As I thought about writing this post, I wasn’t sure if I should. It’s difficult to look forward and dream given all of the uncertainty in the world right now. On the other hand, perhaps that’s what makes it exactly the right time to dream about the future! I want to walk forward full of faith. So with that in mind, I sat down to think about my 2021 goals.
And in fact, it all started with taking a good, long look in the rear view mirror at 2020 (gasp!), with allllll of its flaws, to be able to let go and move one. And through that, I also discovered what I could build on, what I could prune and what I can make new. In other words, what can I start doing? stop doing? and what can I build upon? Because despite all its challenges, God is good and has remained so faithful!
In this post, I want to share with you my 2021 goals and the tools I’ll use to hopefully stay on track. I hold all of my goals with an open hand and with a prayer that God will lead me to where He wants me to be. I share these in the hope that it will help inspire you to dream about what in 2021 you want to achieve, experience and find some joy in! The future, indeed, is bright!
My 2021 Goals
goals to build upon
Personal Goal: Create the habit of running 3 times a week.
In 2020, I did what I thought was almost unthinkable – – I started running. This from the girl who used to say: “If you see me running, there is someone chasing me!” But in the midst of the pandemic, I discovered that running allowed for some alone time, some peace and quiet, and as a (much needed) added bonus, I was getting into better shape.
Make no mistake, I will not be running marathons anytime soon. I’m slow and steady, listening to my body and staying on my own timeline. But I do want to set the goal in 2021 that regardless of how long the run is or how fast I run it – – I will create the habit of running 3 times a week. ??♀️
TOOLS FOR STAYING ON TRACK with my goals:
I use the Nike Run Club app which pairs with my Apple Watch. It not only tracks how much I’ve run and my milestone achievements (however small), but it also provides free guided runs from expert coaches. And it’s free!
Spiritual Goal: Complete Year 2 of my five year journal.
Something I else I started in the middle of the year amidst the pandemic was journaling. Specifically, I started what’s known as a five year journal. It’s a journal with a single page for each day of the year with space to write just a few details about what happened on a particular day – – and to do that five years in a row.
While I won’t quite finish a full year until mid-2020, I still have the goal of sticking with it for the entirety of 2021. It has been such a blessing so far as I’ve captured so many silly, little moments with our family that I would have completely forgotten had I not written them down. And while I would rather not ever re-live 2020, it was one more year I got to have with my husband and precious little girl. And that’s worth celebrating and remembering.
TOOLS FOR STAYING ON TRACK with my goals:
There are many different five-year journals out there but I love my version from Unbound planner. Check it out here. To help keep it a habit, I leave my journal on my nightstand so it’s the last thing I do every night before going to bed.
Spiritual Goal: Read through the entire Bible – – for the second time!
For the first time ever, I read through the entire Bible in 2020! It was such a tremendous blessing and not just because of everything that I learned but because of who I met in the pages – – God Himself! In October, when I started reading the New Testament, my husband joined me in reading every single evening. The whole experience ignited such a passion in me for daily Bible study, that I want to continue and start all over in 2021!
TOOLS FOR STAYING ON TRACK with my goals:
I plan to continue using the same great tools in 2021 that I did in 2020. It’s, in part, thanks to Tara Leigh Cobble and team with the Bible Recap podcast that I even completed this endeavor in 2020. The Bible Recap podcast, as it name implies, recaps each day’s Bible reading coupled with a daily “God shot”. The God shot is where we look for and identify something about the character of God. In addition to the podcast, the Bible Recap also recently published a book of ALL of the recaps in one place as well as daily study guides and discussion guides for group study. Just incredible and I am so excited to do it all over again with these new resources, too!
The other tool that certainly kept me on track this year was the encouragement and accountability of a few dear friends. We embarked on this journey together and it was something that spurred me on when I felt like giving up. If you want to make daily Bible study a priority this year, find some others who will support you. You’ll find that you will all be blessed by it.
Career Goal: Grow my blog and Youtube channel by continuing to post on a weekly basis.
While it’s been a ton of work, I have had a lot of fun kickstarting my blog and YouTube channel. I am so excited to move forward in 2021. I have big, BIG ideas, but I am holding my plans for this entire venture with very open hands. And so I am making a simple goal of continuing to post consistently on a weekly basis. I am prayerful that God will continue to bless my efforts and I will see this continue to grow.
TOOLS FOR STAYING ON TRACK with my goals:
I have asked several individuals in my life to be in my corner. I have asked them to encourage me when the going gets tough (because it will) and to hold me accountable. Honestly, accountability partners are really the best tools you can have in your toolbox. =)
In addition, I’ve invested in using an online platform, Co-Schedule. This online tool will help me strategize and map out my post plans for the year. Co-Schedule even aids me in posting social media posts that I can configured in advance. It’s the best “set it and forget it” tool that I’ve used this year. I know it will continue to help me be successful in achieving my 2021 goals with my online brand.
Relational Goal: Continue with dedicated one-on-one time with my daughter.
