It is that time of year again. The time when we feel compelled by forces beyond our control to make resolutions that we inevitably don’t keep. What is it about the dates on a calendar that make this time of year actually feel like something is coming to a close and something new is beginning? I have always found it odd how much a new year actually feels new.
I have not been sold on resolutions in the past because there is often no accountability to them. They are generally random half-hearted commitments to change. Last year, however, while reading Kelly Sue DeConnick’s blog I came across her post about Uberlists (its the one entitled “Its Here”). The idea is instead of making new year’s resolutions you make a new year’s to-do list. The items on the list can be big or small, touch any area of your life, and can be simple or hard to accomplish. The idea is to put some thought into it and put these to-do items down on a list. It doesn’t have to be organized, just start writing. There is actually now an Uberlist Community that you can join for some measure of accountability. Last year I made a list and tracked it occasionally throughout the year. I only accomplished about 12% of my list last year so obviously I want to do better this year. I put things on my list that I would like to change, etc…things which are “new year’s resolutionish” but I also put home improvement projects, vacation plans, etc. Things I know I want to get done. The list is also fluid and can be added to or changed as the year goes on. My list at this point has 77 items on it. Some examples are:
-Read at least 50 books this year (100 pages plus count towards goal)
-Build new gate for backyard fence
-Finish cleaning/reorganizing basement by February 1st, 2006
-Goal for $1000 of sales on ebay, put all money into savings
-Hike at least 5 trails in Mary’s Hiking Kansas City book
-Put up ceiling fan in Tori’s room by March
-Take an overnight trip to St. Louis with family this spring
-Finish all of the LOTR trilogy
-Go camping in cabin for a weekend in the fall
-Finish sanding/restaining porch swing by May 1st
-Repair garage door
-Have monthly in-house date night
There are more personal things that I cannot share and fun things as well. I have 3 or 4 computer games that I have had forever that I want to finish playing. I have a list of people I want to write to at least once per quarter and a list of people I want to call at least once per month. This year I actually made subcategories under each of my items and put a date for accomplishment, made a tracking area for the letter writing, phone calls, etc. I decided to go back to using a journal and writing down books read, page count and dates…something I did for 2 years in a row and did not do last year thinking I would utilize the blog for this. I am also using the same journal to keep a list of gifts I have given for birthdays, Christmas, etc. as I am starting to forget what I give people and then panic the next time I go to buy something not remembering if I have already got them this same item. I also have to-do’s that have to do with weight, my spiritual life, my relationships, etc. It is a really fun idea. Throughout last year I would check mine periodically. I typed it out in Word and saved it and as I would accomplish things I would change the font color on those items so I could still see them but would have an indication that they were done.
I am in no way pushing anyone to do this, I just wanted to share because I found it to be such a great idea last year. I shared my list with Mary this year as there are several things that we can accomplish together that would be more difficult for me to accomplish on my own. This is a much more organized way to utilize the start of a new year to plan on getting the most out of it.
I am curious about any New Year’s traditions you have. Do you do resolutions? Do you keep them? Also let me know what you think of this idea and feel free to ask questions if I didn’t explain it well enough.
