Monday, January 18, 2010

Plan for the New Year



I don't like to call them resolutions because I reserve the right to change anything that isn't working.  I learned this at a 4QL seminar.  You keep the things that are working, stop the things that aren't working, and start things that may improve the quality of your life.  You don't have to do it just once a year.

KEEP:
Hanging out with the BCO crowd and a few of the Meetup groups.
Running / walking marathons.
Kayaking.
Hiking.
Camping.
Blogging.
Traveling.
Decluttering...one corner / drawer / closet at a time.

STOP:
Online dating.
Eating out unless I'm with friends or one of the Meetup groups.

START:
Attending the singles events that include free dance lessons. 
School.
Backpacking.
Meeting more people in the real world. 
Eating at home.
Collecting marathon finisher's medals from all 50 states. 

19 comments:

Vince said...

Best of luck with all of those.

Rachel Cotterill said...

That sounds such a fantastic plan :) I'm totally with you about making little changes throughout the year... I look over my goals & habits about once a month and try to make changes for the better!

Mike said...

I like how you threw blogging in with all of those healthy out door activities! LOL

Jen said...

@Vince: Thank you.

@Rachel: Every month? That's impressive.

@otin: It's almost like free therapy.

Poppy said...

Blogging is a therapy! :) Your plans sound good, is eating at home and not outside a mony-saver plan? I need to find something like that too ... like walk around the town instead of paying for the bus. :P

Good luck with your plans :)

UberGrumpy said...

Good list. Apart from all that exercise mallarkey.

What does 4QL mean? Isn't it a Hyundai?

Brian Miller said...

sounds liek you have some healthy direction for the new year. best wishes for a great one!

buffalodick said...

I used to set goals..now I just try to keep out of harms way!

Jen said...

@Poppy: Eating at home should make my wallet fatter and my behind skinnier. Will they let you cook in your dorm?

@UberGrumpy: 4QL = Four Quadrant Leadership...I kept what I liked and threw out the rest.

@Brian Miller: I do have a few unhealthy habits I refuse to give up.

@buffalodick: Keeping out of harm's way is sometimes the best plan of action...

Jo Beaufoix said...

Jen you're so right. Once a year is asking for failure. I like the idea of keeping what works and getting rid of what doesn't. It takes the pressure off.

I would like to try kayaking this year. I'm up fr something new. :D

Rebecca S. said...

I don't make yearly resolutions anymore, either - just go with the flow. Although two years ago I decided to stop worrying about money all the time, but it wasn't at New Year's.

Jen said...

Online dating has got to go. What a waste of time it is and always filled with disappointment.

Jen said...

@Jo Beaufoix: Kayaking is fun! You should definitely try it!

@Rebecca S.: I try not to worry about money. That's hard to do when you've been unemployed since March...I'm trying to have faith...

@Jen: It's just not fun any more. The last three guys I met weren't from one of those sites so I'm confident I don't need them.

Poppy said...

Yes, we can cook at our dorms.. we have kitchen and a stove and a microvawe and everything but I rarely cook there. We have a special student food system in Slovenia. Students can eat at restaurants but we have to buy special coupons for certain restaurants. Those meals are subsidized by the government or something so we only pay 1,5€ - 2,5€ for the whole meal. (depends on which restaurant you go to) And that's actually cheaper than buying all the ingredients and cooking at home... :)

Rob Strickland said...

Right on about meeting more people in the real world. The Internet is a means to an end when it comes to meeting people, but it's nice to remember that you can just meet people by meeting them, period.

Giving up eating out wasn't hard for me because in my town most places are fast food or glorified fast-food joints, and sooo much of their stuff is garbage. I told myself, if I am eating out, the food had better be at least as good as something I can make at home.

I have done well with the so-called online dating, but only after I repeatedly reminded myself not to take it too seriously. It was a way to meet people, and it worked...but it can also become a hassle it a person lets it.

You and dancing?? Never would have guessed.

gayle said...

If I only had your energy!! Sounds like a great list!!

Jen said...

@Poppy: If it's healthy food and it's less expensive than cooking for yourself, I'd stick with the student food system. What a great perk for you!

@Tallshag: I've studied ballet, gymnastics, and martial arts. Is it really that much of a stretch to salsa or tango lessons?

@gayle: No! That's not the way it works! You start exercising and it GIVES you energy. Try it for a month and see how much better you feel!

Anita said...

I like it. Good plan.
Don't totally forget us though when you start hanging out more with those real world people.
But...you did say that you'd keep blogging.

Jen said...

@Anita: You know I won't forget about you guys. My Comp textbook even recommends keeping a daily blog or journal as a writing exercise. I can call it homework now.

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