Archive: 2025 Goals

Below is an archived page for my 2025 goals, with notations and links where appropriate. For my current goals (and a link to other archived goals) visit my primary goals page.

Overarching theme: Review, rescope, refocus

My 2025 theme is the three Rs: Review, rescope, and refocus. This is my year to reflect on my unmet goals and to reign in on some of the overly ambitious goals. Essentially, it is a year of reviewing my intentions, rescoping the parameters, and refocusing on the most important goals.

Read a narrative update on my successes here.

Measurable goals

In addition to this year’s theme, I have a set of measurable goals and objectives I will work on. Many of these measurable items are directly related to the broader theme, and the list below may change as I work through the Three Rs. However, some of the goals below are part of my goal to constantly improve on yesterday’s success to ensure tomorrow is the best I can make it.

Health and Fitness

Run 780+ miles [Did not succeed]
Sub-28 5K road running time [Did not succeed]
Sub-58 10K [Did not succeed]
Sub-2.18.00 half-marathon [Did not succeed]
Sub-5.00.00 marathon [Did not attempt]
5,000,000+ steps [Did not succeed]
500+ miles of walking [Success]
4-minute plank [Did not succeed]
Palm-level toe-touch [Did not succeed]

Travel and Adventure

16-hill walk in the Pentland Hills [Did not attempt]
Walk the full length of the Water of Leith Walkway [Did not attempt]
Summit Ben Nevis [Did not attempt]
3x solo weekend trips within the UK or Europe [Success]
East Coast (USA) holiday trip [Success]

Professional Life

3+ academic publications [Success]
Submit a large grant application [Did not attempt]
Develop 3-5 long-term goals (update from existing goals) [Success]
Refresh all top-level pages on my PhD website [Did not attempt]

Personal Improvement and Skill Building

Apply for UK driver’s licence [Success]
Gain UK citizenship and UK passport [Success, success]
Create a memory quilt from Paul’s old running t-shirts [Did not attempt]
Refresh Just Frances website [Did not attempt]
Enjoy 12+ tech/digital-free days [Success]

Castle Ryan

A full plan for the front garden (plus start working on plan) [Success]
Rewiring the whole house and garage [Did not attempt]
Redecorate dining room [In progress]
Redecorate entry and stairwell (plus upper landing) [Did not attempt]
Create a plan for redecorating the living room [In progress]
Create a master bedroom oasis [In progress]

Miscellaneous

Find 80 geocaches [Success]
Develop a new budget spreadsheet [Success]
Write 50 cards and letters to loved ones [Did not succeed]
Cook at least 1 recipe from family cookbooks each month [Did not succeed]