2012 New Year’s Goals

I’m not really a fan of the word “resolution.” I think it’s an empty promise. Saying you’ll do something and actually doing it are two totally different things as anyone who’s said “no, this is the year I’m going to lose weight”…and then didn’t…knows. (Like me, many many times until 2009.)

However, if you attach an actual goal to the resolution, then you’re much more likely to accomplish it. It’s cheesy, but I’m a huge fan of S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely) goals. I like to push the limits on attainable, though, and reach high.

I shot a video, but messed up uploading it to YouTube, so, instead, here are my goals in handy list format, which I know is less exciting:

Running:

  • Marathon: 3:59 OR BUST. This will be taking 20 minutes off of my current marathon PR. I think this will be really hard, but possible. I’m currently thinking either NYCM again, Marine Corps Marathon…or maybe both.
  • Half-Marathon: Sub-1:50, baby. This will be another tough one to beat, but I like challenges, especially of the running variety. My current half PR: 1:55. I’m thinking that if worse comes to worst, I’ll just hang onto Gia at another race.
  • Run 1,000 miles. According to DailyMile, I ran 967 in 2011; I’d like to do at least 1,000 in 2012. I think that’s doable, especially since I probably forgot to log some of those miles last year.

Fitness:

  • Strength train twice a week.
  • Yoga once a week. To keep me from going cray-cray. (Or getting more cray-cray, really.)

Life:

  • Work my ass off. After getting laid off, I have lots of missed time to make up for!
  • Pay off credit card debt by June 15.
  • Keep growing my blog. My blog has quadrupled in traffic in the past year. In order for that to happen again this year, I need for you each to tell four friends. Deal? I’m turning my blog into a pyramid scheme. I hope you’re okay with that. In all seriousness, thanks for reading.
  •  Be more mindful. Outside of work, I can be a huge scatterbrain sometimes. I’m always trying to pack 36 hours into a 24-hour day and do multiple things at once. Multitasking doesn’t work; focusing does. I want to make sure to take time to focus and to appreciate things.
  • Unplug more. I love the internets, but after spending 9-10 hours at work on them, I need to unplug a bit more when I get home.
  • Read more. Younger Theodora is laughing at this one. I can’t believe how little I read now compared to how much I used to read. I used to read at least a book a week up until I graduated college. I blame my internet addiction on this decline in reading. Goal: to read at least 2 books a month in 2012…and always read my book club book instead of being the slacker that hopes we don’t really talk about it.
  • Date more. (Ugh?) Bailey’s great and all, but I need a human male in my life, not just a canine male. I can’t meet the man of my dreams without dating, so…if you have any attractive, young, single, fit, male friends, tell them there’s this girl you know…
  • HAVE FUN. I’m usually pretty good at this one.

Et toi? What are your goals for 2012?

42 comments on “2012 New Year’s Goals”

  2. Tiffany @ Snack Snark Bark

    I’m right there with you on paying off my cc and dating. I love my little pup (who I haven’t seen in two months but he is coming here next wk for good!) but yeah, I need a human male in my life. I don’t even care about fit and attractive at this point-straight, employed with no mommy issues is all I’m asking for!

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  4. Katie

    One my major goals is to stop being so mean to myself. Ever since I lost weight, I am terrified of getting “fat” again. It is so stupid, and I need to let it go!

    Reply ↓
  5. Cameo

    I totally agree with you about resolutions. I said something similar in my resolution post – only I am much longer winded than you! I love your goals. They are so specific and so well thought out. You will have a great year!

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  6. Melissa

    You definitely have a 3:59 marathon in you! You will LOVE Marine Corps, I highly recommend it. I won’t be able to run it again this year but it’s on my list for 2013. Amazing race!

    Reply ↓
    1. Theodora Post author

      @Melissa: Yeah–I surprised a friend last year and spectated and she said it was a great race, too! I actually almost did it for my first marathon, but then a friend talked me into Chicago. This year, a friend is planning on doing it for her first marathon, and I said I’d do it too, so I probably will. The only reason I want to run NYC too is because I know I will have a really hard time being around all that excitement again and NOT running it! That and NYCM is amazing.

