Life These Days and Goals for the Week of October 26, 2015
It has been a long, long time since I posted my goals for the week. Because you know what? It has been a long, long time since I set any weekly goals! Let me explain.
I used to set goals each week on my old blog and really loved how those goals gave me a sense of direction and motivated me to get things done. Then, all my goals and plans went out the window when I got kicked out of Canada. Suddenly, setting goals seemed like a silly thing to do. How could I set goals when I didn't even know what country I would be living in? What is the point of setting goals just to throw them all out the window?
So for that first year of living in the states, I didn't set regular goals. I did get a few things accomplished during that time, including growing my business and creating brand new items for So Sew Organized the Shop. But hindsight tells me that I didn't make as much progress as I could have, in that and a lot of others areas, if I had been setting and working toward even the simplest of goals.
A year ago I started working 3 part time jobs aside from my little Etsy business, so things at home took the back burner for a long time. And I missed it. So for the past few months I've been evaluating my schedule, being intentional about work time at home, and making to-do lists that help me accomplish more. I'm excited with what is being accomplished and the progress I see already!
Without purposeful, intentional goals there is no plan for moving forward. Instead I feel like a drowning person - flailing and kicking but not getting anywhere. If you don't plan to succeed in something, then you are planning to fail.
So I have decided to go back to the habit of setting weekly goals, sharing them here with my blogging friends, and updating you next week on my progress. This helps so much in keeping me accountable and giving me that extra motivation to push for excellence!
I'm going to keep it super simple, since I'm in a season of life where it would be easy to bite off more than I can chew. I'm picking 3 small goals in 3 specific areas of my life to work on, and focus on these things first.
Personal:
Spend time in God's word every day
Memorize one Bible verse
Practice piano 3 times
Practical:
Make pumpkin scones
Finish swapping out summer and winter clothes
Read 3 chapters of a current book
Business:
Take photos of new products
List at least 3 new items
Start a friend's custom order
I'll be back next Monday with an update on how I did with this list!
I would absolutely LOVE to hear your thoughts on goal setting and what does and doesn't work for you. If you'd like to join in on goal setting this week, leave your list in the comments section below and we can help keep each other accountable!
I used to set goals each week on my old blog and really loved how those goals gave me a sense of direction and motivated me to get things done. Then, all my goals and plans went out the window when I got kicked out of Canada. Suddenly, setting goals seemed like a silly thing to do. How could I set goals when I didn't even know what country I would be living in? What is the point of setting goals just to throw them all out the window?
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| Another example of my plans not going that well: Sunday we had no water pressure. That makes the 'ol morning routine look a bit different. :) Thankful for my cousin who got it fixed in no time! |
So for that first year of living in the states, I didn't set regular goals. I did get a few things accomplished during that time, including growing my business and creating brand new items for So Sew Organized the Shop. But hindsight tells me that I didn't make as much progress as I could have, in that and a lot of others areas, if I had been setting and working toward even the simplest of goals.
 |
| My favorite part of the day - coming home after a long day of work to sew, relax with tea, and listen to periscopes or podcasts. That yellow beauty of a fabric is a new product that will be available in my shop this week! |
A year ago I started working 3 part time jobs aside from my little Etsy business, so things at home took the back burner for a long time. And I missed it. So for the past few months I've been evaluating my schedule, being intentional about work time at home, and making to-do lists that help me accomplish more. I'm excited with what is being accomplished and the progress I see already!
 |
| Some beautiful fall foliage outside my workplace! (Which has nothing to do with this post, I just wanted to share it with you {wink!}) |
Without purposeful, intentional goals there is no plan for moving forward. Instead I feel like a drowning person - flailing and kicking but not getting anywhere. If you don't plan to succeed in something, then you are planning to fail.
So I have decided to go back to the habit of setting weekly goals, sharing them here with my blogging friends, and updating you next week on my progress. This helps so much in keeping me accountable and giving me that extra motivation to push for excellence!
