Welcome to February. How am I doing about those goals that I set for myself over a month ago? I can’t even remember what all these goals are, so this should be interesting.
Start first-thing-in-the-morning writing
Boo to this one. We have two limiting factors:
1. I am feeling anxious. The first few weeks were okay, but when I started trying to do my ACTUAL work (required writing, if you will), I developed early-morning-“whydoihavetogetupanddoanything???” anxiety.
2. Sleep. Sleeep! I love it. I keep sleeping in until 7. Not conducive for work.
Next Step: Get up earlier. Muscle through needless anxiety. Get. Shit. Done.
Read 12 new YA releases this year
I have read four of the six books I predicted back in January. And 5 total! Yea-ah! My internship also surrounds me with enticing ARCs for 10 hours a week. This one won’t be too hard
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
- The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
- Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
- Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson
- Trafficked by Kim Purcell
Next Step: Post more reviews!!!!!?!!!!!
Continue to pursue a mostly sugar & grain-free lifestyle
I am totally off the wagon. I would blame this on my newly reduced grocery budget – replacing most of my expensive meat + nuts with whole grains (quinoa, rice, etc) – but that’s not entirely fair. It’s like I was on, then I was off over the holidays, and never got back on. Every week I say “I’ll get back on! Once I eat XXX. Once I buy groceries. Once XXX is over…”
So there’s that. I think I’m still doing 50% better than I was before I first cut sugar in September – naturally avoiding a lot of junk – but still eating too much toast, buying bags of chips, baking muffins & cookies, etc.
Next Step: Go cold turkey on sweets? Oh, how I wish there was another way… but there isn’t.
Run two 5Ks
So, learned something new about myself. Apparently, I respond well to specific-acheivement-type-goals that constitute a legit challenge. Back when I set these goals, I remember forcing myself to the gym, thinking that if I ever want to meet my goal – heck, if I even want to legitimize this goal’s existence – then I better get started.
Three weeks later, I have run completed three three-mile runs. I can easily do a mile without wanting a break (or at least wanting one TOO badly) and doing 2 or even 2.5 isn’t a big deal.
So, moral of the story: I psyched myself out, thinking “Oh this resolution will be super hard,” and therefore worked my butt off, and this is now my most successful resolution. Take note, Future Jessica!
Next Step: Next goal: eliminate breaks – I usually take a breather after each mile or so to stretch/get water/re-group – and pick up my pace to something that’s not a 12 minute mile.
I saw an old granny running for the bus the other day, and I thought to myself “Oh man, if only I could run that fast at the gym…”
That was only 30% joke.
Be ballsy.
I am struggling with this one, but as you may have read this long-winded post, I may have turned a corner in my job search. I am currently only pursuing jobs that will set me on a good path in the Children’s-Lit-o-Sphere and put me in a good place on the globe.
Now I will still need to summon the ballsy-ness to FOLLOW THROUGH AND APPLY, because even though I am carefully selecting which future employers I will pursue, those same employers are likely to dismiss my application altogether. Must keep applying and not take 7-10 days to waffle on a cover letter.
I did, however, submit my very first job app this week. Yay!
Next Step: Apply apply apply! Network network network!
Work on a cleaning schedule
Ack. When you are out of the house 8+ hours each day, it is plum DIFFICULT to maintain any sort of effective cleaning schedule. Especially when I have due-dates looming and upper respiratory infections and OTC drug hangovers to contend with.
I would say that my apartment is currently a wreck, but someone special cleaned her up, top to bottom, on Valentine’s. 🙂 I am, therefore, feeling a little bit inspired to maintain this current level of spic&span.
Seriously. This boy I live with? He doesn’t clean as much as I do, but when he does, HOLY CRAP. He has skills. He just better at cleaning than I am. We could spend equal time on the task, and my end result is a sorta-halfway-clean apartment, and his is spotless. I need to figure out how to milk this talent of his in a more effective manner.
Next Step: Oh, there are so many choices. Laundry would have the biggest effect on my well-being, but is also the most challenging. Urgh.