As 2009 came to a close, I looked back at how I spent the year. I thought about where I was in life a year ago, and whether or not I was satisfied with my progress over the year.

Did I accomplish everything I set out to? Was I in a better position in life this year versus last year? Was I genuinely happy with every aspect of my life? Did I experience enough progress, enough growth?

Overall, I felt (and feel) pretty comfortable with my life. 2009 was a good year for me. But, there were a lot of areas (more than I wanted, anyway) that needed improvement.  Don’t get me wrong; my life is not bad by any stretch of the imagination. But, there are a lot of areas where I felt like I could be doing more… like I could be doing better.

After reflecting on the decisions I’ve made in the last year, I came up with a new (simple) plan 2010: the Year of Discipline.

The concept is simple, and can be applied to any aspect of life. For me personally, there are a few aspects in my life that I would like to improve.

The first is the physical aspect (health and wellbeing).

I. Health and Wellbeing

For the first part of 2009, I stuck to a strict regimented diet consisting of more fruits and vegetables than I’ve ever consumed in my life. That combined with a somewhat routine workout schedule led to the loss of a little over 25 pounds. But, after taking on a second job at the movie theater, I stopped working out, and found myself eating more junk food than I had been. By the end of the year, I gained most of the weight back.

So, the Year of Discipline begins with going back to a strict diet to improve my eating habits. My problem isn’t necessarily with what I eat. I don’t really consume junk food or unhealthy things often. My problem is mostly volume. When I eat, I eat a lot. And, the first order of business is consuming less in individual meals, and eating more meals a day.

Adding that to a stricter workout schedule should get my on the path to being healthier, and fit. At the beginning of last year, I consistently worked out. Going to the gym and working out at home contributed to my weight loss last year. But, towards the end of the year, I stopped working out. Working at the movie theater took most of my extra time and energy. So, when I found time to work out, I didn’t because I was too tired. Sure, this was an excuse, but it did keep me from working out. But, no more excuses. Not in 2010.

 The second aspect that I would like to improve is financial.

II. Financial

Up until 2008, my financials were in decent shape. Then, I got divorced. Whoever said, “It’s cheaper to keep her…” was right. Now, I don’t regret it, and I think it was ultimately for the best. But, it was costly.

Based on the information I’ve seen, it can take three to five years to fully recover financially from a divorce. I’m about half way through year two, and am on track to recover in the next year. But, it will take financial discipline to accomplish that end. Actually, if I really apply myself, I could be recovered about a half-year early. But, it requires me to stop wasting money, and making smarter financial decisions. In a word… discipline. And that’s why it’s a part of the Year of Discipline.

The third aspect I’m planning on improving is social.

III. Social

I’m not, by nature, a social person. I manage to get by, but I don’t go out of my way to get into social situations. I am a social ninja, after all.

My social indifference, however, keeps me from really getting out and doing (experiencing) much. It’s not that I consciously avoid social situations; it’s that I don’t spend time thinking about them. So, I’m not likely to experience something new because I don’t think about it.

So, in 2010, I’m going to make more of an effort to experience new things and meet new people. For most people, that doesn’t take discipline. But, for me it will because I’ll have to actually commit myself to thinking about it, and taking action.

The last thing I would like to improve is my focus across the board: personally and professionally.

IV. Focus

Last year was a good year both personally and professionally. But, it wasn’t great. While I did learn new things in both areas, I feel like I could improve in both areas.

Personally, I accomplished a lot last year around the house. I fixed a lot of small issues, and completed many home improvement projects. I also improved my relationships with my daughter and my girlfriend.  I am taking on more active roles in both relationships. So, in 2010, it will be more of the same. Keep improving… keep growing.

Professionally, I accomplished a lot in my first year in this job. But, I feel like I need to grow more professionally in this role, otherwise I could get stuck very easily. That means learning more of the technical applications required for the job, and possibly pursuing a Master’s degree. I’m still deciding which route to take but 2010 has to consist of action and growth. And in order to cause action and growth, I’ll need discipline (focus) to develop a plan and carry it out.

That’s my plan for this year. It isn’t going to be easy. (Just four days in, it hasn’t been easy, and things only figure to get harder as the year goes on.)

I’ll be blogging throughout the year, updating you on how the Year of Discipline is going and my struggles and lapses (although, hopefully, there won’t be any.) Check it out from time to time, and feel free to share your stories of how you’re improving areas of discipline in your life.

Another person in Memphis, TN, seems to have had the same idea as me. And, while I didn’t get the idea from this person, I do respect what they’re doing and hope they remain committed.