I am completely guilty of trying to do too much all at once, basically all the time. Over the last few years I’ve grown a lot and learned so much about my values and the things that really matter to me. Becoming a Mama has made some of my goals more of a challenge (goodbye time & money), but also intensified my desire to make change and set a good example when I can.
A big focus for Travis and I both this year is “baby steps.” We (I) tend to get hyped up about something, go full force at it, and then crash and burn. I get so caught up in getting everything “right,” or reaching “perfection,” that I lose steam, can’t measure up, and exhaust those around me. I want the changes we make and the lifestyle we build to be sustainable and sincere. So, while I have more than a few goals, none of them feel all consuming.
I also have a love hate relationship with the word “better.” I love the idea “when you know better, you do better,” and I am someone who really thrives on working towards goals and achieving personal growth milestones. But sometimes “better” feels tainted, like its out of reach and I’ll never actually become this idealized self. When “better” starts to invoke feelings of defeat or discouragement I’m doing my best to reflect on the progress I’ve made so far. There is always a ways to go, but it’s important to not forget how far you’ve come.
Gretchen Rubin is one of my favorite authors. I read her bestselling book The Happiness Project in high school, and have been hooked on her writing ever since. It came as no surprise to me to find her and her sister Elizabeth were the creators of the 20 in 2020 lists (they started in 2018 with 18 in 2018). I love a good list, and the flexibility and fun imbued in this one has me excited to start crossing things off ASAP.
My 20 in 2020
- Make 4 New Zero Waste Swaps
- Write something everyday
- Read (at least) 24 Books
- Move My Body 3-5x A Week
- Eat One Vegan Meal A Day
- Pay Off Debt
- Spend More Time Outdoors
- Be a More Mindful Consumer
- Start 3 New Family Traditions
- Host my 3rd Annual Galentine’s Day party
- Keep A Gratitude Journal
- Cook 10 Recipes From My New “The Forest Feast Mediterranean” Cookbook
- Host A Dinner Party
- Be Intentional About Saving Money For Dreams
- Watch 6 Documentaries
- Listen To (at least) One Podcast A Week
- Take Meals To The New Parents In Our Lives
- Take My Vitamins Everyday
- Set Up Automatic Payments For All Our Bills
- Have (at least) One Date Night A Month With Travis
I’m going to keep a copy of this list on my phone, and do my best to share a photo on Instagram every time I cross one off! I’ll be happy to look back at the photos at the end of the year and see the fun memories and positive progress I’ve made.
Did you make a 20 in 2020 list? How would you keep track of your goals?
Thanks for reading!
Leave a Reply