2011 Goals

After recapping 2010 in photos, we rang in the New Year in Florida with Sam's family and plenty of champagne.

Now that 2011 has arrived, I've been thinking a lot about my goals for 2011. I'm not really a fan of the term 'resolution' because to me it means that I failed at something in the last year that needs redemption. Rather, I prefer to frame my goals in a healthier way that allows me to appreciate working toward the goal and removes the guilt that I wasn't 'good enough' last year.

That being said, here are my goals for 2011. I can break them down into three categories: fitness, financial and general.

Fitness

In 2010 I totally changed my life around by picking up running and losing 30lbs in the process. I absolutely love running and after completing my first half marathon, I'm ready to tackle a full marathon! The Bayshore Marathon is a small race of about 2,000 with great views and a fun course. It's over Memorial Day Weekend and I can't wait! More information about my training plan coming soon :)

Financial

Grad school brought my first real income, and more expenses living as an adult than I could imagine! This year my goal is to pay down my credit card debt (now around $990) and start making payments on my student loans (now around $26,000). This will take a lot of work and saving on my part, but I'm excited to make this commitment! To help with my budgeting, I hope to use Mint.com a bit more than I have been. Any other tips out there for saving and making payments?

General

I have 2 general goals for this year:

The first is to reduce the amount of clutter and possessions I have. After moving out of Earlham and my mom's house, I have acquired a TON of stuff! I certainly don't need this much and I hope to sort through it and donate/freecycle/give away as appropriate.

My second goal is to drink less. In August of 2010 I turned 21 and since then I have had so much fun drinking my way through Ann Arbor and especially trying all kinds of beer.

While I do love beer and drinking with friends I've noticed two things: 1) I have a very low tolerance and 2) it's wicked expensive! These two things combined have made for wild nights and mornings in which I feel crappy and my wallet feels crappier. Also after reading Emily's post on why she quit drinking I realize how much my drinking will affect my marathon training, especially if my long runs are on weekends!

All of this said, I'm so excited for what 2011 will bring.

What are your goals for 2011?