My 2018 List of Goals and The New Life To-Do List

Marc Bilodeau/ Self Help, Subjectivity

I was curating my Evernote notes to determine if there is anything that I could purge as digital clutter. I like doing this on occasion to delete anything I don’t need anymore and to re-discover notes of half researched ideas or other interesting tidbits. Coincidentally, I re-discovered a list of yearly goals that I put together on January 1, 2018.

I do not believe in new year resolutions. They often fail because they are usually too broad, too ambitious, and often not planned properly. Therefore, I created a list in January of 2018 outlining what I wanted to focus on during the year. As a result, I created My 2018 List of Goals.

Recently, I reviewed the list. I imagined my January 2018 self patiently awaiting for a progress report. Fortunately, he would be quite pleased. However after re-reading my 2018 list, I realized that I did not define some of my goals very well.

My 2018 List of Goals

  • Minimize: go through all my stuff and get rid of anything I no longer use. This includes physical, mental, and digital footprints
  • Finish the first phase of the tiny house, which makes it a livable on-grid functioning home
  • Continue to learn Esperanto
  • Learn Morse Code
  • Continue to explore new ideas and concepts that I find interesting this year
  • Run more than 1,000 miles in 2018
  • Strive to run farther and beat my all time high of 1,200 miles
  • Maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle
  • Write more, blog more
  • Spend more time playing the piano and writing music
  • Learn to cook more things
  • Move to the next chapter of plixer, with or without the acquisition of the company
  • Focus on self discovery
  • Write a complete self description of what makes me, me
  • Continue to pursue knowledge and the joy of learning
  • Stay positive and focused
  • Continue to change myself and adapt to life changes

At first glance, it looks like I completed almost everything I set out to do. Although not everything on the list was accomplished, 2018 was filled with productivity, learning, and major life altering events.

Unfortunately, several items are vague, and other items would happen without much effort. Furthermore, I treated this list as a to-do list with the intention to complete and then throw it away. Therefore, I devised a framework.

The Framework

A framework is a basic structure underlying a system or concept, a set of guidelines in which everything is governed. Not only can it keep me on track, it provides the flexibility to make changes as needed.

  1. Include Current Interests
  2. List Life Hurdles
  3. Personal Development
  4. Try Something New
  5. Review frequently, and redefine as necessary

Another benefit of a framework is that I can shift the mindset away from a list of goals to an ongoing campaign to manage interests and aspirations. As a result, this list becomes something more than a yearly goals list. It is a list that doesn’t have a beginning nor and end. It continuously evolves. As each item is completed, it is crossed off. However, crossed off items should not be removed. Instead, they are kept on the list as a reminder of how far one has come, and serve as inspiration to achieve more.

Include Current Interests

I have many activities that I enjoy doing, and I certainly want to keep doing them. I also want to try new things within my interests to increase my overall enjoyment. There is always something that can be done within any interest.

For example, each year I try to run a little more than the prior year. I can always strive to new levels either by training more, running farther, or explore different paths and routes. This year, I am going to run a half marathon. I never ran that far in a race before, but this seems exciting from the planning to the training, and then running the race itself.

List Life Hurdles

One of life’s pleasures is to learn and explore. However, a new year doesn’t mean to ignore the old and outstanding. This is a good time to add things to the list that should be brought to closure. Life is happening now, and unresolved problems will weigh anyone down physically, mentally, and emotionally if they continue to be ignored or pushed down the priority list.

Some examples of life hurdles are changing jobs, moving, starting a family, starting a business, or getting a pet. Although most of these examples don’t apply to me, these types of life hurdles and big decisions are perfect for the list.

Personal Development

Personal development includes activities that improve self awareness and identity. This isn’t the same thing as my interests. Instead, it includes activities that develop talents and potential, enhance the quality of life, and contribute towards dreams and aspirations.

Some examples are taking a class, obtaining a certification, learning a new skill, changing a habit, or reading more.

It’s okay if there is overlap with personal interests. Many times I must invest in myself in order to achieve new levels of enjoyment and fulfillment from my interests and hobbies.

Try Something New

Is there anything that sounds interesting? Perhaps learn to cook, or build a tiny house. Is it time to break a bad habit or start a new one? This is the time to put these types of things on the list.

However, everything on the list should be achievable. I would love to go to the moon. Unfortunately, that isn’t likely to happen during the year. Although, one can still hope.

Review Frequently and Redefine as Necessary

As with any important list, it should be reviewed on a regular basis. Unfortunately, life may take a different direction at anytime. Therefore, set aside time to review the list on a regular basis. If something should be added to the list, don’t wait – put it on the list even if it’s only half thought through. In time, the steps to achieve it will become clear. Then, update the list accordingly.

Furthermore, the key is to make changes to the list when necessary to align with the core values of the present and not a past version of one’s self. This way the list always reflects things that are achievable and relevant.

My New List

  • (added 1/1/2019) Improve my writing skills through blogging and writing
  • (added 1/1/2019) Continue to work on my tiny house by adding sensors and home automation
  • (added 1/1/2019) Take the tiny house somewhere overnight and live in it for at least a few days
  • (added 1/1/2019) Run more than 1000 miles, strive to break my all-time yearly miles from 2018
  • (added 1/1/2019) Run a half Marathon
  • (added 1/1/2019) Complete the Esperanto Duolingo Tree and achieve level 5 on each lesson
  • (added 1/1/2019) Learn to cook some common basic meals
  • (added 1/1/2019) Spend more time playing the piano and composing music
  • (added 1/1/2019) Do I leave my job and pursue new endeavors, or do I stay?
  • (added 1/1/2019) Maintain a healthy lifestyle, weight, and diet
  • (added 1/1/2019) Eat less sugar

I am a big fan of lists. However, a list isn’t good unless each item is direct, descriptive, and understandable. This seems fundamental to any to-do list or strategic planning. If someone cannot read an item without explaining what it means, then it isn’t helpful or meaningful.

Conclusion

Setting goals help set something to strive towards. However, a list like this must be flexible since life happens and circumstances change. Furthermore, the list should evolve as one evolves.

These guidelines can help shape individual goals for a specific purpose, a project, or long term objectives. Therefore, defining them increases its chance of success by thinking through some of the details and potential problems. When crafting this kind of list, be honest, outline what’s important, and review it regularly.

Goals have a tendency to focus on the end game more than the journey. This list is more important than crossing off action items. It is a list of aspirations, a guide, and a companion to help continuously improve.