no one may ever read this blog, but my mother - Hi Mom! But even so, I have decided (about 5 minutes ago) that I am going to use this outlet to document my progress in certain areas.  

What is the difference between a goal and a wish? It is measurable. So I am going to measure my progress in the key areas of my life - how I am growing and how I am progressing toward certain measurable goals.  I am going to create charts in a bullet journal. So the actual measurement will come more toward the New Year, but the planning process begins now!

First and foremost, spiritually.  My goal is to grow spiritually.  I will measure this by: 

• Time spent in prayer.
• Progressing through the Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz.  (Yes, I did it the first time around - well about 3/4 of it, but this time I'm going to buy the companion and make it through the whole year).
• Committing to praying the Morning Offering, Nighttime Prayers in the Magnificat, reading Meditations for the day.
• Continuously reading a classic of the Church, maybe 6 throughout the year? 
• Committing to listening to spiritual music every morning on the way to work with my kids.
• One Rosary per week. (I know some of you are Rosary rockstars and pray one a day, but I'm just not there yet).
• Monthly Confession.
• Gratitude journaling.

Second, relationally. My goal is to be a better mother.  I will measure this by:

• Movie nights on Fridays
• Saturday or Sunday morning breakfasts
• Prayers before meals
• Consistent nighttime prayers
• Reading with my younger kids daily
• Requiring chores and routines (morning routines, afternoon chores/reading, limiting screen time)
• Cleaning my house thoroughly
• Celebrating the kids' saints' feast days (and possibly other essential feast days)
• Celebrating our Baptisms

Third, also relationally. My goal is to be a better wife. I will measure this by: 

• Actually having our vow renewal when my husband joins the Church in the spring.
• One intentional act of love per day.

Fourth, also relationally (maybe? Not sure. Maybe occupationally? Intellectually?). My goal is to grow as an educator.  I will measure this by:

• Completion of my required credits to renew my license.  
• Completion of my catechetical certification.   
• My ability to have my materials prepped each day. 
• Grades updated each week.
• The completion of at least one creative, outside the curriculum project per week.  
• During the summer, the completion of the IEW Instruction Certification.
• Better behavior data documentation (?) 
• One apostolic project per quarter.
• Coordinating a fundraiser for Nativity Play next year. (I direct the Nativity Play).
• Read material that's aim is my growth as an educator. (2-6 total per year).

Fifth, intellectually. My goal is to be a lifelong learner. I will measure this by:

• Books read
• Classics read

Sixth, emotionally. My goal is to be mentally healthy. Measurable?

• Brain Dump
• Habit Tracker
• Mood tracker? 

Seventh, physically. My goal is to maintain a keto lifestyle and be healthier. I will measure this by:

• Days I exercise 
• Water intake (Goal: 56.5 oz.)
• Carb intake (Goal: 20-40)
• Vitamin intake (Goal: multivitamin, collagen, vitamin B)

Last, creatively. My goal is to express creativity more often. In writing, in music, etc. Measured in habit tracker weekly. 

That's a lot. But not all of this is new, some of it I already do, but imperfectly. And making a commitment to track it may help me to be more consistent.

What are your New Year's Resolutions?