Month number four, and it has been a bit like a see-saw. Good moments and well, freaking stressful! My plate is overflowing, and not in a good way. I’d like to take time out and step off the merry-go-round, but I don’t see that happening any time soon. Here is how the month went…
Personal Goals
Home and work life balance
I am coming home early on the days where I can, which is good. Downside, not really doing much to unwind. Get home, prep dinner, and then lunches for the next day, eat, clean up, shower, out to the desk to concentrate on my WIP. A little R&R in front of the TV before bed. Plus, we’re heading into winter here. ☹
Fitness
Yep, not an iota of exercise. I did sign up for Strava though. Thanks, Jacqui for the tip. Just need to use it now!
Photography
Woohoo, I did manage photos again! Fist bump.
Photos taken in our south-west in Western Australia, where Karri, Marri and Jarrah trees grow and found only here.
Food and wine
We’re on a food plan with the aim to improve and promot gut health. Been a bit of an adjustment for the digestive system, but still only early days.
Professional Goals
Teaching
Enrolled to participate in a three-day Aspiring Leadership course (based on the Harvard course) and completed day one. It was rather good. Have a bit of reading to do, answer questions, as well as filling out a SWOT analysis before our next workshop in June.
Writing
Good news here. Since last month, I printed out my ms to do another round of edits. Almost done, about a quarter left to edit, and then make changes on Scrivener before sending to beta readers.
Going well with the Serenity Prayer.
What have I achieved so far? On track with my professional goals, however my personal goals need serious attention, especially home and work life balance and fitness. The ancient Greeks were ahead of their time when they realised regular exercise also helped to maintain a healthy mental outlook. Except the women, who had no say and not considered important in society, apart from the Spartans. The women exercised and were as fit as their male counterparts, so that they produced healthy male babies!
How are you faring with your goals? Are you able to keep them going? What are your successes or are you struggling to address some of them as I am?
Thank you for your continued support and as always, I look forward to your comments and will respond.
Historical fiction novelist and a secondary teacher, Luciana Cavallaro, burnt out but not done… yet.
Luciana Cavallaro 
I see your problem making time for writing. I’ve said before, I couldn’t even write until my life became settled–kids gone, worked from home, that sort. Now, while I do write to the exclusion of everything else, I find each project is a break from the others, so it works.
Love these updates you provide. It reminds me we are all different yet we all write.
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Not sure how to remedy the ‘time’ issue, other than winning lotto! LOL
I’ll be teaching until my 80s! at this rate. 😦
Thank you 🙂 Keeps me on track… sort of…
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Well, I found more time by teaching from home. All that time I spent commuting, chatting, picking the right outfit–that became time for teaching, reading, writing. It actually gave me a tone more time than I ever imagined it would.
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Bella,
Looks like you’ve been juggling quite a bit lately. I marvel at your tenacity and unwavering dedication to writing. You are talented in so many ways! I do hope the merry-go-round slows down a bit for you to catch your breath.
I think setting goals is a wonderful way to balance life. However, the older I get, the less goal-oriented I am. Working on multiple goals doesn’t work for me anymore. Each of us has a fixed amount of time and energy, so I use the “quality, not quantity” rule when setting goals. This way I have more energy to complete them.
BTW, love the photo. Magnificent looking tree!
xxx
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Ciao Bella,
Tenacity, love the word, but I think stubbornness comes into play more! And perhaps determination to succeed. It has been a steep hill to climb and not sure when the peak will appear.
I had to stick to my goals, I was finding within the first few months I wasn’t addressing them and didn’t achieve much of anything. I’ve cut back on my goals too! Thought 6 was enough. May need to revise!!
So happy to see you, Rose. You are often in my thoughts xx
It is a fabulous tree. We have a lot like that one in our south-west region.
xx
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