I’m not sure when it started but whenever it’s just my daughter and I spending time together, she’ll look at me with those big hazel eyes and declare: “Mommy, it’s girl time!” And it’s some of the very best time I spend in the entire world!
It doesn’t have to be anything super special. It can just be she and I hanging out together in my walk in closet – – me folding and putting away laundry while she twirls around with my robe ties and tries on my shoes. As she gets older (she’ll be six in April ?), I want to continue to cherish those really simply times just the two of us together. But I also hope to be intentional about it, too.
My goal this year is to have a few “girl time” activities throughout the year. I am hopeful that traveling will be in our future in 2021 but if not, a few of these ideas can happen regardless.
- Ice cream sundaes + movie
- Spa night
- Scavenger hunt
- Enjoy an afternoon tea (bonus if this can happen in Disney World this year)
tools for staying on track with my goals:
Putting these dates on the calendar will be the best way to ensure that we actually get a chance to do all of them. My goal is to put one on the calendar every quarter / season. And my hope is that this time next year, an afternoon tea in Disney World may actually be a possibility.
“start doing” goals
Personal Goal: Send physical birthday cards to friends and family.
One very simple thing I want do this year is to send actual, physical greeting cards to my friends and family for their birthdays. I was inspired to do this by my husband’s grandmother. Every year, she sends each of us a birthday card that always seems to arrive on our actual birthday. I’m not sure how she does it! And if 2020 has taught me anything, it’s not to take the little things for granted. And so I hope this little thing will bring some joy to those that I love in 2021.
TOOLS FOR STAYING ON TRACK with my goals:
Perhaps the best thing – – I already have everything I need to do this: my friends and family’s birth dates, birthday cards, stamps and a Google calendar with reminders!
Personal Goal: Read 12 books this year – – one for every month.
I have made a goal to read one book a month in 2021. Considering I only read 3 books for fun last year, that’s a 400% increase! And when you look at it that way, it’s an ambitious goal for sure. My thought process is that by having an established timeline for each book that it will set me up for success.
Be sure you are following me on Instagram and check out my Story highlights to see my reading list for 2021! And let me know what you’ll be reading this year – – it may even to make it to my 2022 reading list!
TOOLS FOR STAYING ON TRACK with my goals:
My plan is to read each of the books on my Kindle. Plus for some of them, I may even get the audiobook so I can listen while I exercise. Just a note here that I did try the Audible app but was disappointed to find that I could not listen to Audible while also using my Nike Run Club app on my Apple Watch. So I will have to get any audiobooks directly from iTunes. I fully recognize there’s no coincidence with that fact but it is what it is.
Spiritual Goal: Start a prayer journal.
In 2020, I endeavored to make daily time in God’s Word a priority. Looking forward to 2021, I want to create some lasting habits surrounding my prayer life. For too long, I’ve been caught up in the lie that tells me that I alone can handle it all and that because God knows everything anyway, He doesn’t need me to actually tell Him. But through my study of Scripture, I know for certain that’s not the case. Prayer should be the FIRST thing I do, not the last.
Tools FOR STAYING on track with my goals:
I was recently inspired by Valerie, the owner of Val Marie Paper, to start a prayer journal. Valerie started her company, Val Marie Paper, and created her prayer journals as a solution to have a practical plan for prayer time versus letting your mind wander in a thousand directions. I purchased one of Valerie’s 6-month prayer journals, which is actually less a blank journal, than it is a canvas with prayer prompts. These prayer prompts cover everything – – from praying over what’s going in the world to praying for what’s going on inside our homes and our very own hearts.
I loved the idea so much, I decided I wanted to combine it with more space to journal my prayers – – and so I created a unique one just for me. Armed with just enough Adobe design knowledge to be dangerous and a cinch tool, I created my very own spiral-bound prayer journal. It’s far from perfect – – some of the margins are off, the cover isn’t perfectly square – – but it was so much fun to make and it’s unique and it’s mine.
I would definitely encourage you to check out Val Marie Paper as Valerie also offers a prayer course and lots of other resources, too. I am really grateful for the inspiration she provided to start getting serious about my prayer life!
Career Goal: Complete my “secret” project.
Since before even starting my blog and Youtube channel, I’ve had an idea for a project. And while I’m not ready to share any specifics yet, by reading this, you’re actually the first to know. There’s something big coming.
In the coming weeks (and months), I’ll be working on this secret project and I can’t wait to share it with the world. First item on the list is to cover it in prayer – – that God will continue to guide my efforts, bless this endeavor and that it will ultimately make an impact.
Stay tuned for more information on my “secret” project coming soon!
TOOLS FOR STAYING ON TRACK with my goals:
Believe it or not, by putting just this tiny bit of information out there, is enough to spur me on and keep me motivated and accountable. It’s not a secret anymore! But another, more tangible, tool I am using to project plan and keep myself organized is a free online tool, Trello. Trello is an online tool where you create your own boards, cards and lists that all work seamlessly together to keep anything in your life organized. It’s certainly a life saver for me to keep all of pieces of my online brand – – YouTube channel, managing social media, graphics, blog posts – – in one place.
