Happy New Year!
I hope you enjoyed spending time with loved ones during the last week or two and are as eager and excited as I am to make 2012 your best year yet!
Before we go full steam ahead though, it helps to take some time and look back at 2011. What went well? What didn’t? What did you learn or gain from your mistakes and stumbles?
Answering these questions is why I love doing a personal annual review. This exercise allows me to look back at all of my goals and see clearly where I excelled and where I fell short. I can then put that knowledge to use moving forward for 2012.
Here’s how I did on my 2011 goals:
Professional Goals
Get a New Job – Nailed It
While I loved (and still do) WebMD, I reached a plateau, and it became clear it was time for me to move on. I learned that just because my skills were not appreciated at one company did not mean that they were not valuable skills.
When I found a company that looked like a good fit, and I submitted my resume, they responded back enthusiastically. It was a good reminder on several levels:
- If you’re unhappy in your job, create an exit strategy.
- Always believe in yourself.
- Wait for a partnership that is as equally excited about you as you are it.
(If you were wondering, I am now a copywriter for Ignite Health.)
Enroll in the Holistic Health Coaching Program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition – Nailed It
I’m learning so much from IIN, and I’m glad I started when I did.
I’ve lost weight, improved my relationship with my husband, increased my energy, reduced my stress and improved my eating habits — and I’m not even finished yet!
Get 1 Client – Nailed It
I have not one but two clients currently enrolled in my six-month program!
I learned that talking enthusiastically about what you love to do really does attract people. I love, love, love health coaching and helping people amaze themselves. Keeping this in mind will help me help even more people.
Write One Post Per Week – Not Good Enough
I have been haphazard in my posting schedule. I learned that when my priorities are self-care, family, work, clients, school, blog, that what’s on the bottom of the list tends to fall off the plate. If I want to return to a weekly posting schedule, then I need to do a better job of blocking off a specific time to ensure this happens.
Create and Send Monthly Newsletters – Fail
I signed up with Aweber but am now considering switching to MailChimp because it is less expensive for newbies like me.
Create and Teach a Monthly Teleclass – OK
I spent a lot of work on this and was really proud of what I created. I did teach a couple of classes with a handful of participants. However, I fell below expectations at promoting the course and finding time to teach it. This is definitely something to work on for 2012.
Create Marketing Materials – OK
This goal is coming along, but it won’t be finalized by the end of the year. I did not plan on the marketing materials taking as long as they have. My designer and I both have full-time jobs in addition to our side work, so that should have been an indicator to take whatever my timeframe was and double it.
Relationship Goals
Go on a Mini Vacation With Mr. Man – Not Good Enough
All of our vacation days this year were allotted to weddings and family visits or vacations. While we had a blast at each event and some alone time, we did not go anywhere just the two of us. The lack of just-us time lead to some tension build-up that could have been avoided.
Visit My New Nephew – Nailed It
I was able to go out and see my newest nephew earlier this year. So glad I did – he is adorable!
Call Out-of-State Friends More Regularly (as in More Than Once or Twice Per Year) – OK
The good news: I have many wonderful, amazing friends. The bad news: I did not call all of them as much as I would have liked.
The reoccurring problem I face is that when we go a long time without talking, there’s always so much to catch up on, whereas if we talked regularly, there wouldn’t be a gob of information to share. I’m unsure of how to break this cycle …
Financial Goals
Continue to Reduce Credit Card Debt – Kudos
We have reduced our credit card debt from more than $25,000 to about $16,000. It would be right around $12,000 if I hadn’t registered for school using a credit card. However, I know that was worth going into a little more debt temporarily.
We’re also still reducing our student loan debt, although that is going much more slowly.
Build an Emergency Savings Fund – OK
We created a savings fund, but then we used the money to help fund trips and Christmas shopping. So, while we didn’t go into more debt, we also still don’t have an emergency savings fund established.
Diet and Nutrition Goals
Drink More Water – Kudos
I’m definitely drinking more water than I ever have in my life, but I know I could be doing better.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables – Kudos
I credit my health counseling program with helping me have some of the best eating habits I’ve ever had in my life. I am eating a lot more fruits and vegetables, especially now that I started having my smoothies for breakfast regularly, and I am much more aware of how my food choices affect my body, mind, and spirit.
Creating meal plans, found here, has also been a big help.
Reduce Meat Consumption – Kudos
I’ve definitely cut back on my meat consumption. I eat vegetarian or pescetarian about three to four days a week now. However, I still have a substantial wings addiction that I’m sure is not healthy.
Exercise and Fitness Goals
Run a 10K – Nailed It
I ran my first 10K this year at the Dana Point Turkey Trot. My goal was simply to finish the race pain-free, which I did. (I had been in and out of physical therapy at Body Awareness to recover from IT band syndrome and a pulled groin on separate occasions.)
My time was: 1 hour 10 minutes and 53 seconds. In my age group of 25- to 29-year-old women, I finished 242 out of 293. So, it was nothing spectacular, but it gives me a benchmark for my next 10K.
Exercise 5 Days a Week – OK
Some weeks, I was totally on; I exercised not just five, but six days a week! Then other times, I would go a week or two without exercising at all.
Try a New Exercise Class – Nailed It
This year, in an effort to shake up my exercise routine, I tried three new classes at my gym 24 Hour Fitness. Here are my mini reviews of each one:
Zumba didn’t really feel like exercise or fun, just awkwardness.
Granted, it could have been that the instructor was having an off day, but Turbo Kick felt as if I could have gotten the same workout results if I had just constantly jumped and thrashed around for an hour straight.
The Kick Butt Boot Camp was by far the best; it certainly upheld its name. I’m looking forward to this class more in 2012.
Volunteer and Service Goals
Put on a Sold-Out Show of “The Vagina Monologues” and Donate Proceeds to Charity – Nailed It
This was such an incredible experience. It blew away my expectations – we filled Knuckleheads to capacity Friday night and had to turn people away Saturday night. We raised more than $5,000 for Laura’s House and V-Day non-profit foundations.
Write Sponsor Sister Through Women for Women International Once a Month – Fail
I’m a proud sponsor of Women for Women International, but I was a terrible “sister” to my match in Iraq. I didn’t write her a single letter the whole year. At least I’m still involved, and I know my money is going to good use.
Volunteer With Hospice – Fail
As much as I loved this passion project, I had to let it go so that I could devote more time and energy to the other projects on my plate.
On the positive side, it allowed me to say “no” to something, which I often have a hard time doing.
Spiritual Goals
Meditate Daily – Not Good Enough
Again, I was intermittent in this. I’d meditate four days in a row and then go 10 days without doing it.
Home Goals
Deep Clean the Apartment – Not Good Enough
The only room I entirely deep cleaned (dusted, swept, mopped, cleaned out drawers, threw out unused/old stuff, etc.) was our main bathroom. I think the entire apartment was too ambitious.
Wow, looking back, 2011 was a busy, productive year!
Sure there were some letdowns, but the important thing is that I learned something from each failure. Now I can put those lessons to use when I plan and set my goals for 2012.
What surprises – good or bad – did you encounter in 2011?
Last year, I remember wishing for a way to meet inspiring, remarkable women working on tangible projects that would improve themselves and the world around them. I enjoyed challenging myself and tackling big projects. (Hello, benefit performances of V-Day San Clemente 2011 “The Vagina Monologues”!) Certainly there must be other women like me within or near my town looking to swap support and advice?
