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Planning for 2020
December’s actually a little late for me to begin planning what I want to accomplish in 2020. Any other year, I would have begun in November by drawing a mind map to start organizing my thoughts about my biggest priorities.
In fact, until this year, EVERY year, I led a group of authors through building their mind maps and then in December, I conducted a “Write 50 Books a Year” workshop to help them—and me—plan our work for the New Year.
However, this year, I stepped back from my Rose’s Colored Glasses group, needing some time to heal after two years of terrible losses (my grandmother and father). I’ve been a bit aimless as my publishing schedule this year will attest. I lost my ambition and focus.
Now, I’m trying to get back in the groove, so I’m “bribing” myself with new treats to try to encourage some excitement in me. I’ve always planned my work goals on Excel spreadsheets, and I’ll do that again this year, with an emphasis on “realistic”. My integrated plan—life and work—has been an evolving thing. I was a Filofax girl forever and then for several years, a Bullet Journal girl. I don’t have the energy to do the BuJo thing again. So, I bought a very pretty Erin Condren notebook. It’s shiny, rose-gold and pink, has tons of stickers and pretty pages. I spent yesterday assembling it, but then I opened it to January and froze.
I was afraid to commit pen to paper and mar those pretty pages. Or maybe, I was afraid to commit to a schedule because I know I won’t take it seriously…? Perhaps, I need to spend time playing with my Excel worksheets some more. I’m not sure.
However, 2020 has to be better than 2019. I have to be better. So, to you, my friends, any suggestions to help me buckle down and get the work done? What planning system do you use? I’d love to hear your suggestions.
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OH BOY can I relate to this. I thought once I retired, I was going to go full steam ahead. I’ve only written one and a half books and I haven’t edited them, even. All I want to do is sew. I need to start publishing again. I’m thinking about using this method.
https://heartbreathings.com/how-i-organize-my-time-as-a-writer/
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Oh! I just found her blogs! I’m reviewing them too! And it’s good to know another author is having the same difficulties. Here’s to a better new year for both of us!
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I’ve had some of the same things going on in the past few years that you have, Delilah, so I understand.
When I work on my writing goals for the year, I have to also factor in my day-job schedule (something I sometimes forget about when I’m goal-setting, lol), so I’m not trying to do something for me when I’ll be brain-dead from that. It’s a challenge.
This year, I’ve cut my writing expectations way down, with a list of 9 things I want to accomplish (and I may chop a few more off of that, to try to be as realistic as possible), with steps for each broken down and given a goal date so the overall goal on my list will be done by the specific date I want it to be done.
I have this printed out on bright paper so it will be staring at my from the bulletin board beside my desk, plus everything is in my planner for the year, and on another bright sheet of paper that will shift from project to project (and go to work with me),so it’s always a reminder.
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When I read this, what jumps out at me is “to try to encourage some excitement in me”. I think the key is lack of excitement. Possibly you’re still grieving and need more time for healing (mourning takes as long as it takes and for you that might be longer than a year), or maybe you haven’t found the idea that sparks your imagination. Or something else may be getting in the way. I think if you find your zest for the work again, it won’t matter what system you use. Just my humble opinion. If my remarks don’t resonate with you, please disregard.
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Oh Delilah I wish I could help you with your planning with some suggestions. My 2019 was nothing like I expected. In March I lost my godmother/aunt and 12 days later I lost my father.
A few months after their loss I closed my aunts house and sold it. I closed my aunts house and sold it. I bought a house and moved. I’m still trying to settle my aunts estate and get her ashes buried next to my uncle, her husband. Due to new laws I’ve had to wait for the church to get a license. As of today’s date they still don’t have it. I wanted to renovation in the way of the closed in porch to my back door which I had to wait until the middle of October to start. It is not yet completed and when it is completed will be a renovation to my bathroom. Nothing since the beginning of 2019 has happened on the timeline/schedule I would like it to happen. And as a bit of a control freak that has been difficult for me. But there is nothing I can do with the schedules/timelines. I am hoping once the renovations are completed and auntie Agnes’s is settled in her spot next to my uncle things will come together and I can spend more time planning things the way I want to.
I am hoping once the renovations are completed and auntie Agnes’s is settled in her spot next to my uncle things will come together and I can spend more time planning things the way I want to.
Right now I live each day as it comes. I have ideas of how I want the future to go things I have planned but have decided that I am not going to hold myself to any schedules.
I think 2020 would work better for me and possibly for yourself if you write out a flow chart like they taught us in school. A flow chart doesn’t actually have time attached to it it just has a list of GOALS and you check them off as they are completed. I believe this should be the way we handle 2020.
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Omg. Girl. EC IS THE BEST. Stickers are your friend. I love that I can have a home, school and work section.
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My heart goes out to you… if you need someone cheering you on.. you know i’m here! I actually picked up the new daily books from passionplanner.. they have some space on the daily pages that excite me.. I’m a note taker/doodler
I’ve also printed some stickers for myself.. because i’m a visual girl.. let me know if you want the pdf files for any of them…
I got you… I have to recharge too… getting that respiratory yuck has really thrown me off my game
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I will be glad to see the end of 2019. My loses haven’t been quite as bad as yours but difficult none the less.
My sister-in-law had a major stroke in February that left her with dementia-like symptoms as well as physical difficulties. It’s been hard to accept but it looks like she will not improve.
In October I lost my fur baby, Buttons. We knew it was coming but that didn’t make it any easier to lose him.
So here’s to a better year in 2020. I’m confident that you will find your mojo once again. Hugs
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What jumps out to me is that you seem to want to use your Excel spreadsheets so I say use them. Perhaps that will bring back your excitement and your desire to follow your goals đŸ™‚
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Thanks for all the encouragement and suggestions, and MJ, thanks for that link!