Setting Intentional Goals for 2018: A Look Back at 2017’s Achievements and Lessons

A reflective annual review of personal, home/financial, and business goals, coupled with ambitious new objectives for the upcoming year and a guiding ‘Word of the Year’ to navigate the journey.

As another year unfolds before us, the passage of time often feels increasingly rapid. This phenomenon, while not scientifically accurate, truly makes me marvel at how quickly days turn into weeks, and weeks into an entire year. Perhaps it’s the growing tapestry of memories we accumulate that makes each subsequent year feel like a quicker sprint than the last. Regardless, this feeling underscores the importance of living with purpose and intention.

For those who have been part of our community for some time, you know that sharing my annual goals is a cherished tradition. This isn’t just an exercise in personal accountability, though the motivation derived from publicly committing to these goals is undeniable. More importantly, I hope these transparent reflections serve as an inspiration and encouragement for you to embark on your own journey of goal setting.

Over the past year, I’ve delved deeply into the concept of “intentional living.” At its core, intentional living means actively shaping the life you desire, rather than passively allowing circumstances to dictate your path. When we adopt a “one day at a time” mentality without considering the broader horizon—the next year, or even the next five years—we risk reaching a point where we look back with a sense of wonder, asking: “Where did all the time go?” And, more poignantly, “Why doesn’t my life look much different from how it did years ago?”

Of course, life inevitably throws curveballs, and there are situations beyond our control. However, focusing our energy on areas where we can make a difference is incredibly empowering. We have the capacity to cultivate deeper friendships, expand our knowledge through reading, explore new places through travel, and strengthen our financial security. Witnessing progress in these areas, even small steps, fosters a profound sense of pride and fulfillment that truly enriches our lives.

This pursuit of progress means living a life with purpose, moving forward in directions that genuinely matter to us. And that, unequivocally, is a great thing! What about perfection? You can probably guess that perfection is far from our objective here. Our real goal is consistent forward motion. If a particular goal isn’t met, it’s not a failure, but an opportunity to learn, re-evaluate, and either adapt the goal or recommit to it with renewed strategy. I openly share both my successes and my struggles because we are all navigating the path towards an imperfect, simple, and handmade life. Learning from each other’s experiences is invaluable.

While I typically set a handful of goals across three distinct areas, it’s crucial to remember that your approach can be entirely personalized. You might choose to focus on a single, significant goal for the entire year, or perhaps a series of monthly objectives. The key is to envision what you aspire for your life to look like in the next five years, and then define a few meaningful goals this year that will serve as stepping stones towards that larger vision.

To begin, I’ll provide a transparent recap of last year’s goals, followed by the introduction of my guiding word for 2018, before finally outlining the new goals I’m committed to achieving in the coming year.

2017 Goals Recap: Reflecting on Our Progress

Our overarching focus areas for 2017 were strategically aligned with our broader five-year aspirations:

• Find/build a new house.
• Financial stability (to make up for a number of years of underemployment) – includes goals for retirement and income.
• Better work-life balance.

Personal Goals for 2017:

1. Maintain Health: My aim was to lose 5 pounds that had crept back, primarily through a real-food approach rather than restrictive diets. This also included committing to weights three times a week and walking two to three times a week.

   Results: This area saw mixed results, but with significant breakthroughs. After many years of inconsistent exercise, I am incredibly proud to say that my commitment to three weekly workouts has finally solidified into a true habit. I rarely missed a session throughout the entire year, which is a major victory. Walking was excellent during the summer months, often exceeding my target at four to five times a week, though winter proved more challenging. Regarding weight loss, I’m still actively working on it; hormonal fluctuations have certainly presented an unexpected hurdle. Nevertheless, healthy eating remains a lifelong commitment, not a temporary fix.

2. Read 40 books: To expand my knowledge and for personal enjoyment.

   Results: Absolutely smashed! I joyfully surpassed this goal, reading a remarkable 50 books last year. My top 13 recommendations from the year are listed here, a testament to the power of setting an ambitious reading target.

