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2018 Action Plan

December 27, 2017 By: Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC36 Comments

I don’t set New Year’s Resolutions as a general rule. But I do like to assess and do some goal setting. Not just at the new year, but in general. I have been thinking though and I would like to set out a few things that I’m planning on taking action on in 2018. Maybe you will relate and join me in setting out an action plan for yourself.

2018 Action Plan

1. Cook more. I love to cook. But as my travel and work commitments have intensified over the past year, my eating has gotten extremely lazy. Too much ordering out and not enough homemade meals. I feel better when I cook at home and it saves money too. My action plan for this to to get back in the habit of making one or two larger meals over the weekend that can serve as lunch and dinner during the week. I might try to do this by cooking through one of the awesome cookbooks I got over the past year. Read more of my cookbook recommendations here. 

2. Find a church home. Many of you know that church is extremely important to me. For a number of different reasons, I’m in a season where I am being led to find a new church home. This is basically like dating and I’m way out of practice. It feels weird to “church shop” but that’s basically what I’m doing now. I may have found a new one, but I wait to be certain. 

3. Build up smartly to marathon training. This was will be pretty easy because I’ve hired a coach! I am thrilled to be working with my friend and superstar professional athlete, Becki Spellman. Becki is the real deal but I chose to work with her because I connect with her on a personal level. We’ve been friends for over a year and she never tried to sell me on her services even though it’s clear a coach would be helpful with my frequently changing travel schedule. Anyway, I’m thrilled to work with Becki and have confidence she can help me get across the sub-4 barrier.

4. Eliminate consumer debt. I have a couple of lingering credit cards that I want to have paid off by the end of the year. I have a plan for this and I’m excited to put it into action. I will be paying my law school loans for awhile, but consumer debt I can get rid of.

That’s it. Of course, that is not IT. I will be focusing on a number of different things next year but these are a few of the action items that I’ll be taking. 

What about you? Any action items on your list for 2018?


Comments

  1. Jess from Jess runs atl says

    December 27, 2017 at 6:36 am

    I was working on my 2018 post earlier this year and we have a couple of the same goals!! Im embarking on a no-spend year and starting the total money makeover. I also want to cook way more!!! How do you plan to update us with your progress and how often? πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 9:58 am

      Great question. I know I won’t do monthly updates – but maybe quarterly? I think that’s enough frequency and enough time to actually get some of this stuff done. If you don’t have the cooking for two cookbook in the post I linked to, I highly recommend it. It’s fantastic and because it’s America’s Test Kitchen has tons of fantastic tips as well!

      Reply
  2. LiveFreeAndRun says

    December 27, 2017 at 7:01 am

    I believe you will achieve all those goals and more my friend!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 9:59 am

      Thanks Colleen – I hope to see you soon!

      Reply
  3. Wendy says

    December 27, 2017 at 7:31 am

    Looks like a great action plan to me! I’m still wrapping up 2017, but will have goals (maybe) after the new year.

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 10:00 am

      I bet you already have some goals, lady. You are one of the most motivated people I know!

      Reply
  4. Kim G says

    December 27, 2017 at 8:06 am

    That’s awesome that you hired a running coach. It’s even better when your coach is your friend!
    I’ve also been searching for a church home for about a year now. It can be a little frustrating but hopefully we can both find church homes in 2018!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 10:00 am

      I think I may have found a new church! I’m very excited. It’s like dating, lol.

      Reply
  5. Jennifer says

    December 27, 2017 at 9:15 am

    Looks like a great plan – looking forward to following along for 2018. Yes to #4 – I can’t wait to be done with my grad school loans (2ish years to go πŸ™‚ ) See you soon!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 10:02 am

      Two years is nothing!!! That’s so awesome. Mine will be around for a little bit longer than that, lol. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. Amy Lauren Scott says

    December 27, 2017 at 9:32 am

    I like your goals. We are also working on paying off debt, but ours are car payments and student loans. Clay and I decided once the loans are paid off we’re going out for a nice dinner to celebrate too. I feel like paying off ANY debt motivates you to pay more toward other debts so paying off your cards will probably help with the loans too!
    Amy Lauren Scott recently posted…Chronicles of Cross Training: Dec. 18-24My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 10:03 am

      I just laid out a plan to pay my car off (purchased Feb 2017) by June 2019, which makes me feel awesome. Consumer debt will be totally gone by then – credit card by Dec 2018 and then car by June 2019. The loans will take me longer, but I’m okay with that!

      Reply
  7. Darlene says

    December 27, 2017 at 9:35 am

    Great plan. My travel & work has gotten me lazy about cooking. But I don’t see it changing. At least when I am home, I try to cook healthy.

    Finances are always a struggle but I try to take advantage of frequent flyer miles for flying to races and if possible say with friends or share hotel rooms. Those races do put a dent in one’s budget.

    I hesitate about the coach thing because I don’t think I have the time to do what needs to be done to be a better runner. It would be a waste of money for me.

    Have a great 2018!!!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 10:04 am

      Yes re: travel and work. I already have three trips for January, ranging from one night to almost a week. It makes it hard to get into a routine for cooking but I really do need to take advantage of my weekends and get back to making one or two big meals over the weekend. Happy New Year!

