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So much still to do |
Two hundred and forty days of this year have already flown
by leaving only one hundred and twenty-five left. Before I look up, those will be gone as
well. It’s not that I fear getting
older, because I don’t. I’m enjoying my
life now more than ever and the second half of my journey has me excited. No, I fear the quick passing of time because
I am so far behind in what I had planned to get accomplished this year. The intentions were there, the To Do Lists
written out, and goals set. Then the
distractions began and the days fell from the desk calendar.
When I quit my 9 to 5 last September, I had several
manuscripts halfway done and a list of blog posts to write that should have
kept me busy for several months. I began
strong. I published Circle of Justice and, a couple of months later, Reaping the Harvest. The blog posts were going well and I had even
started doing five a week, which eventually I dropped down to three. I was also doing some guest spots on other
blogs and working on some short stories.
However, the plan was to have four books out this year. I know that seems a major undertaking, but as
I said before, I had most of them halfway done.
Therefore, I assumed I could finish them. After all, I have all day to write, right?
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The hands are spinning too fast |
When I was making my goals, however, what I failed to take
into consideration was Life. The girls’
work schedules changed, one son was getting married, another going to college,
one visiting from college, and the 8 year-old needing help with her
homework. Of course, there was our own
busy social life and the many trips that needed to be taken. There was also visiting family and the
unexpected emergency. Now, as you read
that list you may think I’m whining and the girls would be quick to tell you I
whine a lot, but don’t listen to them.
They like to poke fun at me. The
truth is, I enjoyed every one of those disruptions, even when it totally
disrupted my home and my routine, and you know how I love my routine.
Still, they set me back on what I had planned to get
accomplished. So now, with only 125 days
left to go, it’s time to reevaluate that To Do List. Of course, now we’re coming up on the holiday
season - I hope you’ve started buying my Christmas gift - and I already know of
at least two trips we have planned. The
next four months are going to be chocked full of activity.
And I have to write around all of that!
So, having learned what I did the first three quarters of
the year, I have been looking at the remaining days left to me and readjusted
my goals to fit - at least, I hope. A Confused Life is almost done, so I am
confident that book will be out soon, and LosingFaith is halfway through the second draft.
In order for this novel to be finished, it needs to be my main focus, so
I have dropped some current projects in order to make sure it happens. I’ve also partnered with Stephanie Neighbour
in founding Bloggers against Bullies
and while we are planning on having quite a few bloggers helping with the
writing, it will still take work as well as time away from my current
schedule. That has to be taken into
consideration as I make my daily goal list.
Add to that the time spent marketing and platform building, which I really
didn’t take into consideration the first time out, and you can see the time
slipping away.
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Time to get busy |
However, school is back in so college kids and the 8
year-old are out of the house for quite a bit of the writing day so the
distractions are fewer. I’ve changed how
I do things a bit and bought some necessary hardware to make my productivity
higher. Now I have to be realistic in
setting the goals for the rest of the year in order to accomplish something and
not just spinning in circles. When
things are not working, you have to make adjustments in order to gain the
desired results.
How are you doing this year on seeing your dream become
reality? Have you had to make
adjustments in order to reach your goals and, if so, what kind of
adjustments? Use the rest of the year to
cut out the time-wasters and increase your productivity. And be realistic, so that when Life steps in
and knocks your routine out of whack you won’t be thrown completely off course. Plan ahead for what you cannot plan for and
you won’t be as surprised when it actually happens. And it will happen, trust me. It’s been one of the lessons I learned this
year. What have you learned?
* * * * *
Did you enjoy what you read? Leave me a comment and then join me at The Mess that Is Me on Facebook!
Other posts you might enjoy ~ Someone Stole My Time
Thanks for visiting The Mess! Keep chasing your dreams!
I have learned to say no. A useful tool to keep me writing. My number of friends are fewer now, but that's okay. It sounds selfish, but I had to. Time is no longer an ally.
ReplyDeleteSacrifices have to be made to fulfill your dreams and goals. And you are right, time is no longer on our side. Thanks for visiting and commenting, James.
DeleteI hear you, Robbie! So much of the year has gotten by me without goals set at the beginning of the year reaching fruition. On the other hand, I've accomplished some great things thus far. May we both refocus on the highest good we can accomplish in the remainder of the year. ~ Bobbi
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bobbi, for visiting and commenting. Here's to both of us reaching our revised goals by the end of the year and seeing our dreams grow.
DeleteYou sound like a Type A struggling to keep your personal disappointment of not finishing 4 books under control. Not that it's a bad thing to realize. It makes you work harder. We all know the feeling when life interrupts. I enjoy the feel of rushing that I read between your lines. It;s that drive we have as writers, and you have so much!
ReplyDeleteSince you asked, I had wanted to have my 11th book published this year but I am in the editing state and going deep to cut it down from 130K pages and maybe have enough left over for a sequel. My painting, photography and galleries, also allows my Muse to branch out, so I'm left with a dual career in retirement. But tell me - would you have it any other way in retirement? In spite of the lives we live, we are fortunate to be doing what we love the most.
I do feel that rush of hurrying right now lol. It sounds like you have some great outlets and talents. I may get into more photography as I get a handle on this schedule, but art was never my strong suit. I envy those with that talent. We are some of the fortunate for sure and a bad day writing is better than a good day at a 9 to 5.
DeleteThanks for visiting and commenting!
This year has flown by for sure… I cannot believe it is already September. I know Your blog was relating more to writing goals but I can take Your thoughts and apply them to myself. I always see the later part of the year as a refocus time to get back on track from a busy summer. And as You know and mentioned, the holidays can always throw unexpected things at us. Thank You for the nudge to start refocusing and looking at what is left on the To Do list.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Teri, for visiting. And it's always a chance for me to see where I have been and where i need to go. Here's to all of us reaching our goals this year.
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