2016 New Year's Resolutions

Last year I neglected to write my resolutions down or to think proactively about how I would achieve them, but I believe most of my resolutions had to do with personal fitness. Notably, last year I trained for four months and then ran a marathon, proving to myself that if I really apply myself I can accomplish even some of the most daunting of goals. This year I want to do things differently–I have thought through what personal goals I want to accomplish this year, why these goals are important to me, and how I’m going to accomplish them. Borrowing from the momentum and confidence I’ve gained from recent accomplishments, I’m hoping to tackle even more challenges in 2016.

This Year’s Resolutions

Summary

• Complete a standard distance triathlon (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run).
  • Stretch: Complete a long distance triathlon (4km swim, 120km bike, 30km run).
• Get scuba certified.
• Go on at least 4 scuba diving trips.
• Complete a 2.4-mile ocean swim.
• Complete a 112-mile bicycle ride.
• Lift weights three times a week.
• Do an abdominal workout three times a week.
• Get down to 9% body fat.
• Pass the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) Level 3 test.
  • Stretch: Pass the TOCFL Level 4 test.
• Earn the DELF B1 French language qualification.
  • Stretch: Earn the DELF B2 French language qualification or higher.
• Complete the Duolingo French track.
• Read 52 books.
• Meditate for 20 minutes every day.

Detail

Objective: See the beauty and strength of which my body is capable ;).

Why: “No citizen has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training… what a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” –Socrates

Notes: Primarily, I need to work on cutting body fat and improving abdominal, chest, and arm strength. I’d also like to continue pushing myself to my cardiovascular limits through extreme endurance training in swimming, cycling, and running.

Key Results:

• Endurance
  • Complete a standard distance triathlon (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run).
    • Stretch: Complete a long distance triathlon (4km swim, 120km bike, 30km run).
      • Note: This is the longest standard distance triathlon before Ironman distance.
  • Ironman Training
    • Swimming
      • Sub-objective: Become more comfortable with ocean swimming.
        • Key Results:
          • Get scuba certified.
          • Go on at least 4 scuba diving trips.
      • Complete a 2.4-mile ocean swim.
        • Note: This is the length of the Ironman Triathlon swimming leg.
    • Cycling
      • Complete a 112-mile bicycle ride.
        • Note: This is the length of the Ironman Triathlon cycling leg.
• Strength
  • Arms and Chest
    • Lift weights three times a week.
  • Abdominals
    • Do an abdominal workout three times a week.
• Body Fat
  • Get down to 9% body fat. (I’m starting closer to 15 or 16 percent.)

Milestones:

• End of Q1:
  • Register for a standard distance triathlon to do in the beginning of Q3.
  • Get down to 13% body fat.
• End of Q2:
  • Get down to 11% body fat.
  • Complete a 56-mile bicycle ride.
  • Complete a 1.2-mile ocean swim.
  • Complete a standard distance triathlon.
• End of Q3:
  • Get down to 9% body fat.

 

Objective: Become trilingual.

Why: I’ve always been good at learning languages and ultimately want to be (at least) trilingual. I never finished learning Chinese to fluency when I was a child, and my trip to Taiwan this year left me wanting to finish my education so I can fully appreciate the culture next time I’m back. I also eventually want to attend Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris and in French. I’ve started lots of languages, but have never proved long-term proficiency in any of them. Time to get serious.

Key Results:

• Sub-objective: Become fluent in Chinese.
  • Key Results:
    • Pass the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) Level 3 test.
      • Note: This is equivalent to a “basic”-level fluency in Chinese.
      • Stretch: Pass the TOCFL Level 4 test.
• Sub-objective: Become fluent in French.
  • Key Results:
    • Earn the DELF B1 French language qualification.
      • Note: This is equivalent to an “independent”-level fluency in French. At this level, the user “can understand and maintain a discussion and give his/her opinion. He/she is capable of dealing with situations likely to arise in daily life.”
      • Stretch: Earn the DELF B2 French language qualification or higher.
    • Complete the Duolingo French track.

Milestones:

• End of Q1:
  • Register for a DELF B2 exam to do in Q4.
  • Pass a practice DILF exam.
  • Attempt a practice DELF A1 exam.
• End of Q2:
  • Pass a practice TOCFL Level 2 exam.
  • Pass a practice DELF A1 exam.
  • Attempt a practice DELF A2 exam.
• Start of Q3:
  • Attempt a practice TOCFL Level 3 exam.
  • Register for a TOCFL exam.
  • Pass a practice DELF A2 exam.
  • Attempt a practice DELF B1 exam.

 

Objective: Read more.

Why: I’ve discovered a wealth of knowledge, ideas, and perspectives through reading a variety of different kinds of books this year. I started reading late this year, but read about 40 books. I’d like to do even better in 2016!

Key Results:

• Read at least 52 books.

 

Objective: Improve how I deal with negative thoughts and emotions.

Why: So much of my outlook on life, my reaction to outside events, and my interactions with other people depend on how I perceive and process negative thoughts and emotions. I think this is something I don’t always handle very well, which can sometimes result in appearing stressed out or being judgemental of the people around me. I’d like to improve on this because I think learning to distance myself from negative thoughts and emotions will have a huge impact on everything I do and everyone around me.

Key Results:

• Meditate for 20 minutes every day.