25 before 25 | My goals for the next five years

Goal setting is always lauded as the holy grail of making things happen. But so often, my goals are short term. I’ve gotten into a pattern of writing out daily and weekly goals, though they normally turn out to be more of to-do lists with whatever homework is due the next day.

I recently watched a video by Lucy Moon where she talked about the thirty goals she wanted to accomplish before she turns thirty. So I changed it to 25 since, ten years seems like too far out.

A lot can happen in five years

Five years difference

I am 20 1/2 now and as my graduation date (May 2019) crawls ever closer, I’m starting to turn my focus to the big picture decisions that will shape my future. I hesitate to say they will shape the rest of my life because that makes them scarier. I’m looking this as a variation on the stereotypical interview question: “where do you see yourself in five years?” I like framing it as a set of goals to achieve, instead of a destination, since it offers a roadmap in a time of uncertainty. So here is my big picture to-do list for the next five years:

1. I want to travel to Spain/Germany/Austria/Czech Republic/Iceland: I have done a lot of traveling in Europe and these are the countries that I haven’t yet been to and am really looking forward to visiting.
2. I want to return to Scotland/Greece: I’ve been to both these countries but I don’t think I really did them justice. I only spent a weekend in Edinburgh and I didn’t make it to the Greek islands.
3. I want to visit New Orleans/ Hawaii: These are the two big American destinations that I haven’t been to yet.
4. And the last travel one, I want to visit somewhere out of my comfort continents: I’m pretty comfortable in North America and Europe, as I have lived in both, so I would like to travel a little farther afield. Maybe Japan?
5. I want to learn to like hiking. I always end up on giant hikes up mountains when traveling and even at home in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I love being at the peak of a hike and looking out on whatever beauties the landscape has to offer but I dread the actual climb. I need to focus on some cardio at home so I can enjoy my cardio abroad.
6. I want to master crow pose. I’ve been doing yoga for about a year but I haven’t moved on to the more difficult inversions; I don’t have the arm or ab strength.
7. I want to read 100 books a year. I made it to 80 last year, but I’m already behind on my Goodreads goal for this year.
8. Less Netflix, more books. This one might honestly turn out to be one of the hardest. I love Netflix and the shows just keep getting better.
9. I want to add more variety to my reading. I want to read across all ages and genres.
10. I want to publish a novel. I’ve dappled with writing long form fiction since seventh grade but I’ve never followed through. Maybe a better goal would be to write and revise a novel, but dream big.
11. I want to continue and grow this blog. 
12. I want to have another internship. Or two more. This is a mini-goal as a stepping stone to achieve goal 15.
13. I want to graduate with my Bachelor’s Degree in English. 
14. I want to move to New York. 
15. I want to figure out taxes, a 401(k) and a mortgage. Practical.
16. I want to better my stock market skills. I’ve had a brokerage account for almost two years now, but I want to get more into options trading and invest some more money.
17. I want to learn to code HTML and CSS and to better my computer literacy in general.
18. I want to use more of my vocabulary when I speak. The need for this is evident in the fact that I’ve started every goal with ‘I want’.
19. I want to figure out a skincare routine that works for me. 
20. I want to keep a plant alive for longer than I have before.
21. I want to cook a three course meal all on my own. 
22. I want to learn, or rather re-learn, Baklava with Grannie. She has taught me once before, but I forgot the magic words.
23. I want to start eating healthier on a regular basis. I’ve always been told that a childhood metabolism doesn’t last forever.
24. I want to develop a minimalistic ‘adult’ wardrobe. Not that I don’t already dress like an adult. I want to start only buying things I will actually wear and higher quality items that can last me forever.
25.  I want to make connections. My dad always says that he tries to learn something from everyone he works with. I want to adhere to that philosophy as I learn how to be a professional.

Here’s to the next five years…

What are your goals for the next five years?

Sidenote: I found these while looking through my photos and since I’m doing before/after shots, I couldn’t resist this one, even though it’s only three years apart.

Talk about a glow-up…