This summer is flying by, and not necessarily in a good way. Constant physical discomfort is unsurprisingly miserable. And that has been my life for the entire month of June.
Things are finally looking up, though. I saw a dermatologist on Monday, so now I get to:
- treat two open wounds twice daily
- apply two ointments to my entire torso twice daily
- apply a liquid medication to my scalp every night
- wash my hair with medicated shampoo every morning
Just so we’re clear, being chronically ill takes a shit ton of time. But my skin is already looking better and itching less often, so I’m pretty happy.
Like last month, taking care of my health trumped working towards my goals. Let’s see what I managed to get done in-between doctor’s appointments and medication that makes me sleep 10+ hours a night.
June Recap:
For my career:
- Yup, I continued to blog 1-3 days per week. I definitely slowed my roll in creating content, but that’s okay.
- I have not updated any old blog posts.
- I’m doing lots of upfront work with Massplanner that will eventually make a huge difference, but right now it’s time-consuming and rewardless. (affiliate link)
- I did not reach 4,000 Twitter followers, but I did grow from about 2,475 to 2,800. I’ll be honest, I haven’t been tweeting as much, so my feed is probably too boring to attract many new followers!
- I blew way past my goal of 11,500 Instagram followers. I’m over 12,500.
- Ugh, I have no idea why I thought I could hit 5% engagement on my Instagram posts within 24 hours. It still takes me about a week to hit 4% engagement. For the first few weeks in June, my posts hit 3% engagement within 24 hours, but even with the same hustle, I haven’t been able to get that lately. Keep in mind, I am still getting 300-600 likes on all my photos, with 60-100 comments. But I just thought I would get more likes/comments with more followers. It’s time to reread all of Instarevealed! (affiliate link)
- I only pitched one company myself for collaboration, although plenty of others contacted me.
For my health:
- I had my colonoscopy! It was good! No inflammation, polyps, or ulcers, but I do have a stricture. A stricture can form as part of the healing process from inflammation, though. I also have what my gastroenterologist thinks are “pseudo-polyps,” so really small polyps that are basically scar tissue from healing.
- I also scheduled my MRE and my follow-up appointment. Due to my stricture, my gastroenterologist couldn’t get the scope quite as high into my small intestines as he could last year. The MRE will give a different picture of my digestive track, including whether or not I have inflammation past the stricture.
- I had my Remicade infusion, finally.
- I have obsessively taken care of my skin.
For my marriage:
- It might not have been the most typical of at-home date nights, but I did surprise Dan one night when he came home from work with a romantic evening planned.
- I tell Dan all the time how much I love and appreciate him!
For our household:
- I honestly have no idea what I cleaned this month and what I delegated to Dan. My Crohn’s really didn’t like me going 12 weeks without a Remicade infusion, when I should get it every 8 weeks. All the bathrooms and the guest bedroom were cleaned, just maybe by Dan and not by me.
- My birthday plans changed a little bit, so not much food had to be bought. I did get lots of fun party supplies, though, and decorated the living room! So much pink!
- I cleaned out three drawers of my mom’s things at my dad’s house.
- I spent over two hours with my uncle and great-aunt cleaning out my grandmother’s things.
- I also took quite a few of the nice accessories I found to a consignment shop, and I’ve sorted everything of my mom’s and grandmother’s into keep for me, consignment shop, donate to the museum, and donate to Salvation Army.
July Goals:
For my career:
- Blog 1-3 times per week. It’s the summer! I don’t need to blog 3-5 times per week.
- Update 3 old blog posts.
- Do more with Massplanner. (affiliate link) Specifically:
- Finish at least one spreadsheet of content and set up an automated posting schedule from that.
- Connect the Instagram for The Lee Haugen Long Foundation to Massplanner.
- Set up more automated Pinterest repins to group boards.
- Reach 3,200 followers on Twitter. I’m at 2,800 thanks to Massplanner.
- Reach 15,000 followers on Instagram (and then increase my rates for sponsored posts).
- Use the tips from Instarevealed Guides 4 and 6 so my posts hit 3% engagement after 24 hours.
- Reach out to 2 brands about blog/Instagram collaboration.
- Create an editorial calendar for the Instagram for The Lee Haugen Long Foundation
For my health:
- Get an MRE.
- Have a follow-up with my gastroenterologist. Discuss long-term health goals.
- Schedule to get my stitches removed.
- Continue obsessing over my skin until it’s healed.
- Give myself space and grace to grieve.
For my marriage:
- Time to get a little TMI and blunt. We’ve been temporarily celibate because I’ve been too sick for sex. Celibacy is killing me. So as soon as my skin improves, and probably after my stitches are removed, my marriage goal is sex.
For our household:
- Order all the wedding presents for this year.
- Catch up on the laundry before going back to Greenwood.
- Water all of the plants before going back to Greenwood.
- Dust our bedroom.
- Clean the master bathroom.
- Go the consignment shop at least five times while in Greenwood.
Again, my monthly progress and my monthly goals are largely hindered by and focused on my health. But I can’t really move forward in any of my focus areas while I’m sick.
Also, you might have noticed I referenced The Lee Haugen Long Foundation! My family’s long-time next-door-neighbor Lisa Stephens has been working towards this since before my mother died. She publicly announced it a few weeks ago! While in Greenwood, I attended the first board meeting with my dad. Obviously I’ll be handling the social media. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.
What did you accomplish in June? What are your goals for July?
