I've been so inspired by all the goal talking. Though I have had goals in my head and heart, I've never committed them to paper or laid them out so I can analyze them. Now is a good chance to do that thanks to Jilly.
Five Year Goals:
- Be living on a hobby farm in Alaska
- Get in shape and healthy
- Travel once a year to various places with the family
- Credit score repaired
- Be self-sufficient
- Have written 5 ebooks
- Completed my undergrad and grad studies
- Learn to sew
From that my one year goals:
- Live under what we bring in ($)
- Create a warm and comfortable living environment at our new tiny house
- Complete 10 undergrad classes
- Write 1 ebook
- Lose 40 pounds
- Stable writing income
- Back to regularly doing my once a month cooking plan
Hopefully, I have a good year in front of me.
YAY you, Rebecca~
What were your priorities?
The living under our means and a warm home have got to come first.
From there focusing on the meals and the classes will be ongoing throughout all this.
Hmm, Rebecca - ten classes sounds like a lot for one year. is that taking on too much?
I've taking four this semester. Only two are at one time. They stagger the remaining ones so I don't start my third till there is only a week or two left of the others. The fourth one starts with a week left in the third. Taking four this semester, four in the spring, and then hopefully two in the summer.
What Lisa is saying by priorities are things like, what i think i am getting from you:
Health and Fitness
Education
Financial stability
Self Sufficiency
Creative Hobbies
Travel
Does this sound right for you?
Ah, great - two at a time sounds very reasonable with what else you have on your plate. Awesome!
Yup Rebecca we have a separate priorities thread that helps you build that foundation. Your priorities in life are the foundation for everything you do, so it's good to make sure the goals you set help you move towards your priorities. For example if your priority was having a content family and all your goals were about working long hours, then there'd be a mismatch
Often you don't realize the mismatch until you write the lists down and compare them!
Those look like great yearly goals!
Awesome Rebecca!!!
So, what's a hobby farm?
What great goals!
Are you working on an ebook now?
A hobby farm is basically a farm that is not full-fledged with an entire herd of cattle or field after field of grain. We would have a horse or two, some chickens, a few goats and sheep. We want to become as self-sufficient as we can. A hobby farm is just for fun or to provide needs for the immediate family.
Ebook is still in the mental phase. I did not want to start it as school was starting. I've made notes on it so it has begun.
Ah, that sounds like the kind of farm I'd like to live on too! I think it'd be great to grow enough veggies to take care of our veggie needs.
I hear you on the ebook thing. Good timing is necessary. Sadly, many of my book ideas stay in the mental phase
Maybe I should write about those in my thread LOL! At least get my notes down!
I think one key with ebooks and books is to just START them. It's fine to say you're too busy to finish them right now! Just make a word document or text file or whatever and put your notes into it. Give it a name. That is your starting point!
What ebook topics are you thinking of? We can brainstorm for good titles, also.
I want to write on on the bare bones that you need to know about the American Revolution. Some people just do not want to know interesting facts or other items. They just want to know what they need/should know about the American Revolution.
This would go over really well in the homeschooling community!
You could do "bare bones" about lots of history stuff, and probably get a lot of traffic!
And what's cool, is when a homeschool kid wants to learn about something - they want to learn ALL about it - every single bit! So there's another ebook!
LOL - funny you should say that. A homeschooling mom requested this of me. I've jotted down a million (slight exaggeration) topics to do a bare bones series about.
Well, I have started on one of my one year goals. We moved into the new house today. This goal will take awhile, but it will get done. Within the next three months, I want to paint the rooms, get curtains up, and decorate.
Goal of warm comfortable house is in the works. Actually, my son helped. Though we are going to paint in a few weeks, he was adamant to hang a few pictures up on the existing nails to brighten up the room. I loved that. My daughter put a vase of colorful flowers on the bakers rack. We are getting there.
YAY Rebecca! You are on the move!
Your children sound like they have good heads on their shoulders!
Goal of warm comfortable house is in the works. Actually, my son helped. Though we are going to paint in a few weeks, he was adamant to hang a few pictures up on the existing nails to brighten up the room. I loved that. My daughter put a vase of colorful flowers on the bakers rack. We are getting there.
