September Goals Are In

I hope everyone is having a lovely Monday morning. I can't believe it's already September, Hobby Lobby already has Christmas decorations up. I think they're skipping some important holidays but it made me realize in a few months this year will be over already. Where does all the time go? Doesn't it feel like we just started 2015 a few months ago. Nonetheless it's another month down and another set of goals to make but first let's recap August Goals. 

August Goals Recap:

Improving Social Media & Social Media Engagement: This month I learned just how hard this is. I realized that I can't control what others actions I can only change my actions. So I decided I'd be more social and engage with others via twitter and instagram. In the beginning I also decided to have a posting schedule for all my social media accounts but I saw that it wasn't genuine and it put a lot of pressure on me. So instead I'm deciding to focus on engaging more and creating better content. 

Consistency: I always seem to lose motivation which makes being consistent a challenge. So the first few weeks were easy then towards the end morale got low but I fought through it and I managed to keep up with everything. Hopefully I'll be able continue this. 

Morning Free Writes: Completely failed on this one. I think I did this one morning and never tried again. It was difficult making time in my morning routine to add this in which is no excuse. Regardless of morning free writes I still had amazing mornings. Maybe I'll move morning free writes to the evening. 

Figure Out Where I Want This To Go: This takes more than a month that's for sure. I've made little steps towards figuring out where I want my blog to go but I'm still not 100% sure but I think 25% is better than where I started. I've com up with topics I want to discuss, a new design I want to try out, the possibility of sponsored post on here. 

September Goals:

Make Time For Others: Between my blog and college it's hard to balance personal life and relationships however it's very important that I do. Soon I'll be balancing blogging, course work, weekly volunteer tutoring, and hopefully work study. So I need to start figuring out how to make time for maintaining those relationships with people in my life. 

Phone-less/No Social Media Days or Time: I admit I spend to much time on my computer and phone. I usually think well I'm a blogger and I love being connected but it interferes with my first goal quite a bit. I usually stay off social media during the weekends but there are times when I'm on it. So I want to take time on the weekends to stay off social media completely, when I'm doing homework, and during family activities. It's going to be a hard task but it's something I need to do.

Dealing With My Anxiety: I have the worse social anxiety which interfere's with a lot of the things I'd like to do in life. So little by little I've been trying to overcome my anxiety. I talked about the first step towards overcoming anxiety here before. Now that I know what fears trigger my anxiety it's time to start doing something about those fears. So this month I want to start small, build up my courage and confidence. Then start working on the bigger fears. 

Admit When Enough Is Enough: I'm the type of person who will work and work for anything I want or anything I committed to. It's just the way I was taught and the way I am. However sometimes I need to admit when is enough is enough for me. I don't want to overwork myself too hard. As I said in the first goal I'll be taking on a few extra things and I'm testing my limits. So when I start to see a problem with keeping up or my health. I need to step back and take a break. 

What are your goals for this month? How did you do last month?

It's August Goals

Happy Monday!! We're ending yet another month in a few weeks. I'm super excited for August because I have a few projects and plans for this little corner of the blogosphere. I am really excited about it, so stayed tuned.

I am not much a monthly goal person. I am sure I told you all that by now. However I wanted to try this monthly goal thing. So I can lead by example. I truly believe having goals are important I usually make long term goals versus short term goals. However I am coming to see how important these monthly goals are to my long term goal. They're like stepping stones to accomplish those bigger goals. I encourage you guys to make them and try them out with me. 

Let's recap those July Goals: 

Come Up With A Blogging Schedule Or Plan: I came up with a editorial calendar/content calendar. I just based it on monthly holidays, what usually goes on in that month, and special dates in each month.  I started writing down topics under each month based on that information for some months that came up dry. I invented something to talk about or what they month would be. It truly has helped my post planning experience. I recommend it. I also downloaded some helpful planning apps. I think I'll go more into detail in another post. 

Create Better Content: This was really important to me. I wanted to create better content for you guys. I always love hearing your comments because it helps me figure out what you like and what you'd like to see more of. I've been doing the Does Of Happiness segments you all seem to love that. Next month we're going to try something different here on the blog and we'll see how well it goes and we might do it again. Be looking for the announcement. 

