The New Year is here. With it comes feelings of fresh starts and most people feel most inspired to change when that is present. I do have to stay, if you aren’t willing to leave some bad habits in the past, this year will look very similar to all the others. I realized that my goals were going to cost me some habitual habits, and so this post is going to be a little different. I will be sharing five of my goals with you, because this year I plan on manifesting a lot more, but I will then highlight what habit needs to change and new one implemented for me to succeed. This is an interactive post. Print out the worksheet below. Print as many as you need. I have a lot of goals this year. Big dreams! Big dreams! You can either follow along or complete yours after you read this post. Game? Leggo!
Goal #1: Be more consistent with my blog by sticking to my content calendar posting once a week.
Habit: Laziness and procrastination
To be replaced with: Planning and preparation
I always feel that I have enough time to work on all my posts and social media/blog images, until it’s the day before and my to-do list is very long. I’m usually working at my RN job the day before I decide to post and am just mentally tired when I get home. Before this year began, I sat down and listed content I would enjoy creating. I printed out a calendar and assigned content throughout the next 6 months. I plan to batch my work. If you don’t know what batching it, let me explain. I will be assigning myself times throughout the week to sit and work on content. You can give yourself as much or as little time as you want. Everyone has a sweet spot- 45 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours. It depends on you. I will vary my time based on my day, giving myself some leeway knowing that life happens. I believe batching and scheduling my posts will prompt me to be more consistent. If it’s scheduled to post a certain time/day, I have to make sure it’s done or my blog will start to look unprofessional. I will also start working outside the house. Working at home only makes me want to randomly sit on my couch or crawl in bed or look in the refrigerator for the 20th time. Paying to be at a co-working space may help me be more focused since I’m wasting money if I’m not productive. I want to start treating this like what it is- my business. So it’s time to put in the energy and consistency it needs to be successful.
Goal#2: Exercise 1-2x/week
Habit: Laziness
To be replaced with: Accountability partner(s) and proper scheduling based on work week
As a nurse, and just human being, I understand the importance of exercise. Working in a cardiac unit, I really take being healthy to heart (you like that corny pun? I know you do). I do not exercise because I am lazy. I have a small gym in my apartment complex. All I have to do it walk downstairs. I sometimes think I will have the energy to exercise after work, but I NEVER do. On my days off, if I don’t have anything pressing to do, I often don’t leave my apartment. So I again need to make this a priority. I will schedule my workout times versus just leaving it up to feelings. I will also be asking one of my friends who I know is more organized than me to be my accountability partner. To just text/call me and ask if I worked out. And if I didn’t, ask me why. Being accountable might make me get on the treadmill more than once every 6 months.
Goal #3: Save 1/3 of my emergency fund
Habit: Poor budget management and not paying myself second
To be replaced with: Automatic online savings, cash based budget, and accountability partners
If you have read my previous posts about budgeting (here) and money management (here), you will know that I was so fired up to get my financial house in order. Old habits are hard to break and I am back trying to figure out what will work best- and stick- for me to get my finances in order. I realized that when I saved automatically online, I would ‘forget’ about it. Then when I would go to check it, I would be shocked at the amount of money saved. I have opened a new online savings account so I can automatically save. I realize I cannot be trusted. Also, I will be going back to the cash method. It really made me more aware of the money I was spending. I will also be scheduling a time to sit down and budget my month so I can get to my goals, as well as telling my friends I am really trying to save this year, so they will hold me accountable and will understand if I spend a lot of time at home.
Goal #4: Grow in my faith and be more consistent with self-care
Habit: Not making this aspect a priority; laziness
To be replaced with: Creating a creative list of activities and making it a priority
Accountability is what I lack here. I know that my faith is important to me. This is a solo path. My faith will bleed into every aspect of my life, but I realize that I have to do the work in order to see the results, no one else. I plan on finding a devotional book or online source to assist me in reading more of the bible, spending quiet time meditating, and working on parts of myself that I know could use a little love. I will create a routine that will be beneficial for me and my faith. I know if I wait until evening time, I am either too sleepy or distracted. I am going to create varying activities for myself to participate in so I will have a daily opportunity to grow in my faith. Be that reading on my lunch break in a secluded area, having quiet time before I shower at night and reading when I wake up on my days off. Listening to faith-based and encouraging books and podcasts when I am driving or exercising; there are ways to incorporate my growth into my life besides sitting down and reading the bible, which to be honest, can make me sleepy depending on the content. If’s it s priority, you create the time. It does not just appear. This is my new attitude.
Goal #5: Organize my apartment and finish decorating
Habit: Analysis Paralysis, not seeking help, poor budgeting
To be replaced with: The KonMari method
I am currently immersed in the book the life changing magic of tidying up by Marie Kondo. If you aren’t familiar with the KonMari method, Google her. I can already tell this is going to be some hard, emotional work. I can also tell that this will change my life. I am grateful to my friend for gifting it to me. I will be tracking this journey on the blog, so stay tuned. Until then, I will start by not planning to clean on the days I work. It never happens. I will schedule my cleaning for my off days, and early in the morning before I have time to make excuses as to why I can’t. Along with saving for my emergency fund, I will add a little extra for some new furnishings for my apartment. I was blessed with a lot of key pieces when I moved out almost 5 years ago, but I’m ready to showcase my style. All this will be after I finish the KonMari method. Nervous is an understatement.
Well those are my goals and habits. I finally realized that it’s not the goal itself that may be too lofty, but my habits need to be adjusted. Taking a hard look at the root of the reasons I can’t be productive or more healthy is my goal for this year, and I plan on conquering that with everyday changes.
What are some of your 2019 goals? What habit do you know will hinder you from being success towards that goal and how do you plan on tackling it? Share in the comments below! You just might help someone.
xoxo, Panda
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