3. Find a ministry area at our church: To invest my time and talents, perhaps something flexible like mentoring.

   Results: Unfortunately, this goal was not met. The significant life transition of 2017, particularly concerning our housing situation, truly disrupted our church involvement. I consistently felt a sense of waiting “until we are settled,” which ultimately prevented me from actively seeking this opportunity. A definite area for renewed focus.

Home/Financial Goals for 2017:

1. Find/build a new home: The primary objective for our living situation.

   Results: Met, and just in the nick of time as the year concluded! We discovered our new home at the end of November and are anticipating closing in the next few weeks. This monumental achievement will undoubtedly be a central theme in future discussions.

2. Fully funded emergency fund: A critical step towards financial security.

   Results: Met! This was a five-year journey, highlighting the importance of persistence and consistent effort. It truly demonstrates that sustained focus, even on long-term goals, eventually yields results.

3. Ramp up retirement funding and meet with a financial advisor: To secure our long-term financial future.

   Results: Half met. We successfully increased our contributions to retirement funds, which was a positive step. However, we did not manage to schedule a meeting with a financial advisor, a step I still believe is crucial for comprehensive planning.

Blog/Business Goals for 2017:

1. New site design + refinement: To enhance user experience and aesthetics.

   Results: Met! I continue to appreciate the clean aesthetic and the improved ease of navigation for finding recipes and projects on the site. While the front-end is great, I’m still actively working on resolving various back-end technical issues – a common and seemingly never-ending task in the “black hole of blogging.”

2. Create products that help us live better, simpler, beautiful lives: To provide tangible value to my audience.

   Results: Not met. This stands as my biggest disappointment from the past year. I had so many innovative ideas, yet what truly happened? I can be honest here: fear held me back. Thoughts like, “What if no one wants it after I put in all that work?” or “So-and-so already does something similar, probably better,” became overwhelming roadblocks. This is a crucial lesson learned and an area I am determined to conquer.

3. Attend a conference: This was a particularly challenging goal, as conferences are generally outside my comfort zone.

   Results: Met! Despite my initial apprehension, I attended the conference and had the wonderful opportunity to meet some genuinely kind and inspiring individuals. It proved to be a valuable experience.

4. Increase video focus: YouTube and Facebook Live: To engage with the audience through dynamic visual content.

   Results: Mixed. Towards the latter part of the year, Brian and I successfully established regular video production days, which was a significant step forward. However, my Facebook Live presence was limited to the beginning of the year within the Healthy Eating FB group. I recognize this as another area where lingering fear might be playing a role, much like with product creation.

5. Make newsletter more personal with exclusive content: To deepen connections with subscribers.

   Results: Met! I’ve genuinely loved cultivating a more personal connection with my readers through the weekly newsletter. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many subscribers expressing how much they look forward to it landing in their inboxes! (If you’d like to join them, you can sign up using the box below the header.)

6. Learn affiliate marketing to increase income: To diversify and grow business revenue streams.

   Results: Mixed. I certainly feel I gained a deeper understanding of affiliate marketing and applied significantly more strategies than in 2016. However, the tangible results in terms of increased income were not as substantial as hoped. This indicates a need for continued learning and refinement.

My Guiding Word of the Year: A Philosophy for Growth

Last year, my chosen word was HOPE. I truly embraced this word throughout 2017, conducting a deep Biblical word study that I consistently revisited and expanded upon. I would even go so far as to say I clung to this word, both for deeply personal reasons and during the often-frustrating, seemingly endless search for our new home. Hope provided a steadfast anchor.

For 2018, the word that has presented itself to me (I always feel a bit odd saying I “chose” it, as these words often seem to spontaneously emerge from various inspirations over the past few years) is TRUST. This choice feels absolutely perfect for several compelling reasons. It builds beautifully upon the foundation of hope established last year, reminding me to step forward with confidence. I aspire to embody trust in my most important relationships—as a trusting wife, a nurturing mom, and a loyal friend. Furthermore, and perhaps most significantly, I aim to deepen my trust in God for the fulfillment of all His promises, and for guidance in all the goals Brian and I set for ourselves. This word will be a constant companion, urging me to let go of anxieties and lean into faith.

