Mechanism: I wrote myself a Google doc with my new year's resolutions and I'm going to set Astrid reminders to review them quarterly (let's say at the end of March, June, September, and in time for 2014's resolutions). I agree with @kator's comment that it's totally arbitrary. Maybe, but it's convenient! Also I'm sharing it here to make myself feel like I'm obligated to someone. :)

The full doc would be boring to put here, so here is the tl;dr version:

1. Productivity 2. School 3. Fitness

Slightly longer version:

1. Productivity - primary goal: "I will be productive and inspired all the time." Practically, this means wasting less time, doing more personal coding projects, learning new skills, and other things. My first task in this goal is to finish reading and start implementing GTD. A couple of inspiring discussions: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4979938 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4982649

2. School (I am a master's degree student) - primary goal: "I will finish all my course requirements and at least 70% of my thesis research and writing". (The definition of 70% is "feels like 70%".) Secondary goal: "My school time will be much more relaxed and awesome than it is currently, and I'll leave more time for side projects, side work, and personal stuff."

3. Fitness - primary goal: "By the end of 2013 I will be stunningly sexy." Inspiring discussion: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4971196