reviewing 2011’s goals
Last January, I decided not to make resolutions, but to set 12 goals to work on throughout the year. Here’s a review of how I did with them.
Create and maintain an appropriate work/life balance and appropriate boundaries
I really struggled with this goal throughout most of the year because my job is difficult and demanding. It requires me to be on call most evenings and weekends, in addition to the 40 hours I work each week. In recent months, I’ve made significant progress by no longer giving out my personal cell phone number and maintaining appropriate mental boundaries. I do my best not to think about work when I leave and I try not to worry too, too much about the things I can’t control.
Practice self-care (including but not limited to eating lunch every day and taking lots of mini-vacations)
I think I definitely improved on this goal during 2011. While some days still get too crazy to take a break for lunch, I try to make it a priority on a daily basis. I’ve built a strong relationship with my supervisor and I enjoy gossiping with her about anything but work over lunch.
I have also put a priority on other kinds of self-care throughout the year. I took lots of vacations and enjoyed treating myself to manicures and shopping trips when things got tough. The addition of a wonderful boyfriend to spend time with has also helped me on the self-care front.
Maintain perspective and composure at work
Translation of the above? Stop crying so much at work. I’m definitely at a much better place with this goal than I was a year ago. I did really well between January and June, then had a slump in the summer with some tough cases. Since August, however, I’ve really improved again. I am doing better with keeping situations in perspective and holding things together. There is one difficult case that seems to be my continued exception, but even that one is getting easier to deal with as time moves forward.
Recognize and accept the following:
-I can’t please everyone
-I’m doing my very best
-I’m doing a great job
I’m incredibly lucky to have a supportive supervisor and a great support system who help me to keep these concepts in perspective when things get difficult. I feel like I’ve gotten better about remembering these things in the midst of tough cases. I still accept responsibility for my actions and mistakes, but try not to beat myself up so much.
Visit college friends & the midwest three times a year
I far exceeded this most important goal in 2011! I visited Kristen and Kara in Chicago in April, my family and Makenzie in Minnesota in July, the whole college crew in Milwaukee in August, my Michigander favorites in October, and my family again in December. I’m already working on planning several great vacations back to my homeland in 2012, including a Michigan wedding, a Wisconsin weddings, and a northwoods cabin weekend.
Take an actual vacation
In addition to those trips outlined above, I also took a 4-day cruise to the Bahamas in November. It was a great, relaxing vacation that I spend lounging on the beach and reading lots of books.
Attend concerts
My real goal was to attend a concert each month of 2011. While that wasn’t quite a possibility, I still did pretty well on the concert front:
Valencia & Terrible Things @ The Piazza (January)
Astronautalis & Sims @ The Fire (March)
The Graduate @ The Barbary (March)
Grieves with Budo, Blueprint, & Atmosphere @ The Electric Factory (April)
Brand New @ The Electric Factory (April)
The Wonder Years @ The Starlight Ballroom (June)
Bon Iver @ The Tower Theater (August)
James Vincent McMorrow @ Johnny Brenda’s (September)
Cecil Otter & Sims @ North Star Bar (October)
The Wonder Years, Man Overboard, Fireworks (December)
Write daily
I’m not writing in great detail every day, but I did start a gratitude journal that I write a few things in each night. While I’d like a better, fuller record of my days, the gratitude journal is a really unique and uplifting way to end my days, so I’m happy with it.
Find and maintain a hobby that is completely separate from technology (no music, computer, or tv)
Whoops, absolutely no progress on this front. I guess I read sometimes, does that count? Finding a hobby is a lot harder than it seems when you’re in your 20s.
Write thoughtfully/academically about things I care about
No progress here either, unfortunately. This is something I would still like to do, but it would be difficult to find time for. Instead, I just read a lot about the things I care about. J
Get to the gym four days a week
Well, I was doing pretty well with this for awhile there in 2011. As the year came to a close, I found different ways to spend my time and this particular activity that I don’t really enjoy was cut out. I’m hoping to start getting back at least a few times a week in 2012.
Get finances in order
I’m continuing to make some progress on this front. I started contributing to a savings account and a 403b retirement account with each paycheck. I’m still working on paying off my credit card, little by little, month by month.
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