Rebecca, It's the little touches that make it a home. The rest will happen in time. Enjoy the journey of putting your home together.
They can surprise me at times. My son took the entire day today and helped me wash dishes and clothes along with moving things. He was determined that I would not injure my hand further. He was so sweet!
I have some of my books on my shelves. A fridge full of food. A table to eat off of. And 1/2 of the beds up. Hoping to have all dishes washed and put away tomorrow and a good dent put into the laundry.
At this age your children are so good. You must understand them.
YAY Rebecca!! I hope you were able to rest well last night.
Not really. I got my next assignment from my professor and I couldn't stop thinking about it. Very frustrating.
Frustrated in reaching my daily goals that feed into my one year goals. It never fails that I get interrupted. I lost six hours today because of an emergency with a friend. I'm not upset about helping in an emergency, but if it is not something like that which happens often, it is my husband needing the computer to get his job done at the only time I've been able to get a chance to be on it myself. I cannot wait to get my new laptop in a couple of weeks!
These last few days had people dropping in every five minutes. Most of it was because we just moved a few days ago and they were checking on us. That was very sweet. Yet, frustrating when you want to write an article or study for a class.
This week I'm locking the door and hiding in the basement.
This reminds me of the thread about reducing stress by expecting the unexpected.
I don't have any actual advice by mentioning that. It's not like we can expect emergencies from friends.
You are so right about that. I've started to just stay up late at night when I know I won't be bothered and do my work. Then if nothing drastic happens the next day, I am on target and can take a nap if need be.
At least a new laptop is an awesome thing to look forward to, and then there will be no stopping you LOL!
Chaos is trying to take over. I refuse to let it. So, I'm going to really scrutinize my to-do and evaluate them against goals and reasons.
- Finish proofreading
Why? job
Goal? stable income as writer/editor
Obstacles? Time and computer accessibility will be the obstacles.
Overcome Obstacles? Take advantage of time on computer, give up social event.
Celebrate with? A cup of hot tea
- Response to professor
Why? class assigment
Goal? education
Obstacles? my own fear, interruptions, my hand
Overcome Obstacles? take a walk, tell myself that I can do it, hide to be alone and focus, take breaks to rest hand
Celebrate with? a happy dance
- Read supplemental material
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? interruptions and computer
Overcome Obstacles? go somewhere to be alone and use computer whenever husband is away from his work even if he is just visiting the latrine.
Celebrate with? take a walk
- Thrift store to buy dishware
Why? need plates and glasses
Goal? comfortable home environment and saving money
Obstacles? ability to go
Overcome Obstacles? go when husband gets back and before he leaves again.
Celebrate with? set table and admire
- Chapter 3 Quiz
Why? school assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? computer
Overcome Obstacles? do it in just a minute
Celebrate with? A smile of satisfaction
- Read Iliad - 5 sections
Why? research for paper
Goal? education
Obstacles? time
Overcome Obstacles? take book with me everywhere to read
Celebrate with? watching Price of Persia
Just by writing all this out I feel better about tackling my day. I want to unpack some more boxes, but my school assignments have a deadline and unpacking can be done by others or later. Really weeded out unnecessary things to do today.
Rebecca, I really like how you broke these down. It's good to know the reasons behind our goals. I'm inspired to take another look at some of mine now LOL!
Glad I could help. This really helped me.
I didn't get everything done yesterday, but as I realized that time was against me, I noted which ones HAD to be done that day and did them. That left me with only a portion of homework left. The thrift store didn't pan out. They had nothing. Will have to keep looking. I felt really good about that.
So, here are today's:
- Finish reading/watching supplemental school assignments
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? None unless all power goes out or something like that.
