Is it acceptable to post things about the New Year at this point? It’s January 31st and I suppose since we’re still in the first month of 2022, I’m going to go for it. If you’re already one month into your goals and killing it, feel free to scroll on by and say a little prayer for me. But if you’re having the sort of January that’s felt a year long in and of itself and thinking maybe actually February will be your fresh start for the year, there may be a special nugget in here for you. Hint: a good kind of nugget, not the kind you find in your child’s carseat three weeks after regretfully going through the drive-thru or the stinky kind you find in the bottom of a diaper. The golden, good, knowledge kind-of-nugget.
Most years, I know right off the bat what my year will bring and what I want to do with it. I’m on year two of the opposite: it has literally taken me all month to decide how I’m going to approach this year. Maybe it’s a motherhood thing. Maybe it’s a post-2020-COVID-changed-all-our-plans-so-why-plan kind of thing. But I feel like I can’t even count on what tomorrow will look like so how on earth can I begin to attempt a year’s worth of goals? How can I be the best mother and business owner in my corner, while also enriching my abilities in songwriting, sewing, homemaking, baking, writing, reading… oh and also getting into shape… and maintaining a healthy and meaningful marriage?
Well, here’s what I’ve struck upon. This year, I’ve decided instead of thinking about my year as 12 of the same month, I’m going to look at it seasonally.
For example, instead of vowing I’m going to read one book a month through the year, I’m going to put my reading goals during seasons I tend to have time to read: winter and summer. Why kill myself to hit a reading goal in the height of busy season in October when I’m already frayed as it is? The fact is, I won’t do it, so then the goal is left unmet and I’m sour at myself for not meeting expectation.
I think also it’s going to work well for me because we have a big change happening (new baby girl coming) and I have some unknowns towards the end of the year because of that. Will I still want to work outside the house as much as I have been? I don’t know. But you’ll see, for now, I’m preparing as if I will be as busy during fall as I usually am.
I’m rambling at this point – I guess I just wanted to share this tidbit. I’ll throw some of my goals down below. Some are more like to-do’s and wishes, but if you’re looking for advice on what a good goal is and how to write one, please read my blog post on goals here. (Just kidding, there is nothing to click, I don’t know how to write a good goal, okay? You caught me.)
On my wishes for winter: (Jan-March)
- read 3 books on parenting, 3 books of personal choice (2/month)
- make waldorf dolls for the girls
- try prenatal yoga
- create our 2021 family album
- for my businesses: prepare my 2021 taxes and set up social media posts
- look into sewing a quilt
- get baby’s room put together
(I have a lot of empty time in winter, so going to really test the waters on a few things I’ve wanted to do lately!)
Spring: (April-June)
- purge unneeded things through-out the house
- prepare for a garage sale early April
- create my postpartum plan
- go on a family getaway
- practice painting landscapes again
- stock the freezer with meals for after baby
- have a baby!
Summer: (July-September)
- read 2 books/month, hopefully poolside
- work on getting into a good routine with both girls
- start easing into walking more once I feel up for it
- eat lots of salads and smoothies, work on feeling healthy after baby
- start working on Christmas gifts if handmade (something I decided after I realized fall is too busy for me to make gifts in)
- make sure the house is in good working order and I have meal plans, etc, ready for when fall comes!
Fall: (Oct-Dec)
- be a maid-of-honor!!!
- outsource what I need to to survive busy photography season (cleaning – cooking – etc)
- make sure to carve out enough time to enjoy the fall weather and the holidays (something I don’t always do a good job of!)
- ???? This time of year is always a mystery to me until summer time. I mean, for all I know, I might find myself buying another fixer upper in fall again and then juggling that and busy season at the same time… why do I do these things to myself again? Resolution of the year: do not overwhelm yourself with things just because you want to do it all! There will be time.
So… what do you say? Did you find any helpful nuggets? Good, golden nuggets? Or was this the poopy kind? Maybe don’t answer that… I hope you found something good to take away. Baby’s naptime is over so I’m signing off.
xoxo,
Emily
