OK. It’s goal time.
Looking back on 2024, I am most happy with the achievements of my health goals: getting checked out by the docs, eating better, stretching/weights/cardio, maintaining a 32″ waist. All good. Rather than do a full annual review of my ’24 Goals, let’s say that I was about 65-70%, which isn’t bad, but it’s not great. I suspected that is where I would land when I assessed in Q3, so I started researching goals, specifically personal goals, and how to get the most out of them.
I learned a lot, and I aim for the ’25 version to be more about the journey to accomplishment than the achievement itself. I feel like I’m in a good place, but I want to continue getting better.
Here are my focus areas for this year:
- Ensure Mrs. RCS feels loved and supported every single day: Over the last couple of years we’ve focused on date nights, increased babysitter rosters, AND increased babysitter budget, and it’s paying off. Our relationship has never been stronger, which is the foundation for our house.
- Single-digit handicap: I’m at a 12.4 right now, but I’m frustratingly inconsistent. On an average 9 holes, I’ll have 4 pars, 3 bogeys, a triple, and a snowman. If I could knock out two snowmen I’d meet get there. Selfishly this is about practicing and playing more. I’m excited.
- Take the boys on a weekend outdoor adventure: We did an overnight in ’25. Time to up the ante.
- Increase my sleep and recovery average: The importance of sleep, and focusing on sleep.
- Touch my toes: A very easy one. I either can or I can’t. This one is a forcing effort to focus on flexibility, which is arguably as important as any other physical activity.
- Zero incremental impact on my wardrobe: The point here is to purge stuff I don’t wear/use and replace it with well-thought-out pieces that will get a ton of wear.
- Zero incremental weight: Maintain the 32″ waist, and don’t gain a pound. However, I want to get stronger – and reallocate the weight (if that makes sense).
- Reevaluate and dial in investment and college savings plan: I’m close, but feel like I need to do some additional analysis and evaluations. I’ll get this dialed in during Q1 or Q2.
- Read 10 (ten) books: Last year I read 0.5 books. I will do better this year.
- Utilize the backyard more (landscaping, fire pit, sports, relaxing, etc.): We’ve made incredible progress on our backyard over the past couple of years, and we have about one more before it is dialed in. Our Sea Island Forge pit is incredible, we use it often. The point of this is to apply the same usage to the rest of the space.
Feedback welcome.
Great list. I’m keeping it simple in 2025:
-More books (I did 65 in 2024…always room for more)
-Less TV
-Way less time on devices
-More in person conversations and interactions
Cheers
Great set of goals. I may borrow a couple. I did the books goal last year and went from 1 to 15. I really enjoyed it as well. I will be repeating that goal as well. I also am in your exact same spot as you with your handicap and we both share that goal. Good luck on these!
Good list, I’m right there with you on making sure the Mrs. feels loved and supported, changes everything in the house.
Two recommendations on the goals:
1. Single digit handicap:
Spend time on the putting green, get REALLY consistent inside of 5 feet, and confident inside of 10. The strokes will fall off.
2. Reading
Set a 30 minute timer every day and read, you’ll start stacking books.
Great list, I’m focusing on a few things:
1.) Early morning 5 am most days and 90 days straight to build the habit;;
2.) Single Digit Handicap; similarly a 12.3, playing a lot is not my issue, I need to practice, a lot more reps when hitting balls; leveraging Intown more to get good feedback.
3.) Lose 20 lbs, that puts me in a healthy spot, need to cut out a lot of sugar my one big vice;
4.) Keep the streak going of no alcohol – 561 days as of today……
Good list, doing the little things with health now pays off in spades later. As for the reading I find setting a goal like 10 or 15 pages a day makes getting through books a lot easier.
As for me I’m focusing on a few things:
1) Spend more time with friends and family. Got a little off that this year but I want to get back to my usual place with that.
2) Be consistent with strength training. I run competitively so my cardio is amazing but doing the strength training I need to avoid running injuries and just generally stay healthy always gets put off so I need to get consistent with that.
3) Less time on my phone and other electronics.
4) Get my medical and dental stuff in order. I need a new primary care physician and a new dentist and to get seen.
Bravo. If we all got number one done we’d be amazed how the others just line up or seem less important.
1. Financial- A) eliminate spending in three categories- major, minor, tax savings B) prioritize the how I invest to fully max tax free (retirement plans, HSA, backdoor Roth) then chose wisely on how and where I invest beyond that. —- do all of it “before it gets to my checking account.
2. Time- be super intentional with schedule. Be able to say yes to the things you want to do, not have wasted time.
3. Health- eat whole, non processed foods. Eliminate convience food and the middle of the grocery. Be conscious of sugar, plastics and additive consumption. Stretch and move more.
4. Relationships- intentionally arrange the time I spend most with loved ones to be things we mutually enjoy. Be more careful of the things I say, I’m gonna mean em
5. Creative- learn to level up guitar playing, kick out a great painting once a month, write a book this year.
6. Digital exposure- live a more analog life. Only use technology when it truly matters and has measured positive quality of life outcomes. Get off the social media habit/ endorphin treadmill (posting and scrolling)
7. Moderation. Only drink a beer or two when it’s damn hot outside and well earned. Drink really good wine without sulfates find a good preservation system to stretch a bottle (so you don’t have that extra glass “just because it’s going bad”. Never drink enough to get a hangover.
8. Maintenance- get ahead of maintenance of assets (home, auto- etc). Do in the highest value/ quality way.
9. Spiritual wellbeing- give thanks, count blessings, be guided by faith, take time to breath.
10. Outdoors- shift focus from enjoying for myself to teaching sons. Secure more places and opportunities for outdoor pursuits. (Consider retirement options that include ownership of land)
11. Community stewardship- assess and commit to things I believe in that make the world around me a better place.