I decided to make resolutions for myself in July. I needed to set some goals and that was just the time to make them. Here are my resolutions and how I fared.
Originally posted July 8, 2009:
I’m making some new resolutions. Why not? Why make January 1 the only date where we impose formidable goals for ourselves? Besides, I’m tired of the January resolutions (that maybe didn’t work out so well.)
Actually, I sort of like the idea of a mid-year goal. Yes—I know. The year is more than half-way up. Even better, though! I’m making a resolution to do things that I’ve actually already started.
I think I’m going to impose time-limits and reviews on my resolutions. See how they’re working out for me or if they need to be tweaked in a few months.
Now, without further ado, my resolutions:
Do a better job with my record-keeping for my taxes. (Pictured—me giddily thinking how nice it will be to write stuff off on my taxes next spring.) My inspiration for this resolution was a recent post on Diane Wolfe’s blog. I’m going to use the stuff-everything-into-an-envelope method. But at least that means that I’ll have the receipts next year. I was really kicking myself this past March when I did my taxes—I could have written off many things if I’d just kept the darned receipts.
Update: I’ve got a big paper bag stuffed with receipts for everything from pencils, paper, and printer ink to hotel and gas receipts for my trip to Memphis. I give myself an A+ on this resolution. Tax season? Bring it on.
Keep more on top of social media, marketing, and publishing trends. I have this really foreboding feeling that everything is about to turn topsy-turvy and if I don’t pay attention, I might go the way of the dinosaurs. If we’re all heading to e-books I should just keep my mouth shut and try to adjust. Que sera sera. And I need to find out exactly what the heck Flickr is (and why the application leaves out the ‘e’ from its name. Which really irritates me.)
Update: I’ve kept on top of social media, but I still don’t understand Flickr and its odd and annoying spelling. I give myself a B+ on this one.
Read more. I miss the time I used to spend reading. Nowadays I’ve just got to schedule it in instead of acting like it will just spontaneously happen. But I think you’ve got to keep reading to be a good writer. Besides, there are so many books on my to-read list right now. And spending time at my local bookstore (and having the staff know who I am) has got to be a good thing.
Update: I have read more. It was in spurts and I didn’t make a dedicated time for it, but I fit it in daily. I’ll grade myself as an A- for this resolution.
Balance my writing schedule better. So I’ve got to write, revise, and market all at the same time. I just need to get over it, stop complaining, and thank my lucky stars I’m in this situation. Figure out how to keep from shortchanging one book for the sake of the other.
Update: I’ve still got room to grow for time management. The days I followed my plan, it worked out really well. The problem was when I got off-course and ended up taking time away from my family. My goal remains to finish writing tasks before 2:00 each afternoon. Grade: B.
Just say no. Because I can’t. And my time is getting completely eaten up by stuff I shouldn’t be doing.
Update: Bleh. Grade: C. Or maybe a D. :) I tried to divest myself of one big responsibility but then was talked back into doing it! I’m a pushover. But I’m working on it.
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Sooo….it went pretty well, overall. I think I’ll keep these same resolutions and check back in with my progress later. I think I do better to have resolutions that get updated and graded every 5 or 6 months. :)
Elizabeth – I’m like you; I prefer to make shorter-term resolutions and look back at how I’ve been doing more frequently than just once a year. I feel better about my progress, and I can “start over again” more quickly when I see that I haven’t kept my resolutions. I give you lots of credit for doing as well as you have on yours : ). It sounds as though you’ve really been working hard on them. I like that picture, by the way : ).
Great job on your resolutions! The taxes especially. But I’d give you an A+ on social media–that’s how I discovered you and your wonderful books!
Nid-year assessments of how you’re doing on goals is good. If you’re REALLY good, you have a goal buddy for writing and check in monthly or weekly. (I’m NOT good). But I do have that ‘second new year’ of Rosh Hashanah every fall to remind me to reassess.
Taxes. That’s a biggie. And today’s my day (maybe) to organize. Which normally means starting new folders for 2010 because I don’t want to deal with the 2009 mess yet. I DID remember to note the end of the year mileage when we got home last night. Tracking business miles ends up being a BIG deduction.