Blogging/College Can't Consume Me: I was listening to the Good Life Project podcast by Jonathan Fields. He said something in there that I really took to heart "there's no such thing as a work and life balance. It should be a work and life merging".  I applied that to my life.  I love blogging and I enjoy majoring in Psychology. I should be able to merge them with my everyday life. There shouldn't be one over and figuring out how to separate each of them because they each affect my life in many ways. I've been a lot happier not worrying about whether I am spending too much time in one over the other. 

Take Time Out To Do Something I Love: This was really important towards living a happier life. I took time each day to do something I love whether it was just 5 minutes or 1 hour. I listened to podcast, read, took a bath, wrote, and spent time with friends and family. Taking time our to do each of those things really put me in a good mood throughout the day and month. 

August Goals: 

1.) Improving Social Media & Social Media Engagement: I've been making goals towards increasing my following on different social media platforms. I was thinking now that I have everyone "What I am going to do?" So I've been researching on all the things I can do to improve social media and ways I can get you guys engaging. This month I want to focus on each of those. 

2.) Consistency: I'd like to have consistency here in blogging but also in my life in general. I am so used to doing something for a few weeks or months then not doing it at all. So if I learned how to be consistent I think it'd help a lot of other goals I'd like to accomplish. For instance like exercising daily, cooking each week, reading, and many more. 

3.) Morning Free Writes: I heard how beneficial this is for life and the writing process. I'd like to sit down every morning and just write about my dreams, feelings, or whatever has been going through my mind. It's like purging out my soul. I am sure afterwards I'd feel good and ready to start the day knowing I got some of those things out even if I didn't tell anyone. So I want to try it out and see how it goes for me. 

4.) Figuring Out Where I Want This Go: I know this should have been something I figured out a year ago before I even started. However I have shared here that this blog wasn't exactly planned. I never expected it to get to where it is now. So I never had a plan as to what I wanted to be or where I wanted to go with it. However the more I blog the more I love it. It has become a part of my life and it's finally to sit down and figure out my game plan. Me and this blog definitely need to DTR (Define The Relationship). 

How Did You Do On Your July Goals? What Are Your Goals For August?

Hello July Goals

As I've shown in the past keeping monthly goals isn't something I'm great at. In Monday's post gave you a few tips and test you should take to get to know yourself better. In hopes it'll help you with your goals. Click here for Monday's post in case you missed it. I thought this month I would lead by example and come up with goals for myself that would work towards living a happier life.

1.) Come Up With A Blogging Schedule Or Plan.

This would do wonders for me once fall semester starts. Last semester I was spreading myself a little to thin with blogging and classes. I couldn't find a balance and by the end of the semester I was drained and very unhappy. So this summer I've been working on finding a schedule that works for me. I've gotten great insight from other bloggers and what works for them. I've been trying things out and tweaking them to help see what will work for me. I have yet to find that secret formula. 

2.) Create Better Content.

I want to improve myself as a writer and start expanding my creative thinking. You guys deserve better content and well written post. So I've been brainstorming post and testing the waters to see what works and what doesn't. I've gotten awesome feedback from many of you in comments which helps me know what you like and what's really mediocre. 

3.)Blogging/College Can't Consume Me.

It's easy to get sucked in to doing nothing else but blogging or college. However I am learning that those two things no matter how important they are to me can't consume my whole life and all my time. There are things in the world I should be experiencing and people who want to spend time with me. So I think I'd be happier if I lived a little and experienced those things. 

4.) Take The Time Out To Do Something I Love.

I know this sounds extremely selfish but I believe not many people actually do this. I am going to try to do this once a day no matter what else I am doing. I want to take a time out to be alone or not with someone else and do something that I love. Whether it's reading, listening to my podcast, watching my favorite tv show, or baking. I am so used to doing things for other people I never do anything for myself so this is my chance. 

Those are goals for this month that I think will contribute to my happiness. I'll come back at the end of the month and let you know if I accomplished them and if they really did make me happier. Now it's your turn... 

What goals have you set for yourself this month? Do you think those goals will contribute to your happiness?

August Goals & July Recap

I know I am a bit late but it’s better late than never right. So let’s recap on what goals I accomplished last month surprisingly I accomplished much more than I expected to.

