Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Thinking about Goals in a New Way



I am a goal setter.
This news probably does not come as a surprise to any one who knows me well. You see, I am a life long runner and have been setting goals for myself for as long as I can remember. Setting goals gives meaning and direction to my running and helps me develop a plan on how to get there. Even now as my times have gotten slower, one thing has remained the same - my desire to push myself to achieve something which is just beyond my comfort zone.

Needless to say, when The Nester recently posed the question “Do you have goals for your home?” I was intrigued. For me goals have always been something reserved for running. Sure I constantly think about things in my house I would like to change (an ever growing and evolving list) or the next project to tackle but these ideas are never written down and certainly not planned out well in advance. We just kind of do them as they come.

Perhaps it is time to treat my home like running? Goals are a great motivator. They provide a roadmap to where you want to go, boundaries to help stay on a path to success, and a sense of accomplishment when achieved - all great things when applied to any aspect of life.


The hard part of creating goals for your home is to avoid making a laundry list of complaints and new furnishings to purchase. I don’t believe this is what The Nester intended. Rather, I think setting goals for your home is about appreciating your surroundings and using what you have to its fullest potential.

So, after thinking about the upcoming year in a new way, I came up with a few very simple home goals for 2011.


Be a tourist in my own town
I am blessed to live in a wonderful community. I need to do a better job of taking advantage of all it has to offer – parks, historical sites, museums, etc.

Organize and clean out
There is no point in keeping something I no longer use. The fact that there is nothing wrong is the reason it should be given away. Better to have someone else enjoying it than having stuff sitting in a closet collecting dust.

Plan my garden before planting
Our garden usually consists of tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs – all planted randomly as they are purchased. Brooke from Velvet and Linen planted a kitchen garden this past year and I love the idea of making the garden (even though it is vegetables and herbs) a more formal space. This year I will make a diagram before heading to the farmers market and buy plants which are designated on the plan. (Well, maybe one or two extra ones as well!)

Use the herbs I plant
The second part of the garden goal is to use what I plant. Herbs grow very well in my garden space so I tend to try out new varieties every year. The problem is I don’t use them for cooking. Sure they look and smell nice but the point of planting them is to cook with them.

Learn how to use my sewing machine attachments
I have had my Singer Featherweight since college and have yet to use any of the attachments. This is the year to try them out.

Learn how to use my camera settings
Same deal as my sewing machine. I have owned my camera for over a year and have yet to use anything but the auto settings. Centsational Girl has great directions on moving past the “auto” setting and I plan to take her advice.

Lastly, and most importantly, continue to remember a house is just a house. It is the people who live inside and the friends who come to visit which are most important.

Wish me luck on this new adventure. I will keep you updated as the year progresses and my goals are achieved (hopefully!)

How about you? Do you set goals for yourself and or your house? I would love to hear your plans for the coming year! Thanks Nester for the inspiration.

18 comments:

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

I am so with you on the learning the camera settings! I just got a new camera and I love it so far, just because it takes much better pics than my point and shoot. I was even telling my hubby that if the adult ed program up at our high school has a camera class for beginners I'm going to sign up for it. I'm not planning anything for the house, though, because we are hoping this is the year we downsize {well, we'll know in a few months once we are on the market}.

A Vintage Vine said...

Funny you should mention the sewing machine...I was just think about my sewing machine and debating getting a new one!!!! Thanks for sharing your goals for your home.

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

I am right behind you on learning the camera settings! I also would like to plan my yard out. You would not want to know how many plants I bought on a whim that never got planted and then tossed. A disgrace I tell you. I do use most of my herbs. I'd like to start doing more and stop talking about it. I have lot whirling around in my head so I need to sort, plan and then DO!

Jane B. said...

OMG...all your goals are my goals! Literally. Except I don't even know how to sew, so I have to learn from scratch..ugh! Oh and the camera. We all have these super expensive cameras, and I bet were not using half of their capabilities!

I'll be swinging by more often! Need to get back to more blog reading and comments!

Jane
Finding Fabulous

destiny said...

I LOVE your goal list--especially no.1! We've recently moved to a new place and I love explore our new town!
Happy New Year
~Destiny

Anonymous said...

Great list!

{darlene} said...

excellent goals! I love the "being a tourist" goal. That is great!
I love your Red Door!!! Thank you so much for stopping by Fieldstone Hill. It is nice to meet you!
{darlene} @
www.fieldstonehilldesign.com

Melanie said...

What a great list & I can totally relate to using the herbs from the garden! I had a great garden last year & we used the tomatoes & cukes, but I hardly used my hardy, fragrant, beautiful herbs at all...and my husband quickly tires of planting things if they don't serve any purpose! I also love the idea of planning my garden better, I would like to add in more vegetables this year, perhaps peas & green beans. The kids love eating our fresh produce! Happy New Year to you!

Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife said...

These sound like some fabulous goals!

I need to do some of the same things...especially with my camera! I have a nice camera, and its so sad that I set it on auto most of the time!!

InMyOwnStyle said...

OMGosh- :) I have that same box of Singer Sewing machine attachements. I did learn how to use them when I first got my hand me down machine. One is a ruffler I do remember using that.
My best- Diane

Upscale Downhome said...

I love how your goals are more about experiences and things to do rather than things to purchase. Thanks for giving me something to think about...

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Great list of Goals. Hubby and I are already great tourist and we love to visit our local museums and attractions. I could really use some camera instructions though and my sewing machine...well, I am really scared of it!
Hugs,
Sherry

Jenn @ Peas and Crayons said...

These are great! =) I'm working on learning to use my camera settings too! There's so many of them to play around with!

Hope 2011 is treating ya well so far!

xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

Anonymous said...

These are great goals, and I love your comment about remembering that a house is just a house, but the people are what's important! We're in the same boat on the camera. I've had mine for a year too and still haven't even come close to mastering it. :-(

Melissah said...

I'm an interior designer from Melbourne, Australia - I loved your blog, I found it very inspiring. This is all new to me but I have just set up my own blog
scrapbook-melissah.blogspot.com
You may like to check it out because I had so much fun doing it.
Thanks for providing me with such great entertainment!
Cheers
Melissah

Maria Killam said...

Great list! I wish I was a runner. I run but nothing serious. Bootcamp it is for me :)
Thanks for your sweet comment on my post today!
Maria

pve design said...

yep, a new bikini. well, a new flat tummy to don in a new bikini.
pve

Holly Lefevre said...

I like your goals very much...I think I may copy just about all of them. Every year I buy seedlings and seeds and they never get planted....I am stuck on point and shoot with my camera...my garage is full...i love making clothing, but the sewing machine rarely sees the light of day...I could go on. Thanks for the inspiration.

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