      Reply
  8. Deborah Brooks says

    December 27, 2017 at 10:06 am

    Those sound like great yearly goals to aspire to. I love cooking and find it so relaxing.

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 10:10 am

      I like to cook as well but with work and my travel schedule it has become a challenge! Happy 2018!

      Reply
  9. Chaitali says

    December 27, 2017 at 10:24 am

    I love that you’re calling it an action plan! That definitely makes it sound like a work in progress. I really want to work on cooking more in 2018 too. I look forward to hearing what you think of working with a coach πŸ™‚
    Chaitali recently posted…WDW Marathon Training – week 16My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 11:11 am

      SUPER excited about having a coach. I think it’s going to be awesome. You must be so excited for WDW to be so close!

      Reply
  10. Megs says

    December 27, 2017 at 11:09 am

    I love this! Might have to use the same idea, so as always, thank you for the motivation! Here’s to the best year yet!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 12:22 pm

      Thanks friend! Happy New Year! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  11. Tara says

    December 27, 2017 at 11:11 am

    Ugh, church shopping can be tough; I did it for quite some time before settling in at my current spot. It seems like you have a promising prospect, though, so I hope it works out for you! I’m super excited about this “official” announcement that you and Becki will be working together; I remember you saying that, if you ever decided to go with a coach, she would be your choice. She is so great! I’ve always been a cook at home gal; I can only imagine how tough it would be though, with your schedule. It sounds like you’re on the right track! You have an exciting year ahead!!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 12:23 pm

      Thanks Tara! Yes, it is the travel that causes it to get hairy sometimes. When I’m gone a lot, it’s hard to keep the fridge stocked and that just causes problems / laziness lol. I’m excited about 2018 as well!

      Reply
  12. Alaina @ The Simple Peach says

    December 27, 2017 at 11:21 am

    Love these! Shopping for a church home is tough, but so important. The Mr. and I are starting Dave Ramsey’s plan in January. We aren’t following it to a t, but really hope to make some huge milestones. Best of luck with everything!!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 27, 2017 at 12:21 pm

      Love Dave Ramsey. I have done financial peace and his book continues to guide me. Good luck with his plan! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  13. Wendy says

    December 27, 2017 at 1:01 pm

    So cool that you are going to be working with Becki!
    My action plan for 2018 includes rebuilding my engine and strength to get back to running. πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 28, 2017 at 3:52 pm

      I am so excited for you to kill it in 2018! Good things are coming for you – I know it!

      Reply
  14. Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says

    December 27, 2017 at 6:21 pm

    I want to cook more next year as well. Busy working mom life really got the best of me in 2017, and we did more take out, frozen meals, and generally boring meals (because they’re really quick to cook) than I would have liked, and my clothes definitely started feeling tighter. Time to start cooking more and having more leftovers to reach into the fridge for on those really busy days.
    Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…2017 Goals ReflectionMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 28, 2017 at 3:53 pm

      Yep, I hear you. Constant travel made it really challenging. But I’m excited about my plan to cook more. It’s better for me both financially and health-wise!

      Reply
  15. Coco says

    December 28, 2017 at 7:01 am

    Those are great things to tackle. Finding a church home is hard. I might need a new one next year …..

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 28, 2017 at 3:53 pm

      As you know, I’ve been visiting Alfred Street and really am enjoying it! It is really hard, though.

      Reply
  16. Abby @BackatSquareZero says

    December 28, 2017 at 8:32 pm

    My big action items/goals are:
    1. Work on my health
    2.Broken ankle to Chicago Marathon
    3. Reduce credit card/medical debt

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 29, 2017 at 5:13 pm

      Yes – you’ve got this Abby! I hope I’m able to be in Chicago for the marathon in 2018 so I can cheer you on!

      Reply
  17. Lisa @ TechChick Adventures says

    December 29, 2017 at 8:16 pm

    That’s exciting that you have a coach that you believe in! Good luck!! I have some goals and ideas that are a bit opposing, but I’d like to run a 50 miler, and I’d also like to get rid of my injuries so I can run pain free. My mind and drive is there, just not sure my body is going to go along with the plan! But I’m going to give it a try and see where it takes me.
    Lisa @ TechChick Adventures recently posted…Christmas recapMy Profile

    Reply
  18. Christy says

    January 2, 2018 at 8:25 pm

    We’ve been church shopping for over a year as well. I hate how hard it is to find a place of worship! I’m so excited to follow your running this year! You’re going to crush your goals!

    Reply
  19. San says

    January 5, 2018 at 5:44 pm

    Great goals! And I also love that you’re calling it an action plan, because that’s what it really is! πŸ™‚ I also love that you kept your list short… I mean, better to focus on a few goals than get lost in a long list!
    San recently posted…What I read in DecemberMy Profile

    Reply
  20. Jennifer @ Dashing in Style says

    January 7, 2018 at 4:37 pm

    Awesome that you’ve found a coach you’re excited to work with!
    Jennifer @ Dashing in Style recently posted…My Longest Running BreakMy Profile

    Reply

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