July’s Goals Recap:

1. Getting more Organized: Surprisingly I got it done. With the blogging crush series last week I had to be on top of things. I had to make sure every post was writing up, tried my best to proof read to the best of my abilities, and it was my first time scheduling post and tweets. It was a lot to go through especially when I had a busy day ahead of me. Somehow I made it and it all actually went a lot better than I planned. So I’d say all the planners I purchased are really paying off.
2. Waking Up Before 11 am: Surprisingly I did great on this. I woke up before 11am for the past few weeks mostly because we got a new kitten and she’s my personal alarm clock. Which means walking all over me till I wake up and feed her. It’s annoying at times but she’s just too cute to ignore.
3.  Being A Better Me:  I still need a little bit work in this but I think I did a pretty good job. I accomplished the ones above which helps me being a better me. I am starting to take a little time for myself each day which also helps. I am laying back and enjoying life a lot more.
4. Patience: I definitely accomplished this one in a sense. I have a lot more patience when it comes to things. I take my time and do some breathers and calm down. It helps, I stress a lot less now having a little more patience. I hope this is something I can continue. 

So I have this planner and each month it has a different quote so I thought I’d share those quotes with you each moth as we go along through our monthly goals.  This months is. “Be glad life doesn’t come with an instruction manual. ( it is way more fun to wing it than follow directions)" Which is so true. It’s basically what my post (My Life Lately) was on Monday when I explain why I stopped blogging for a while. So this month I am going to try being glad life doesn’t come with directions, we make the rules as we go.

August Goals:

 1.  Being A Bit Less Worrisome: I know this isn’t a bad trait to have, but when it comes to me I worry about everything. Since schools starting up I am starting to worry about how that’d effect my blogging. Schools important to me but so is blogging and I am worrying whether I’ll find the balance or not. I worry about everyone in my life, though they say they don’t mind because it shows that I care. I know sometimes it can get out of hand.

2. Reading At Least 1 Chapter Each Day: I know reading was apart of my goals in the past month however I need it in this one too. This time I revised it be able for me to accomplish actually finishing a book. So the other day I picked up a library book and hopefully I’ll be done by next month or before the end of this month. *Fingers crossed*

3. Sleeping Early: I mastered waking up early, however I haven’t mastered sleeping early. Some nights I don’t sleep till 1 because I am so anxious to things done. I won’t rest until it’s done. It’s horrible because by the time 12pm comes around I am so exhausted. So I want to start sleep at least by 10. That way I can have fresh start and not be so exhausted during the day.

4. Better My Cooking Skills: I love baking and I rather bake anything from scratch then buy them at the store in a box. However now I want to master cooking. I can cook the basic things I don’t have a problem with that, but I want to cook more complex meals yet simple if that makes any sense. I’ve googled a few recipes I wanted to try and see how it goes.  So if you guys know any easy recipes please share them with me, I’d be happy to try them out while I attempt my cooking experiment.

Did you guys accomplish your goals for last month? What are your goals for this month?

Month Goals #3

Recap Of June Goals: 

1. Getting Off Auto Mode On My Camera: I kinda did this one. I haven’t officially tried it out yet. However I think this is somewhat an accomplishment I actually know what an aperture is. So it’s a start. 
2. Appreciating Life More & What I Have: Accomplished. This is something I plan on doing for the rest of my life. I was lot happier this month because of this. 
3. Stop Procrastinating: For the most part I did this. There were days when I did procrastinated. However I procrastinated a lot less, so that’s good for me. Over time I am sure I’ll better. 
4. Taking Time To Enjoy Life: Yep I accomplished this and like appreciating life more. I was lot happier this month. I tried my best not to worry about the things I couldn’t control and change the things I could. I took the time to enjoy my family and just the little things that happen from day to day. It’s been quite beneficial for me. I am happy I actually accomplished this. 