Overcome Obstacles? N/A
Celebrate with? a walk
- Chapter 3 quiz
Why? class assigment
Goal? education
Obstacles? none
Overcome Obstacles? N/A
Celebrate with? a moment of silence
- Small job
Why? job
Goal? writing income
Obstacles? hand
Overcome Obstacles? take breaks
Celebrate with? fold laundry
- Read Iliad books 8-10
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? none
Overcome Obstacles? N/A
Celebrate with? watch one hour of brainless TV
- Discussion Board questions in both classes
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? one will need research and is long which requires the environment to really think
Overcome Obstacles? send husband away
Celebrate with? snuggle with husband when I allow him back
- Student Handbook Quiz
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? time
Overcome Obstacles? not sure how long discussion board questions will take
Celebrate with? take a walk
I have others on my to-do list, but these are the ones who really need to get done. The others would be wonderful including an article for BellaOnline, but school deadlines have to come first. If I can do the others, I'm thinking about eating some ice cream to celebrate.
Rebecca - Ice Cream is always a wonderful way to celebrate.
It's difficult sometimes when we have our list of goals to do and then things get in the way.
I had big plans last night to get a LOT done and I walked in the door and my husband says - I've invited a friend and his family for a cook out. So instead of getting writing and other things on Bella Online set up. We had a cook out for 3 additional adults and their 4 kids ranging in age from 5 months to 6 years old. They didn't leave until after 10pm - well there went the evening.
I had ice cream, but it wasn't a celebration...lol...
Rebecca, where did you come up with that great idea on how to break everything out? It's fabulous. I think i might have to try that.
I like it too. Knowing the obstacles and what needs to be done to overcome them are sometimes half the battle!
I actually came up with it while looking at my to-do list and thinking of the comments by Lisa about priorities. Do these items fit with my priorities? Am I focusing on the right things? I'm getting a lot done this way and feeling good at the end of the day.
I love your rewards - so simple, yet meaningful.
Except the folding laundry one
Yesterday was another successful day though I did not get it all done. That is fine. I got what needed to be done.
Here are today's:
- Discussion Board question on Greek and Persian armies
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? Having the ability to concentrate on it.
Overcome Obstacles? find a place to hide
Celebrate with? a cup of tea
- Research for writing job
Why? job
Goal? writing salary
Obstacles? computer access
Overcome Obstacles? stay up after husband goes to bed
Celebrate with? going to bed
- BellaOnline article on whether or not Homer's works were historical.
Why? writing
Goal? writing career
Obstacles? hand
Overcome Obstacles? break in Dragon
Celebrate with? a soak in the tub
- Visit specialist for hand
Why? to get the use of my hand back.
Goal? writing
Obstacles? none because I will bulldoze right through them.
Overcome Obstacles? N/A
Celebrate with? tears of joy
- Read book 1 of Herodotus
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? time
Overcome Obstacles? take book everywhere and read whenever I can
Celebrate with? TV
- Write BellaOnline Article about the Mediterranean Triad
Why? writing
Goal? writing
Obstacles? time
Overcome Obstacles? do it after everyone goes to bed
Celebrate with? a piece of chocolate
Today is going to be extremely productive as the Dragon software is helping me fly through things.
- Complete 1 more BellaOnline article (Done!!!!)
Why? writing
Goal? writing
Obstacles? None because I did it already!
Overcoming Obstacles? NOT!
Celebrate? Sung a silly song
- Complete two writing jobs
Why? money
Goal? writing career
Obstacles? power outage and people dropping by
Overcoming Obstacles? Prayer and do not disturb sign
Celebrate? Jump for joy
- small job
Why? money
Goal? writing career
Obstacles? power outage and people dropping by
Overcoming Obstacles? Prayer and do not disturb sign
Celebrate? Cuddle dog
- Another BellaOnline article
Why? writing
Goal? writing career
Obstacles? interruptions
Overcoming Obstacles? threats
Celebrate?Let my write ahead support group know about it
- A few other writing jobs I would love to get done
Why? Money
Goal? writing career
Obstacles? in-laws show up early
Overcoming Obstacles? could lock the door
Celebrate?Spend the rest of the day giddy
Goals 1 and 2 done. Working on 3 after lunch.
Another goal I have now comes directly from a class research project I am doing. It is about decluttering and creating an environment to learning. So far the reading is very interesting.