Relational Goal: Make monthly date nights with my husband a priority.
Confession time. My husband and I are terrible at making time for actual date nights. And we can’t even use the craziness that has been the year 2020 as an excuse! Sure, there are plenty of reasons that it’s a bit of a unique struggle for us and I won’t get into all of them here, but honestly, the reasons really don’t matter. We need to make this a priority – – our marriage and our whole family would benefit from us having this dedicated one on one time together.
I share all of this in the hope that you can read this and know that if this is you and your spouse – – you’re not alone. Doing this is hard and it takes work. And while your marriage may be doing good, great even, that it could be even better if you made the effort to spend quality time with one another.
So in 2021, my husband are committed to having one date night a season. We’ve resolved that they won’t all be traditional dinners out with a babysitter or the house to ourselves. In fact, they just can’t be right now. But big or small, we’ll be together and our digital devices are NOT invited.
Here are some of our date night ideas:
- Game Night / Wine & Cheese Tating: Skip-Bo is one of our favorites but we are thinking about adding Risk to our list of game night games
- Backyard Movie Night
- Dance Party Livestream: Can’t remember the last time we went to dance club but now we can livestream DJ parties in our basement home theater. Mission accomplished!
- Stargaze: I’m not sure yet if we’ll go so far as to get a telescope but at the very least, using a Stargazing app will be fun way to enjoy a summer date night
tools for staying on track with my goals:
Similar to “girl time” with my daughter, the key will scheduling these dates in advance and creating space for them to actually happen.
“stop doing” goals
Personal Goal: Stop blowing the grocery budget by setting up a monthly meal plan.
Ok, so for real, this might be the one thing on my 2021 goals list that I’m actually dreading. Ya’ll, meal planning in our household is just plain hard. And I know for a fact that it just doesn’t have to be, but we have yet to find a solution that works for us. And that’s just it – – it needs to be a solution that works both for my husband and for me.
Truth be told, I have one of those super hero husbands. He cooks, he cleans, he takes care of household chores like a boss. And I am so flipping grateful for him! We are a great team in that in the areas where I’m lacking, he has those gifts in spades – – and vice versa. So that said, our brains work completely differently and thus why meal planning is just a strug – gle.
I like to plan way in advance, having Christmas card plans in October, advanced. My husband? Well, he prefers to wing it. And most of the time he can make a slam dunk out of winging it. But after 2020 – – eating three square meals a day at home – – we BOTH agree that winging it just isn’t cutting it anymore.
So we’ve committed to meal plan. Legit meal plan this year.
TOOLS FOR STAYING ON TRACK with my goals:
One of my favorite bloggers and Etsy shop owners on the planet, Blair Lamb, raves about Plan to Eat. It’s an online service that lets you digitally curate all of your recipes whether they came from your mother’s beautifully worn recipe cards or from the Pinterest board you pulled up last night. Then you use your recipe collection to plan out your meals on the calendar. Lastly, Plan to Eat also helps prepare a shopping list for all of the items you need. Blair has shared that she has been using this for years and so I am excited to give this a try.
Career Goal: Stop reading emails at all hours of the day and night.
Not much additional context is needed for this one. I really just need to put better boundaries in place to stop reading emails (of all kinds) at all hours of the day and night.
tools for staying on track with my goals:
My iPhone actually already has a fantastic feature built in specifically around setting a do not disturb window after a certain hour. And in fact, you can set the ‘Do Not Disturb’ at any time by selecting the ‘Do Not Disturb’ icon in Settings or from the Control Center. It’s the most practical way to stop not only email notifications but all notifications so you can truly unplug, if only for a short period of time.
General Goal: Stop waiting for perfection and cherish the mess right in front of me.
This last goal is a reminder for every single area of my life – – my work, my family, my self. I can’t wait for everything to be perfect to live my life. If I kept waiting for the perfect time to start my blog and YouTube channel, I wouldn’t be writing this right now. If I kept waiting until I had enough time and energy to make my health a priority, I would never get off of the couch. I love my big, messy, imperfect life and I can’t wait to enjoy more of it.
And we’ve come to the end of the list of my 2021 goals! I’d for you to share your goals for 2021 with me. Share in the comments what you want out of 2021. Sure, it will be perfectly imperfect but that’s what life is all about! I wish you and yours the best year ever!
XOXO,
disclaimer
I will note, here, that this post is NOT sponsored but does contain affiliate and/or referral links which means that I will make a small commission if you decide to purchase using the link. All of these items were 100% selected by me and paid for with my own money. All opinions are my own and are always truthful and genuine regardless of sponsorship, referral links and/or affiliation.
Comments
One response to “My 2021 Goals | Goal Setting & Tools to Stay on Track”
I admire you so much!
Keep up the amazing work honey!!
God has great plans for u!
I love u!