I found the practice of integrating a Biblical word study throughout the year to be incredibly effective in keeping my word of the year front and center in my mind, preventing it from fading away by mid-year. I am definitely committed to continuing this practice for “TRUST” in 2018, ensuring its principles permeate my daily decisions and long-term vision.

Are you considering or have you already chosen a word for 2018? If so, I would absolutely love for you to share it and tell me why!

Ambitious Goals for 2018: Envisioning a Productive Year

Our strategic focus areas for 2018 are designed to build upon last year’s achievements and navigate new exciting challenges:

• Move & start farmhouse fixer remodel.
• Maintain steady biz income at 2017 level.
• Work a set number of hours a week (only during workweek) to leave time for farmhouse projects and good work/life balance.

Personal Goals for 2018:

1. Maintain Health with Enhanced Nutrition: Continue the consistent workout routine and healthy eating habits established last year. Specifically, I aim to significantly increase vegetable intake at both lunch and dinner, making vegetables comprise half to three-quarters of each meal. This focus will provide more energy and support overall well-being.
2. Read 50 books again this year: Building on last year’s success, I’m eager to continue this enriching habit, exploring new authors and subjects.
3. Join a Church Home Group in the New House Area: To integrate into our new community, build connections, and find a consistent place for spiritual growth and fellowship, rectifying last year’s unmet goal.

Home/Financial Goals for 2018:

1. Execute First Phases of the New House Remodel: This year will see critical foundational work, new siding, installation of a new front door, and the construction of a master bedroom bump-out. These initial phases are essential for the structural integrity and aesthetic transformation of our farmhouse.
2. Rent Second Home by End of 2018: While we will reside in our second home for the first half of the year, our strategic goal is to have it rented out by the year’s end. This will generate crucial income to help fund the extensive remodel of the farmhouse.
3. Comprehensive Retirement Planning with a Financial Advisor: Following up on last year’s partial success, a firm commitment to meet with a financial advisor to develop a robust, long-term retirement strategy is paramount this year.

Business Goals for 2018:

1. Intensify Affiliate Income Efforts & Product Creation: A renewed commitment to overcoming previous hurdles. You can anticipate the launch of a product this very month, something I’ve been diligently developing for several years! This goal is about tangible output and maximizing revenue streams.
2. Hire a Social Media Specialist: To strategically expand our online presence and engagement across various platforms, allowing me to focus more on content creation and core business development.
3. Increase Newsletter Subscribers: Growing our subscriber base is vital for direct communication and building a stronger, more engaged community around our content and offerings.
4. Regular Facebook Lives and Instagram Stories: This remains my “scary” goal, but I’m hopeful that the excitement of our new property and the ongoing remodel will inspire me to embrace these platforms as fun, authentic ways to connect with you. Expect abundant “before,” “in-progress,” and “after” content as we transform the farmhouse!
5. Attend Two Conferences: Still a challenging endeavor for me, but I recognize the immense value of networking and learning. Both conferences are strategically scheduled for the first half of the year to maximize their impact.
6. Join a Mastermind Group for Business Goal Accountability: This initiative is already underway, and I am incredibly excited about the prospect of collaborative support, shared insights, and external accountability to propel our business goals forward.

So, it appears I’ve once again set myself 12 goals for the year. However, with about half of them already in motion or building on established momentum, I feel genuinely good about this list, rather than overwhelmed. Always remember to choose a number of goals that feels genuinely manageable and motivating for you.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Community

I want to take a moment to express my profound appreciation for each and every one of you. The ability to connect with you, to pursue this work as a fulfilling job, and to wake up excited each day is an absolute blessing. It’s a privilege I never take for granted. Thank you for stopping by, for your thoughtful comments, and for taking the time to read. You truly are the best!

For a deeper dive into my goal-setting journey, you can revisit past articles:

• 2017 goals & word
• 2016 goals and word
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013 goals and word
• 2012 and word (first word of the year)
• 2011
• 2010 (my very first!)