2016 Goals – Planning the year ahead

It’s 8am on Monday.

The kids are off to school for their first day after winter break.

The house is nice and quiet. And dark. A storm came in last night and rain is promised all day long, which I’m loving at the present moment – feels like a perfect time to turn inward and consider the year ahead.

And it’s not just me. This is the time of year that many of us choose to reflect on the previous year and make plans for the new one.

For those of us who are parents, we likely just spent 2 weeks in a very different routine than usual. And that means that today is the first full day to reflect and plan without the pull of gingerbread-house making, xmas shopping, family trips to the snow, board games & puzzles, and extra holiday-time social occasions. For me, the last two weeks have been joyfully and fully dedicated to family time (which was so great, I truly didn’t want it to end).

But as much as I didn’t want to send my kiddos off and lose that nonstop treasured family time, I also know that I am most happy with a balance of time for myself / creative projects along with family time. And even though January has already arrived, it’s now my time to formalize my plans for the year. Luckily, I’ve been journaling and went through my 2016 goal worksheets several weeks ago and already have a good idea of where I’m headed this year… save a little wrapping up some loose ends.

I share these in hopes that it will help you get thinking about your plans.

Perhaps, even, given the first has come and gone, giving you permission to do this anytime in the coming week or so, while the year is still young and you feel the beauty of perspective in looking ahead at a full year open to possibilities that you can shape and create. Often, only through time to reflect, plan, and contemplate do we give our dreams we give the time, energy and attention to take form.

MY TOP PLANS FOR THE NEW YEAR*

* I like to use the word ‘plans’ versus goals or resolutions, at this stage, because they aren’t just “pie in the sky” hopes. And I rarely find that things I make plans for don’t happen – a goal with a plan turns a wish into reality.

1. New business growth

I’ve been experimenting for a little over a year now with ways to help inspire and provide practical help to other creative and entrepreneurial women.

I’d like to continue in this direction. This year, I’m going to start the year with practical tools and resources based on my own discoveries and systems.

I’m also going to meld my graphics, technical and web capabilities with my offerings much more tightly, offering my first ever entrepreneurial-based support & web design packages.

I’ve also, for the first time, created a 2016 planner which includes goal-setting for each month, week & day, and I plan to continue to grow my This Cherished Life Etsy store to include more books and inspirational tools and items.

• What inspires me about this: I’ve spent 15 years running my own business and enjoying the flexibility and income that comes from being in charge of my own fate. However, I never fully steered the direction of my work… instead the work I did was entirely shaped by my customers. Focusing on helping entrepreneurs, creatives and parents who face similar challenges as me, or have similar passions as mine, provides a new sense of satisfaction. Being able to help more women, especially, in living their ideal work+life balance, be amazing parents, and use their creative talents to provide value and help others is exciting and fulfilling. As parents, we are often spread so thin that we forget to take care of ourselves and nurture our creative passions, but doing so is the key to being the best person we can be for our children and loved ones. It’s a win-win, but many of us could use more support and inspiration to follow our own dreams with success.




• How do I want to feel: Successful, helpful, like I’ve helped others overcome an obstacle or transformed their life




• How I will support this plan (When? Who will help? Dealing with obstacles?): I will continue to devote Mondays to new business planning and work, and I won’t schedule meetings for that day. I will continue to set aside 15 hours per week (minimum) towards new business work.




• Measurable outcome: My new work will pay for itself (i.e. the income from the time I put in will be equivalent to my hourly rate and/or I will make my monthly income goals)

2. Blogging

I’ve struggled with blogging regularly – one of the paramount commitments any blogger should have. I run into obstacles with the amount of time to commit, editing my thoughts, what to share, and my desire to be helpful. I will, this month, come up with a plan to overcome these obstacles and put it in place by the end of the month.

• What inspires me about this: When I am blogging without worry, I enjoy the process of sharing. When I have a personal message, my blog also acts as a journal of sorts – I blogged steadily, starting in 2004, about my journey as a parent, without the concerns I have now that my blog is more public. I love looking at other parents’ blogs when they use it to keep track of their children’s growth and special moments. I want to enjoy my blog again. And, I want to be able to use it to share my message as well. It also can serve as a testing ground and be good writing practice for future book projects.




