It’s halfway through the year (can you believe it? I can’t) which means it’s the time when I review the goals I set in January and my progress (or in this case lack thereof) to them.
I’ve always loved goals and goal setting. Although these days, I like the idea of goal setting more so than the actual working to achieve my goals. I’ve had a big problem lately with follow through. And by lately I mean the last couple years.
That’s a problem, and for me it’s atypical. I’ve always been super goal oriented, and I’ve struggled with figuring out why I’ve lost my focus/motivation. I’ve complained about it for the past couple of years but haven’t changed any behaviors.
Which as we all know means I’m living the definition of insanity. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Instead of making changes, I’ve allowed my lack of progress to make me feel bad, which doesn’t help matters at all. When you feel bad about yourself, it perpetuates the negative.
It’s a slippery slope, my friends.
It’s interesting, at least to me, how much time and energy we spend (I don’t think I’m alone in this) on wishing and wanting and the woulda/coulda/shoulda. When the same energy spent on working toward goals would be a much better use of time.
Anyways the goal of this post isn’t to be a woe is me I can’t reach my goals post. Rather I wanted to share some of my own struggles in case anyone reading this is having the same issues you will know you’re not alone.
#unmotivatedladiesunite
Enough complaining!
Here is a rundown of where I’m at to my January goals (read the full post here) and how I’m adjusting for the back half of the year.
Goals
Simplify my life in my finances and home clutter. Did not happen.
Finances – my goal was to set up everything on autopay and then forget about it. You’d think in 6 months I could manage that, but it’s one of those things that’s such low priory I kept rolling it over to the next day/week/month.
I commit to having this done by July 6th.
Home decluttering – I want to blame my family for the inability to get this done. I just don’t have the energy to constantly be on them to help. However, if I don’t, it won’t get done, and we’ll be in this vicious circle and eventually drown under a pile of crap.
I commit to making a list of things (by July 20th) that needs to be organized/decluttered and working on one per week.
Set better boundaries with the kids, so I have more structured work time. Did not happen.
Honestly, I am not sure I can. I know that sounds horrible, but I’m being honest, so for now, I’m going to take this one off the list.
Write a bucket list of things I want to do with the kids. Sort of happened but not the way I wanted. It MUST be done if I want to have these memories before they leave the nest, which isn’t far away with Caden.
I commit to having this done by September 1st.
My writing. The goal was to branch out to writing romance. I have one 80% done but need to finish. I have a schedule and even contracted my first round editor through the end of the year to have one book a month to her. I started this in May, and I’ve delivered, BUT they’ve not been completely finished books. However, it’s pushed me, and I need that. I’m going to keep plugging along and finish/release 6 more books this year. Plus, I’m re-releasing all the Presley books in updated/expanded editions which will hopefully give me a good bump.
I commit to writing every day. Even if it’s only 10 minutes / 100 words like I tell my writing group!
Make my writers educational site more self-study. I haven’t touched it.
In writing group Writing Warriors Collective, I’m going to focus on interacting in the group and not worry about the content as much right now. I need to focus on my writing for the rest of 2019.
Weight loss. Lose 30 lbs. I lost 10, so that IS a win. Especially since I didn’t gain any weight in Italy and I honestly don’t know how that even happened. I ate myself silly in olive oil and gelato.
This is a never-ending battle, but slow and steady wins the race and all that. I am scaling back my 30lb goal to 20lb, which means I’m halfway there. As long as I keep up the pace I’m currently on; I will be successful!
I look at that list and want to feel shame and beat myself up, but you know what. I’m not going to let myself go there because it’s NEVER TOO LATE TO START!
Instead of focusing on all I didn’t accomplish, I am choosing to focus on what I did. I want to keep the momentum going by celebrating the successes no matter how small or insignificant because really they aren’t small or insignificant. Diminishing your wins is counterproductive.
So YAY me I lost 10 lbs.
Now it’s easy to write these goals, but the hard part is to keep the motivation going to put in the work to achieve them. Motivation I’ve been sorely lacking for a long time.
How can you boost your motivation?
My 3 go to’s when I’m in a rut and don’t want to get up and do anything are as follows:
1. Just start. I know that’s so much easier said than done. We all know, sitting watching Netflix and thinking about starting is going to keep your procrastination and lack of motivation alive. It makes it harder to find motivation for anything other than watching more episodes of Netflix. Funny how I can always find motivation for that.
2. Do a small/easy task. Often what blocks your motivation is overwhelm. You have too many things to get done, don’t know where to start, and therefor don’t do anything. Pick a small task on your list that can be done in a small amount of time and then celebrate that win and use that momentum to move to the next task.
3. Do something else fun to get you excited and energized or at least up and moving. I know this might seem counterproductive, but it works. Going for a walk, going to Starbucks to get a latte and work, or even throwing in a load of laundry so you feel productive even if it’s not work related can help me. Don’t allow yourself to sit and stew about what you should be doing. Just do something, and that activity will spill into the next and the next.
I’d love to hear your goals and what gets you motivated!
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