Let’s Set Monthly Goals {February 2020}

I’m big on setting goals. By listing them and breaking them down into manageable chunks, I accomplish more than I think possible. My process is to set monthly goals, then at the beginning of each week, I create daily goals that will work within my current schedule.

Each month I share how I did the previous month as well as my new goals. Let’s get to it!

How Did I Do? Jill’s January Goals

• WRITING:
• Expand the plot, write the long synopsis, and draft the sample chapters of the fourth book in the Wyoming Sweethearts series. CHECK!
• Revise/polish proposal and send to agent. CHECK!
• Continue gathering ideas for new series. CHECK!
• All the first of the year business tasks. CHECK!

• HEALTH:
• Exercise 5 days/week. CHECK!
• Log calories using MyFitnessPal. ALMOST CHECK–I missed three days of tracking last month, but I’m calling it a win!

• OTHER:
• Prepare presentation for speaking engagement at the end of January. CHECK!
• Read fiction for a minimum of 20 minutes every weekday. (I read tons of nonfiction and want to get more novels in!) CHECK!

January was VERY productive for me, and I attribute it to returning to my strict block schedule. I often get caught in the trap of wanting to work on ONE thing until it’s finished, but I’ve learned that switching projects for a small amount of time each day helps me get more done.

Jill’s February Goals

• Writing
• Revise/polish/submit proposal for Wyoming Sweethearts book 4.
• Plot basic stories for new series.
• Start setting up promotion for The Cowboy’s Secret, releasing March 17, 2020.

• Health
• Continue exercising 5 days/week
• Continue tracking calories/nutrition with MyFitnessPal
• Add more protein to diet

• Other
• Get back to my crochet project
• Pick out four novels to read
• Go through photos to prepare a slideshow for my son’s graduation party

The power of one hour a day is often underestimated. What have you been putting off because you “don’t have time?” Can you carve out an hour once this week to begin? What about an hour each weekday?

No pressure! I just know from personal experience that there’s an amazing feeling of accomplishment in consistently working on something you’ve put off for a long time. Try it!

I’m a huge fan of Cal Newport’s books. His blog has a ton of interesting productivity and time management tips in the archive. This post, “My Focus-Centric Work Day” is from 2009, and I find it completely relevant today. He divides his days into chunks to work on specific projects. My “Shoulder” chunk is at the end of each day, and it’s when I switch gears. I write blog posts or newsletters, draft short stories, plot new books, study, read blogs, you name it. It’s wonderful!

What were your goals last month? How did you do? What would you like to accomplish in February? Leave a comment!

Have a terrific week!