Have to go buy this year’s Turbo Tax, I guess.
Nice work on the goals! I’m a pushover to – I’ve got to get better at that no word as well :)
I like your idea of not waiting until Jan 1 to make resolutions. And it sounds like you did a pretty good job this year (half-year?).
Let’s see. Can’t say no very well. Good with taxes. Hmm, would you mind taking a look thru my giant grocery bag of receipts? And filling out a few forms?
This is a fantastic New Year’s Day post! Good for you for making mid-year resolutions and grading yourself later. I guess the blog really does some good in keeping your accountable.
As for your goals, I give you an A+ all around! And you have inspired me to make my own resolutions, even though I shied away from it this January 1st.
I’m with Lorel on rating your social media skills. I have learned so much from you this year!
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
When did you decide to write a fabulous, inspiring blog? Or did you do that already?
An A+ for the blog from me, and a Happy New Year to you.
Great post, and great job on your resolutions! I’m with Lorel – I’d grade you A+ on the social media stuff, too.
And I needed to hear the resolution to read more. I’ve been so busy writing and promoting these last few months that reading has taken a back seat. I like the idea of scheduling it.
I like your idea of short-term goals. Now that I might be able to do. Great post as always. Thanks.
I’d say that’s one pretty good report card! You’ve inspired me to actually write down a few goals and check my progress every few months. Maybe that’ll work better for me than this once a year thing.
Excellent report card my dear! May I suggest you stick in just a couple of inner child resolutions? Like – I will, upon reaching ‘x’ writing goal – take myself out to a bookstore cafe for a latte and a lazy read or whatever floats your boat. Our inner kids need lots and lots of strokes if we want their creativity and enthusiasm to lighten our load.
You have me wanting to do this in the summer. Taxes, blech! I appreciated how real your goals were. I have a pretty good handle on flickr. Feel free to email me questions and I can try to help.
Happy New Year!
~ Wendy
Altogether, those are some good mid-terms. Keep it up!
The resolutions wouold probably stick with me each year! You picked some great ones.
I love that you made resolutions mid year. A+ for ingenuity and positive thinking. But I understand the need to better manage time. I often feel like everything gets thrown off balance in my life, usually because I try to do to much with not enough time. And my poor family often suffers because of it. Good luck getting that one ironed out. And best wishes for a prosperous 2010!
I think you do an amazing job at ALL the things you do. I have no CLUE how you stay on top of everything the way you do.
I’d say you’ve earned a major reward of some sort.
[And I love that you just decided to make some and did it at a day of your choosing and STILL kept them! (mostly–work on that NO thing)]
Great blog – great idea. I need to do this too. Posting your resolutions makes for accountability.
My biggest problem lately is that I don’t make time for reading. I’ve tried to repair that by joining reading challenges (too many, perhaps!) and it’s working. I’m so much more creatively awake!
Now I just need to make time for writing. :D
I don’t see the point of Flickr? I can’t remember what it is. Some kind of photo-sharing? I think O might be a member there.an’t even recall!!
:)
Har! That last line got eater by the Internet Fairy.
It’s supposed to say, “I think I might be a member there. I can’t even recall!!”
(They need to install an edit button here.)
Margot–It’s true…then we can see where we’re getting off-track and reassess! My son took the picture. :) He’s my official photographer (barring headshots.)
Lorel–Thanks! The social media part of my resolution has been the most fun.
Jane–Once a year just doesn’t cut it for me. I have to be held a little more accountable!
Terry –Summer seems like a better time for me to take stock of what I’m doing. This time of the year is just nutty.
I’m a Turbo Tax person, too. I kept up with all those gas receipts and mileage for going to and from different events, research trips, etc. Now I’ll have to plug it all in. It’s a BIG bag full, too. Makes me wonder how much $ I spent!
Jemi–I’m better about saying no on the *phone*. And I can do it via email fairly easily. The main problem is folks who ask me something face-to-face. “Will you fill in as room mom for the class for the rest of the year?” “We need a mom to hand out programs at the play…could you handle that for us?” “Do you think you could manage being Brownie leader for 6 more months until we find a replacement?” They must know I can’t say no!