I'm going to keep it super simple, since I'm in a season of life where it would be easy to bite off more than I can chew. I'm picking 3 small goals in 3 specific areas of my life to work on, and focus on these things first.
Personal:
Spend time in God's word every day
Memorize one Bible verse
Practice piano 3 times
Practical:
Make pumpkin scones
Finish swapping out summer and winter clothes
Read 3 chapters of a current book
Business:
Take photos of new products
List at least 3 new items
Start a friend's custom order
I'll be back next Monday with an update on how I did with this list!
I would absolutely LOVE to hear your thoughts on goal setting and what does and doesn't work for you. If you'd like to join in on goal setting this week, leave your list in the comments section below and we can help keep each other accountable!
Follow So Sew Organized:
That's great Nicole! I know I always accomplish more when I have my goals written down! I love how you broke them into different areas! Before I was writing and sharing my monthly goals but stopped! The last 2 weeks I have been writing out to do list in my planner for each day and it has been working great!
ReplyDeleteThat is what I have been doing, too! I have the arc day planner from Staples and have been using that for my to-do list as well. Good luck on your goals this week! :)
DeleteI am not too great at goal setting. I have goals in my head, but it seems like when I get them down on paper I don't complete them anyway. It is an area of my life I have been wanting to get more intentional in for sure!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever read the blog moneysavingmom.com? Crystal has been the biggest help to me in this area. She is very intentional and has helped me see how to set goals that are doable and not too overwhelming or totally "out there." I'd encourage you to go search for some goal setting posts on her site for some inspiration!
DeleteSetting goals has always helped me, but then again I can get too into making the goals and never get anything done! What book are you reading?
ReplyDeleteGood luck this week.
Marissa
Reading List
I hear ya! I try to set a simple plan in place so it doesn't require too much of my time each week. If I execute the plan properly, it does save me time on a daily basis and I also get more done! It just sometimes takes a little while to get to that point...trial and error! :)
DeleteI am reading a couple different books, but the one I really want to finish is "The Cows Are Out" by Trudy Chambers Price. It is about life on a Maine dairy farm, which is where I grew up. Being a farm girl I really am enjoying it! =)
I love how you split your goals into personal, practical and business.
ReplyDeleteI used to do it a bit differently, but I wanted to keep it super simple this time! We'll see how it works. :)
DeleteI love goal setting! I also currently run two of my own businesses while also contracting some work about 35 hours a week. So, I get not having as much time in the home to work on things you love. Goal setting helps me to really keep up with all I have going on while still making time to do things I love. I like how you broke them into categories. It almost gives you the impression you only have 3 big goals when you really have 9 little ones. It helps to make it not seem so overwhelming :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIts nice to hear from someone in a similar situation! I think goal setting will certainly help me through this busy time of life. Breaking them up in categories helps me keep them super simple...I am determined to not get over-zealous and try to put too much on my plate. :) Thanks for your comment!
DeleteI am a goal person. I don't write them, but perhaps I should start.
ReplyDeleteHttp://unveiledandrevealed.com
I think it helps! Just on a scrap of paper or maybe in a day planner or calendar...just to keep them where you can see them and be reminded! :)
DeleteIt's so good to have goals in order to know if you're getting things done. I think I need to start having weekly goals because all too often I feel as tough I'm wasting my days away.
ReplyDeleteThat was the feeling I had as well. I needed more motivation and also a plan to get things done. I'd love for you to share your own weekly goals with me each week! :) Good luck!
DeleteThis is good! Sometimes having few goals is good. And having them very simple is the best! I set goals myself... sometimes monthly or weekly, it depends of what I will be working during the month! - In terms of blogging I need set goals. Thanks for sharing! I'm visiting you from Intentional at Home Link Up!
ReplyDeleteYes, I really need to be more intentional about blogging goals. :/ Once I get back in the goal-setting groove I need to set more specific goals for blogging. Thanks for visiting and commenting! =)
Delete