I don’t know that I’ve ever really made New Year’s Resolutions, per se, but I have a few things I’m setting as goals for myself this year. One is to do the Couch 2 5K training program and find a 5K to run at the end of it that supports a cause I care about. I’ve run a 5K before, but running and I have an interesting relationship. I swam for many, many years, and occasionally my coaches would decided to add running to our training regimen. I always hated it! My body just doesn’t seem to like the motion, and I get short of breath much sooner than I feel like my overall fitness level should indicate.

As a pride thing, though, I’ve always wished I were a runner. It seems like EVERYONE runs, and saying you’re a walker just doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. So I’ve had bursts where I’ve decided I was going to force myself to become a runner, one of which culminated in my 5K. Since my only impetus for wanting to run was pride, though, I’ve lately decided not to push it. I enjoy other kinds of exercise, and I’ve just been doing those. There’s no reason I need to be able to say I’m a runner. HOWEVER, I somehow decided I wanted to do this Couch 2 5K thing. I have a feeling I’ll make it through just fine and then stop running again. I don’t envision myself wanting to work up to a 10K or anything longer, but I guess you never know. I found a podcast of indie Christian music that combines audio cues with up-tempo music to guide your workout, so I’m at least looking forward to checking that out on the first day! The plan calls for 3 workouts a week, but if I miss my elliptical too much I might do 2 running and one elliptical, stretching the plan beyond its allotted 9 weeks (with some pilates and Wii Zumba thrown in on alternate days, too!). I’m using the treadmill version found here, if you’d like to join me!

Another goal I have, which was also part of my Birthday Resolutions, is to finally stick with a Bible reading plan. I’m going to use a year-long, whole Bible plan on YouVersion, an app I have on my phone. I may or may not actually read it on my phone, but it at least will give me a checklist, of sorts. I know I shouldn’t think of reading the Bible as just another to-do, but at least at first I think I need to in order to make it a daily habit and a part of my day that I look forward to.

A related goal I have is to participate in Beth Moore’s Siesta Scripture Memory Challenge when she starts it up for 2012. I’ve glanced at it on her blog for the past year but am actually going to follow along this year. I’m looking forward to buying a cute little index card flip book to write them on. :-)

I found a printable daily planner from Ann Voskamp that I’m going to try out for awhile. I think it will give me a good place for the to-do lists I always write while also giving me a place to record my Bible reading, my Scripture memory verse, my exercise plan, and some bigger picture things. I’m not sure if the page will serve my needs in the long run (the sections seemed a bit redundant as I filled out the first one), but I think it’ll be fun to give it a shot!

Have you made any resolutions or goals for this year? How do you organize things you’d like to get done?


Laura Lindeman

Laura Lindeman