Goal-setting for Fun Stuff

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whiteraven

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Wondering how many folks here set goals for themselves that are fun but also help in their healing?

I'm trying really hard to pare back on anything next year I don't feel an "obligation" to do--kind of hard, because much of the time, living feels like an obligation. But...

I set some goals last year using a template I found in a book--not all fun, but all designed to help heal--and I'm getting ready to do it again. One of the things I enjoy doing but find it really hard to do is hike. Ok, well...by "hike" I mostly mean walk in the woods, which may or may not involve anything strenuous. I love being out in the woods, watching for birds and other animals, but I don't do it much anymore (don't like leaving my condo, mostly, but I also have pain and walking sometimes makes it worse).

I found a book that is filled with hikes within 60 miles of my home, and I'm thinking of doing them with some modifications next year (like, I'm gonna start this year, and I'm only doing the ones in two of the states, which comes to around 24 hikes). Since I have to be organized about everything, I thought I'd document them in my journal and keep an official birding life list (I have one online, but I think I'll do a paper one).

This feels like fun to me. Of course, it might not turn out that way, and I may quit halfway through, but that's why I've narrowed it from 60 to 24. That seems doable.

The other "fun" goal I set is a reading challenge a friend of mine put up. You pick books in a variety of categories and read 24 by the end of the year. Oh, look at that--another 24! :-)

Do you set "fun" goals for anything?
 
When I was climbing out on f my awful marriage and miserably depressed I did set fun goals. I made a list of things I wanted to learn or try and out check boxes next to them. I did do a number of them and I found that mindset helpful. But I think it’s also important to share when you have done the fun.
 
Wondering how many folks here set goals for themselves that are fun but also help in their healing?
I adore you. Full stop.

I found a book that is filled with hikes within 60 miles of my home, and I'm thinking of doing them with some modifications next year (like, I'm gonna start this year, and I'm only doing the ones in two of the states, which comes to around 24 hikes). Since I have to be organized about everything, I thought I'd document them in my journal and keep an official birding life list (I have one online, but I think I'll do a paper one).

This feels like fun to me. Of course, it might not turn out that way, and I may quit halfway through, but that's why I've narrowed it from 60 to 24. That seems doable.
One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made in my LIFE… was to cut out all the extraneous expenses during my divorce. IE? My hobbies, JFF, life stuff. Because? I didn’t realize HOW important they were to me, in managing my PTSD. Because “my” PTSD? Was past tense. Something I “had” a loooooooong time ago. Not something I knew I still had and was managing with exquisite stress management.

Weekly massage? Nixed.
Weekly/daily/Seasonal sports? Nixed.
School? Nixed.
Many other things? Nixed.

PTSD fully symptomatic? To the point of being completely non-functional and locked in 20 hours a day of panic attacks/flashbacks/etc.? 24 if we include nightmares? ka-BOOM!!!
 
Wondering how many folks here set goals for themselves that are fun but also help in their healing?

I'm trying really hard to pare back on anything next year I don't feel an "obligation" to do--kind of hard, because much of the time, living feels like an obligation. But...

I set some goals last year using a template I found in a book--not all fun, but all designed to help heal--and I'm getting ready to do it again. One of the things I enjoy doing but find it really hard to do is hike. Ok, well...by "hike" I mostly mean walk in the woods, which may or may not involve anything strenuous. I love being out in the woods, watching for birds and other animals, but I don't do it much anymore (don't like leaving my condo, mostly, but I also have pain and walking sometimes makes it worse).

I found a book that is filled with hikes within 60 miles of my home, and I'm thinking of doing them with some modifications next year (like, I'm gonna start this year, and I'm only doing the ones in two of the states, which comes to around 24 hikes). Since I have to be organized about everything, I thought I'd document them in my journal and keep an official birding life list (I have one online, but I think I'll do a paper one).

This feels like fun to me. Of course, it might not turn out that way, and I may quit halfway through, but that's why I've narrowed it from 60 to 24. That seems doable.

The other "fun" goal I set is a reading challenge a friend of mine put up. You pick books in a variety of categories and read 24 by the end of the year. Oh, look at that--another 24! :-)

Do you set "fun" goals for anything?
I do. I have "leisure reading" time and a set number of books to read, and workouts to do.

I actually call these "rules." They have to be, because they truly keep me sane.
 
I set a fun goal for myself and decided to throw myself a party and I'm calling it Celebrating Life. Today I booked the band for the spring and we are booking the park. Next thing is finding a mobile smoker and getting someone to cater the smoked meat and figuring out the sides. Going to celebrate this remission with my family and friends and figuring on 50 or 60 people. Totally the kick off for the spring/summer full of learning to drive my horse, visits to some national parks, taking up recumbent biking, and some nice kayaking.
 
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