Where is the time going? April is already more than half over. With the first three months of 2022 in the books, it’s time for a first quarter progress report on my 2022 goals.
So far, 2022 is turning out to be as strange as 2021 and 2020 before it. I keep hearing about things returning to normal, but I’m not sure I like the version of “normal” that I’m seeing. We definitely need a lot more kindness and compassion in the world.
How are your 2022 goals coming along? This year, to align with my overall focus of simplifying life, I reduced the number of goals I’m tracking. It’s a good strategy, but there still never seems to be enough hours in the day. Here’s an update on how things are going.
First quarter progress report
Gratitude journalling
This year, I set out to appreciate the simple things in life by building a regular habit of gratitude journalling. My Simple Living Sunday posts have helped me stick to this and I have been sharing updates every week. Most days I take the time to write something in my notebook.
Reading
Reading is something I just never have time to do. This year, I set a goal to read one book a month which would be an improvement over the total of seven I read in 2021.
Here’s what I read in Q1:
- Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
- The Art of the Good Life by Rolf Dobelli
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown
- Love People, Use Things by Joshua Fields Milburn & Ryan Nicodemus
- Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich
So, with five books read in three months, I am ahead of the pace I had set for the year.
If you have book recommendations, drop them in the comments below. In addition to inspirational books, I enjoy mysteries, and books that make me laugh. That’s why I enjoy Janet Evanovich’s books—they’re a rare combination of comedy and mystery.
Lifelong Learning
With so many things to learn in life, I can’t imagine I will ever have a year with no lifelong learning goals. This year, I set two learning goals:
- Certified Professional Retirement Coach course. I have finished the course work and passed the exam. Now I just need to do practice coaching to complete the certification. You can read more about this in Retire retirement! Plan your best years now!
- Plain Language Certificate I had set a goal to complete the remaining course work for this program. This one is on hold for now while I focus on the Certified Professional Retirement Coach work.
Singing
My final goal is to get back into a regular routine of practising my singing. Singing with the band again has been a highlight of 2022 so far. My rock-star voice is slowly getting back to where it was a couple of years ago—now I just need to work on my stage moves.
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Overall, I’m feeling good about how I’m doing so far. Reducing the number of goals has been a good strategy. I look forward to more progress in Q2.
How are you doing with your 2022 goals? Tell me about them below.
Great job, Michelle! It’s nice that you put your goals in writing and keep it in clear view at all times! I, myself, haven’t made any set goals for myself this year. I think where I am at in my life right now, it’s easier for me to go with the flow and do what I can when I can. Good luck on Q2! 🙂
Thank you. Hey, sometimes going with the flow is a good thing. I try not to be too rigid with my goals or I would be beating myself up all the time.
Good for you for committing to these goals, Michelle, and for sticking to them so well! I put together a vision board & am using it as wallpaper on both my laptop & phone, and I must say, visioning works! Hope your week is going well! 🌞
A vision board is a great way to keep your goals top of mind. It’s interesting how we all have different ways of staying on track.
It sounds like you’re making great progress on your goals! Janet Evanovich books are fun 🙂 I just found one in a neighbourhood free library so I’ll be reading that soon. I really like JD Robb’s “In Death” series. The main character is a female homicide detective. They are more serious in tone overall than the Evanovich books, but often make me laugh out loud as the characters are fantastic.
Thanks. The JD Robb books sound interesting. So many books, so little time. LOL
I know what you mean about the time flying by already, Michelle. Well done on your goals thus far! I seem to be behind in everything. I have a weight loss goal, but I’m not nearly where I hoped to be by this time of the year. Fitbit does help somewhat with the stepping portion of the program! LOL
Thanks Cher. One of the problems with Fitbit is it makes me focus too much on steps at the expense of other types of fitness. I do pay attention to my step count, but I also try to do weights as well—even if that means I don’t get my 10,000 that day.
You have inspired me to start using my weights again, Michelle! Yesterday I began with some simple arm exercises. Thank you, Michelle! Cher xoxoxo
That’s awesome. Good luck Cher! 💪💪
Thanks, Michelle! Cher xoxoxo
Congratulations on your success; I applaud your motivation. Reading is my downfall. I find myself curling up with a book instead of doing things I should be doing, like housework, gardening, exercising, writing – just about anything. The last two books I read were very long (time-consuming) – an oldy, Anna Karenian and new one, A Soldier of the Great War. AK was difficult reading, very political, wouldn’t recommend. A Soldier was very good if you enjoy stories of a guy’s life surviving WWI. Maybe I will take a break and get my garden cleaned and some flowers planted.
Thanks Judy. Yes, it’s easy to get lost in a good book and lose all track of time. Good luck with your gardening.
How strange it is that, if I had read this last week, I would have had no idea who Janet Evanovich is! As it happens, my mother has begun reading them so I am suddenly in the know.
I recommend the books of Louise Penny. I read the first one and found it quite delightful, and I know that people who enjoy Janet Evanovich often find Penny’s books up their street as well. Such is the case of my mother and several people she knows! 🙂
Well that is a coincidence. I have read a couple of Louise Penny’s books and I did enjoy them.
You remain an inspiration in so many ways! Well done on your first quarter!
Thanks Will. I’m definitely trying to strike a balance betwee simplicity and progress this year.
Great to read about this re-visioning of retirement. Did you get your two people to work with as you finish your training?
Thanks Will. I did find my practice-coaching candidates, now I just need them to commit to the work!
I read at night while in bed, so I’ve knocked a few back already this year! Tidepool by one of my favorite Medium writers, Nicole Willson was an awesome scary sort of tale, and A Light in the Window was fabulous, but I can’t remember how I came to be in possession of it. Maybe I grabbed it off Moms bookshelf while going through Dads things? Anyway, now I’m reading River Rising, a Cajun mystery of sorts about babies going missing in the Louisiana swamp in the early 1900’s. Another off my parent’s bookshelf.
I’m making my way steadily through my grief workbook and reader, started Bible study at my church and a different one on my iPad that I listen to with an app called Verse by Verse. Right now I’m listening to Galatians after giving up on Revelation due to weird things starting to happen after only three days in. Too scary 😧 for me!
My exercises have waned but I’ll get back on track here soon. Had a bit of an off week due to knee pain, hard to get back in the saddle.
Have not had the desire to finish my transcriptionist course, actually considering going back to a real job, albeit part-time…when the time is right. It’s hard to know when that will be with trying to get Dads house ready to sell and put on the market. No rush though.
I’m going to join my Church choir this week, I’m excited about that!
It sounds like you’ve got a lot on the go and are making great progress. Thanks for the book suggestions.
So exciting that you are joining your church choir. Singing is such an uplifting activity.
For me, I think it’s too early to said how my 2022 is going. There are definitely some things that I worked on for the first time, and I feel so good about that.
Good to hear that you built up the habits of what you loved. Reading is certainly one of my favorite activity to do. My pace of reading books is almost the same as you.
Btw you should share your singing talent here as well 🙂
Thanks Ritish. I would love to read more, but rarely have the time to do so. I will share some video of me singing when I get a chance. My daughter did film some songs at a recent show. I just need her to share it somewhere that I can access it.