Jan–My inner child has been in time-out for a while! That’s a great idea, Jan. I think I’d do better with a reward-based system instead of one where I usually just end up sighing over my shortcomings.
Wendy–I might do that, thanks. I keep hearing people who use it and think it’s useful, but then I open it up and get confused.
Alan–Ha! Oh, what a mess I’d make of your taxes! You’re the mathematician so you’re clearly the better choice for tax work. I’d probably get you audited. I usually do our taxes with TurboTax, but since I’m getting 2 W-2s this year (along with my husband’s form), I’m wondering if I’m going to be over my head and need to turn it all over to an accountant. Oh well…at least all the stuff I’m writing off is in one place!
Karen–Thank you. :) I’m working on them.
Michele–Thanks! Social media I’ve done pretty well…but I haven’t ventured out past what I’ve already got going. There are only so many hours in the day, I guess!
Hart–Some things do fall through the cracks. And when I mess up, I do it spectacularly. But I keep on top of 80% of it. You’re the one with high productivity! I’d like to match your writing output.
The saying “no” thing has got to get cranked up again. I have a feeling I’m about to be hit up for 2 things, volunteering-wise, that I have no business doing. My husband is REALLY good at saying no for me! I should just pass the phone to him.
Dorte–You’re so sweet! The blog’s genesis was some time in summer/fall 2008, I think. It was one of my better ideas from 2008! I’ve had so much fun with it.
Ingrid–Thanks! :) I think scheduling reading time makes a lot of sense. I haven’t done it, and I need to. Maybe I should read every day for 30 minutes before the kids get home from school. That would probably work out better than in the evenings when I’m tired out.
Corra–I think it’s a Blogger demon, not an internet fairy! Blogger has been giving me fits lately.
Posting challenges does add that accountability we need! There are our goals, floating around out there in cyberspace.
The last 5-6 months I’ve fit reading in like I’ve fit writing in…bits and pieces here and there. Taken as a whole, it works, but it’s a very fragmented way of doing something.
Mason–I checked in after 5 3/4 months, but it would probably make more sense to check in once every 3 or 4, wouldn’t it?
Sounds like you’re doing well with them. Me – I’m New Year’s resolution free, have been for years now. I like the July thing – something different than the same ol’ “new year” goal setting time. But resolution free or not, I WILL have 2 new novels released in 2010! (wink)
Marvin D Wilson
Looks like you did very well on your mid-year resolutions. I truly believe putting something in writing will help make that goal or wish come true.
Happy 2010 to you and your family!
Marvin–I like shaking things up a little, too. I’d much rather have a July 8 resolution than a Jan. 1 one…you know? Jan.1 gets lost in the chaos for me…kids still out of school, then abruptly back IN school and I’m scrambling.
Tamika–Well, I’m still working on them. :) But I like them this way a lot better…I just keep the same resolutions and check in with them.
Carolina–Today I made a schedule for myself, but one that could possibly be rearranged–one block substituting for another if I’ve got an oddly-configured day. It looks REALLY rigid on paper. And we creative types don’t usually like rigidity! We’ll see how that works out.
Elizabeth, you are the best tour guide to the writing-mom’s life that I’ve seen. Thanks for being honest and sharing all this with us; it helps so much to know we’re not in it alone. My stack of books on my bedside table does now include your mystery, “Pretty is as Pretty Dies”. My husband was able to secure that book on time for Christmas. Really looking forward to reading it – right after I finish my “before Christmas” book and and figure out who killed the Sudoku professor.
I’m like you, I’m constantly setting new goals. I guess that way I’m not feeling so guilty about not living up to the ones before. I have similar goals to you, especially the writing ones.
ann
Janel–I think it helps. Happy 2010 to you and yours, too!
Ann–Or we could set one goal that we KNOW we’re going to do fantastic on…something really simple. Breathing, maybe. Then we have a success right away on our list and can accept our shortcomings more gracefully. :)
Thanks so much, Bobbi! Hope you enjoy the book. Now I’m wondering who DID kill the Sudoku prof…