I apologize for being MIA lately. Life is crazy for me right now.
I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting over the past few weeks and one of the things that has been bugging me has been my goals. I set goals every month, but really, my goals have been my to-do list. I am not ok with that anymore. My goals should be more than just a to-do list. And I should set some long-term goals too. I’m not sure I’m ready to set those today, but I am going to be less “to-do list” and more “big picture” in my goal setting moving forward. I also think you’ll see goals repeat themselves, for good reason, as the months go on.
That said, I’ll update you on how September went before moving on to my new style of goals.
Professional Goals - September 2013
Finish fall mailer. – Nope. Not done yet. Hoping for end of next week.
Finish Annual Report. – Nope. If this goes out in November, I’ll be happy. And surprised. It’s out of my hands now.
Finish analysis of 12-13. – Done. Many learning curves with a new staff member helping me with this.
Present at the Advancement committee meeting this month. – Done.
Calendar plan winter and spring (fall is done). – Yes.
Reach out to MS and LS principals about Grandparent Day. – Yes.
Start website overhaul. – Nope. This HAS to be done in the next few weeks before we launch our campaign.
Finalize volunteers. Not quite.
Get art work and my diplomas up on the wall in my new office. Art work = check. Diplomas = still somewhere in our garage storage.
Personal Goals - September 2013
Workout three days a week. I was until two weeks ago. I haven’t done anything but walk Winnie since.
Yoga once a week. I’ve gone twice in the past week. It is amazing what yoga does for my mind, body, and soul.
Figure out our plan to redoing the basement. That’s on hiatus.
Have a puppy play date with our neighbors. Yes.
Goggle hangout with my besties so we can “meet” Kristen’s daughter. Yes, this was Oct 2 but I’m still counting it!
Take Winnie on at least one long walk (i.e., around a lake) every week. We do long walks every day now. I love that time together.
Finish one item from my summer to-do list: “B” cork project, selling some wedding stuff on Craig’s list, or sorting through pictures and music on my phone and computer. Nope, nope, and nope. I did finally get started on the B project; just not finished.
Stain our deck. Yes. I didn’t do anything on this project so it really should not have been on my list. But good for Michael for getting it done!
Clean out our flower boxes and get yard ready for fall. Not yet. If the weather cooperates on an upcoming weekend (this weekend is supposed to be total crap), then I can do this.
Change out my closet from spring/summer to fall/winter. I’ve taken my spring clothes out, but haven’t brought my fall/winter stuff upstairs yet.
Go shopping for fall clothes. Nope.
Host my annual Miss America party. Yes, always a good time.
Girls Night sometime this month. Canceled. Hoping for one in late October.
Read 3 books. Yes, I’ve been doing a ton of reading lately.
Menu plan each week and stick to it. Nope. We’ve been really bad about this lately.
Blog three times a week. Hahaha…
Do another “life planning” session with Michael. While not as formal, I would say we’ve done a few of them.
Plan our travel calendar for the next year. Not quite, though we did book our plane tickets for skiing over new year’s with Michael’s fam.
Go out on a date, just Michael and me. Yes. It was so nice. And needed.
Enjoy our one year anniversary! Of course.
Professional goals
- Re-read my notes from Lean In, take one thing from my notes, and implement in my career.
- Answer the following questions: What skills have I learned from my jobs? What skills do I want to learn? If I cannot get those skills from this job, how can I learn them?
- Answer the following questions: What do I bring to the table in my job? What should I be bringing to the table?
- Read at least one business/leadership book.
- Implement new volunteer management plan.
- Take at least one parent volunteer to coffee to build relationships with my volunteers.
- Become a more active volunteer for my local professional organization. I have been on a committee for three months, but have yet to make a meeting.
Personal Goals
- Commit to yoga at least once a week. Commit to running two days a week. Do them both because they reduce stress, calm anxiety, and make me feel good.
- Relax and go with the flow. Be more spontaneous. Everything does not have to be planned.
- Work on my listening skills.
- Go on at least 2 dates with Michael this month: dinner, apple-picking, hiking, bike riding, etc.
- Start the Michael and Jenni Reading Club – read a book at the same time and discuss.
- Take more pictures of me and Michael.
- Reconnect with my girlfriends.
- Eat better. Cut down on sugar.
- With Michael, finalize a budget plan.
- Walk with Winnie and Michael every day. We’ve been doing a lot of Winnie and Jenni or Winnie and Michael walks lately. We need family walks.
- Stop letting Winnie keeping me from things I want/need to do. She can stay in the kitchen if she’s going nuts/getting in my way. Stop making excuses and get stuff done.
- Tell Michael how I love, support, and cherish him every day.
