November Goals // October Recap

Note: I did receive The 30-Day Guide to Bolder Blogging by Stephanie Shar for free in exchange for my review. I haven’t finished it yet, so this isn’t my review, but I do mention this guide a few times.

I’ve officially been writing out my Monthly Goals for a year now! Last November was the very first time I wrote a goals & recap post. Please indulge me a moment before I jump into my new goals. In honor of a whole year of goal-setting, I want to mark my progress from this time last year!

If you’re new to my Monthly Goals series, I write these posts for my own accountability. By writing down my goals, I focus better on what I need to do each month. It’s easier for me to focus on small, attainable goals each month, some of which eventually turn into regular habits!

 

In fact, many of my November goals from last year have become regular habits. While my progress isn’t always so perfect month-to-month, I love seeing how much I’ve accomplished in a year!

Since last November, I have absolutely improved my page views. By a lot. In fact, I’m at a place now where sometimes my page views dip a little, and that’s acceptable. As much as I always want to improve my page views, I need to remember how far I’ve come!

My sleep habits are ridiculously good now. While they always get off a little when I’m in Greenwood, overall, my sleep habits are so much healthier. A year ago, I was trying to get off my laptop by 10:30pm and be in bed, lights out by 11:00pm. Most nights I’m off my laptop by 9:00pm and in bed, lights out by 10:30pm.

I pretty much always keep up with the laundry, and our bedroom floor is mostly cleared.

Now that I’ve reviewed my overall progress, let’s see how I did with my recent October goals!

October Recap:

October was rough, at least in terms of goals. I was GO GO GO all month long, which didn’t leave much time to accomplish my goals. Then I got sick during my Orlando vacation. My energy levels still haven’t picked back up. That said, any progress is still progress. I stand by the advice of not letting perfect be the enemy of good.

For my career:

• I did put up a temporary website for Brita Media! Need help with SEO for your lifestyle blog? That’s just one of many services I provide.
• I’ve started the The 30-Day Guide to Bolder Blogging by Stephanie Shar. October was just not the right month to complete the book. I’ve done the first several days, and I love how they’ve helped me improve my blog. Sometimes as bloggers, we get so focused on creating fresh content that we forget about the key elements of our blogs. Thanks to Stephanie’s advice, I finally revamped my About page and created a Start Here page. If you’re looking for a handy, step-by-step guide to clean up your blog, check out The 30-Day Guide to Bolder Blogging.
• I only published only one article to The Huffington Post, alas, not more.
• I didn’t do any of the training from The Write Pitch. Oops.
• I did not plan out my calendar through December, not completely. I have it planned through November, with some of December’s posts, so yay progress.
• I’ve written three blog posts on blogging. I originally planned to post these on Brita Media. I’ve been thinking about posting them here with calls-to-action for Brita Media. Thoughts?

For my health:

• My workouts were so inconsistent this month. I did really well up until our vacation to Orlando. Obviously in Orlando, Dan and I walked ridiculous amounts each day. I’m sure the rides screwed up my pedometer, and I forgot to wear it one day, but I hit at least 12,000 steps the other days, if not more. Anyway, then I got sick. I’m still coughing and feeling congested, plus I’m more lethargic overall and sleeping a lot. I used to push myself too hard when getting over a sickness, so I’m okay with giving myself time to recover. Even if I just know my Wii Fit will chastise me when I get back!
• Obviously I ordered a pedometer before our trip. So far I’m thinking I won’t want to upgrade to a FitBit. I’m kinda of meh about using the pedometer.
• Dan and I did not ride our bikes.
• I have been researching Couch to 5k programs. I even packed my running shoes and workout clothes for my trip to Greenwood (aka right now). But that whole still feeling a little sick thing? Yeah, add rain to that. No running for me, thanks.
• I still have not found a primary care physician.
• I did not do a Whole7 (aka following Whole30 for a week)… BUT I did sort of accomplish the goal of it. My purpose was to find out what I needed to do in January to be successful with Whole30. I realized I need to plan for it, majorly, in advance. So December will include some epic meal prep for frozen meals, plus a whole month of meal-planning.

For my marriage:

• I wasn’t always good about recording our meals using the DinnerCall app. That said, Dan and I totally rocked not eating all of our meals in front of the TV.
• I was not at all bossy in Disney World. Or in Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure. Dan had a blast!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Belle Brita (@belle_brita_inactive)

 

For our household:

• Again, I was pretty good with my FlyLady routines up until a few days before we left for Orlando. Then I was focused on getting everything ready for our trip. Also I didn’t do much area cleaning by the book since Dan’s parents visited us. Dan and I had to prepare the guest bedroom, guest bathroom, and shared spaces for their arrival. Luckily our cleaning wasn’t too bad, thanks to my FlyLady routines from September.
• I’ve pulled my fall/winter clothes out of storage… But you know where you can still wear spring/summer clothes? Orlando. So those are still all out. I still need to switch my bins and drawers.
• Ditto on accessories.
• I still wasn’t conscious of our grocery bill. I just think we can pare it down more, even though we already shop sales, use coupons, and buy store-brand foods.

November Goals

I’m trying really really hard not to push myself too much this month. I’m spending two weeks in Ohio. While I plan on working during that time, it will also be a mini-vacation.

For my career:

• Continue working through The 30-Day Guide to Bolder Blogging by Stephanie Shar. This really is an awesome workbook.
• Pitch an article to xoJane.
• Publish 2-3 articles to The Huffington Post.
• Plan out my editorial calendar through January.
• Reach 700 Twitter followers. (Currently at ~680).
• Reach 700 Instagram followers. (Currently at ~595).

For my health:

• Schedule an appointment for a physical with a general practitioner.
• Schedule an appointment with a dermatologist about my eczema.
• Schedule an appointment with an allergist.
• Do a walk/jog/run at least once a week, loosely following a Couch to 5k program.
• Hold a plank at least 4 days a week. Focus on improving form while working up to 90 seconds (which I managed once, but I was shaky).

For my marriage:

• Skype with Dan regularly while I’m in Ohio. It’s easy for me to get excited and distracted when I’m the one off having fun. I need to remember how hard it is for me when Dan travels for several days.
• Spend a day in the mountains together!

For our household:

• Get most of the laundry done before I go to Ohio.
• Start cooking dinner regularly again.
• Clean all of the bathrooms before I go to Ohio.

With any luck and a bit of hard work, I think I can attain these goals this month!

What are your goals this month?

Linking up with Marriage & Relationship Goals, with Clear the List, and with The Monthly Goals.