update on goal progress
I posted a couple of months ago with a list of goals. This is a brief update on my progress with them.
1. Apply to 5 jobs each week. Follow up with every application that I have a contact for.
This is no longer a goal, as I have found a full-time, salaried position at a great company. It only took... a year and two months. Yikes.
2. Dedicate myself to the jobs I have. Find and focus on two skills that each can teach me.
This is easy now, since I actually feel both empowered and engaged with the work that I'm doing. I'm learning a lot, and certifications I was going to get on my own, i.e. Google Analytics/AdWords, my company is now paying for me to get.
I am changing this goal to Get more organized and efficient at work!
I have felt overwhelmed and constantly busy at my new job, and it's mostly because I am failing at prioritizing my projects and organizing my time better. I took some work home with me this weekend (which is something I hope to seldom have to do again) so I can get caught up on things and start fresh for next week, because honestly things have been piling up. It's like I just don't know where to start.
In this new job I am not only creating content, but also acting as a project manager, i.e. giving other people directions/jobs, especially designers. It's something I'm not used to and I really need to work on it. I'm learning a publishing house is a LOT different than an agency in internal operations.
Anyway, to fix this I have made myself a monthly calendar of all the writing jobs I need to complete. I also organized a fancy planner with daily task lists. I'm forcing myself to STAY AT WORK until these are completed, even if my 4:30 leave time is long past. This will (hopefully!) allow me to train myself to use my time better.
3. Make our bed every day
I am still failing miserably here. Though, to be fair, Kevin sleeps for two hours after I have already left for work. It's a little difficult to make a bed with a body in it, and he isn't very motivated to help me with this.
4. Practice yoga every day.
I'm doing better with this. I switched my hours at work to 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., so I can usually juuuuust get home in time to sneak into Kim's 6:30p.m. hot vinyasa class.
Kim Manfredi is the matriarch; the founder of my yoga studio and leader of a pretty devout group of students. Her class is awesome, and I don't mean the "hey man, this beer tastes awesome" sense. I mean it in the true definition; truly inspiring awe. There is a reason that every mat in the room during her classes are touching because so many people try to squeeze in the room. The energy invigorates and transcends every breath to a place far away from the physical challenge, my sweaty neighbors, and my own athletic shortcomings. I am fully able to immerse myself in my practice, and so is everyone around me. It's really beautiful.
5. Exercise. Never take more than two consecutive days off.
I definitely haven't been doing this. In fact, for at least two months, I didn't exercise at all. Now I'm trying to slowly build back up to 6 days. This week will be three, next week will hopefully be four, and by the end of April I should have mastered my schedule and built enough stamina to go six days a week.
6. After we move, $500+ /month goes to paying off my Citi Card. No exceptions
This had to be dropped, significantly. Right now I'm looking at only $200/mo. I'm really disappointed in this, but my only other option would be picking up more shifts at the restaurant, which I still want to avoid if I can.
My Mother's Toyota Camry, which I've been driving for the past two years, died during my second week of work as I was driving home from DC. This forced me to buy a new car, something I probably wouldn't have done for at least another year. Between my car payment, insurance, and Mini's requirement for premium gas only, I need at least $300 extra a month.
But hey, ain't she a beaut?
I love love love love this car! For years I've hated driving, and now I realize that it's because I was trapped in an econo-commuter penalty box. The cooper is fast and fun to drive, and completely fits my style. Did I mention I love it?
7. Train daily to wake up earlier.
This was utterly shocking to me, but this has been absolutely no issue. My second day at work was the only day I felt so exhausted I thought I would fall asleep at my desk. After that, no troubles. I even switched my hours to go in an hour earlier - meaning I now wake up between 5:00a.m. and 6:00a.m. depending on whether or not I want to start my day with some sun salutations. This was a completely drastic change in a major habit. I go to bed now no later than 11:00p.m. - and sometimes 9:00p.m. like a grandma - and I couldn't care less.
8. Buy groceries once a week. Plan all meals.
Kevin and I are still working on this. We want to start pooling our money a little more for groceries. Right now, he only shops when he is cooking dinner, and then he only buys what he intends to cook that night. I know that this is a cultural thing, and if we lived in Italy with a beautiful local market on every corner this would be practical. But we live in Baltimore, the land of America's food deserts, and it's a 15 minute drive to Whole Foods, or a 25 minute drive to Wegmans, if we want a prayer of fresh produce. Doing this every day just isn't practical.
I'm pushing for an at-least-weekly shop after we sit down and plan all of our meals for the week, including nights we may eat out. In the meantime, I've been spending far too much money eating out every day on my lunchbreak at work. This goal really should move higher up on my list!
