16 Plans for 2016

So.  2016.  I recently found a list of 2015 resolutions and had a good laugh at it.  And then a little cry.

Resolutions are tough.  I love the idea of forming new habits, stopping old ones, but it’s tough.  I think I read that only 17% of resolutions are kept.  There’s a reason.  They’re tough.

So I don’t have resolutions this year.  I have plans.  And plans change, are flexible, are forgiving.  Plans can be cancelled, rescheduled.  Plans are best case scenario in a worst-case-scenario-world.

Would I like to take a photo a day, or meditate every day?  Sure.  But that plan is a hard one.  I’ve done the photo a day challenge, and unless it’s of my kid, I’m not going to be able to do it.  (Actually, I do take a photo of Baby J almost every day, but it’s certainly not an attempt to become a better photographer.)  But I do plan to do a different challenge each month, with a goal in mind for that month alone.  I plan to take a photo a day for a month.  I plan to meditate every day for a month.  It’s 30 days.  Each month is something new.  And the end of each month is done.  Or maybe it’s a new habit, who knows.

Would I like to lose ten (or more) pounds?  Sure.  But that’s not my resolution.  I have plans to do a different “30 day” exercise agenda each month.  “30 Days to a firmer butt.”  “30 Day Plank Challenge.”  Etc.  I don’t really expect to have a firmer butt (or abs or arms), but my goal is to be stronger month by month.  My plan for 2016 is to be stronger.

Would I like to write every day?  Sure.  But I know that goal is difficult.  So I want to plan to do morning pages every day.  I also plan to write a short story a month.  My goal is to enjoy writing again, rather than slogging through.

So here are my plans for the year:

1. Start a podcast
2. 30 Day Challenge each month
3. 30 Day Fitness Challenge each month
4. Move back to the US
5. Work on “finding myself”
6. Use a bullet journal as a planner
7. Send birthday cards
8. Get my email cleaned out and organized
9. Read 16 Books
10. Volunteer
11. Do Morning Pages
12. Write a short story a month
13. Join a writing group
14. Be more e-social
15. Go to a writing conference
16. Print up some photo books from the last four years

What are your plans for the year?