I’ve been planning for 2019 since the beginning of December (and really, probably even before that). I’ve always found the new year exciting, because it’s full of so much possibility; I can literally fill it with whatever I want. So without writing any more unnecessary words, here’s what I want from 2019.
HABITS
Because I’m me, I’m guaranteed to start the new year trying to change 8 million habits all at once. Because I’m me, I’m also up-to-date on the habit research, so I know that strategy doesn’t actually work, and is in fact doomed to fail. Some habits may stick at least for a while, but they won’t all, so my real plan for the year is to try and focus on one key habit every month, and bring that into the rotation- without ruining any of my previously formed habits.
I’m already a little nervous.
GOALS
As per usual, there are concrete things I want to be able to say I’ve done or achieved by the end of the year. As per usual, I’ve categorized them into distinct areas. There are quite a few goals listed here, but I’ve actually thought about this a lot, and I really do think this is an achievable list if I keep them all top of mind.
Writing
- Write for 15 minutes every day
- Journal every day
- Write monthly updates
- Finish/continue Grad School series
- Write 6 deep dives
- Submit to SA-Exchange
Continuous Learning
- Complete 3 online courses
- Finish UofT certificate program
- Learn 2 new skills
- Read 52 books
- 5 work related
- 5 social justice related
- 3 other non-fiction
- Apply to a masters program
Community
- Volunteer 100+ hours
- Commit to 2 organizations
- Attend 1 event per month
- Complete 2 adventures per month
- Go on 2 large trips
- Go on 3 smaller trips
Health & Wellness
- Pass Star 1 – 3
- Land an axel
- Run a 30 minute 5K
- Run a 60-min 10K
- Complete a half-marathon
- Complete 30 days of yoga
- Develop core and arm strength and flexibility
- Change lunch, dinner and sleep habits
Personal Projects
- Create a new website
- Complete 100 Things project
- Complete 3 major projects
- Complete 3 smaller projects
#ONEWORD
Every year, I choose one word to represent how I want to approach the entire year. My word, while different every year, often centres around the same central theme- getting stuff done and moving projects forward. Past words have included do (2017), intention (2016), push (2015), and action (2014).
This year, I chose the word INTENTION as my focus for the year (not realizing that I had also made this same choice in 2016). I want to focus on consciously choosing how to spend my time, even if that choice is just to watch Netflix. I want to be intentional about the projects I’m working on at any given time, or the habits I’m trying to change. For the past few years, I’ve been setting some goals without a plan; this year, I want to ensure I’m intentionally making progress on all fronts.
100 THINGS
Over the winter break, I developed a small obsession with Tyler Oakley’s YouTube channel. In particular, I watched his “100 Things In 201X” videos on repeat. Tyler Oakley is famous, so he does some pretty cool things, but one thing that stood out to me in these videos was how his list of 100 things contained some of the big things, like receiving awards and interviewing famous people, but also some of the smaller, more every day things, like making pancake art or learning a dance routine with friends.
Could you list 100 things you did over the last year? I’m not sure I could, but that’s my goal for this year. They don’t have to be large accomplishments, but they do need to be things that made me happy and weren’t every day occurrences. And there needs to be 100 of them over 365 days.
Do you have any plans for 2019? I’d love to hear them!