July Goals:

1. Getting More Organized: Schools starting up again and I need to get more organized when it comes to dates and all those other things I’ll need. I’m reading considering I bought two planners, one for blogging and one for school.
2. Waking Up Before 11am: Summer is coming to an end and school is starting. I need to start being able to wake up before 11am. I actually decided to get morning classes for school so I need to get used to it. Somedays not waking up early in the morning makes me feel like I lost important hours of my day. Weird but it’s how I feel. 
3. Being A Better Me: This is definitely on my goals for this month. I read a post last month it inspired me to be a better me. She was just telling her story about sometimes how she sits all day in her pj. She doesn’t do much how she wants to stop those habits. I do the exact same thing somedays. When I have nothing going on or nothing to do. I rather just sit in pi’s and watch romantic movies till the day ends. I never realized how bad that habit can be. So from now on I want to be a better me and break that silly habit. 
4. Patience: I’ve been lacking this a lot lately. I never knew how impatient I can be until a few months ago. I don’t know how my boyfriend puts up with me. However I am going to try to be more patient, and calm. Hopefully it works out for me. 

Did you accomplish any goals from last month? What are your goals for this month?

Monthly Goal #2

Last week I took an unexpected blogging break I wasn’t feeling well so I decided to go ahead and take a breather. I’m feeling much better this week so here I am. Tada* I actually missed blogging, I am glad to be on my feet and back to the old me.  It’s the first monday in the new month so that means *drum roll* Monthly Goals and a recap of last months goals. Let’s see how I did and what I want to get accomplished for this month shall we. 

Recap Of May Goals:

1. Being More Social: Surrpingly I accomplished that one. I read and commented on lots of blogs this month. I always tried to share my advice to certain question on fb groups I’m in if I knew how to help. I am proud I did this I will definitely keep this up. 
2. Getting More Healthy: Well I bought the fruits,yogurt,and veggies. I had all intentions on eating more healthy and I did some of the days. The other days were really ehh. It was mothers day and then 2 birthdays after that. I just failed. So it’s added to my list this month and hopefully it’s better.
3. Reading More: I actually picked up and read 3 chapters in my book. So that’s an accomplishment from not reading it all. I am eager to finish the last few books I have. So I can move on in my Must Read List.
4. Sticking To My Skin Regimen: I kinda did this. I have a 4 step regimen and during long nights and exhausting day it feels like a 10 page essay I have to write. However I still need to try to do it. So once again it is added to my list. 

June Goals:

1. Getting Off Auto Mode On My Camera: Yeps I’ve been trying to get off using auto mode on my camera and I know the basic but I want to learn more. So I downloaded some guides and saved some websites to help me. So hopefully I can manage. We shall see how I do. 
2. Appreciating Life More & What I Have: Sounds like something I should do automatically but every now and then I slip up. So I need to get back on track. Hopefully I will. 
3. Stop Procrastinating: Lately I’ve been a big procrastinator lately. I have no clue why but I need to change it up. I want to make sure I plan everything out right for blogging and ext instead of thinking the day before what to talk about or get everything situated for it. 
4. Taking Time To Enjoy Life: Lately I haven't been feeling good, and my life has turned completely upside down. So I want to take the time to figure out who I am again, and just enjoy the little things, and being a lot more positive. It's summer and I am going to try to enjoy it. 

Did accomplish any of your goals last month? What are your plans for this month?

Monthly Goals #1

Hello lovelies, 

“Goals are just wishes if you do nothing to achieve them” That quote has inspired me to start doing monthly goals and attempt to accomplish them each month. So here’s my first month of monthly goals.

Being more social:
I want to be more social via the blogging world. I want to get out their and socialize. Join more link-ups, hangouts, or twitter chats. I want to join and be apart of a community.

Getting More Healthy:
I need to start exercising regularly, eating healthier, and getting my accurate sleep. I am tried of being all sluggish and lazy so I need to get moving and get active and hopefully I last longer than I usually do.

Reading More:
I’ve been slacking off when it comes to reading my books. So I need to get back on it and start reading again. I have a list of must reads and I want to actually read them all.

Sticking to my skin regimen:
I’ve been slacking off lately because I believe it’s so time consuming. (I know how bad that sounds). I forget how important it is until I start seeing pimples on my face. So now I’ve been trying to stick with it hopefully I don’t slack off again.

I am praying I actually stick to all of this. I suppose we shall see next month what I’ve actually accomplish and more goals I’d like to accomplish. 

                                   

What are your goals for May?