2012 Goals

I'm not a big fan of the word resolution.  To me this word sounds really negative.  So I like to use the word GOAL.  

* the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end. *

Much better.  I have many goals for the new year.  Some that are totally attainable.  Some that will take a bit more effort, but still goals that I would really like to work on this year.

So without further ado, here are my 2012 goals:

1. Get More Organized: as a mom with two small children, a husband who travels half of the month, and a business that is building at rapid speed, I feel like my life is a bit chaotic.  The house has turned into a pig stye (if hubby, who is very lax about cleaning, says the house is cluttered, it really must be bad!), laundry is backed up, & mealtimes have turned into a concoction of random things.

I need structure.  Routine.  A plan.  So in 2012, I vow to use my Erin Condren Life Planner regularly, planning out my day from morning to night, making our menu a week at a time, getting on a cleaning, organizing & laundry schedule, & getting my life back in order.  

2. Get Up Earlier: I am NOT a morning person.  Never have been.  Probably never will be.  But I need more time in the day to get work done.  And night time is not always an option if I want to spend quality time with the hubby.  So for the next 3 months, I will set my alarm an hour to an hour & a half earlier than my normal wake up time.  I will not push snooze or turn it off.  I will use these 3 months to see how much more productive I can be, as well as see if I can turn myself into a morning person.  If I'm just as miserable on day 90 as I am on day 1 (which I am sure I will be), then I will reassess this goal.  I am hoping, though, that I can slowly learn to love the mornings & the things that I can accomplish before the girls get up for the day.

3. Decorate Our House: we have lived in this house for 3 1/2 years, and I have yet to put up window treatments (I have blinds but that is it), hung pictures, nor made this house a HOME.  It's time!  No more excuses!  I need to dig deep & pull out the interior decorator in me.  It's there.  Somewhere.  I just need to find it.  Ha!

4. Build My Business: my goal for the end of 2012 is to double my Scentsy customer base as well as build my team!  I am at 18 team members right now, & my goal for the end of the year is to be at 100!  I realize this is a very lofty goal, but I believe I can do it, so I will!

5. Continue To Exercise Regularly: I have written on this blog how exercise is a very important part of my life.  I love to hop on my elliptical for 45 minutes to an hour, go the gym, as well as lift weights.  One thing I am NOT good at, though,  is pushing myself when exercising.  This year, I want to really push myself when it comes to exercising & transform myself and my body to something it has never been.  Time to pull out my FIRM tapes as well as get back into swimming.  

6. Be More Patient: I have a bad temper.  A quick fuse.  I can be snappy.  Unfortunately, this is one of my weaknesses as a wife, mother & individual.  This year I really want to work on my attitude & control my temper with the girls & with Marc.  This goal is going to be very hard for me (I already know this), so I really really want to work hard at becoming a more patient, calm, even-tempered person.

7. Follow A Budget: Every year Marc & I focus on our budget & really stick to it.  For the first 6 months of the year.  And then we kind of lose track of it and don't pay as close attention to our spending.  This year I really want to focus on our budget for the entire year.  Not to mention, keep Marc involved (I pay all of the bills) & review our budget monthly with him.

8. Go To Church Regularly: It is so easy to make excuses each Sunday why we can't go to church: Ashby acts up every week, we are tired, there is a football game on (that would be Marc), etc.  We seem to find more important things to do with our Sunday mornings.  But what really is more important than going to church to thank God for our blessings in our life?!  Nothing!  So this year I really want to get my family in the routine of going to church every week.  It think know it will be good.  For all of us.

9. Stay Connected With My Man: Parenthood is hard.  It is so easy to get wrapped up in the day to day 'duties' of being a mom/housewife.  Focusing 100% on the girls, the cleaning, cooking & other household chores.  I can see how easy it is to 'forget' about your marriage & your husband.  And I DO NOT want that to happen between Marc & me.  So this year (and every year there after) I vow to make Marc & our marriage top priority.  If we do not have a solid, healthy marriage then I feel that everything else in our life will fail as well.

10. Eat Healthier: I love sweets.  I think it is safe to say I am a chocoholic.  A sweetaholic.  An ice creamaholic.  I know, I just made up those two words but you get the idea.  If it is sweet (and bad for you), I love it.  I really want to focus on my diet this year & cut down on my consumption of sweets.  It is unreal to say that I will never eat sweets, but if I can eat healthy 80% of the time, the other 20% of the time I can enjoy an occasional treat.  

So there you have it!  My goals for 2012.  I'm excited to get working on these & see how I do through the course of the year.

What are YOUR goals for 2012?!