New Year's Resolutions

This post will probably be a short one because I just got home from the office end-of-year dinner and I am hankering to get to bed. But I thought I would pose this question, because it is interesting to me- do you make (and/or keep) new years resolutions?

I find the whole concept kind of strange, because I think you should try to better yourself daily, not just because it is suddenly a new year. So I don't often think of goals like "spend more time with family", "save more" or "lose weight", because I think those are honourable things that shouldn't have to wait for a new year to be started. Plus many people have no idea how to make their goals for 2013.

A goal needs to be definable. You cannot just say "I want to lose weight". You need to express how much weight, what the deadlines are, what your action plan is. Without these, a goal is just a dream.

As this year draws to a close, I am reminded of what I chose to focus on previous years. In 2011, I wanted to learn to drink beer (which came in handy in Oktoberfest of that year). In 2012, I wanted to learn to like wine (and I think I have accomplished this too!).

They may seem like silly goals, but to someone who didn't drink beer or wine, they were social skills I knew I needed to master. I couldn't keep going out for social gatherings and not pitching in for the pitcher of beer. And I couldn't keep attending nice office dinners and not partaking in the sharing of a bottle of wine. They were important to me!

So as I look down 2013, I am wondering what goal to choose for next year. I like to pick something (usually a life skill) that is simple, fun, and important to my future. Something that maybe I have put off for years. I often pick a skill that I think I will appreciate years down the road. I'll let you know in the new year what I decide. Maybe having this blog will make me stick to it.

Have you given any thought to this yet? What are you thinking you would like to master next year?