2020 has been a year of curve balls. No sooner do we think that we’ve managed to understand one thing then another pops right back up. Back at the start of the year, I bought a diary which helped you focus any yearly goals into 4 categories. Back then, I didn’t think some areas would become so unlikely. However, I thought I’d have a quick review of my 2020 goals to see how I’m managing to keep up.
My Word of the Year
One of the first things I was asked to decide on was a word for the year. I’ve seen people do this a lot online and honestly, I struggled to think of something. I wanted something that would be a reminder to grow. It needed to be something that I could live up to. When I realised that I wanted to take my writing a lot more seriously, I settled on Regeneration. Really, there’s not a lot I want to change about myself. Rather, make improvements and work towards a better me. Regeneration seemed to fit that idea perfectly.
Do I think I’ve lived up to this word? Eh, I’m not entirely sure. Over the past couple of months, I’ve taken a more proactive few of my time outside of work. I’ve started using my diary to do some serious time-blocking. In a way, I see this as living up to my chosen word. I’m making the improvements I need to keep my 2020 goals on track. I’m also making improvements to change me for the better as well.
What were my 2020 goals?
The diary that I picked up for this year had a handy section where it split your goals into four categories. These are business and career; health and fitness; home and family; and personal. It was nice to have a way to think about what I wanted to achieve for the year in little chunks. There is also a handy little section to create a bucket list for the year. Looking over the individual goals, I can sum it up in a few small points
- Become an author. Straight to the point, but my main business/career goals for the year were centred on my writing and finding a way to get published.
- Improve my overall health and fitness. I wanted to keep up with my vitamins and supplements and finally hit a 10 minute mile!
- Have more financial control. Pay off my credit card to reduce debt, and look into investing.
- Spend more time on the things I love. I have a goal to read 50 books this year, and to keep more up to date with my blog.
It seems weird that all the little things that I wanted to do this year can be so nicely bundled together. It makes it a lot easier to look at where I’m going well with my plans and what might need to be changed.
How Am I Progressing?
I will say that I am doing better in some areas than I am in others! I guess that is to be expected with the way this year has turned out. It has not quite gone to plan for most people, so I don’t mind that some things may take a little longer than I wanted.
Firstly, my journey to become an author is more confusing than I thought it would be. I’ve always thought of being traditionally published and going through the agent/big publisher house route. But that’s been changing. I’ve recently found some people online who are going through the indie author route, where they’re self-publishing. I’ve still not got all the information, but it had caused me to sit and think about where I want this to go.
Also, I’ve been trying to decide on if I should use my real name or a pen name. My main issue is that I have all my social media in my name, or at least most of it is and I don’t know how I’d be able to make the switches needed to move to the pen name life. Not sure if there’s anyone to talk through that with. However, I am feeling confident in the way things are working out and I’ve even been able to write during this lockdown!
The health and fitness area has been a little more tricky. I’ve been doing a lot better in terms of keeping on top of the supplements I need, but an injury in January and lockdown put a stop to the running. It’s only recently that I’ve been able to go back out and do my laps. I’m nowhere near a 10 minute mile, but I am making improvements. This time last year I couldn’t keep pace for 1.5miles, but this week I’ve been keeping it for over 3! That alone is a sign of improvement for me.
I am proud to say that from June I won’t have any credit card debt to name! I will have made the final payments and won’t have to worry about it again. This doesn’t mean I won’t use it, but it means I can use it as it’s meant to be used. It will be 4 years since I got the card where I can use it without having to worry
I’m currently on book 11 of the year, so a little behind where I need to be if I want to read 50 before the year is up. But I’m feeling hopeful. At least I should have enough in the house to help get me through! My blog suffered a little at the start of the year, and I kinda fell out of love with the written word. The past month has seen a change. I think keeping a plan of what I want to get written has made a huge difference. Now I need to keep to it!
I also started up my YouTube channel again! I had missed sitting behind a camera, and editing the videos. Even though I have not missed my annoying laugh, seriously question how anyone is able to put up with me for any period of time. It’s something I’ve been wanting to start up again for a while and though it wasn’t on my 2020 goals list it is something that I am really glad to have picked up.
Plans for the Next 6 Months
I’ve realised that I need to time block to be able to get the things done that I want. I need to have a way to hold myself accountable. Also, I kinda enjoy the feeling of ticking things off my list and making the progress that I need to.
I really want to see this year end on a high, which means sticking to my current plans. Who knows what might happen in the next couple of months, but I know that I will be setting my 40 minute timers to get some writing done. Although, I am not looking forward to the editing part of it.
My 2020 goals were something I set in place long before the world had heard of coronavirus and I’ll be dammed if I can’t get some of them completed, especially when so many allow me to sit at home. Hopefully, I might even surpass my 50 book read target.
Hasta la fuego
If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy Staying Productive in 2019* and 10 Ways to Keep Busy in Lockdown