My Goals for 2017

We’re almost halfway through January and I’m finally sitting down to write my goals for the new year. Well I actually wrote them down last week but I’m finally getting around to blogging them 😉 Haha. I wanted to focus on some things from different categories other that the traditional, typical, and cliche fitness goals so I really spent some time thinking about the things that would help make me a happier, well rounded person. Since this is the year that *all my health dreams come true*, let’s start with fitness!

Fitness Goals

I’ve spent some time lately thinking about how I wished I’d grown up with more of an appreciation for fitness. I always took it for granted. My mom fed us healthy food, and we were encouraged to spend time being outdoors growing up but it wasn’t ingrained that it was for being fit, it was just fun. I wish I’d started running in high school because I think it’s something I would have really loved back then, even in middle school because I used to outrun all the boys when I was in elementary. Anyways, my point is that this year I’d really like to become a runner. Not just a jogger or I’m training for a tri kind of runner but a “regular” recreational runner.

With this in mind, at some point this year, or possibly early next year, I’d like to run a half marathon. I don’t think I’d ever want to run a full marathon but never say never, right?

If I’m planning on becoming a decent runner, I don’t think this should be the hardest goal to achieve, but in 2017 I’d like to run an under 30 minute 5k. Hopefully that’s a goal I can even try to smash. Dreaming big here.

Take control of my sugar addiction. This is something I kept saying I wanted to do last year but I never fully dedicated and then the holidays season came and I knew I was asking for disaster if I tried to start then. So at the beginning of the new year, I requested a book from the library that I saw a few years ago in Target that caught my interest. The book is called “I Quit Sugar: Your Complete 8-Week Detox Program and Cookbook“. I really need to dedicate myself to a plan and since I don’t want to spend the time researching and developing a plan (and not really getting started), I figured this is a good path to take. I’m the next on hold at the library and I’m expecting to have the book hopefully in a week and a half which is when I’ll start this plan.

My supportive hubby is for the most part going to be doing it with me. He’ll still probably want things from time to time, but we’ve agreed to keep our house a sugar-free zone.

I don’t know how permanent this “diet” in the sense of being completely sugar free, but the main goal is to break the addiction.

I’m going to be journaling this experience through my blog so that anyone who wants to join me or is maybe on the fence about doing it themselves can watch my journey to freedom from sugar.

My final fitness goal is a bit general: Eat mostly fruits, veggies, and grains + proteins for main meals. Be active and do more of what I love, Zumba, hiking, bike riding, yoga, etc.

I’m also really hoping that losing weight and focusing exercises on my “posterior chain” will make a world of difference for my back troubles.

 

Happiness Goals

This year I want to improve my quality of life so I want to spend less time fluffing around and more time to being productive and creative.

Read. I can’t even say more because I do read a lot but I want to do it less in spurts and more over a consistent basis. I think the reason I take “book breaks” is because I tend to devour a book and not put it down. For example: I’ve already started up on this one because on Tuesday I read “The Magnolia Story” by Chip and Joanna Gaines from “Fixer Upper” and on Wednesday I read “Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance” by Simone Biles. Both good books, but I really loved and felt inspired by “The Magnolia Story”. They have an incredible story and I really couldn’t put it down.

Create music. For Christmas I got a ukulele and Brady got a pretty nice microphone so we could start playing around with making music. My grandfather gave me his old guitar about 14 years ago and I STILL haven’t learned to play. Granted it needs a little fix up because I can’t play it as it is and I don’t know how to replace the strings. This year, I’m going to get it fixed up and finally learn to play.

Make art. I love painting. I’m terrible at it, but it’s therapeutic and I really enjoy doing it. I have tons of supplies so I really need to get into it. I’m going to pick up my brushes as soon as we have a little bit more organization in our home. (I’m really trying to finish getting settled in by the end of January because I really need organization!)

Sleep more. This is probably more of a health/fitness goal, but I think it also contributes to being a happier individual so I’d like to set up a consistent sleep pattern. I might need to experiment to find the perfect combo, but I think 8 hours of sleep and going to bed at 10 or 11 is a good plan. I might as well get all the sleep now because once we’re ready to have kids, I’m sure I’ll never get to sleep again.

Travel. I love maps, I love beautiful places and I want to get out and see everything. We have a limited vacation budget so that makes it harder, but since we didn’t get to vacation at all last year, it’s something we’re looking forward to doing this year. I’m posting a few photos from our honeymoon since we’ve never really shared any photos and because 2016 is the first year since 2011 that I haven’t been to Disney World. :'(

Last but not least, Relationship Goals. I think we often overlook this, but being married to my husband is the best thing I have in my life. He really is my best friend. Since he’s started work and other things in life have picked up, it’s been easy to forget to date. This is a pretty simple fix but so so important. Date nights are my favorite and I love having that special time just focusing on us.

 

So here’s to a happier and healthier 2017!

 

What are your goals for 2017?

Have you ever considered/are you interested in getting control of your sugar addiction? (p.s. it’s in everything)

What makes you happy?

 

I’m linking up with Amanda at Running with Spoons for this post.