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If you've been reading And She Writes for awhile, you've heard about my "20 for 20," one of the ways I establish goals for the year. Read more about all of the lists I keep in my Bullet Journal here.
The idea for a "20 for 20" or a "21 for 21" comes from Gretchen Rubin, a bestselling author and podcast host. You can learn more about her list and process on her blog and podcast. I am a huge Gretchen Rubin fan. I've read most of her books and I find that most of the suggestions she offers are incredibly helpful for finding more happiness in life.
I use this list as an alternative approach to a single New Year's Resolution or Word for the Year. However, I do recommend putting some concrete parameters around your goals. For example, rather than listing "less screen time," give yourself some boundaries, like "no screens after 9 p.m." This really helps with measuring achievement. The first year I did this, I was not specific, and therefore had no way to evaluate whether or not I'd really achieved my goals.
I started this concept back in 2019, and I'm ready to share some of my 2021 list here. I tend to take a while to develop these, and I do have several repeats from 2020 (as Rubin does). COVID rendered some of my 2020 goals (like going to Disney World) simply impossible to achieve, so I've moved a few of them to my 2021 list. Here it goes:
21 for 21
Put down my phone after 9 p.m. (So far, this has been wildly unsuccessful--I must try harder).
Develop more of a Mediterranean diet, with lots of veggies.
Drink less alcohol, reserving it for weekends and special occasions.
Exercise at least every day the kids have school.
"Order" - This mostly applies to home upkeep, such as putting in a load of laundry every morning.
Three date nights with my husband (repeat). We started off well in 2020, but then COVID hit. Not sure how COVID will impact this one for 2021, but I'm hopeful.
Have fun decorating. Most of our major home projects are complete for now, so it's just editing and adding accessories.
Make family celebrations more meaningful (food, decorations, special gifts).
Read two books/month (Repeat, but successful in 2020).
Grow the And She Writes Instagram community to 500.
Purchase a new car.
Shop small businesses first, as opposed to always going straight to Target or Amazon.
Be a tourist once per month in our own city. We already visited the zoo this January, and the animals were so active.
Improve meal planning by looking at 2-3 weeks at a time.
Wake up with consistency between 6 and 7 a.m. each day. With COVID, I've found myself getting up at 5 a.m. some days, and 9 a.m. on the weekends, and it is not conducive to productivity!
Go on a vacation (maybe Disney, but maybe not).
If you're counting, that is not a complete 21. As I mentioned, it takes me some time to fully develop the list and some of my ideas are still a little abstract. However, I hope this helps you develop goals for your 2021, whether you prefer a single resolution, a word for the year or a "21 for 21" list. Self-improvement is always a worthwhile goal, with happiness for you and those you love as a wonderful consequence of achievement!
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