Elsie at A Beautiful Mess is hosting a really wonderful challenge to pick four simple goals for the rest of the year- but not results oriented goals, ones that will get you doing things that make you happy. Every month when I pick my goals for my inspiration & type a-ery posts I seem to focus on end results rather than the process, so I was really excited for this challenge.
1. Start a yoga practice
So much of my work revolves around the computer that my back pain has started to get the best of me again. With giving up my 5K challenge, I need to have something that gets me moving, grounds me and calms me down – and after my first Moksha class last night, I’m hooked!! I can’t wait to go back & keep at this, my back feels amazing :)
2. Take Turns Planning Date Nights
Jesse & I have been crazy busy lately, and a lot of the time my work takes up my evenings and weekends. I’m excited to make sure we have designated time to have really focused, fun time together every week. The plan is that we alternate planning them, which I’m really excited about because we tend to be all about consensus building, so it’s fun to plan little surprises for the other person.
3. Learn to do better with conflict
I have a really hard time when I’m around any kind of conflict and I tend to deal with it by trying to diffuse it immediately, no matter what. But you know what? As long as no one is trying to be hurtful, disagreement is really just a difference and that’s allowed. (And lets be honest, if someone is actually trying to be hurtful, I’m not going to have much luck diffusing that!) I love when things go smoothly, but I’m trying to take a step back from playing the negotiator all the time & just let some of it go.
4. Make my house a beautiful, inspiring space
I have So! Many! Plans! I’m excited to start transforming the inside of our house into my perfect cozy cottage. We’ve done so much work on the outside, and I can’t wait to focus on out living space & my craft studio.
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this idea and those sound like great goals. I can’t wait to see how your house turns out. I am sure you will make it absolutely beautiful.
I love your goals… especially the one about alternating the date night planning. The Hubs and I always try to have one, but it’s not really… organized. Sometimes it feels like there is a lot of “So, what do you want to do?” going on. I like that each of you gets to choose and idea every other week. I might steal this. :)
We do a little variation on #2…every Wednesday we take turns making dinner, and the menu is always a surprise, plus we have a glass (or several glasses) of wine with it. We both look forward to it and it’s a really nice mid-week boost!
Those are great goals!! Good luck :)
What a brilliant idea – will think of some goals for my next post! :D
Irish & I did date nights; it was great to have something to look forward too and never knowing what the other person was going to plan made it that much more fun!
I still need to give a yoga class a try!
I love this! Now I’m thinking about non-results oriented goals – and I was just thinking I needed another “challenge” to take me into fall (because your dress one will unfortunately be ending soon).
Ah, that’s similar to what I try to do myself in terms of ‘happy goals.’
Do give yoga a shot! There’s so many deals out there for new practitioners.
I think #2 was cut short? These are great goals! Now I need to do one of these. ;)
PS: Is that pink ceramic clock yours? It’s precious!
AH! lol Lauren, thank you so much!! Fixed!
That’s what I get for editing late at night :)
Your goals sound lovely!
My goal for the year? Keep babies alive.
I’m SO GLAD you liked yoga and can’t wait to hear how it goes when you start practicing regularly :)
Those are all great goals!! I too sort of have a hard time coming up w/ goals that aren’t ‘results’ oriented…
Here are a couple of my goals for the next month or so:
1. Take some time each week to research Paris. I don’t want to over-plan this trip but I do want to pick 2-3 things to do while I am there.
2. Try to be better about sending snail mail to friends & family.
I’ve been trying to be better at snail mail too – I want to start by mailing birthday packages to all of my friends :)
Yay! Moksha!
Their hot hatha class on Wednesday evenings is really relaxing.
For thoughts on #3: http://www.wiseheartpdx.org/index.php
I get the emailed tips/newsletter – and it’s really interesting work she’s doing. Helpful with many different kinds of relationships not just spousal… but work, friend, parental etc.
I thought you were moving your craft room to a larger space? Flip-flopping the bedroom and the craft room? Did that ever materialize?
I love your goals. I think it’s good to set goals and then go for them :)
I definitely want to write more snail mail, too. I used to have 40+ penpals back in the day and a letter in my mailbox definitely puts a smile on my face :)
These are awesome! I love your house goal. I’d love to make my home a totally inspiring place to be. As soon as bf and I don’t have a roomie anymore, it’s happening!!
I’ve been seeing this all over my reader lately and yours finally made me do it too :)
I can’t wait to see what you do with your place. You have such lovely taste, I just know it will all come together perfectly!
How funny to see a call for goals that are *not* results-oriented. But, I like it this way. It feels less like a contract and more like inspiration. Lovely!
I love you goals. I need to be better about not always diffusing disagreements too. It’s hard!
How exciting! Your goals are so great…I actually did a post of this too. I also need to get more in to yoga. Glad your back is feeling better. =)
This is a great list, miss Kyla! :)
baby steps :)
Your goals are fantastic and I know you will have no problem accomplishing them <3
I am quite bad at dealing with conflict. I either go way too over the top, in your face or I just let things slide that I shouldn’t. I think my one, main goal to take my into 2011 is to find God again. Well, maybe not find Him because He’s still there, but put more effort into building our relationship.
These are all great love, and YES- #1 has absolutely changed my life, mind, body, spirit for the better :)
Kyla, I love your goals. (side note- is it weird that I feel I know you better now that you are referring to Mister by his name?) Since so many bloggers are doing this together, it feels like one huge project. Love the connected feeling. <3
I love the idea of you guys planning date nights! What a fun idea and a great way to be creative together.
I know this might sound silly but I found that a lot of self-actualization happens through yoga. Whenever I am really practicing it regularly, I feel more at peace, more calm and ready to face anything. It’s when I stop that I feel that I might not be able to handle conflicts and the such as well as I could be.
Good luck with the yoga :)
I really like this idea!
I love these goals that will lead to a happier, healthier Kyla. I think one of the biggest signs of maturity is someone who learns to embrace conflict. And I don’t mean the kind that includes personal attacks. But, sometimes, people just see things from different angles. Or have different goals in life. And there’s no reason each person shouldn’t be allowed to express themselves, even if they don’t always agree. The key is learning how to incorporate differences into your life … it’s not easy, but it makes a world of difference when you can!
Such a great idea! Keep us posted!
{ 1 trackback }