It’s no secret that 2018 was challenging for me. So I was especially excited to ring in a new year. There’s nothing quite like a fresh start. This year I sat down in my living room super early on New Year’s Day and set goals for various aspects of my life. I dearly love the fresh, blank pages of a new planner/notebook!
My old standard New Years Resolutions got the boot this year—I’m pretty sure every year for the past decade I’ve had pray more, get more sleep, and remember to accessorize on my list… (I’m the person who has lots of jewelry and just never wears it!)
But this time, I realized that my old list just wasn’t getting the job done.
So instead of a blanket list of resolutions, I spent a lot of time thinking about various aspects of my life and decided that instead of generic resolutions, maybe I should set more specific goals instead. I came up with several categories and figured out my top three goals for each one.
In the “health” category, one of my goals is exercising three times per week. This past weekend, my husband and I joined a local gym. We’re going to go there together in the evenings after work—and our reward is that the gym has fabulous hydro-massage tables that are included with our membership. That alone may make an hour-long workout worth it!
One of the things for the “home” category is to first de-clutter and then deep clean each room in our house (including the garage, which has become a big old storage area). I’m a pack rat, so this is a daunting, yet necessary goal. I’m taking part in a de-cluttering challenge that I signed up for on Facebook to help me stay on track. (anyone else try to de-clutter at the start of a new year?)
I also had categories for my spiritual life, relationships, work, finances, and of course, writing.
It really helped me to take the time to carefully consider changes I needed to make in each area and write down tangible goals for them.
My writing life needed a lot of thought. I used to have things planned pretty far out—one year I even had 6 releases and in order to make that happen, it took a lot of planning/scheduling.
Now, though, I’m not interested in being quite as scheduled. There was a time a few years ago when the idea of not having a contract or a deadline would’ve felt like the end of the world. But this year, it was so freeing for me when I looked at that blank planner page and realized it was wide open. This is the first time in more than a decade (except for a short break when I got married) that I haven’t had a looming deadline.
And instead of panicking, I’m relishing. My writing goals for this year look a little different than they have in years past. First, I plan to focus on re-releasing all the titles I’ve received rights back for. Those books deserve new life—and I hate that they aren’t available right now except for used versions.
I’m continuing to work on the Christmas story I mentioned here last month. Initially, I wasn’t sure it would be anything I would want to release, but as the story has progressed, I’m liking it more and more. So, don’t be surprised if The Trouble with Christmas finds its way into the world in the fall. Other than that, I’m looking forward to possibly trying my hand at a new genre. (Don’t worry—I’ll continue to write romance as well) But I’d love to work on a mystery and maybe even a women’s fiction story that spans generations.
So basically, I’m excited about 2019. There are a lot of things I hope top tackle this year, from home improvement projects to weight loss goals to reading through the Bible. And writing-wise, I’m looking forward to seeing what the year holds.
How about you? Is there anything you’re especially looking forward to this year? A project you want to complete? Or a goal? I’d love to hear.
Annalisa Daughety writes contemporary fiction set in historic locations, including the Walk in the Park series, Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio, and A Wedding to Remember in Charleston, South Carolina. She lives in Arkansas and is hard at work on her next book.
Hi Annalisa, what a great idea- and hopefully more achievable than the broad goals we tend to set.
I am looking forward to many things this year- a new subject to teach, a study tour in the middle of the year- it will be a busy one, but God willing a good one. My main prayer is that God gives me the courage and words to use to share Him with my students.
Blessings:)
Thanks, Wemble! Sounds like you are in for an exciting year!
Thanks for sharing. Yes, having smaller goals is great on the way to achieving big ones.
I received Jer 29:11 on the first Sunday of the year, in particular the word “peace” (shalom), which has accompanied me for the last 2 years.
I particularly this 4-min video about God’s promises and our active involvement in planning for the good New Things He has thought up for us
https://www.facebook.com/AWMinistries/videos/1980585992057004/
For reading through the Bible in a year, I highly recommend the plan that The Bible Project has made available with awesome short summaries of each book. https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/4820
I did it last year and am doing it again this year. I’m also using the “Plans with Friends” feature to read through the NT with them this year. As they feel led, participants can share what they received in the “Talk it over” section at the end of each day’s reading. It’s wonderful.
I love this, Anke!
Thanks for sharing this, Anke! I will look into The Bible Project! That sounds wonderful.
Good Morning , Annalisa! I really like your approach to your new list. My life is similar to yours. The one goal I need to achieve is decluttering a couple of areas because I am a pat rat too. Happy things I am planning on this year is a college graduation and a wedding.
Thank you, Bernice! I am SO bad about keeping every single thing that comes through the doors here! I’m trying (baby steps) to just declutter one spot at a time. I’m hopeful that as I see results it will spur me to keep going! College graduation and a wedding are wonderful things! Enjoy! :)
Thank you for sharing your plans, I pray that you will have much success with everything! I try not to think of New Years resolutions, just managing to get through each day as best I can, lol!
LOL, Paula! I feel that same way most of the time.
Thanks for sharing your goals for 2019. I rarely make new year’s resolutions or goals or have a word for the year. This year in my writing I want to learn marketing and do marketing. The writing part is fun. The marketing is not. I’ve never done a word, but this year, one word keeps picking at my brain. BOLD. I have to be bold in trying marketing, in sharing my faith, which is most important of all.
Merrillee, I love that! You are right, boldness is a must in both marketing and sharing faith. :)
Happy New Year! My wish for 2019 is less family drama!!!
I would love to be able to carve out a block of time to stay home and do my “Spring”cleaning.
The only time that I’m home is when I’m sick and as you know, nothing gets done when that happens.
Annalisa, I’m just looking for some peace in 2019 ?