I may be in the minority these days, but I actually love making New Years resolutions. To me they are more like goals for the year instead of a list of things I will probably fail at. Re-evaluating my goals for the year is something I actually do seasonally. Around the beginning of each season I write out a rough list of what I would like to accomplish during that season. So New Years goals are, for me, just my goals for the year squashed in with my goals for the winter season.
In 2014 I would like to:
– Improve my skills in Photoshop and Lightroom. I would really like to learn compositing and improve my artistic skills in Photoshop.
– Further develop my photographic style and explore photography in new ways
– Finish documenting my family’s recipes here on my blog and create a small book as gifts for my family
– Work on my spiritual self
– Find regular exercise I enjoy
– Grow a successful vegetable garden and preserve the harvest
– Continue paying off our debt (I am a Dave Ramsey girl)
– Get Gavin to sleep through the night, in his own bed
– Teach myself to draw
– Read more books
– Start writing a book
– Explore the county with my kids
– Become more Me
This winter I would like to:
– Knit Gavin an earflap hat, a pair of mittens and some booties
– Finish a few knitting projects neglected from previous winters
– Build another garden bed
– Add worms to the garden
– Deep clean the entire house
– Finish painting and rearranging Brae’s room
I hope to revisit this list in a year to see how I have progressed!
What are YOUR goals for this year?
Shoots and Roots 
Wow, that is one long list! I wish you fun and luck getting everything on there ticked off. Since last year I have only about 5 resolutions per year, and as I managed to tick off only 2 of them, I think 5 is enough for me. I don’t see ticking off only 2 as a failure, though – it’s 2 things that I’ve achieved, that’s positive.
Among my goals this year is photography, too. Just acquired LightRoom in December, am using it, but need to watch a lot of tutorials before really feel I’m getting anywhere. Also want to get to know my camera better instead of using the “safe” settings I always use (although I do shoot in manual).
Now that you mention it, some if those goals of mine have been on every January goals list of mine for years. Like reading more or growing more food in the garden. I’ve been working on improving those things for years. Photography too. I have photo goals every year that are either the same as the year before or slightly evolved versions.
As for learning Lightroom YouTube is amazing! I have found some incredible tutorials there. Also check out creative live.com and clickinmoms.com. Both are great places for free or cheap learning in a positive supportive environment.
I also have plans to do a few watch me edit videos in Lightroom this year. Maybe they will help you!
Thanks for those link tips! And I’ll be looking forward to your videos (no added pressure here, hehe).
Actually creativelive.com is doing a free Lightroom essentials class today that starts in a couple min. It’s the last day but you will still learn a bunch.