Goodbye 2013

As 2013 is at a close, and I am contemplating new resolutions, I find myself looking over 2013's resolutions and feeling defeated. I had some good intentions when writing these resolutions, however life got in the way and I was not able to make good as much as I would have liked to on these:

1. BE FRUGAL: I am going to be VERY careful with my money. I am known to compulsively shop, and even to overspend using my credit cards. Right now I have more debt (just credit cards not even student loans) than I have available credit.... I am going to put my credit cards away, and be as frugal as possible with my money. I will only buy things for myself when absolutely necessary, and I will have to crack down on eating out :)
I was completely honest when I said that I tend to overspend on my credit cards. This is a goal that I am continuing to work towards. I have however put my credit cards away, and they are no longer being used. I did use them a lot over the summer when I was moving out, and when I was teaching before receiving my first paycheck. My balances are still higher than my available credit, however I have started a budgeting system that I am enjoying so far, and I hope to continue it throughout 2014. Will my credit cards be paid off by the end of this year... No, but I hope to stick to my budget, and continue to have them put away. No new charges!

2. BE A NEAT FREAK: This one might be a little harder for me to abide by. I really am a neat freak deep down, but sometimes I get sooo busy that cleaning gets neglected. My plan of action (don't laugh) is to make a list of weekly and monthly "chores" that I MUST abide by in order to follow through with this resolution.
HAHA! What was I thinking when I wrote this resolution....? I wish I had the time to make a list of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to complete in order to keep my life and apartment neat and organized... but that is just not realistic. I do what I can, when I can. It is generally neat.... not as neat as I'd like, but it's a work in progress. 

3. REACH MY GOAL WEIGHT: This is hard to put a time limit too, but I have wanted to reach this goal weight (135, currently 150) since I started this blog, and I think 2013 is the year to do it!!!
I had an interesting year, and I started out with a strong workout plan. I also joined a swim team, and went to crossfit over the summer. Unfortunately I went through a rocky financial period starting my new job, and moving out so I was unable to continue swimming, or crossfit. Also, with the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year I have been more stressed out, and busy then I ever have been in my life. Just the thought of working out was enough to make me anxious. Now that I am feeling slightly more comfortable with my position and financial situation I have started swimming again. I am hoping this will help me physically and mentally.

4. GET MORE SLEEP!!!
I did a good job of this, and I think I have generally kept up with it. I get between 6-8 hours of sleep a night. YAY! I made good on a resolution!

5. READ MORE: I love to read, but it takes me FOREVER to finish a book... I get caught up in other things, and I go days without reading a book that I started... I want to finish my current book list, and start a new one :) 
I wish I would have kept a list of books that I completed this past year. I did read quite a few books :) Of course, not as many as I would have liked too. Now, with my new teaching job it is nearly impossible to a. find the time to sit down and read and b. actually read and enjoy it without worrying about lesson planning.

Overall, I enjoyed my resolutions for 2013. I can say that I made a genuine effort to make each of them a part of my life. I will continue to live out these resolutions for the year 2014 in addition to make some new goals for myself!