Happy New Year! I know I’m a little late, but better later than never, right?
Well, I’ll be honest, I’ve really been struggling with starting a new year. On one hand, it is another year and a clean slate.
But on the other hand, I struggle with what I should try and accomplish this year as well. If you get too ambitious, then you set yourself up for failure.
However, if you don’t set any sort of goals, then you are destined to stay right where you are now.
So I thought it would be a good idea to set some goals for myself as a homesteader. I thought it might encourage other homesteaders to do the same, or at least get their wheels turning since it seems we are always striving to push ourselves further and further.
Homesteader’s New Year Resolutions
Here are the top goals I’ve come up with that should help push homesteaders (myself included) to a new level this year:
1. More DIY
I try to make a lot of the things we use myself in order to be more self-sufficient and cost effective too. Yet, there always seems to be certain items I need in a pinch, and I find myself running out to get them.
Well, this year, I want to dive all into my homesteading lifestyle. When I know I have to make something or else I’ll go without, I usually make it more of a priority so I’m not running out of laundry detergent in the midst of laundry day.
So it is my goal to get into that mindset that I have to make things. That way I’ll keep my previous skills learned sharp.
Or I’ll learn new skills in the process. All while maintaining my simple homesteading lifestyle and hopefully saving some money in the process too.
2. Save the Moola
Money bothers me to be honest. I think I’m one of the few people on the face of the planet that literally dislikes money. It stresses me out. When you don’t have enough, then you are panicking because you are in need.
But when you have enough or too much, then I find myself frantic because I’m afraid I’m going to mismanage it.
So this year, it is my goal to basically take money off of the table. I want to stop spending as much of it as I can.
Then shove the rest of it away somewhere so I don’t have to think about it. This may sound crazy to some but saving money never hurts.
And living a life that is based on frugality and not money is (after all) why many people embrace this lifestyle.
So I think spending less money and making it less of a priority is a great goal for any homesteader.
3. Rise with the Chickens
This is a big one for me. I don’t ever sleep in, but I don’t always get up as early as I need to either. I usually get up with my husband around 6:00 am.
However, in order for me to stay on top of my day, I have to be the first one up or I get absolutely no time for myself whatsoever.
So I’ve started the new year off with a 4 am wake-up call. I’m literally getting up with my chickens. I think this is an important goal because then I’m able to have some time to myself before the day begins.
Then that helps to keep a positive mood flowing around our household because I’m not waking up feeling like I’m already behind.
Not to mention, the earlier you rise, usually the more motivated you are for the day. At least that is what I’ve found in my experience.
So try waking up earlier this year. See if you do actually get more done throughout your days.
4. Eat Your Wheaties
This is another great resolution for homesteaders. Often we live a life where we grow most of our food, prepare as much of our own food as possible, and work really hard to do it.
But if you still prepare those fresh foods in a less than healthy way, then don’t be surprised when your health pays the price for it.
So this year, I’m trying really hard to be more health conscious. It seems kind of silly to put in all of this work on our homestead and still have a major sweet tooth problem.
Which is why I’m making it more of a priority to move more. I know I’m on my feet a lot during the day, but I don’t always pay attention to the balance between what I’m eating and how much I’m moving.
But this year, I’m making exercise a priority. Also, I’m guilty of using a golf cart to scoot around our property in a hurry.
Now, I’m trying to walk more for exercise too.
Plus, I’m cooking meals that are well rounded. I don’t want to cut any food group out because that isn’t something I feel like I could sustain long-term.
However, I can see to it that our meals always have lots of fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and small amounts of bread and sugar-free desserts.
So if you like the idea of being healthy, then start finding ways that you can move more around your homestead, and eat better.
5. Plant and Reap
I set the same goal every year. I simply want to grow more. In previous years, the idea was to grow enough food to support our immediate family.
Then we accomplished that goal.
But then our extended family really began enjoying our fresh food and have actually offered to help us with the gardening and canning process this year.
So this year, the goal is to grow enough to support 3 households instead of just one. We’ll see how it goes, but we are sure going to give it our best shot.
Which is why I think striving to grow more and more is always a great goal to have. Then you know you’ll have plenty of food for the winter.
6. Outside of the Box
This is another yearly goal of mine. I always want to strive to do things differently every year. If you never try anything new, then how will you ever know what the best method is?