      Congrats on finishing your first marathon!! I just read your recap 🙂

      Reply ↓
  12. carol blanchfield

    My goal is to have more time for projects and enjoying life
    Oh yes, while you are accomplishing your goals save some time for Mom, let’s find some really good restaurants

    Love you
    Mom

    Reply ↓
  16. Dori

    I love your goals! Mine are to cook more vegetables, take Refine regularly, PR in half marathon and stop saying “should-have” and beating myself up over everything.

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  17. joelle (on a pink typewriter)

    I 100% agree with you about goals v. resolutions – I do the same thing.. I like things to STRIVE for. I have those same fitness goals this year, actually.. I’m going to try and sign up for 30 days of yoga or something to really kick my butt into gear.

    PS. Have you ever tried Crossfit?

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  18. Gillian

    Congratulations on building your blog! Quadrupling your viewership is fabulous!

    My goals for 2012 include dating more too, but I didn’t post that specifically on my blog for some reason – too scared maybe! Anyway, my two main goals are to achieve my goal weight of 130 lbs. and run my first marathon, being the Ottawa Marathon in late May.

    I wish you all the best in achieving your goals.

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  19. Allison

    Great goals all around! Wish you the best of luck achieving them…

    I too am hoping to attend at least 1 yoga class week and start saving some $$$ 😀

    Reply ↓
  21. Ericka @ The Sweet Life

    Love it. I’m right with you on sub-4 girl! Hope you come to DC and do MCM. I will probably do it again…just because it’s here. Just put my name in the lottery for NYC. Hoping to make sub-4 in the DC Rock n’ Roll in March but if not, I’ll be aiming for it again in the fall!

    Reply ↓
  24. Katie

    I love your blog! I read it everyday.. and I just got started on Dailymile and sent you a friend request.. I feel a little weird about it since I don’t know you, but I live in the city and would love to know more people that run! 🙂

    Reply ↓
  25. Irina G (Fit Flexitarian)

    Love your resolutions! I definitely think you can do ALL of them. I think a lot of your resolutions resonate with everyone (or, at least, I can relate to 99% of them, especially the read and date more ones!). I wish you all kinds of success in 2012!

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  26. Jess

    I am right there with you on both the reading more and running a 1000 miles.

    I can’t believe how few books I read in 2011. I blame my twitter addiction.

    Reply ↓
  29. Joan

    Those are wonderful! I have a lot of debt-reduction goals (though the payoff won’t be for about three years – having kids and a spouse will do that to you!) but my biggest one right now is to focus on fitness and get my body fat percentage down to 18%. I’m what’s not-so-nicely called “skinny fat” – my weight is healthy by BMI standards, but my body fat percentage is not.

    The biggest thing there is not how I look so much – though that’ll be nice. It’s that I test for my black belt in about a year, and to do that, I want to be in top shape. Not-secret goal: I want to be able to do all the pushups “full-up” and not girl-style on my knees. To practice, I’m learning to do chin-ups. Current goal: Do 1 chin-up. Yep. I’m that girl?

    Reply ↓
    1. Theodora

      @Joan: I feel ya on the skinny fat. My weight is totally healthy, but my stomach still sucks.

      Black belt! EXCITING! Also, I have no idea how many chin-ups I could do right now, but it would probably not be many.

      Reply ↓
  30. Kara

    That’s a good list of goals! I also want to PR in the half-marathon and pay off my credit card debt…it makes me want to scream every time I look at the interest building up!

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  31. janetha

    I love your goals! I didn’t comment on many goal posts but I knew I wanted to read yours because you always do the damn thing and it inspires me.

    Reply ↓

  35. Pingback: Fitness Goals for the Rest of the Year | Losing Weight in the City | bestweightlossportal.com

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