This entry is mostly nonfinancial, tho I will note that I decreased debt by $7,630 and added $7,975 to my retirement accounts during the year, so over 15K total to the good.
I've gone ahead and updated my side panel for my 2016 goals--fewer than in previous years, with the hopes that I'll make even more progress on each.
Here are my goals/results for 2015.
Goal Domain/Result
Job Performance: Completed 1 of the CFP classes, gained familiarity with the top 40 clients, improved efficiency, and earned a raise mid-year.
Organization: very little progress at home, made a start at office organization. I did improve my financial organization by moving my non-mortgage debt from credit card balance transfers to loans (first a personal loan and then a HELOC at a better rate, which I used to partially but not totally pay off the personal loan, and partially for some capital improvements). This will be a big area of focus for 2016 now that I have one year at my new job under my belt. Making big improvements here will enable improvements in other areas in future years.
Health: Joined a gym mid-year and have gone 2-3 times a week pretty consistently since; kept my weight fairly steady; and got my chronic bronchitis under control by going on FloVent. But I am suffering from fairly severe fatigue and need to work on improved sleep/decreased fatigue in 2016, as well as keeping up with the gym and decent nutrition.
Social/Recreational: Took 3 short vacations (first since 2011), saw half a dozen plays and about two dozen films, participated moderately actively with my congregation--but did not manage to entertain at all. I'll get organized in 2016 and make having people over a goal in 2017.
Professional development: Went to about two dozen Board meetings and/or networking events, joined a new professional organization, wrote one entry on my professional blog.
All in all, not a bad year, even if I fell short of my ambitions. But better to aim higher and fall short than to aim too low and not perform up to my best.
Year End
December 28th, 2015 at 03:31 am
December 28th, 2015 at 08:13 am 1451290412
December 28th, 2015 at 10:09 am 1451297360
Not sure what your home status is regarding organizing. If you find it cluttered primarily, I would highly suggest focusing your efforts on decluttering (get rid of excess stuff). That alone will help you feel more organized. And the less you have to organize makes that task even easier.
December 28th, 2015 at 02:20 pm 1451312403
December 29th, 2015 at 02:31 am 1451356261
January 4th, 2016 at 01:52 am 1451872364
Creditcardfree, YES, I know I need to declutter first--to me, that is included in what I mean by organizing and is in fact the bulk of what needs to be done. As Barbara Hemphill says, "Clutter is postponed decisions" and I postponed too many while my career change was uncertain and during the period in which I lost my mom and 3 pets.
pjmama, thank you!
Laura/Frugal Texan, Yes, I have read her first book. Her second book, "Spark Joy" comes out on Tuesday.