A list of things for 2009

I’m not a New Year’s Resolution kind of girl. Why make promises and set goals only once a year when you can be doing these things year round? Change is constant, so one should always be looking for ways to change and improve, regardless of the time of year. On the other hand, the new year marks a fresh start, a time to undertake new adventures and deciding how you’re going to fill the next 365 days until it’s time to start again.

With that said, I’ve done some thinking and reflecting on what I want to accomplish or improve in 2009. And I have a list – some are goals, some are strategies, and some are improvements.

1. This will be the year I finally knit a sweater. If you want mittens, I’m your gal. Socks? Don’t mind if I do. Scarves, hats, stranded colourwork – hey! I can do it! Sweaters? Something I’ve never done.

2. Coming up with a strategy to be more organized at work. Staying focused and on task at work is challenging because not only am I easily distracted, I have no way of shutting out the distractions (my office is lacking both doors and walls, and is also where the department printer is located, so people are coming and going all the time.) I start things all the time, only to remember I need to do something else, or call or email someone, so I stop to do those other things and then forget what I was doing in the first place. Or I’ll get home and remember I was supposed to call/email someone but got distracted. Last year, I managed pretty well with daily “To Do” lists [1] but it’s going to require more than that.

3. Be more organized at home. I’m actually not bad at it, and where I’d like to improve is doing it more often. All my bills and other papers are filed, but I tend to do it every four or five months. I should be doing this every month.

4. Start a monthly budget sheet and stick to it. This one I’ve done a few times and always end up abandoning after a few months because it’s “too much work”. However, I have a roof that may need repairs in the spring. I have a 10-year-old car that, while it’s still in decent shape, should be replaced before it’s in bad shape and I’m desperate. So I’m going to need to keep track of pennies and look for ways to put some aside.

5. Be more social. I’m an introvert and I tend to keep to myself most of the time. I need to get out more and interact with other people outside of my job.

6. Update (and keep up-to-date) my Flickr/LibraryThing/Ravelry [2] accounts.
6.5 Get my reading journal back on track!

7. Blog more.
7.5 Decide which widgets I want on the sidebar and keep them updated.
7.5.5 Finish categorizing the posts and adding tags where appropriate.

8. Bike the entire Kate Pace Way this summer. The most I ever managed was almost halfway, and this past summer was going to be The Summer I Finished It. Instead, it ended up being The Summer Of Near Constant Rain And Also Of Going Down East (For The First Time In Ages).

9. Saying “No” more often. Now I know what you’re saying – “Isn’t this the year Jim Carrey is encouraging us to say ‘Yes!’ to everything?” Firstly, if you’re looking to Jim Carrey for personal guidance, then I’m afraid we’re going to have to have a conversation about appropriate role models. Secondly, I said “Yes!” to a lot of things last year and ended up being overextended and stressed out, mostly at work. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to say “No” to a few things and people this year, and back out of others if I want to retain my sanity.

10. Actually make a fuss about my birthday this year. This is the year I turn 33, which was always one of my favourite numbers as a kid. A few years ago, on my sister’s 30th birthday, my brother-in-law threw her a huge party because turning 30 was a big deal. I got depressed and spent the next little while moping about not having anyone to make a fuss for me when I turned 30. Since them, I’ve come to realize that if you want a fuss made about something and there’s no one to do it for you, then you’re going to have to do it yourself. So my dear friends, family and enemies (and those of you who are all three), mark this date on your calendar: March 22. I don’t know what’s happening on that date, but I’ll think of something.

I’m feeling pretty good about this, and I know I need to get this down and strike while the iron is hot and (insert other cliches about making a start.) Here’s to looking back at the end of 2009 and feeling pleased with my accomplishments!

[1] At least until June, when summer rolls around and all bets are off.
[2] Ravelry is a social networking site for knitters.