Happy New Year, my friends! I wish you blessings and much prosperity as we start off 2013. I used to start each new year with a crazy list of resolutions only to dismiss them before the end of the month. A couple of years ago, I stopped making resolutions and instead set goals. That worked a little while longer than the resolutions route, but those too quickly went by the way side as life started to amp up. This year, I am doing something different. I am set up monthly projects to work on and I am limiting myself to no more than five at a time.
365 Self Portrait Project
I have participated in 365 photo-a-day projects before and I used to do one for self-portraits ages ago. This year, I will be shooting a self-portrait each day for the next 365 days. If you would like to participate, I would love to have you join my self-portrait group on Flickr. I want to stretch myself with my photography and see if I can be more creative with how I play with the light and use the various features of my camera.
Health and Fitness Project
This year, my overall health and fitness is one of my top priorities. I started using the LeanMoms.com fitness program a couple of weeks ago. The first day I worked out my legs and I was sore for four days. It was awesome! I purposely did not start this project in January because I wanted to already be well on my way to establishing new eating and fitness habits. I also wanted to set myself up for success instead of failure. I am noticing changes in my body and my energy level. Most likely, this health and fitness plan will end up being one of my monthly projects for the rest of the year.
Good Life e-Book
I have been intending to write this e-book for about six months and I simply have not made it a priority. This month, it is. My goal is to have the e-book ready to share within the next couple of weeks and start planning for my next e-book in February. No more talking about it, it is time to execute!
Good Life Newsletter
This year, I am going to start a newsletter for my new blog. I love connecting with people and this is a great way to share more than I normally would with my blog. I have had quite a few new people sign up to receive it and I plan to have the first one ready to go the week. Make sure you sign up with the link above.
#MailLove2013
Starting the first week of this month, I will be mailing out postcards to anyone who signs up. When I was a teenager and well into 20′s, I had many penpals I shared letters with on a weekly basis. I would come home to at least three to five letters each week from people I wrote to all over the world. I don’t know about you, but I love going to the mailbox and finding an actual real piece of handwritten mail amongst the bills. This project is really important to me, because I believe people have forgotten how important offline connections really are. I hope you will sign up to receive a postcard from me or at least take the time to send someone else a little mail love in 2013.
What types of projects are you planning to tackle this year? I would love to know.
Those are some awesome projects Lucrecer! I’m looking forwarding to your e-books! I am still trying to decide on my projects for this year. For sure I will be working on Project Life (for real this time lol). Last year I had so many ideas, too many, because I didn’t do the majority. So this week I am being serious about what I can realistically do this year
So glad you like them, Francine! I really wanted to try something different this year. I am looking forward to seeing your Project Life. I have thought about that. My kids love looking at pictures and this would be a good way to have something to hold and look at.
I love all of these!! Especially the #MailLove project! Writing letters is such a lost art. I think I too will bring this back in 2013
I used to love receiving letters and postcards in the mail. I knew this was something I had to do in 2013. It always makes people feel great to know someone was thinking of them and sent a message.
Love this approach! Will you plan out a year of projects or will you choose at the end of each month for the next?
I am going to plan them out by the month. There are a few things I know I want to do specific months, but I want to remain present and focus on the tasks in front of me.
This is a great approach and I totally agree with it. I’ve done something similar with regards to my business planning and found another friend who is doing complimentary stuff. We will break the goals down even further to do 3-5 pieces of a larger goal per week. Talking about it out loud and assembling the steps has made the first set more manageable as well as realistic. The accountability aspect appeals to me as well as that second source of planning. I look forward to reading more.
I have an accountability partner and this is new for me to have a person I can talk to about what I am working on. I will definitely keep my readers up to date on my happenings.
I think I will be trying to do a photo a day and maybe some selfies too. I always drop off at some point. This year I’m going to try to stay on track. I would really love to improve my photography skills. Right now I have none. LOL
I drop off, too. I have already done it with the self-portraits. LOL
I’m digging this list. You know I’m there with you on the e-book and I ADORE the idea of the postcards. I’ve been trying to send out notes here and there but love the sign up form.
This is awesome and I look forward to seeing you succeed in all areas!
oxoxox
Thank you, my friend. I appreciate your support.
Inspiring list of projects! Good luck with them all and let me know if you would like your e-book reviewed on my website - I’m always looking for things which make life easier, cheaper or just generally better for mums.
Alison, thank you. I will let you know. I appreciate it.
I LOVE these ideas. Especially the letter writing. As a child, I constantly wrote poems and letters to my cousins and pen pals. I always looked forward to purchasing beautiful stationary to use. You have inspired me.
Hugs!
Oh, good! Letters in the mail are such a wonderful thing. I love it.