Achieving Goals in 2017
I am one of those people who loves to set new goals at the beginning on the year. No matter how corny New Year’s resolutions might seem to some people. Setting new goals to achieve means a fresh start, new beginnings, a clean slate. So while I am not a fan of January weather, I am a fan of the New Year, New Year’s resolutions, and working toward my new goals.
Last year was a killer of a year. I was busy with work, I got married, I was trying to diet and work out to look good in my dress, my kid’s schedules exploded (they need their own personal uber) and I just generally had a lot on my plate.
It was a harder year than I’d expected. As much as I loved wedding week, it was by far the best event of my life; I am looking forward to not having that stress this year, but life never seems to slow down.
I know you’ve been there. Right?
Reflecting back on the year one of the things that 2016 taught me is I take on too much. I already knew this; it’s no great surprise, but I’ve never been willing to change.
There was always so much I wanted to do I was afraid to slow down. What I finally realized is that yes, there are zillion things I want to do but if I don’t take the time to enjoy what I’m able to get done then what’s the point.
My kids are 15 and 10. Five minutes ago they were toddlers. They are growing up way too fast, and I don’t want to miss out on anytime I have left with them. I want to travel and make memories with them. I want to enjoy every moment of every day for my family and me.
Life is too short not to do what makes you happy with who you love.
As I’ve contemplated this the last few months since my wedding and things started to slow down a little; I decided I WOULD make a change.
And more importantly, Stick to it this time.
To keep me focused I came up with my word for the year, well actually three words for the year.
Simple – Intentional – Consistent
I could have simplified by just leaving it at Simple. However, I can’t naturally be simple. I need to work on it. I need to be intentional and not waste time on unnecessary things and be consistent in the things I am choosing to do. Not jump around with shiny ball syndrome.
To stay Simple and Intentional, I narrowed my goals down to 3 for the year. I usually have about 25, so this was a huge improvement.
1. Become debt free except the house (this will be a huge challenge and mean a lifestyle change, but it’s doable).
2. Increase my income from Laina Turner Media (books/blog) to $10000 a month.
3. Lose 25 lbs (which I lost in 2016 but need to lose again. Don’t you hate that. It’s about a lifestyle change here too.).
The old me would have looked at these goals and think, how can I accomplish these all by February. Then get frustrated when it didn’t happen. All while picking up 15 more things to do because “I can handle it.”
The new me followed the advice I give in my Reach Your Goals ebook/workbook.
That advice is slow and steady wins the race. To create overreaching goals with realistic smaller goals in a short, manageable time frame, and be methodical and consistent.
I took those large goals and broke them down into monthly goals for January, February, and March. I refuse to worry about anything past March. I will focus on the day to day, week to week, of each month and then assess for the following month. At the end of the first 3, I will then plan the next 3 and so on. I am going to focus on each moment.
January will look like this:
Debt –pay down debt by $5000 (at least). I know that seems like a lot, but I had some side projects in Nov/Dec that I won’t get paid for until the middle of January. It’s ‘extra’ money, so I’m going to pretend I don’t have it and pay stuff off. Rather than rationalize why I worked hard and deserve a new purse or shoes.
Cut the grocery bill by better planning
Eat out less
Income – increase $500 over January 2016 with my books/blog.
Work with blog coach Helene Sula on improving my blog and creating products
Release Presley Thurman mystery #12
Focus on selling 1 t-shirt/mug logo
Improve my marketing/social media engagement
Health – lose 2lbs
Bootcamp 4 days a week
Walk twice a week
Yoga once a week (I’d love to go more, but the studio schedule and my kid’s schedules don’t mesh)
Luckily I have a partner in crime for all these workout activities. Thank GOD for Kathy!
I wrote all this out in my gorgeous, Kate Spade planner, Kate Spade New York 17-Month Large Agenda – Gold Dots[image error]. I know I’m trying not to spend, but I had to have it. Looking at it inspires me.
I normally plan my week on Sundays so when I do I will then drill down even further to get my daily activities. My boot camp instructor preachers to have all your meals planned and prepped for the week. If there is no thought involved you just do it. No matter how busy you get and she’s right. I am better when I have a plan, a focus.
There are many other things I would like to accomplish this year but they will have to be secondary. I need to focus on the most important.
I still love Marie Kondo’s book,The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing[image error]. It helped me purge and organize my closet last fall which I’m still loving. It has made my life so much easier. I want to continue the decluttering throughout the house little by little and work on keeping it cleaned and organized. It makes me feel so much better.
In that same vein, I want to work on creating a capsule wardrobe. Paring down what I still have even more and making sure all my pieces work together and I have a good variety for different occasions. I can’t wear workout clothes every day.
I am planning on taking the kids to Gulf Shoes for Spring break so need to save money for that.
I’d LOVE to take them to Europe this summer before Caden gets too old he doesn’t want to travel with his mom, but not sure that will happen. I don’t want to incur any more debt when I’m trying to pay it off.
2016 was the first year in 6 I didn’t publish a book. The stress of the year stole my creative mojo. I want to correct that in 2017, and I will be writing about my production schedule on the blog soon.
I know 2017 with still be super busy. My kids make sure of that. But I already feel calmer about the weeks ahead knowing I am going to stick to my plan.
That I will say no to anything that doesn’t relate directly to my goals or is kid related that are must do’s like coaching my daughter’s 5th-grade basketball team.
Knowing that my goals are small and completely doable.
I got this.
What do you have planned for 2017? Are you ready to kick this year’s ass?
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