Resolutions or No Resolutions?

I am not a New Year's Resolution kind of girl. Actually, I am a seasonal resolution kind of girl. I usually set some goals in the fall, winter, spring, and then summer. I like breaking it down this way to make it more achievable. I also like to evaluate how I am doing and adjust as needed. It seems like my family goals for summer are a lot different than goals in the fall.

When setting my goals, I usually categorize them. I make goals for aspects of my life: social, spiritual, mental, financial, physical. I feel like the categories help me to be specific and intentional.

So, the real question is... Do I keep my resolutions (or goals) or do I break them weeks into them? I think I do better than if I didn't make any goals. I feel like I do have more focus.

I liked reading my friend's blog this week about One Word. She decided that rather than making any New Year's resolutions that she would claim one word for her year. She chose Deliberate. I like it! Since I haven't yet made my goals for the winter (well, I have made some but not on paper), I thought about this One Word concept. Could I really get rid of my seasonal and categorical goal-settings and go with just one word for an entire year?!

I have chosen a word: Balance! I need to have more balance in my life. Balance in time with God, husband, family, friends, work , etc. I need more balance in my spending. I need balance that allows me to incorporate more exercise. I need balance that gives me time to read. You get the idea... I have been a bit out of balance lately.

Where does this leave me? Well, I think I will continue setting my seasonal goals. I think I will keep my categories. I think I will have an overall vision when setting my goals and that vision is that I am trying to seek balance. Do my goals move me forward in that, or do they clutter the picture? Are my goals realistic, or would they create an imbalance in my life in order to achieve the goals?

Balance...