Blogger: Rachel Kent
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
So we’ve talked about unrealistic goals and realistic goals. Now it’s time to talk about setting goals for next year. I suggest you set goals in three ways for next year.
First, build off of your goals from this year. If you’ve been successful at something, take it to the next level; like the goat farm from Monday. If your goats have made you some money, make a new goal for this year to invest that money to expand your goat business. Thankfully most of us don’t need to worry about goats. Books are better in so many ways!
Second, add a few new goals to the list. Think about what you want to accomplish and set a reasonable goal that can be completed in a year’s time. Make sure your motivation is high to accomplish the goal. If you aren’t motivated, but know it’s something that needs to be done, locate an accountability partner who will check in on you weekly or monthly. Sometimes we need to ask for help to achieve success with the really difficult goals! 🙂
Third, set a goal that encourages you to have fun or to enjoy time with friends and family. Surprisingly, these goals are sometimes the hardest to accomplish because everything else ends up seeming more important on a day-to-day basis. But we all know that family and friends are the most important, so let’s set a goal that helps us to connect with those we are closest to us. That will also keep us from being overcome with the work thrown at us each day.
Thankfully we still have a month and a half to work completing our 2011 goals! It’s been good for me to revisit mine before it’s too late.
Do you do a good job balancing work with spending time with family/friends? Which goal would you like to build off of for next year? What is a new goal for you?
Please share if you feel comfortable!
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I definitely have a hard time balancing work, family and friends. One thing that’s helped a lot is a bi-weekly coffee date with writer friends. Also, I select volunteer options my friends have signed up for at school. I know I’ll get to chat and have a good time!
Balancing is tough. If I’m deep in a ms, it’s hard for me to pull out of it. But I’m getting better as that was a goal of mine for this year and one I’ll be carrying into the next. Yesterday I wanted to stay home and work, but I knew I needed to visit with a friend. We had a great time and I knew I’d made the right decision. I need to follow Jill and set up bi-weekly coffee dates. That sounds fun!
These are great suggestions, Rachel. Number three is always the hardest for me because I feel guilty that I’m goofing off and not working. I have to remind myself that friend/family time is critical as well.
All your references to goats (only one letter off from “goals,” I noticed) has me remembering a childhood goal–to run off to the alps and live like the book character, Heidi. I always thought it sounded heavenly, romping over the hills and playing with the goats. That one might fall into the unrealistic category.
Great tips, Rachel! I recently started adding “quality family time” in my daily planner because I found that my loved ones were getting all the leftovers of my time. Having them on my list helps me realize they’re just as important (more than!) my other to-dos.
Love these tips, Rachel–especially the last one. I don’t balance family and writing as well as I would like, but I’m getting better.
For 2012, I would like to focus on:
1) Completing the first draft of Amelia’s Mission by the end of February. It’s realistic if I make time for writing a bit every day.
2) As for a new goal, I have getting my new website and social media platforms up and running, as my second book will be under a pen name and a different brand than the first one.
3) A goal that centers around family and friends would be to commit to keeping Saturday a non-work day. If I stay focused during the week, then I should be able to not work at all on Saturday, and then just log in at night on Sunday after the kids are in bed to create blog posts for the next week.
Thanks for getting 2012 to a good start, Rachel.
“Fun” goals are always the best — even when I feel guilty about setting them!
I can get so lost in my WIP. Since my kids are older, it’s easy to just let them do their own thing. But in seeing the tendency, sweet hubby has reestablished a Bible study time in the evenings and I do devotions with the girls every morning. Add at least one meal with that and I’m much better than I was this time last month! Balancing time with buddies is a whole ‘nuther animal.