1. Apply to 5 jobs each week. Follow up with every application that I have a contact for.
This is no longer a goal, as I have found a full-time, salaried position at a great company. It only took... a year and two months. Yikes.
2. Dedicate myself to the jobs I have. Find and focus on two skills that each can teach me.
This is easy now, since I actually feel both empowered and engaged with the work that I'm doing. I'm learning a lot, and certifications I was going to get on my own, i.e. Google Analytics/AdWords, my company is now paying for me to get.
I am changing this goal to Get more organized and efficient at work!
I have felt overwhelmed and constantly busy at my new job, and it's mostly because I am failing at prioritizing my projects and organizing my time better. I took some work home with me this weekend (which is something I hope to seldom have to do again) so I can get caught up on things and start fresh for next week, because honestly things have been piling up. It's like I just don't know where to start.
In this new job I am not only creating content, but also acting as a project manager, i.e. giving other people directions/jobs, especially designers. It's something I'm not used to and I really need to work on it. I'm learning a publishing house is a LOT different than an agency in internal operations.
Anyway, to fix this I have made myself a monthly calendar of all the writing jobs I need to complete. I also organized a fancy planner with daily task lists. I'm forcing myself to STAY AT WORK until these are completed, even if my 4:30 leave time is long past. This will (hopefully!) allow me to train myself to use my time better.
3. Make our bed every day
I am still failing miserably here. Though, to be fair, Kevin sleeps for two hours after I have already left for work. It's a little difficult to make a bed with a body in it, and he isn't very motivated to help me with this.
4. Practice yoga every day.
I'm doing better with this. I switched my hours at work to 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., so I can usually juuuuust get home in time to sneak into Kim's 6:30p.m. hot vinyasa class.
Kim Manfredi is the matriarch; the founder of my yoga studio and leader of a pretty devout group of students. Her class is awesome, and I don't mean the "hey man, this beer tastes awesome" sense. I mean it in the true definition; truly inspiring awe. There is a reason that every mat in the room during her classes are touching because so many people try to squeeze in the room. The energy invigorates and transcends every breath to a place far away from the physical challenge, my sweaty neighbors, and my own athletic shortcomings. I am fully able to immerse myself in my practice, and so is everyone around me. It's really beautiful.
5. Exercise. Never take more than two consecutive days off.
I definitely haven't been doing this. In fact, for at least two months, I didn't exercise at all. Now I'm trying to slowly build back up to 6 days. This week will be three, next week will hopefully be four, and by the end of April I should have mastered my schedule and built enough stamina to go six days a week.
6. After we move, $500+ /month goes to paying off my Citi Card. No exceptions
This had to be dropped, significantly. Right now I'm looking at only $200/mo. I'm really disappointed in this, but my only other option would be picking up more shifts at the restaurant, which I still want to avoid if I can.
My Mother's Toyota Camry, which I've been driving for the past two years, died during my second week of work as I was driving home from DC. This forced me to buy a new car, something I probably wouldn't have done for at least another year. Between my car payment, insurance, and Mini's requirement for premium gas only, I need at least $300 extra a month.
But hey, ain't she a beaut?
I love love love love this car! For years I've hated driving, and now I realize that it's because I was trapped in an econo-commuter penalty box. The cooper is fast and fun to drive, and completely fits my style. Did I mention I love it?
7. Train daily to wake up earlier.
This was utterly shocking to me, but this has been absolutely no issue. My second day at work was the only day I felt so exhausted I thought I would fall asleep at my desk. After that, no troubles. I even switched my hours to go in an hour earlier - meaning I now wake up between 5:00a.m. and 6:00a.m. depending on whether or not I want to start my day with some sun salutations. This was a completely drastic change in a major habit. I go to bed now no later than 11:00p.m. - and sometimes 9:00p.m. like a grandma - and I couldn't care less.
8. Buy groceries once a week. Plan all meals.
Kevin and I are still working on this. We want to start pooling our money a little more for groceries. Right now, he only shops when he is cooking dinner, and then he only buys what he intends to cook that night. I know that this is a cultural thing, and if we lived in Italy with a beautiful local market on every corner this would be practical. But we live in Baltimore, the land of America's food deserts, and it's a 15 minute drive to Whole Foods, or a 25 minute drive to Wegmans, if we want a prayer of fresh produce. Doing this every day just isn't practical.
I'm pushing for an at-least-weekly shop after we sit down and plan all of our meals for the week, including nights we may eat out. In the meantime, I've been spending far too much money eating out every day on my lunchbreak at work. This goal really should move higher up on my list!