Last week was busy with  Jake having a couple travel days with work and everyone fully back into the regular schedule with work and school.  As we move into the middle of the first month of 2012 I am reminded of all the goals that I want to accomplish this year.  The best part about staying on top of the goals (weekly check ins) is it points me back to my true priorities and provides stepping stones to where I want to be in the next year, 5 years, and more.

Here is the update on last weeks goals:

Family Goals

1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
2. Read a book to the girls everyday
3. Have each girl read 1 book to myself or Jake 5 days this week – we did four nights so not quite 5 this week
4. Set up a Date Night for Jake & I and a Date Night for the Kids – got Jake’s set up but need to get a date on the calendar for the girls
5. Thank You notes written and sent for the Christmas Gifts – written, stamped, and addressed will go in the mail Tuesday 1/17

Personal Goals

1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week YAY! I stuck with it this week and did it!!! 🙂
2. Go to bed by 10:30 pm or earlier Monday to Thursday – need to work on getting better on this one
3. Finish reading The 60-Minute Money Workout by Ellie Kay
4. Read and listen to the next section of  Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together).

Home Management Goals

1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
3. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
4. Dinner ready by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday)
5. Spend time re-organizing and de-cluttering the office

Business Goals

1. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
2. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
3. Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk
4. Plan new implementations for blog – just didn’t get to it this week with all the other activities
5. Schedule client meetings at least 2 weeks in advance

Ministry Goals

1. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
2. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
3. Write and send out Meeting Notes from our January Alms & Legs Team Ministry meeting

Financial Goals

1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4 – went over $40 budget but had enough cash to cover the groceries
2. Emergency Fund – start saving 3 months worth of living expenses – started working on it this week but not completed yet

Here are my goals for the upcoming week:

Family Goals

1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
2. Read a book to the girls everyday
3. Have each girl read 1 book to myself or Jake 5 days this week
4. Go on my Date Night with Jake (we got free movie tickets so excited to enjoy some time away together)
5. Get the girls Birthday Party Details Started

Personal Goals

1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
2. Go to bed by 10:30 pm or earlier Monday to Thursday
3. Finish reading Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk
4. Read and listen to the next section of  Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together).
5. Get my Travel Visa Application Sent

Home Management Goals

1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
3. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
4. Dinner ready by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday)
5. Spend time re-organizing and de-cluttering the office
6. Update Family & Friends Contact Information

Business Goals

1. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
2. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
3. Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk
4. Plan new implementations for blog
5. Work on 2011 business taxes

Ministry Goals

1. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
2. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

Financial Goals

1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
2. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses
3. Start working on our personal 2011 taxes

I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

Why Share My Goals?

• To keep me accountable
• To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
• To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
• Create healthy habits in my life
• To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results