Though I didn't lay out my goals for the weekend as I had over the past through days, I have done better than I had thought I was going to do.
I did get a little overwhelmed last night. My in-laws were up and I had all this work to do. Once I got to work, I realized how silly I was being. It is so funny how you can get yourself worked up over something when in reality there is nothing to it.
I've done that too Rebecca.
So cool you still got some stuff done.
I got nothing done LOL!
What is your class research project?
I have to research on how clutter in my environment effects my learning. I have to write a five page paper on it. It is very interesting.
I should have done this earlier today, but the family emergency threw me off.
So, here are today's goals.
-Finish writing job
Why? money
Goal? career
Obstacles? That blasted creature called time!
Overcome Obstacles? Keep on it and ask for help in editing my work.
Celebrate with? a fudge pop
- Reference page
Why? class assigment
Goal? education
Obstacles? computer useage
Overcome Obstacles? work on it after everybody goes to bed
Celebrate with? a cup of hot tea and honey
- Laundry
Why? clean house and clothes
Goal? warm home
Obstacles? hand
Overcome Obstacles? take breaks
Celebrate with? cuddle the puppy
- Plagiarism worksheet
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? none
Overcome Obstacles? N/A
Celebrate with? watch one hour of brainless TV
I'm working on it!
Awesome Rebecca!
Family emergency? I hope everything is okay!
My mother was rushed to hospital yesterday with internal bleeding. They have her stabilized but might have to do open surgery. Will know more tomorrow as sisters and nieces keep me updated.
Rebecca,
Thank you for all of our posts on goals. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
take care,
Leah
Oh Rebecca, I'm so sorry to hear this. You and your family are in my prayers - speedy recovery for your mom.
Rebecca - I hope everything has worked out smoothly for your family! That sounds scary!
Mom went back under scope. blood count dropped. They didn't find anything.
Got to regroup my goals for this weekend. Got too much to do and not enough time. I think we all know how that is.
So that is good news about your mom, right?
Yes, I think so. Haven't heard much from family in last two days. No news is good news sometimes
Today's main goal is to get the rough draft of my mid-term done. It is two questions that are very broad. I could write books on these questions.
Rebecca -
I'm so glad your mom is doing better!
It is awesome that you feel like you could write so much! Most people worry that they won't be able to write enough on a topic! Good for you
I'm so flustered over how broad it is though it is good for BellaOnline who will get the entire thing
I've got the rough draft of one of the essays done. Trying to calm down mentally and switch gears for the second question. How long is too long for these types I wonder?
Today's goal - get my mid-term done!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome Rebecca! To me, getting the rough draft out is the hardest part.
OK, I have been very lax with this thread and focusing on my goals. That changes today.
-Post Discussion Board responses in two classes
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? Nothing
Overcome Obstacles? has to be done so anything will be done to get it accomplished.
Celebrate with? a walk to the thrift store
- Writing job
Why? money
Goal? career
Obstacles? errands
Overcome Obstacles? be smart in which errands I do and the order I do them in.
Celebrate with? a cup of hot tea and honey
- Clean kitchen and living room
Why? clean house
Goal? warm home
Obstacles? other people
Overcome Obstacles? take phone off hook and lock door
Celebrate with? an hour of mindless TV
I have been really lax too Rebecca. Your post really motivated me!
Deanna, glad I could help. I think I've been more crazed and pulled in multiple directions this past week than lax.
Here are today's:
-Post Discussion Board responses in two classes
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? Nothing
Overcome Obstacles? has to be done so anything will be done to get it accomplished.
Celebrate with? a nap - these are detailed and exhausting topics
- Writing job
Why? money
Goal? career
Obstacles? errands
Overcome Obstacles? be smart in which errands I do and the order I do them in.
Celebrate with? a cup of hot tea and honey
- Write an article for the herbs site
Why? writing career
Goal? a job I enjoy
Obstacles? other people
Overcome Obstacles? take phone off hook and lock door
Celebrate with? an hour of mindless TV
Those sound like wonderful tasks Rebecca! Hot tea and honey sounds lovely - I hope you had some!
