Back in January, I set some goals for myself for the year. As we are now well into March, I thought it would be wise to look back at my goals and see what progress I’ve made so far. I figure this will help me to keep on track, and to be honest, I don’t remember all my specific goals. If I don’t check in now, I won’t be surprised when it’s January 2009 and I have to set the same goals again!

1. Continue to make changes and choices that are healthier for me and the environment.
   • I am going to make myself a set of canvas grocery bags, to cut down on plastic waste.

     This one is still a work in progress. I posted my plans for making bags a couple weeks ago and shared a bunch of links to different grocery bag patterns, and then when I actually got to the store, I was overwhelmed by the price of canvas. So no bags yet, although I’ve found a source for affordable canvas online, but I’ve got the patterns and I’m getting closer to achieving this goal. Until then, you should see my amazing plastic bag collection. I never through those things away… they always get at least a second life.

   • I am going to continue to try to clean my home with natural ingredients. If you haven’t already, I recommend that you pick up a copy of Michael De Jong’s Clean: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing. It’s a wonderful, affordable little book.

     I’ve got gallons of vinegar (white and apple cider), borax, salt, and baking soda to clean with, and I usually have fresh lemons waiting. I’m still trying to use up the last of my purchased cleaning products, too. (I struggle with finding a balance between adopting new cleaning behaviors and frugality–I hate wasting things I already have!) I love how easily I can clean my stove-top with baking soda and lemon juice, and SciFi Man has a borax vinegar mixture that does a great job on our tub.

   • I will try to use more recycled packaging when I ship my Etsy orders.

     All my new envelopes are made with 100% recycled materials. It’s also pretty easy to recycle tissue paper. I have also re-used actual envelopes that are in good condition. And I have used Erin’s tip of covering old envelopes with scrapbook paper scraps, which looks quite pretty. I have used recycled packaging when sending out non-Etsy orders, too. I’ve gotten to the point where I feel frustrated when I don’t have a used envelope in my stash to re-use.

   • Check out Broomhuggers great eco-friendly suggestions for 2008.

     I guess this one wasn’t really a goal, but I’m still reading Broomhuggers and implementing their suggestions (or at least becoming a little wiser) when I can.

2. Reach 100 Etsy sales.
   As of today, I have sold 63 items on Etsy. Back in January, I had sold 32. That means I have sold in 3 months what took me 6 months to sell last year. If I continue at this pace, I should meet my goal by the end of the summer. I’m glad that it looks like I’ll have a little cushion, as I expect May to be particularly hectic, and I don’t know how much I will be able to add to my shop.

3. Develop a time management plan.
   • I have never been particularly good at managing my time. I stay up too late and, consequently, get up too late. (Or get up early because I have to and spend the day exhausted.) I know this directly affects how much I am able to accomplish. I have a lot of personal and professional things I want to accomplish this year, and I already know I can’t do that if I continue to sally forth without a plan. So this year, I’m going to make a plan and follow it.

     I started out the year going to bed at a regular, reasonable time. Something has happened, though, and I’ve drifted back to my old habit of staying up way too late and functioning less-than-optimally in the morning. More than the morning, really, my whole day feels different when I’m actually sufficiently rested. I’m back to step one on this one–I need to re-establish a reasonable sleep schedule. Once I’ve mastered that, I can work on scheduling the rest of my life.

4. Finish outstanding 2007 projects before committing myself to new 2008 projects.
   • KT’s bag.
   • Sheetal’s bag.
   • Grandpa’s quilt.
   • Double wedding ring quilt.
   • That school stuff I don’t like to think about.

     Oh yeah, this goal. I sort of forgot about this one and went ahead and committed to more projects. I agreed to make a tote bag for my friend to carry her teaching materials in, to make a bag for another friend, and to make all the bridesmaids bags for my friend’s wedding in May. Plus that outstanding stuff. I will work hard on goal number three (which I think will help me to accomplish goal number four) and try to remember not to commit to more projects until I finish this list.

So that’s where I stand on my 2008 goals three months in. I’ll check in with them again in June. How are you doing with your new year’s resolutions?

Stumble it!