• How do I want to feel: Free to share my creative journey and parenting moments. Expressive.




• How I will support this plan (When? Who will help? Dealing with obstacles?): This is still in the works, but I will commit to creating a plan by the end of this month.




• Measurable outcome: Blog once a week minimum and email blog subscribers at least every other week.

3. Continued commitment to my morning routine, hobbies & exercise

It’s only been a few years that I’ve rediscovered my hobbies, like reading, painting and yoga. And, it’s only been a little less than a year that I’ve started running regularly. I don’t want to lose these new habits and therefore think it’s important to keep them in the forefront of my plans. I’d like to continue spending time doing things I love, just for the sake of enjoyment. And, I’d like to continue running regularly (or doing any other exercise that satisfies me in a similar way).

• What inspires me about this: I feel like it’s too easy to get caught up in what other people want me to do on a daily and weekly basis. My morning routine of journaling and yoga, painting, and my runs are time for me and only me. I find new inspiration, reflection, and perspective from each activity, and am always happier for the time I spend doing these activities. This time for me shows my kids a respect for myself that I’d like them to learn from and create for themselves when they are adults, and helps inspire them to pursue their own creative projects.




• How do I want to feel: Stress-free, loving, creative, inspired.




• How I will support this plan (When? Who will help? Dealing with obstacles?):  I’d like to have at least one evening per week, after the kids are in bed, dedicated to non-TV time to read or paint. I also will give up dinner hour, if needed, to create time to paint. It is important to share this goal with Tim so he can help create this time for me. I will run on Sunday mornings, as well as other times I have free during the week. And, I will continue to get up at least 30 minutes earlier than necessary for work (6am at the latest) on weekdays in order to have a 30 minute morning routine which includes dedicated time for journaling, yoga and reading the news.




• Measurable outcome: Run at least 6 miles per week. Paint at least twice per month. Read at least one book per month.

4. Be mindful and present

This is a broad goal, but one I feel is very appropriate, and actually in-line with an overall theme of mine for this year. In 2013, my theme was to be present, and actually to stop letting my ambitions overwhelm my ability to enjoy the moment. In 2014, my goal was to determine what direction to take my business, and pull my new inspiration into my business. In 2015, my goal was to experiment with possibility for my new business. However, over the last couple of years, this new focus on my business has kept me from being as present as I had been in 2013. This year, my hope is to bring all my newfound growth together – to be present and be able to focus on my business. I want to truly use my creativity and passions to grow my business, while not feeling I’ve ignored or not given my all to my loved ones, especially my children. It’s, as is everything, pursuing ultimate balance in my life – loving my work, being present for my children, enjoying life to its fullest.

• What inspires me about this: There is a calm and peacefulness that comes from those in tune with themselves. Those who speak less and listen more. Those who seem to be in tune with their hearts with every action and word. I don’t want to be led by my ego, but by my heart. I don’t want to be judgmental, but understanding. I want to feel at ease and peace with my decisions and how I share my love – with my husband, my kids, my friends and my community.




• How do I want to feel: Mindful, light, loving, full, happy, joyful, present, without attachment.




• How I will support this plan (When? Who will help? Dealing with obstacles?):  I’d like to read more about Buddhism and how to put more Buddhist and Zen practices into play in my life. I will continue to create a focused work environment with little multitasking and distraction. When I’m writing, for example, I am better off not at my regular desk. I also have very strict rules about checking email and social media during focused work time. I calendar in no more than 3 daily items to focus on during my workday, and also time block my different activities each week.




• Measurable outcome: I will feel without regret. I will not have judgement. My family will notice my new level of happiness and peacefulness.

5. Other potential projects/pursuits

I have a few more projects I may pursue later this year.  “On the radar” to revisit or plan in the coming months: Book project – consider beginning in summer; Children’s book project – for fun; Website for a community of women/bloggers; Joint venture retreat; Travel plans to Spain, Tahoe and Costa Rica.

Your turn!

If you’d like to create your own plans for the new year, complete with why your goals inspire you, how you’d like to feel, and how you will support and measure your plans, I’ve created this simple worksheet to help you – download here.

 

Leave a comment about what you’ve got in store for 2016. Writing things down and sharing has amazing effects on your commitment level – so share away!