It's not a lot, but it's enough

SpekySquarehead

It's fast approaching the end of 2017 and it's been some year. Allow me some time for reflection on all that I set out to do within the previous 12 months.

This time last year, I had not long split up with my girlfriend and I was filled with a determination to better myself and not to waste my life, to become more kind and generous and to be as productive as possible on all fronts of my life. After reviewing my goals, I think I done that largely, although there is always room for improvement.

This was my first year in ever setting goals and putting a plan in place to make myself accountable and to track my progress on a monthly basis - and I loved it! If anything, it acted as a monthly reminder to give it my all. As you can see from the results below, I had a fairly good year in trying to smash my goals;

Career
Goal: Achieve my bonus targets in work – Kinda Done
Outcome: My role changed over this year and as did my bonus structure. Discussions are on-going and it looks like I should expect to see £1k at the minimum

Goal: Build a stronger network of clients - Done
Outcome: I’ve now clients who are more like friends, the perfect relationship.

Goal: Attend at least 1 new training course - Failed
Outcome: As above, with my job changing, this wasn’t needed.



Relationships
Goal: Spend more 1-2-1 time with my gran - Done
Outcome: I continue to see my gran every week and we enjoy our date nights every month.

Goal: Visit my Dad at least 6 times - Done
Outcome: I put dates in my diary and stuck to them. No excuses.

Goal: Organise social events with my cousins - Done
Outcome; Started the year off with an event early and then made plans for another before the night was finished.

Goal: See my friends children more often - Done
Outcome: Not only would I see them at special occasions but on top of that too.



Self
Goal: Start learning Spanish (again) – Done
Outcome: Smashed this. Peaking at 26% fluent. All without spending a penny

Goal: Live on a ketogenic diet – Kinda Done
Outcome: I’ve learned a lot about nutrition. I felt really good when I was strict but my craving for sugar is too much.

Goal: Buy a house/flat – Done
Outcome: After lots of saving, I bought my flat in May and I’ve loved every second of it.

Goal: Save an emergency fund of £1k - Failed
Outcome: Various things keep cropping up with cost me. So, I need to do better with budgeting and saving next year

Goal: Read 10 books - Failed
Outcome: I only managed 3 books, which is shocking really. I find my spare time is so easily spent on…well, nothing really. I need to be more determined.

Goal: Eat out less - Done
Outcome: This was achievable as I think my girlfriend was partly to blame previously. It’s still something I could cut back on more, but I do need to live a little at times.

Now begins the exciting prospect of planning my goals for 2018. The things in which I plan to really focus and develop on. I'll review the things I failed at and I might adjust accordingly, but I do know that I'll be setting myself goals which should be the foundation of a better me. Whatever that will be.

I may not have the chance to say it, so I will now; Merry Christmas to each and everyone one of you who read my dull posts and reply with encouragement. I really do appreciate you all.

:beer:

kirtsypoos

Merry Christmas Speky! You've done brilliantly well with your goals, may next year be even more amazing for you

louby40

Merry Christmas - I hope you’ve made your new flat Christmasy and festive.

Here’s to 2018 and another year of budgeting, saving and living!

SpekySquarehead

A belated merry christmas and a happy new year to everyone!!

I've been really unwell with the flu over the festive period which has just floored me but today, I'm feeling much better and now playing catch up.

So, it's 2018, a brand new year and with that, an excellent opportunity to better myself with some goals and they must be SMART;

S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Acheivable
R - Realistic
T - Time centred

I've some final touches to be put on them and then I'll post them here to keep me accountable, but i'm really looking forward to this year. It feels like a blank canvas.

So, allow me to catch up on some things and I'll post my goals in due course!

SpekySquarehead

And so here they are; my goals for 2018, written in black and white for all to hold me to

Career
- Get a wage increase
- Monthly check on job vacancies

Relationships
- Increase time spent with family
o Dad
o Gran
o Cousins
o Mum
- Find a Mrs

Personal
- Volunteer for the homeless
- Practice yoga more often
- Continue to learn Spanish
- Start tracking my NSD’s
- Fix my ongoing knee pain through daily stretching
- Build an emergency fund of £500
- Read 6 books

All of these should be do-able (even finding me a Mrs!!!) so I plan on getting stuck in pronto!!

louby40

These are excellent goals Speky.

Happy new year

crazy_cat_lady

Happy New Year Speky!
I need to think about setting some goals too...

joeyjimbles

Happy New Year - hope you're feeling better.
And lovely to hear your plans, but don't rush the Mrs-bit maybe increase your time doing things that you love and see who you meet that way (:rotfl: says the happily married even after 27yrs together woman who ended up marrying her childhood sweetheart - though admittedly after several years of doing our own thing, uni, work, living elsewhere etc)
What I'm trying to say is enjoy your life and then good things and good people should come into it.

SpekySquarehead

Some very sound advice Joey - thank you

I've returned from a work trip to Berlin for the weekend, which was excellent, although slightly more expensive than I'd hoped, so I'll need to move things around for the rest of this month.

For me, it now feel likes 2018 has started now that I've beaten the flu and had the weekend away. So I'm filled with determination to get back into my usual routine, gym in the morning, work, football at night or being productive in some way, interspersed with healthy eating.

Been to the gym this morning and I'm playing football tonight. Got some ironing to do and I've also to go to the supermarket for some things, so I hope for a productive evening.

Aiming for 15 NSD's this month and already bagged 4.

Have a good week!

crazy_cat_lady

Hey Speky
Pleased that you're on the mend and feeling ready to tackle 2018. Today is the first one for me too - I'm back at work and really feel like getting stuff done. I'm sure that won't last, but I'm making the most of it for now.