Now, don’t get me wrong. Some years I have tried new things, and they have totally blown up in my face.
But I don’t regret those risks because I learned a lot from the failures.
Then other years I tried something new (like growing fodder), and it turned out to be a wonderful success that has saved our family lots of money over the years.
So setting a few goals for different projects that you’ve always wanted to try is never a bad way to spend a year. You may find a new method that could save you lots of time and money.
7. Straighten Up
Don’t we all strive to create a new and better version of ourselves with each passing year? Don’t we all want to recognize our little quirks or bad habits and try to overcome them?
Well, I’ve learned that being organized and disciplined about things can truly be the difference between success and failure. It can be the difference between freedom and feeling chained by our own behaviors.
So why not make it a goal to become more organized in the new year? I’m a very scheduled person, but I’ll be the first to tell you, the last two years of my life have been absolute chaos. We’ve had lots of different family hardships that either physically or emotionally put more on my plate.
But I’ve decided this year, it is time for me to get it together. I’ve got to organize my schedule, my home, our farm, and basically my life.
Now, I realize there are going to be different things that may come along throughout the year to knock me off of my game.
However, if I have a plan, then I should be able to at least have a track to get back on when something unexpected comes along.
Well, how about you? Could your life use a little more organization to it? If so, what better time to start than now?
8. Stop and Smell the Roses
As much as I’ve talked about taking action to be healthier, grow more, be more organized, or try new things, you might be a little surprised to see this goal on the list.
But I think it is just as important to make resting a priority so we can enjoy what we work so hard for.
So try making it a goal this year to actually stop and enjoy your homestead more.
Actually, I’ve gotten a jump start on this already. We have had frigid temperatures here for the past week. Which means I have to check on the animals pretty regularly to collect eggs before they freeze, make sure the waterers are still functioning, and just check the overall health of the animals.
But I’ve had a great time doing this. I get to go play with my goats for extended periods of time. Our billy chases me down the fence line and puts his front hooves on the gate to greet me when I come around to check on him.
Basically, because he wants a treat and for me to rub his face with my gloves. It is nice to slow down and take it all in. Take in the sweetness of the animals, the gorgeous view, and just the fresh air.
So why not make slowing down a little a priority on the list of resolutions this year?
9. Jump on It
Right back to my usual speed of things, I’m making it a goal to get a jump on tasks I know are coming up. I can’t tell you the times that deadlines have crept up on me around our homestead, and I didn’t even see them coming.
However, I know I’m not the only one. When I scroll through homesteading forums that I follow, it seems to be a common ailment among homesteaders. We all say, “Well, I was going to do this, but I got busy and time got away from me.”
So this year, I’m going to try to be more intentional about things that I know must be done, so I don’t feel like I’m constantly chasing my tail.
For instance, starting seeds can be something that comes up before you even realize it. This year, I’m going to research the dates that everything needs to be started, have a list of exactly what I’m growing, and I’m setting alarms on my phone to make sure the due date doesn’t slip up on me.
So what about you? Will you make staying on top of your homesteading tasks more of a priority? And will you take steps to be proactive about these tasks so you don’t always feel like you’re behind?
10. Put a Smile on Your Face
Finally, I think the most important goal for homesteading is to maintain a good attitude. Let’s face it, sometimes this way of life can be overwhelming. You have animals get sick, animals that pass, or plants that don’t grow.
Then you look at all of the time, money, and care that you’ve put into those things and feel down. I’ve actually seen quite a few people post on social media in the past week that they’re seriously considering giving up this way of life because it is too hard. The temperatures are brutal, and the work still has to be done which can be very hard at times.
But let’s make it a goal to find one positive aspect of our homesteading life every day. Make it a goal to watch something that will make you laugh every day. This could be a funny YouTube video of goat noises, or you could just go out in your yard and watch your chickens be chickens.
Either way, when you find the positive in a situation, it is a lot easier to handle the negative that comes with it.
And it should keep us all motivated to not throw in the towel on really difficult days.
So making it a point to smile and keep a good attitude is a huge goal for me this year.
Well, there are 10 great options for resolutions for homesteaders. They should keep you busy and strive towards something all year, to say the least.
But I’d like to hear from you. What are some New Year’s resolutions that you set for yourself (personally or as a homesteader) for the year?
We love hearing from you, so leave us your thoughts in the space provided below.
