Happy New Year!! We hope everyone had a safe and Happy New Year's Eve/New Year's morning. In yesterday's blog, we covered our 2016 successes and failures. There were some things we did pretty well and, to be honest, lots of areas we still have to improve on Join us today, as we talk about our personal and homesteading goals for 2017.
Notice I said goals & not resolutions. I think we are programmed not to keep resolutions because they appear lofty or ambiguous while goals are specific, measurable, attainable, REALISTIC and time sensitive.
That is called the S.M.A.R.T. Goal System and if you need a refresher or are new to the S.M.A.R.T. goal system, check out last January's blog- Welcome 2016- Pt. 3.
This year I am again going to print out the S.M.A.R.T. goals (once I have the printer set up and buy ink) and place them above my computer to serve as a constant reminder. Not all goals have to be ongoing but most of them are.
Goals:
Finances:
1. I will save to purchase my own property. I will be using a 5 Gallon Water Jug and everynight I will place my loose change in it. Once halfway full, I will redeem the coin and put that money into a savings account.
2. I will continue self financing expansion projects with money earned through the egg sales and hopefully produce sales this year.
3. I will keep my records organized.
4. I will start a savings account with the money saved by eating home grown, seasonally fresh and canned healthy, home cooked emals instead of eating out. (This one will be easy, as Courtney is an awesome cook and knows how to can fruits and veggies! Besides, for Christmas she got a crock pot and pressure cooker.)
Organization:
1. I will organize and complete with my filing and data entry tasks weekly.
2. I will organize tools and parts by use and frequency of need and find creative ways to store them near where they are needed.
Reformation:
1. I will practice more permaculture and holistic management on the homestead this year.
2. I am add more perennial vegetables into the raised beds and berries, grapes and fruit trees (in containers of course) this year.
3. I will find and add other outlets for the egg and produce sales.
5. I will establish a greywater system.
6. I will put a rain harvesting system in place.
7. I will continue to be more involved in local civic/environmental organizations this year.
8. I will continue to find new uses for old items and recycle more.
9. I will rebuild the size of the flock and discover and use more natural methods of predator and pest control.
10. I will create a Food Forest on this property.
Education:
1. I will learn more about permaculture, aquaponics, solar power and self sufficiency and incorporate as much as I can.
2. I will learn to can and preserve my harvests this year, thanks to Courtney.
Simplify:
1. I will declutter my possessions. This one seems contradictory, since as homesteaders we have a tendency to stockpile things to use or repurpose later.
2. I will continue to donate, sell or recycle things that I have not used in at least 6 months.
3. I will distance myself from negative and gloomy friends. We all have them in our lives, those people that come up with 100 reasons why something can't be done or won't work.
Time Management:
1. I will manage my time, instead of time managing me when it comes to projects and activities by incorporating a more realistic estimate into my plans. (In homesteading, we ARE on Mother Nature's schedule when it comes to crops and animals.)
2. I will eliminate activities that are not productive.
3. I will continue to reduce my procrastinating.
Notice that my goals all include "I will" and not "I want". Will implies a positive statement and for me it helps in visualizing success. "Want", in this instance seems dreamy or a desire and not a need, which is why I avoided using that word.
Please share some of your goals for the New Year. Sharing them publicly may help you achieve that goal!!
That is called the S.M.A.R.T. Goal System and if you need a refresher or are new to the S.M.A.R.T. goal system, check out last January's blog- Welcome 2016- Pt. 3.
This year I am again going to print out the S.M.A.R.T. goals (once I have the printer set up and buy ink) and place them above my computer to serve as a constant reminder. Not all goals have to be ongoing but most of them are.
Goals:
Finances:
1. I will save to purchase my own property. I will be using a 5 Gallon Water Jug and everynight I will place my loose change in it. Once halfway full, I will redeem the coin and put that money into a savings account.
2. I will continue self financing expansion projects with money earned through the egg sales and hopefully produce sales this year.
3. I will keep my records organized.
4. I will start a savings account with the money saved by eating home grown, seasonally fresh and canned healthy, home cooked emals instead of eating out. (This one will be easy, as Courtney is an awesome cook and knows how to can fruits and veggies! Besides, for Christmas she got a crock pot and pressure cooker.)
Organization:
1. I will organize and complete with my filing and data entry tasks weekly.
2. I will organize tools and parts by use and frequency of need and find creative ways to store them near where they are needed.
Reformation:
1. I will practice more permaculture and holistic management on the homestead this year.
2. I am add more perennial vegetables into the raised beds and berries, grapes and fruit trees (in containers of course) this year.
3. I will find and add other outlets for the egg and produce sales.
5. I will establish a greywater system.
6. I will put a rain harvesting system in place.
7. I will continue to be more involved in local civic/environmental organizations this year.
8. I will continue to find new uses for old items and recycle more.
9. I will rebuild the size of the flock and discover and use more natural methods of predator and pest control.
10. I will create a Food Forest on this property.
Education:
1. I will learn more about permaculture, aquaponics, solar power and self sufficiency and incorporate as much as I can.
2. I will learn to can and preserve my harvests this year, thanks to Courtney.
Simplify:
1. I will declutter my possessions. This one seems contradictory, since as homesteaders we have a tendency to stockpile things to use or repurpose later.
2. I will continue to donate, sell or recycle things that I have not used in at least 6 months.
3. I will distance myself from negative and gloomy friends. We all have them in our lives, those people that come up with 100 reasons why something can't be done or won't work.
Time Management:
1. I will manage my time, instead of time managing me when it comes to projects and activities by incorporating a more realistic estimate into my plans. (In homesteading, we ARE on Mother Nature's schedule when it comes to crops and animals.)
2. I will eliminate activities that are not productive.
3. I will continue to reduce my procrastinating.
Notice that my goals all include "I will" and not "I want". Will implies a positive statement and for me it helps in visualizing success. "Want", in this instance seems dreamy or a desire and not a need, which is why I avoided using that word.
Please share some of your goals for the New Year. Sharing them publicly may help you achieve that goal!!
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