It’s that time again to think about goals for the upcoming year. While I don’t believe in making sweeping resolutions, I do like to set in place some behaviors or themes to guide me to achieving my goals. Last year I adopted the word, “quality” as my motto for 2016. I worked on having quality runs, eating more quality food and having more quality relationships. I did make progress in all of those areas and I’d like to go even further. For 2017, I am keeping “quality” as a theme and adding “focus” as my word of the year.
Focus & Quality Goals
Focus on spending quality time with family and friends who make me happy. Life is too short to spend time with people who bring negative energy into our lives.
Continue to focus on eating quality foods to fuel my body. Hosting Meatless Monday has really pushed me to want to create healthy and quality meals and I love to share them. I never expected I would spend so much time in the kitchen and love it! Side note: I got a little off track on my vacation but I am back in focus.
Stop trying to do everything! Focus on doing things that make me happy and learning to say no sometimes. This will drastically improve the quality of my stress level.
I mentioned a few weeks ago, that I wanted to focus on bettering my sprint triathlon performance this year. After racing this distance for a number of years, I am ready to take a different approach to my training and improve my times. This means that I plan to focus on shorter runs and adding in more quality swim and bike sessions. I will be keeping my runs to 10K and under until after tri season.
I plan to continue to focus on writing quality blog posts and remain genuine here on Confessions of a Mother Runner. I’ve learned so much the past 3 years and have made some great connections. Pinterest and Instagram are my current favorite social media and I’d love to connect with you more there.
Tell me-what’s your focus this year?
Program note: The January Ultimate Coffee Date is tomorrow! Please join Coco and I for a fun virtual coffee date.
Linking up today:
Friday Five: Running on happy & Fairytales and Fitness
Lisa @ Mile by Mile says
I love the words focus and quality! Both are so important when it comes to healthy and fitness. I also want to start paying attention to the quality of the things I am doing.
Deborah Brooks says
It’s really hard for me not to want to do everything and then I end up not doing anything well
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says
I’d really like to work on being more mindful in my interactions with others. There are so many distractions–and I feel like I’m not giving 100% to everyone!
Deborah Brooks says
Yes I definitely feel like that at times myself.
Debbie @ Coach Debbie Runs says
I need to sit down and really think about what I want to accomplish this year. I am planning to get back on my bike, though I’m not sure I’d call it a goal. It’s been gathering dust for a couple years, so I feel like it’s time to ride again.
Deborah Brooks says
OH I could so see you getting really into cycling you do have great weather for it over there
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says
It sounds like you’re focusing on the right stuff. Don’t you just love a fresh start to your year?
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks and yes I really do!
Chaitali says
Combining focus with quality is a great idea for the year! Here’s to success in 2017 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
yes to you too!
[email protected] says
I think I will choose the word “open.” I need to open to and optimistic about 2017…..
Deborah Brooks says
That is a great attitude to have!
Mary Long says
Quality is a great word choice. I never feel your posts lack that. My word this year is “determined” ~ to lose the dress size I gained last year… to inspire people to be better themselves inside and out… to travel more… to finally do a freakin handstand!
I had a great 2016. I am determined to continue that vibe though 2017.
Deborah Brooks says
I would love to learn how to do a handstand too! I think it’s my fear of falling that holds me back from it.
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
Doing less with more focus is so hard, but so beneficial. I’m forever working on that!
Deborah Brooks says
It’s so hard! I hope we can both make some progress with it
Nicole @ Fitful Focus says
My focus is on developing my life here in Austin. I’m still craving a routine. That and actually planning my wedding! haha
Deborah Brooks says
Well all of that is so exciting! Enjoy this time it goes by so fast. (ok now I really sound like my mother)
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
I’m focused on being more intentional with my time! I get so easily distracted, I want to really put my time and energy into the things that matter!
Deborah Brooks says
Ooh yes I like that goal!
Lacey@fairytalesandfitness says
Focusing on specifics of how you are going to reach your goal is so important. People cannot just complete goals without having a plan in mind.
