My Goals for 2020

It’s a whole new year and that means it’s time for some new year planning. What do I want from this year? Here are my goals for 2020.

On New Year’s Eve, we stayed home, played games and watched the ball drop in Times Square. We dined on tasty appetizers and drank sparkling drinks at midnight. And we closed the door on the busy, speedy, challenging, exciting, trying year.

So many good things happened last year — new books, successful kids, and lots of fun — but it wasn’t the easiest year. The challenges were fierce. But we made it and all is well.

Still, having a year like that meant that I didn’t do everything I wanted to do. We didn’t travel as much as I planned to, for instance. As I was reviewing my 2019 goals, I realized I was happy with the progress I made even though my priorities had shifted through the year. It was okay.

As 2020 gets underway, I am not expecting an easy year. But I will make the most of it that I can.

Years ago, I set an intention word every year. It’s been a while, but it felt right for this year. So my 2020 word is Fearless. From my work to my writing to my cooking to everyday life, I want to be fearless this year.

But it’s not just about being fearless … it’s also about setting smart goals that will help me have a great year.

Here are my goals for 2020:

Be Smart With Money

Over the last two years, I’ve vowed to save more and spend less. Both were successful, but this year I want to take it a step further with a better money strategy. The goal? To be smart with money by spending less, saving more and earning more too.

Eat Less Meat

I love meat and dairy — like, a lot. I mean, my kids and I had a Cheesy Monday every Monday for the longest time and it was the best. But the news and signs are clear: we’re stressing our planet and something needs to change. And one effective change is to eat less meat (and dairy). So I will.

Manage My Time Better

There are so many things I want to do in any given day, but I let myself get bogged down by lesser important things: scrolling Facebook instead of reading a book, trying to find an obscure fact online instead of vacuuming, putting off making dinner until I have to make a quickie meal just to get it on the table. In 2020, I want to stop the time-sucking activities and instead focus on doing the things I really want to do (read, write, travel, spend time with my kids, cook, keep my house presentable).

Read, Read, Read

Oh, how I love to read. There so worlds to dive into, so many stories to take in and so many nonfiction books worth devouring. My TBR pile is gigantic — and you bet I want to make a dent in it. In 2019, I read 31 books — slightly more than the previous two years. This year, I want to read 35 books. And, yes, I am keeping track of everything I read: 2020 Year in Books.

Write More

Once upon a time, I wrote stories and poetry daily. I journaled too. And then I graduated from high school, went to college and wrote for newspapers and websites. These days, I still write — but not as much. In 2020, I want to write more. Short stories, poetry, blog posts, emails, letters, essays … all of it.

What about you? What are your goals for 2020?