I did not reach my (personal) goals in 2019. And I loved it!

I’m sure I’m not the only one: at the beginning of a new year/end of the year, you make new goals to reach at the end of the (new) year. You define a key result and create milestones to get there. I created a plan with goals for 2019 and I’ve failed in 3 out of 5 goals. Why? Life was coming through. And to be honest: I don’t care, I learned a lot and my year was still lovely.

My goals for 2019:

1. ? Read (at least) 6 books and write a summary of the book
2. ? Workout three times every week
3. ? December 2019 I saved at least X and invested a minimum of Y for long-term
4. ?? Finish Spanish course A1 (beginner)
5. ? Five days a week minimum of five minutes mindfulness

1: Read (at least) 6 books and write a summary of the book

I started with listing the books I wanted to read this year because I have a long to-read list (who doesn’t?). Then I wrote next to each title why I wanted to read the book and where it could help me with.

Then I came up to a list of 6 books: every 2 months 1 book (that’s a little above my previous reading-speed, so I wanted a bit of a challenge).

1. ✅ Sprint — Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky & Braden Kowitz
2. Elon Musk — Ashlee Vance
3. The Design of Everyday Things — Don Norman
4. ✅ 4-hour workweek — Timothy Ferris
5. ✅ Richest man of Babylon — George S. Clason
6. ✅ Atomic Habits — James Clear

I’ve read 4/6 books and I already finished the 3rd book in May. Book #4 had the lowest average reading-speed of all.

And I know why. Very simple actually.

Until June I worked at a company which I traveled to by train. And while I was on the train, you can guess, I read for at least 30 minutes. From June to now I work in the city where I live, so I take my bicycle and go to work. I do not have the ‘obligated’ train-time to read anymore. I know it’s not an excuse to not read as much as before, but your planning changes.

So what I learned:

• I need to create a habit (that’s why I read ‘Atomic Habits’ ?) to read more regularly to read more than 1 book in 5 months.
• From what I did read, I learned a lot, so no point of being disappointed in not reaching the end-goal.

Check, these learnings are noted and will be taken into 2020.

PS: I mostly read books regarding the themes of Personal Development, Design, and Entrepreneurship/Start-ups.

2: Workout three times a week

I play tennis twice a week (during the competition-weeks), but I wanted to have a minimum of three workouts a week. When the weather and temperature got better, I decided to go for a run now and then, but that didn’t last while it was getting colder and rainier outside. Next to playing tennis or going for a run, I wanted to do a short, but effective workout I could do at home. I think I’ve done this kind of workout (with the Seven-app) 10 times.

In May we (my girlfriend and I) bought a new place that needed a lot of (re)construction (almost everything needs to be renewed), where we’d gotten the keys at the end of July. This wasn’t something I already knew when setting my 2019 goals. So from the moment we got the keys, I was two or three times a week working in their: deconstruction, lifting breakstone, using heavy drills and other tools that I don’t work with on my job.

So my toolset went from ?‍?⌨️?? to ?⛏???‍♂

All these days and hours spending in the new house also contributed to my end-goal: by working out more I’ll be more energized and have a better condition.

So what I learned:

• I’m a nice-weather runner
• I need a partner-in-crime to go to the gym which motivates me on days I’m not
• I need to do sports/workouts I really enjoy, which makes it easier to go/start
• I used a lot of muscles in my body that will never be moved with a decent run or game of tennis (thanks house ? ?)

After finishing the reconstruction, I’ll pick tennis up again and will apply to a gym (with a partner-in-crime).

3: Saving and investing money

Wel… I don’t think I have to explain that buying a new house, which needs a lot of reconstruction and improvements costs a lot of money. I’m guessing you can think where that savings and investments went to ??.

What I learned:

• Buying a house which needs reconstruction and improvements costs a lot of money, but is also a very good investment

New goals for this subject will be made after the reconstruction and improvements, which will lead to more realistic goals.

4: Finish Spanish course A1 (beginner)

I thought it would be awesome to speak Spanish, the number two most spoken language on earth.

I started late 2018 with the first course (of three to finish A1), finished this course and started in February with the second course. I followed the first course with increased speed (longer, but fewer lessons and more homework), finished it and started with the second course at a regular speed. I noticed that the course with increased speed was more intense, but better for learning the language than the regular course. As the second, regular course lessons were shorter and more divided over the weeks, I noticed the new words and grammar were harder to learn and remember.

After this course, which I did complete though, I went a few days to Valencia where I could practice some Spanish. It went okay, but I wanted more, but it was also the moment that we were in the process of buying the new place. That was also the moment I decided not to follow the last course to complete A1-level.

And do I shame myself for this decision? No. I know I’m going to finish the course, but not this year.

I took this decision because I learned:

• I wanted (and needed) to invest more time in the reconstruction of the new place
• The increased speed-version of the course suits me better
• Doing homework and regular repetition is really necessary to learn a language

5: Five days a week minimum of 5 minutes mindfulness

It sounds very easy, right?

While subscribing to Headspace and starting with some beginner lessons, I noticed I’d trouble to pause myself. To stand still with what’s going on and letting certain thoughts go.

When I set this goal, I underestimated the topic of Mindfulness. Even though I do have 5 days a week 5 minutes for myself to open Headspace and follow a lesson, I just don’t. And I’ve gotten to know why: I started at the wrong foot.

I thought I’d create a fixed moment for this mindfulness session when I came home after work. But I noticed that I came home at a different time every day, so a fixed moment was not a good idea. After that doing a session at this moment I noticed it wasn’t the right moment of the day to do it.

So.. I’m still looking for the right moment. I know it helps with a variety of things in your emotional state, but I need to find an enjoyable moment to practice it.

I’ll first try to find a moment that suits me the best and practice with lessons regarding improving focus.

So, what’s next? No more goals? Of course, goals it is!

My takeaway is that 2019 was an awesome year, with a lot of good memories, steps forward and learnings. A year full of lessons learned towards a better me for myself and the people around me.

If you recognize yourself in my story: don’t be disappointed in yourself. Life happens and you can’t plan (personal) goals from January to December without any change of course happening.

I’ll start with as much pleasure in setting goals for 2020 as I did for 2019! And while setting these new goals, I’ll take the learnings along.

I’ve grown as a person, again.

Good luck with your goals for 2020!

Originally posted on Medium at 31-12-2019: https://medium.com/@DannyLoeffen/i-did-not-reach-my-personal-goals-in-2019-and-i-loved-it-a255095791d6