I think we can all agree that 2020 has been less than stellar, am I right? I’m writing this on December 31st, watching the rain fall as a cold front moves in to Houston, and I can tell you, this is a fitting end to this year. It’s like even the weather is tired of 2020. I’m not really one of those people who is happy to see a year end, because to my way of thinking, that’s 365 days of my life in the books. I do rather enjoy the thought of the new year, though, because it’s like a beautiful blank canvas, and once we get to it, there are so many possibilities of what to do with the canvas.

I’m also no longer one of those who makes new year’s resolutions. But I do usually set a few goals, and this year is no exception. So, in no particular order, here are my goals for 2021.

Buy a House – This is probably our biggest goal for 2021. Chris and I would like to buy a house. We aren’t looking for anything super fancy or huge or anything. We just want a nice home where we can put down some roots and stay for a while. We will be looking for something in our general area starting probably mid-year, so look for some posts about the home buying experience around then.

Spend less time watching tv – I know this sounds like a simple goal, but honestly, it’s one of the hardest things for me these days. Evening tv has become a huge drain on the time that I have to do things, but it’s how Chris and I usually spend our time together. It’s pretty stupid, though, because we usually sit in the same room, staring at our phones, iPads or computers, with the tv on in the background, and not a ton of talking or other interaction. I honestly feel like much of this time could be put to better use – cleaning the house in preparation to move, packing, quilting, and other crafty pursuits included. I will have to ween myself off of tv, but I’m hoping to be down to no more than an hour an evening by the end of 2021. This leads me to my next goal …

Spend more time in my studio – My studio really is my happy place, but I find myself going for long stretches without really doing anything in there. In 2021, I want to spend more time in my studio working on … well, anything, really. Unfinished quilting projects, new quilting projects, making t-shirts and/or cards … whatever it is I want to do. The goal is to get in there and DO SOMETHING.

Return to my healthier ways – It seems that half the people on my FB feed have lost their way in 2020, and have picked up some less than healthy habits. I am one of those people, so there’s definitely no judgment from me about it. But I need to get back on the wagon. I’ve gained back most of the weight I lost in 2018 & 2019, and I’ve stopped working out. In 2020, I have a goal to eat a little better, step back from some of the unhealthy things I’ve been putting in to my body, and start working out again, even if that’s just a walk down the street or something.

Finish up old projects – my final goal for 2021 is to finish up old projects that I’ve started but never finished. That could be quilting projects, sewing projects, household DIY projects, or whatever. I am all sorts of great at starting new things, but I kind of suck at finishing things. This year, I want to finish up things that haven’t been completed yet, and if I start something new, finish those things, too.

And that’s pretty much it. Those are my goals for 2021. I have a few professional goals as well, but personally, these are the things I want to do. What about you? Do you have goals for 2021, and if so, what are they?