2021 Goals and Brief Year in Review

I’d as soon as not dwell on the past year. For one thing, I can’t remember a lot or it feels really blurry, and that isn’t just because of all the upheaval, I really think I’m having some short term memory issues. And for another, I’m ready to be rid of it. And yet, I didn’t do too bad on some of my goals.

• I own a car, my grandfather’s well kept old one.
• I have an emergency fund, a down payment account, and various other tiny savings accounts.
• I’ve applied for an apartment and been approved and put on the waitlist, I’m still shopping around, but I want to live in town (which isn’t a huge city with lots of options, its a manufacturing town in an agricultural area) and most are income restricted (I know I qualify for some of them, but I think it seems easier to find a regular apartment . . . and overall, safer).
• I’ve bought a lot of household goods for the apartment.
• I finished working on business courses and got another associates and another certificate. I know have 2 associates, a bachelor’s, and I think three certificates. And they aren’t worth much. I don’t want to stay in accounting and business, so I’m done pouring money into it.
• I’ve gotten more hours, more work, and a bonus and a raise at my job. In terms of my abilities it is soooooo not a good use, but I don’t have anything to show on paper, and it is ultimately dying in a dying industry. Yet, I can afford to live on my own, it has good benefits although the pay isn’t awesome, and it has a much better environment than I’ve ever been in. And it’s security more than I’ve ever had. It is in no way a dream job, but it was something I needed.

My general resolutions are health, career, and living a fuller life. I’m going to be focusing more detailed plans for the quarters, generally the seasons. I like thinking of fun in terms of season, I’ve skimmed The 12 Week Year, I love reading Hamlette’s seasonal to-do’s, and planning a year in advance is just to concrete and unrealistic. I think breaking it down makes things more manageable. I’m going to be generally following the seasons based on the solstices and equinoxes, but giving myself a break in December. I’ve also got a theme for each quarter.

I’ve got a full list of 10 areas as a framework for breaking down seasonally and then monthly. Health, Career, Self-Improvement, Finances, Relationships, Learn to Live, Beauty, Crafts, Study Subjects, Reading are my areas, and I will try and share the less personal ones each quarter and month.

I’m also going to try not to have nearly as many details, I had WAY too many notes and breakdowns last year. I’m going to focus on seasons, habits, and overall steady improvement, not tons of checklists . . . hopefully, I’ve already got tons of details.

I’m going to be using in addition to Evernote which works really well for me for lists, I’m going  The Lavendaire Artist of Life Workbook. I’ve been coveting one for years, and this year it just worked out perfectly. I got the yellow, and its is just the absolute most perfect shade of yellow. I keep it in its box and each time I take it out it makes me so happy.

As usual the last few years, I like to watch New Years planning videos and inspiration, my favorites being Lavendaire (and I finally bought one of her Artist of Life journals, in the lovely lemon shade for a happy feeling, I looooooove it!) and MuchelleB.

10 Easy New Year Resolutions Ideas for 2021  Definitely reminded me that I really ought to tackle my lateness problem. I just. don’t. like. on the dot time expectations. My procrastination and lateness are pathological. I’ve really got to work on it. Just because no one is really waiting on my at work the way it is now and just because it’s pretty casual in a lot of ways doesn’t mean I should be as regularly late as I’ve been, it doesn’t matter how early I get up or how well I plan, I always think of something to do. Previously when I had to be on time in other jobs and other places it always was an effort and by the skin of my teeth (especially I usually REALLY didn’t want to go to those jobs unlike my current job). There is just some fundamental resistance to rules like that with me.

How to plan your best year ever in 2021

As you’ll notice, I’ve changed to my real name. As a part of living a fuller life, one thing I want to work on is fear and authenticity. Obviously I believe in a level of privacy on the web. But I’ve been paranoid. While in real life once I’m past my initial reserve, I just vomit information. I’m going to try to be more balanced. I might have slightly blurred or looking away photos of myself eventually, but one step at a time.