There is too much I want to do with my time and energy. The three big ones: I want to finish a novel, I want to study karate, I want to get really fit. I end up not reaching any of my goals because even when they don't actively conflict, there's just only so much time, energy, and focus I can come up with.
Lately, studying karate has been winning. I think that's because of a couple of things:
- It's regularly scheduled. I am totally a creature of habit.
- There are other people involved who will notice if I slack off
- It's got regular, predictable milestones and goals.
- It's fun!
Hmm, that's sort of a useful little list. Consistency, accountability, clear progress markers, and... fun. I wonder if applying that to my other two goals will result in anything interesting.
The novel - it's been making some progress, although not nearly enough to suit me.
- Consistency: none. I write when I feel like it, which isn't all that often.
- Accountability: I have recently improved this, and that's really the only reason I've been making progress. It's harder to slack off completely when I know I have to cancel a coffee date, or sit through it knowing I haven't done my share.
- Progress: On the one hand, the work is divided neatly into chapters. On the other, I haven't really set time-based goals. So about 50% on this one.
- Fun: I enjoy the process once I get started, and I do feel really good when I finish a session.
That more closely resembles "getting really fit." (Which I am counting totally separately from karate, because if that alone got me really fit, I'd be a ninja already.)
- Consistency: None at the moment. I can be good about this for about six weeks at a stretch.
- Accountability: Posting to the blog doesn't seem to do it. Possibly because only half a dozen people (at best) read it.
- Progress: Let's face it, "getting really fit" is a crappy goal. I need to define that better.
- Fun: I do enjoy the various activities involved, when I make myself do them.
So I need to define my goals better for fitness, and figure out how to get into the habit of both sitting and writing and... doing whatever will support my fitness goals.
More to come in further posts.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
You could try linking the writing and fitness - kill two birds with one stone sort of thing. I love writing, but I get antsy when I'm behind the computer for too long. I usually tell myself I'll write for X amount of time, then take a walk after, do yoga for a bit, something active. Just a thought! (Anyway, if you have more than two chapters written, you're doing better than me.)
Amen, I am a recent convert to the magic of "specific, attainable goals." The hard part is choosing what goals to work towards, because working towards all of them at once is not attainable, and usually ends up with me watching 6 episodes in a row of something on hulu while I write meaningless Sisyphean 'to do' lists.
Good luck in yours. This bloggin is useful after all! :P
Post a Comment