Setting monthly goals is a great way to focus on what you want to get done. Choose a goal to finish or break a large goal down into smaller chunks each month to accomplish something over a larger time span.
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Oh man, I feel like I just posted my November goals… oh wait, I did just post them two weeks ago 😉 I planned ahead better and made sure to get this posted at an appropriate time for the upcoming month.
November was a good month. I gave myself goals to work ahead so I could relax a little more come December and the holidays and I feel like I got a good amount done. I still have more to do but I checked some tasks off the to-do list and I’m please with my accomplishments.
I’ve also decided that December will be my last goal setting month – at least on the blog – for a while. I do enjoy sharing my goals with all of you but I want to do more posts that help you rather than show you what I’m up to. After all, my goal with this blog is to help you!
Goals for November
1. Family Goal – Decorate Together
It’s after Thanksgiving and my tree is still not up! *Insert a sobbing Katie here*
But we have a valid reason. Until we are 100% certain that the fleas have been eliminated we don’t want to bring any more stuff into the carpeted areas. It sucks. I really hate it, but I don’t want to risk the fleas invading my gorgeous tree.
I did put up the stockings and some lights in the kitchen because they go up above our big window. I also started switching some wall decor from fall to winter. I really hope we can put up the tree this coming weekend. The dichotomous earth we sprinkled last week seems to have helped but we don’t want to take any chances.
2. Home Goal – Holiday Prep
This is the super fun part of prepping that I was able to accomplish! We made a batch of spritz, puppy chow, reindeer chow, and cut out cookies. They are all in foil pans in the freezer to get pulled out when we need them. Or want them. Ya know, whichever 😉
While the holiday menus are planned my regular weekly menus are not so I’ve got it on my to-do list to get the remaining meals planned through the month (the best I can) so I can make sure that all the groceries we need are planned out and in budget then make adjustments as needed. I’m hoping to have my post about holiday meals on a budget up soon!
3. Self Goal – Blog Prep
I’ve got a few posts ready to go for the month of December already and I’m finishing up the rest. The things I can’t prep ahead of time like grocery shopping pictures and weekly joy posts are at least outlined in my drafts so I can plug in the relevant photos and words easily. I also worked on the new layout so I should be ready to make that go live in January. Yay!
Goals for December
I spent some time thinking and praying about how to approach my goals and decided focusing on one area was helpful initially but now I need to spread my focus a little more. Now I’ll have a single goal for different areas: family, home, and self. As I continue to see how this works I may expand the number of areas to make sure I’m growing as I need to be.
1. Family Goal – Shepherd on the Search
Our new tradition this year is incorporating the Shepherd on the Search into our Christmas time. He will be joining us on December 1st and we are using the devotional as well. Right now my plan is to read the devotional in the morning and do the activity after dinner to help us begin and end our day remembering why we celebrate.
2. Home Goal – Daily Tasks
I’ve slacked off in keeping up with our normal daily tasks, especially at the end of the day. For a while I was making sure we ended each day with the sink cleaned out, the floor swept, and toys picked up. We’ve slacked lately – more so on the dishes and floor – and I want to get back into that habit. I know how much better the day begins when I come out in the morning to a tidy house. It’s not the easiest month to start something like this but what’s the point in waiting?
3. Self Goal – Soak it in
This season causes so many people to get stressed and overwhelmed. I feel like I do a pretty good job of planning ahead and not letting that happen but it’s still easy to get caught up in the feeling that we must do more and these things need to happen perfectly and all the joy must come from mom. Instead I want to soak in the season, and especially soak it in with my kids. I’ll never get this Christmas season, with them at these exact ages, back again. I want to put my phone down (unless I’m snapping a quick photo) and be in the moment rather than sitting back and only observing or casually noticing moments while I’m distracted by other things. If it means I’m a little more absent on social media, so be it. This family and our time spent preparing our hearts this Christmas season is far more important. I’m pretty sure all of you understand.