Goals for 2010
Posted on January 4, 2010 | Categories: Entertainment, Life, School, Travel | Tags: books, china, college, project 365, writing
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I’m not really a resolutions type of girl, because I either forget about/have failed them by the second week of January. Instead, I’m going to try and set some goals for myself this year1.
- Read more (fictional) books
I have always adored reading but my life just got so crazy in 2009 that when I did have free time, I wanted to spend it either sleeping or doing mindless stuff like watching TV. I definitely want to read more this year cause I miss it! - Complete Project 365
I did Embodiment successfully for the first half of 2008, and then I just petered out due to lack of time. I still want to document my year, so I’m going to try using photography instead of writing. I created a Flickr account for this, and my most recent photo is featured in this blog’s sidebar. - Get into a year-long study abroad program of my choice for next academic year
I have my heart set on getting into a year-long study abroad program for the 2010-2011 academic year in Beijing, China. If Beijing falls through, I’m looking at other places as my overall goal is to go abroad for all of next year no matter what the place. - Maintain good grades and get on Dean’s List for spring 2010 and fall 2010 semesters
I’ve been on Dean’s List for all of my semesters in college. This is something I want to continue and hopefully it will be pretty achievable. - Finish first draft of my novel THE MOST HAPPY
Last summer, I began writing the first draft of my novel THE MOST HAPPY. I was aiming to finish it sometime last semester if I found the time, but that never happened. I want the first draft completed this year or else I’ll never finish it. - Comment on more blogs/comment more often
I very rarely had time to comment on any blogs in the last half of 2009, and when I did, a lot of my favorite bloggers were on hiatus/disappeared. Assuming real life doesn’t get too insanely busy, I want to comment on blogs more often as well as discover new blogs to comment on. - Focus more on the “now” rather than the future
This has always been a problem for me as I never see any point in following through something if I know it won’t pan out in the end. While that makes sense logically, it means I miss out on a lot of the little things, especially when it comes to friendships and relationships and being a teenager/college student in general. I’m aiming to be more relaxed and carefree when it comes to allowing myself to enjoy things now rather than discarding the opportunity altogether because it won’t work out in the long-run. Maybe that means I’ll be a little wilder and more reckless but hey, this is my last year as a teenager so I have to make it count! ;)
- Or maybe I just like the term “goal” better than “resolution”, cause they pretty much amount to the same thing. [↩]
Michi
Good luck with all those things, Manda! I hope you can get into the year-long study abroad program in Beijing. We have similar ones like the reading more, maintaining good grades and commenting more. And I’m doing Project 365 too but I haven’t included a flickr feed yet in my sidebar for it.
Adam
Good luck with your 2010 goals :-)
I’ve been trying to read more fiction of late. In 2009, the Internet was too much of a distraction. I guess I need more determination.
I think it’s good to focus on both the present and the future. Future-only indeed makes you miss out on opportunities, and present-only has its own disadvantages. Generally, I think I focus more on the present than the future, though.
Amanda
I like your goals! They all sound realistic and achieve-able, as well as worthy of pursuing… and not like those silly, far-fetched resolutions that a lot of people kid themselves about! I’ll be keeping tabs on your project 365 :)
Kathleen
Good luck with these. The last one is one thing I as well should do more often.
Have a great year and don’t forget about your goals. :)
Alice
Good luck, chuck! Not that I think you will need it, you are a smart girl and will do well whatever :D All my fingers and toes are crossed for you to study in Beijing, that is the opportunity of a life time!
Kaylee
I like the word goals more because resolutions usually have such a negative connotation, anyway :P
The name of your novel is intriguing! Sounds like something I would pick up at the library. And speaking of libraries, I’m trying to read more fiction as well. :)
Manda
My novel is a modern retelling of the story of Anne Boleyn, the second of Henry’s six wives. Her motto/slogan was “Anne Boleyn, the most happy” which is where I got the title from :D
Lady Impulse
Good luck with your goals for the year!
Clem
I don’t know, I think there’s kind of a difference between goals and resolutions. Resolutions are things you promise to do. Goals are things you want to do, but you don’t PROMISE to do them. Buuut I may be making that distinction because I never get anything done, so it makes it easier if I just call them goals and don’t promise to do them. :P
Good luck with everything you have planned for this year! It’s pretty ambitious, but definitely doable. :D
Krissy
I always used to do goals for myself each year, but then I never really tried to accomplish them. So I do resolutions now. Like you, I don’t really see a difference, but for some reason, my subconscious takes better to resolutions and makes the effort. I dunno. They’re the same, but they’re different. And they’re different, but the same. :P
I need to adopt your first one as well! I did really well the first half of last year (I read the most books in those 6 months than in any whole year before), and then I just completely stopped reading once university started up. Haven’t read anything since. It’s baaad. I need to get back into the groove.
And thumbs up for finishing The Most Happy! You have one anxiously awaiting reader in me. ;D
Manda
I’ll be sure to get in touch when I complete it. Not if… but WHEN. *determined*
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