My goals for 2015

I’ve said before that I’m not a big fan of making resolutions because I tend to not keep them and then get sad. Also, why would I need another year of vowing to lose weight and go to the gym more often when all I really want to do is bake awesome cakes and then eat them?

So for 2015, I’ve decided to sit down and make a list of things I want to do in 2015. I will call them goals, because it sounds less puckered-brows-determined than the dreaded “resolutions” and I won’t have to hate myself if I don’t live up to one of them. Despite everything we learn about goals in business school (make them “SMART“), you’ll find that they are often not easily measurable. I’m focusing exclusively on things that I think will make me happy, because I think that’s what life is all about - making the most of everything and trying our very best to pursue happiness. So without further ado, here are my goals for 2015:

Finish paying off my student debt

The most boring goal first: I got my Master’s degree at a private business school, and I paid for it by taking out a student loan. I have a five-year horizon to pay it off, but I have a plan and I’m determined to make 2015 the last year in which I pay back my loan.

Travel

I used to work in consulting and had to travel a lot. Like, A LOT a lot. Every week. I grew tired of airports and hotel rooms. I have eaten enough room service Caesar’s Salads and Club Sandwiches for half a lifetime. But since I started my new job early in 2014, I’ve been able to enjoy travelling again (for leisure, not for business). We had some great weekend trips to Sorø, Helsinki, Oslo, and Snekkersten, and we spent some time in the summer house. In 2015, I hope we will finally be able to do our road trip through the historic Southern United States that we’ve been planning for ages!

Learn a new skill

I have always enjoyed learning, and I intend on keeping it up. I finished my Danish language education in November 2014 by passing Studieprøven, and now I have capacity for something new. I haven’t quite decided what it will be - maybe photography? Maybe another language (I could really brush up my beginner’s Spanish from a couple of years ago)? Maybe something completely different, like meditation or yoga?

Cook more

I love to cook, but in the recent months, I have been slacking a bit in that department. Our weeknight dinners too often became quick-and-easy solutions like pizza (at least homemade, though!) or some simple pasta dish. This year, I want to focus on trying new recipes, using new ingredients that I’m not familiar with, and cooking healthy, fresh, and delicious food. I also want to host more dinner parties or brunches for friends and family.

Keep exploring

This past year, I’ve been enjoying Copenhagen so much! I’ve shared my favorite places, restaurants, and things to do, and I feel like I’m just getting started. This amazing city has so much to offer, and I want to soak it all up and experience it! This also means making more time for cultural things, such as the theater (I got tickets for Christmas, yay!) or concerts. I’ve been wanting to go to see a classical ballet, so I’ll be on the lookout! Copenhagen also has tons of music, art, film, photography etc. festivals around the year, so there will be plenty of opportunity there!

What are your goals for 2015? Any tips for how to stick to them?