Year-end Review: 20 Things I Want to Do in 2020

At the end of 2019, I made a list of 20 things I wanted to do in 2020. Halfway through the year, I evaluated my progress. Below is my year-end review of my accomplishments.

Victorian Things: project complete!

1. "20 for 20" (20 minutes of exercise for 20 days each month)

Completed: This goal was in jeopardy when I only had 18 days in February with at least 20 minutes of exercise, but then I realized I could calculate my monthly average over the year and still make my goal. I had the most days in April (26) and the fewest in September (15).

2. Finish needlepoint project

Completed: It took more than 20 years, but I finally finished the cross stitch project I bought in England in 1998. It was so satisfying to finish this and hang it up in our foyer. Seeing it makes me smile.

3. Go to specialist for my shoulder pain

Completed: I went to the doctor was diagnosed with internal impingement, which should be easily addressed with some physical therapy. I started physical therapy, but didn't stick with it due to the pandemic. I've been sporadic about doing my exercises.

4. Train for the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler

Completed: When I set this goal at the beginning of the year, I specifically chose "train" rather than "run" because I wasn't sure if my body would be able to run it. Little did I know the pandemic wouldn't allow anyone to run it! I trained until the pandemic shut our in-person training program down. At that point I was having some Achilles pain and decided that continuing to run on my own wasn't necessary to mark this goal complete.

5. Take a photography course

Completed: I took an online iPhone photography course from Udemy and learned a lot about settings, composition, and editing. 

6. Draw a doodle each day

Completed: I did this every day in January and decided it wasn't something I was going to do for the whole year. Daily was too often. It was a fun creative outlet, though, and I've been doodling more often, enjoying it, and actually believing that I'm good at it. 

7. Take Freddy to a museum

Not completed: This hasn't happened yet, and with the pandemic it certainly isn't going to happen anytime soon. We thought about doing an online museum tour, but it didn't hold the same level of appeal, so we will postpone this until 2021.

8. Organize iPad layout to match iPhone

Not completed: My iPhone's layout is well-organized and efficient. My iPad's is not. I chipped away at this a bit during the year, but the number of apps on my iPad and the sheer amount of disorganization made it daunting. I finally decided it wasn't worth the effort.

9. Develop a regular strength training practice

Not completed: I've done strength training sporadically this year, but certainly nothing I would consider regular or consistent. Building strength remains a goal for 2021.

10. Develop a regular meditation practice

Completed: I've added meditation to my morning routine, and currently have a 111-day streak on Insight Timer. For 2021, I'd like to deepen my practice.

11. Do a special activity with Freddy monthly (e.g., tinker/doodle crate, bake)

Completed: While this hasn't emerged in quite the way I visualized it, we have done projects together each month ranging from baking to building with LEGO to coloring. During the pandemic we've done a lot of walking together. Lately we've also been playing LEGO Harry Potter and Just Dance on the Wii.

12. Set up a task list system like Josh's

Not completed: this is like fixing the layout on my iPad - really daunting to undertake, probably would improve my efficiency, but not something that is going to be a priority any time soon.

13. Reduce my body fat percentage

Not completed: I was doing well on this until the pandemic. I've been steadily sliding backwards as I indulge in comfort eating. I've stopped the backsliding, but would like to make progress on this in 2021.

14. Take a coding course

Completed: I've joined Codecademy and started both Learn JavaScript (50% complete) and Learn HTML (100% complete). I'm currently working on the "Build a Website" skill path.

15. Do the full Happiness Project program

Completed: From January through August, I followed the program closely, setting resolutions for each monthly theme and evaluating what worked, what didn't, and what I learned at month's end. After that, I flexed the rules a bit - I considered "Healthy Deviant U" my September activity, my focus on health my October activity, and "Whole Self Life School" my November activity. For December, I'm going to pull together what I've learned into possible "personal commandments."

16. Do the full Uncluttered program

Not completed: the Uncluttered program runs "live" three times a year, although I have access to it for life and can follow it at any time. I started the first live course at the beginning of the year and made it through the first month before deciding it wasn't the right time to be undertaking it. The second live course was running through the start of the pandemic which definitely wasn't the right time. The third live course started on September 10, and I knew it was too much to take on with my commitments to Healthy Deviant U and Whole Self Life School. I'll take this on again in 2021!

17. Keep a bullet journal

Completed: I've been keeping a bullet journal off and on since the beginning of the year. It works well for me, and I'm going to continue with it.

18. Develop a consistent morning practice

Completed: At a minimum, I make my bed and meditate each morning. If I have a little more time, I include some yoga, affirmations, and aromatherapy. My morning practice helps me feel grounded and intentional. 

19. Research Lego Serious Play training (attend training?)

Completed: I researched this early in the year and was considering attending training sometime in the fall. With the pandemic, I didn't even consider going to training this year. I no longer feel a strong pull to explore this.

20. Select and read at least 1 book from Josh's word cloud reading project

Completed: I read Pride and Prejudice. I thoroughly enjoyed it!