This post is part of my yearly journey through the Bible, my schedule can be found here or at the schedule link above. Please feel free to join me.

It is my plan to set some realistic goals for the new year and hopefully in a year I can look back at this post with pride and say, I accomplished those goals. I have done them using the SMART goal system.

1. Reading the Bible — This is the one I have placed as a top priority as I believe it will help me in many areas of my life.
   1. Specific – I am going to read the English Standard Version in it’s entirety, and in Chronological order, see Bible Schedule above
   2. Measurable – If I am behind schedule I am behind
   3. Attainable – I know this is attainable as I have accomplished something very similar previously
   4. Realistic – I am willing to work toward this goal and sacrifice to accomplish it.
   5. Timely – This will be accomplished in one year.
2. Reduce Debt — Although we don’t much in the ways of consumer debt we have some school loans and old business debt along with our mortgage.
   1. Specific – We will use extra monies to pay off existing debt and freeze our credit cards (Literally, we are putting them in a Ziploc bag, filling it with water, and freezing the card.) All Debt but mortgage will be paid off, and Second Mortgage will be reduced by half.
   2. Measurable – using quicken we will chart our progress. It will simply be a matter of reducing our debt amount
   3. Attainable – I have done the calculation and believe that this is attainable and something I am willing to work for.
   4. Realistic – Although it is a significant amount of money I believe we will be able to accomplish it with a little will power.
   5. Timely – This is also to be accomplished by the end of the year.
3. Reducing wasted Time — This will be harder to objectify and perhaps harder to accomplish as my wife and I disagree on what is wasted time.
   1. Specific – I will spend no more than two hours combined on TV and PC games (games my wife and I play together do not count). This will not include time the TV is on as background noise while folding laundry or other tasks. This will include weekends!
   2. Measurable – I will track the amount of time I spend watching TV and compare to the goal.
   3. Attainable – I believe this to be attainable as I don’t spend much more than that watching TV now, although weekends may be tough. I also have goals that will keep me away from these time wasters.
   4. Realistic – I believe this to be realistic as I have other hobbies I enjoy that will enable me to avoid TV.
   5. Timely – This will be over the course of the next year.