Goals vs. Habits

Maybe it's the time of year, but I have been thinking a lot about goals-- this post on zenhabits got me started. Last year I set a ton of goals-- holy moley-- but this year, I'm trying to resist the urge. I don't know if it's possible-- or desirable-- to live entirely without goals, but living entirely for them is kind of stifling. And for those of us with an innate talent for procrastination-- like myself-- more goals = more things that can be put off until tomorrow...

Instead of setting goals for the year, I've just been trying to do things that make me feel good-- cook healthy food, get outdoors, knit, read, think, write. The more time I spend on good habits, the less time there is for bad habits-- like aimlessly surfing the internet for hours. Some enforcement is necessary, though-- my new rule is: no computer time before I have gotten some exercise and completed one household chore. Sounds easy, right? I did it today!

I have found that I can't entirely banish procrastination from my life-- but if I am distracted from cleaning and exercising by reading and knitting, at least I have spent my time well. The same cannot be said for viewing 1500 lolcats...

Last year, I learned to spin, and I think it may be the ultimate form of productive procrastination-- it's so easy to pick up and while away half an hour, thinking all the time "My sink may be full of dirty dishes, but I'm making yarn!"

Look at that fat spindle!

So lately, in lieu of firing up Ye Olde Interwebs, I've been spinning-- every day. This may eventually lead to a houseful of yarn, but the outcome doesn't really concern me. I'm willing to just allow it to be a pleasurable activity that happens to have a useful (and lovely) biproduct:


I have promised to knit something with my handspun... the habit of setting goals is hard to break!

Do you have any goals for 2012? Or are you anti-goal? Do tell.