I did have some tea. It was great.
Today.... um....... I think Karl Marx is my main focus.
-Research and get first draft on Communist Manifesto essay
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? I know nothing at all about this
Overcome Obstacles? sequester myself and get it done.
Celebrate with? a piece of chocolate
- Writing job
Why? money
Goal? career
Obstacles? essay
Overcome Obstacles? use it as a break from Karl Marx
Celebrate with? a nap
- Sort notes for Ancient Greece final paper
Why? class assignment
Goal? education
Obstacles? other people and other assignments
Overcome Obstacles? find a place to hide
Celebrate with? a game of backgammon with my son
Rebecca - that's too funny, I just had to read part of the Communist Manifesto for my Sociology class. Half of the class was complaining about it because they found the language too hard to understand.
I learned a lot. It was not that hard of a read, just boring because it did not interest me at the moment. Will have to read again to fully understand.
I have many goals tomorrow and this week, but my biggest is some self-evaluation. I have taken a vow of silence for the next week to rediscover myself. I have gone all day with 99% success rate of not saying a word. I learned a lot.
We have one mouth and two ears with the more doing way more work. I want to know what I am missing. It was eye opening. My goal is to keep my silence for the next week and to rediscover myself.
Rebecca -
My aunt did a vow of silence for a month, and she enjoyed it greatly!
It would be fairly easy for me to do because I work at home and pretty much the only person I talk to is Bob, my boyfriend. I do Skype my dad every evening but we could skip that for a week.
I think MUCH harder for me would be a vow of not communicating in any way - i.e. not typing any messages
I could never do a vow of silence. After being deaf for 15-20 years I had way too many times of silence (except for the constant tinnitus) when I couldn't participate.
I just want it for a little while. There is too much noise in this family to the point of me getting headaches. I want to teach them that silence can be beneficial when done right.
Lisa, I am not giving up my typing. Then I would go crazy. I just crave some peace and quiet. No screaming. No running. No shouting across the house. No loud television. No video games. Maybe a little music in the background.
� I have taken a vow of silence for the next week to rediscover myself. I have gone all day with 99% success rate of not saying a word. I learned a lot�
Hi Rebecca, a recent TV programme here in the UK took a small group of people to a retreat where they were not allowed to speak for several days. They found emotions deep within that released them from all sorts of anxieties and guilt, and they discovered a life-changing self-awareness that was nothing like they had ever experienced before! (JOY)
OK. My goals this week is to just stay caught up. I have to be honest. My biggest problem has been that I have no one place to call my own to write or study. I'm going to work on that this week (or kill a few family members LOL ). No, hubby promised to help me.
Rebecca -
I absolutely understand your need for silence. A benefit of me working at night is that it is quite silent. No cars driving past. The house is absolutely quiet and peaceful. In the day when Bob has the TV running I can find it hard to concentrate.
Have you thought about noise canceling headphones, with soft music playing? That does wonders!
Absolutely you should have "a place of your own"!! That is so important! there must be some corner of the house that you can carve out, to make your own little nook.
How did your week of silence go? That is fascinating that you did that. I often have days where I talk to no one, but that's because no one is here.
It went ok. It was hard because one person thought I was being ridiculous and was always trying to get me to break it. I have a friend that has offered me her sons room during the times he goes back to school so that I can escape. They will respect the silence.
My short-term goals have changed a little bit because our long-term goals have changed. We are determined to move to Alaska in 2-3 years. We want to achieve our dreams of a hobby farm. We have been torn between Alaska and Maine. Still not completely final on Alaska, but we will be going to one of those places. The kids are really excited. Now, to save the money up to move.
How awesome and exciting! Both places sound good but I think Alaska might win out in the cool department. Plus they have good tax incentives for residents.
I want to see you make the hobby farm happen. And then I want to visit it!
Yes definitely we want to see photos, Rebecca
This is a great example of how sometimes goals change, but your priorities tend to stay the same! It's good to review your goals every few months to see if they need tweaking!
Alaska is SO cool, I've loved my visits there.