New Year’s Resolutions

For the last few years I’ve tried to make resolutions that are both easy and fun to keep. Notable examples include “eat better quality cheese” and “never turn down an adventure”. This year I’m going to try something different: 52 resolutions, so I can break (or keep) one every week.

Here’s the list:

Meta-resolutions

1. Make a list of 52 resolutions, blog about it at New Year, and again at the end of the year in a round-up

2. Blog items from the list as I do them (or fail to do them)

Personal

3. Get drivers license

4. Volunteer with a community organisation

5. Take Spanish lessons

6. Go on dates with 4 new people

7. Visit two different churches

8. Get to know someone from a wildly different background

Work and professional development

9. Speak at a conference I haven’t been to before

10. Guest-blog on someone else’s blog

11. Teach/tutor/mentor someone in my professional field

12. Go to two new-to-me user group meetings or tech-related gatherings

13. Develop two lightning talks suitable for presentation at tech conferences

Travel

14. Go to a new country

15. Go to a new US state

16. Visit the California gold fields

17. Go camping at least once

Hospitality and holidays

18. Host a stranger from another country in my home

19. Hold a fancy party

20. Send Christmas cards in good time

21. Send birthday cards (two is enough to be plural!)

Food and drink

22. Bake a loaf of bread from scratch

23. Cook something from every (serious) cookbook I own

24. Cook three things from each of my three favourite food blogs

25. Discover two new cocktails that I like, and learn to mix them

26. Learn about local wine

Better habits around food and drink

27. Go a month without alcohol

28. Go a month without meat

29. Kick the Diet Coke habit

30. Reduce packaging waste related to food and drink

Hobbies

31. Finish at least as many knitting projects as last year

32. Knit something with colourwork/fairisle techniques

33. Make at least as many gifts for other people as last year

34. Make a costume and wear it to a party or similar event

Media and entertainment

35. Blog monthly about my reading

36. Blog monthly about movies I watch

37. Reduce the “unread” book pile by at least 1 book per month

38. Join the public library

39. Visit four new-to-me art galleries or museums in my city

40. Visit four new-to-me tourist attractions or sights in my city

Fitness and physical activity

41. Become a regular bike commuter

42. Take the 100 pushups challenge

43. Take a challenging day-hike

44. Run 5km

45. Deadlift 250lb

Health

46. Take a first aid course

47. Get wisdom teeth removed

48. Find better ways to to handle my menstrual cramps

Finance and money

49. Save $20k (including retirement savings)

50. Donate 1.5% of gross to charity

51. Double size of Kiva.org portfolio

52. Make a will

Watch this blog for updates, and The OEconomist (my food and craft blog) if you’re interested in those areas.