Goals and Resolutions for 2011

Since it's getting near the end of the year, it's time to start thinking about New Year's resolutions. If you make them. I sometimes make them, sometimes don't. I think most people only keep them for a month or two, and then lose interest, or forget.

This year, I think I will make a list of goals, instead of resolutions. Here is the list I have come up with so far:

Personal:

• lose 20 lb
• start exercising regularly
• read 50 books
• do an hour of cross-stitch a month

Professional:

• keep on top of all required reading for my courses and not fall behind
• pass each course with a minimum 75% - I need 65% to pass at all

Blogging:

• post at least 4 times a week
• include a book review at least once every two weeks
• complete the In Death Challenge

Family:

• enroll my son in a fun program - I think we are leaning towards soccer. Have you every seen 2 and 3 year olds play? They are adorable. When they aren't daydreaming and picking flowers.

Financial:

• pay off my credit card, and keep it paid off - meaning no balance at the end of each month

I think that's a pretty big list, but everything is doable, although some items will require a little more work than others. We'll see how it goes during the year.

Exam

I had an exam last night for my CGA schooling in business communications. I found it went okay. The most noteable thing is the fact that I don't get stressed out over my exams. Based on comments from my course forum online, it seems like I am in the minority for that.

Personally, I really remember getting nervous or anxious over exams ever. If you prepare ahead of time, and know your stuff, the best thing to do before an exam is to relax. I always try to sleep well (as much as I can nowadays with my non-sleeping tornado), eat properly, and not cram. I listen to music or an audio book on my way to the exam.

I find that if I am relaxed going into it, I can concentrate better, and remember my stuff better. Which obviously leads to better grades.

Of course, my exam last night was different from most that I have taken in that it was just three written answer questions. I obviously should have practiced more writing beforehand. My hand was cramped so bad by the time I was done. Nowadays, who handwrites for hours at a time? Not me, I'm definitely part of the computer generation. Here's hoping my handwriting was still legible at the end...