April Goals

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Okay, so it doesn't exactly look like this in Upstate New York yet, but I'm holding out hope for you, April! (We may or may not have gotten six inches of snow this weekend, but that's beside the point.)

This month, I'm looking forward to more evening walks with SD, more music-making (currently working on an arrangement of "Falling Slowly" from Once), and more intentional rest.

Maybe you (like me) have had a rough start to year. Maybe your shiny goals from January are losing their luster.

Maybe you're feeling burnt out and uninspired. The good news is that January 1 is only a date on the calendar. You can reset or revise your goals at any time. You can set small action steps any time. You can make choices about how you spend your time. I intend to celebrate this month by living in the moment, cultivating daily gratitude, and making time for the small things in life that mean so much. April is a fresh start, full of promise and potential — let's make the most of it!

April Goals

Plan an adventure with SD
Continue 60 minutes of intentional exercise per week
Write a note of encouragement to a friend*
Continue reading Margin
Send out my new email newsletter (the first edition is going out later today - it's not too late to sign up!)
Plan intentional time off of social media
Commit to no email after dinner
Celebrate Easter with SD (and the Bell Choir!)

*=carryover from last month

Happy Spring, friends!

March Goals

*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

“Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.”

— Emily Dickinson

In a number of ways, March is a fresh start for me. Winter is fading and I am reminded again and again of God's faithfulness to us when I think about the promise of Spring. "This I call to mind and therefore, I have hope..." (Lamentations 3:21).

March Goals

Schedule 60 minutes of intentional exercise per week*
Go skiing with SD*
Give an oral defense of my paper (part of my PhD Qualifying Exam)
Write the third "Taxes for Freelancers" post (read Part I and Part II)
Start the Piano Olympics Festival(!) and find ways to document assessment
Write a note of encouragement to a friend
Send a "just because" gift to a friend
Continue reading Margin (I got a head start last month, as you can see!)
Work on Email Newsletter for April (sign up here!)

*carryover from last month

What are your goals for March? I'd love to hear them!

February Goals

Happy February!

I don't know about y'all, but January was a l-o-n-g month. Though a little busy at times, it was full of some really good things - I met a few really big goals, pressed "send" on a big fear, and challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone a few times. However, I had multiple projects on my plate all the time and between the early working mornings and late working nights, I got a little burnt out. This is my final semester of PhD coursework (hooray!) and I want to enjoy it instead of letting it consume me. This month, I want to set better boundaries. I want to be better at separating work from my personal life. I want to take more deep breaths. Here's to a great month!

FEBRUARY GOALS

Present my first workshop in Knoxville! Set more work boundaries Plan the first-ever "Piano Olympics" for my studio! Begin planning year-end recital (book venue, communicate with parents) Start organizing tax materials and write the next "Taxes for Freelancers" post Plan studio goals for March Schedule 60 minutes of intentional exercise per week Volunteer with RAIHN (a hospitality organization for homeless families) Start a new 7-week handbell choir session Go skiing with SD

What are your February goals?

Goal-Setting for 2014 - Part II

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It's been a great first week of January!  I had a chance to spend some time this week really thinking about my goals for 2014 and planning for what I'd like to see happen.  Here's where I am:

Based on the things I learned in this post (I even added a few things to the list since I published it — take a look!), I decided to choose goals that are a little more broad — lifestyle ideals rather than things to attain or cross off a list.

I want to live a purposeful life this year. I want to spend my time doing things that are meaningful and add value to other people's lives. I want to be intentional about the things that get my time and attention. I want to live a life that reflects peace and joy.

So without further ado, here are my goals for 2014:

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Smarter Business

• Schedule more emails (thanks, Boomerang!)

• No checking email after dinner

• Streamline the workflow of my business

• Start a new mini blog series

• Read The $100 Startup

Better Teaching

• Less planning before lessons, more discovery in lessons

• Set monthly goals for the studio — things to focus on in each lesson

• Think of ways to send formal communication home to parents at the end of the year

• Plan a year-end recital

Professional

• Present my research at Eastman

• Finish my coursework and pass my qualifying exam

• Teach two workshops

• Find ways to add value to others through writing or mentoring

Living

• Take intentional time off on weekends (and times off of social media)

• Plan adventures and trips with SD

• Plan 90 minutes of intentional exercise per week

• Read Margin

• Write more

• Create an Artifact Uprising book for our first five years together

//

January Goals

• Finish reading Entreleadership and choose a new book

• Research online invoicing and workflow organization

• Research and donate to a birthday party mission organization

• Plan studio goals for January + February

• Create presentation and materials for my first workshop!

• Set new budgets + investment plans

This is a work in progress, y'all. I may edit or add to this list as the year progresses but for now, this is where my head and my heart are. Each month, I'll be sharing a few of my more action-oriented goals, to keep me accountable, and to help bring this list into a living reality.

What are your goals for the year? Feel free to post them in the comments below or, if you blog your goals somewhere, please share the link — I'd love to read them!

Here's to a wonderful 2014!