Deborah Brooks says
Yes I totally agree! Have a great weekend
Kimberly Hatting says
As someone who has never done a tri (but hopes to do ONE someday), I look forward to living vicariously through you ;-)The tri seems like quite an ominous animal to slay (especially the water aspect #panicattack). This is gonna be an exciting ride…Good Luck!!!! 😉
Deborah Brooks says
Oh I have not doubt you could crush it! I am also nervous in the water and I am going to stick to pool swims for the first few
Ellie | Hungry by Nature says
I love the way you broke this down with “focus” and “quality” – two very important words! This year I am focusing more on what actually brings me joy and being ok with saying goodbye to the things that don’t.
Deborah Brooks says
Yes! I am continuing to do that as well. It helped so much last year
marcia says
Quality is a great word! Focusing on doing the best we can on the things we really want to do is often more rewarding than quantity and spreading ourselves too thin.
Deborah Brooks says
Yes exactly! Now if I can just stick to that plan 🙂
Rachel says
These are good words to live by. I might borrow them. 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
Please do!!
Angela says
My focus is to nail my training for all my upcoming endurance events, be a better mom, and be more present in my everyday life! I loved reading this post, Deborah!
Deborah Brooks says
Those are great goals! I am betting on you
abbey sharp says
This year my focus is on authenticity. I hope to share more behind the scenes at Abbeys Kitchen 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
That is a great focus and I look forward to seeing more
MCM Mama Runs says
My goal this year is to stay calm. We are in a very stressful period in our lives right now and just taking things in stride and going with the flow is my main goal.
It’s hard to believe you’ve been blogging for 3 years now!
Deborah Brooks says
Yes life does get a little crazy sometimes! I know I can’t believe how quickly the last few years have just flown by
Kristy from Southern In Law says
Do less with more focus – I feel like that is the perfect mantra for everyone! Especially in this crazy, constantly busy world that we live in!
My focus this year is to spend more time with family. We’re in a really sweet season of life where we’re living with my parents – but by the end of this year that will no longer be the case – and I want to make sure we soak it up as we love them so much!
Deborah Brooks says
It sure is a crazy up and down world! Spending more time with family is always my goal. They just grow up too fast
Sarah- A Whisk and Two Wands says
Love this! Focus is where I’m at right now. I had a bunch of goals but after being present more over the holidays I feel like my goals have shifted. I don’t have that drive to focus in on building my blog as much as I did a month ago. It’s so hard but I’m really trying to figure out my focus and focus on what matters. I love that Meatless Monday has you enjoying spending more time in the kitchen!
Deborah Brooks says
Yes I really am loving all of my cooking endeavors. It’s the photos that are hard!
Mary Beth Jackson says
Nice! It is tough to sometimes rid our lives of negative people- I had to do that a few years ok and you know what, I am better for it! You are who you surround yourself with! Life is to short and I plan on living it ! Cheers to 2017!
Deborah Brooks says
I totally agree!
Toni says
I like this focus, I definitely quality is important and I need to focus more on that too
Deborah Brooks says
It wont’ be easy but I am going to try!
Esther says
I love that!
My word this year is rest! I need to get my body back in a good place to try and have a baby!
Deborah Brooks says
I love that goal!! Sounds perfect and have fun trying of course 🙂
Ilka says
Staying focus is definitely the key to maintaining your goals. It’s usually all the distractions around us that make us lose the focus of our goals. Beautiful key word, Deborah! Great reminder!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks so much! Now if I can just stick to it
Debbie @ Deb Runs says
My focus is on having fun this year! 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
Well that’s the way to go!! So excited to see you in a few weeks
Mikki says
Yes! Love goal posts! And love the idea of ‘focus’ – such a great point
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks now I just have to do it!
anthonia okoli says
Debby this is great! it is a wonderful site that was located today. So happy to find it! helpful as well for health flash at my workplace for my patients as a health professional.
thank you. Keep the good work rolling