Journey Forward ∴ 9 - Quarter Check In

Can you believe we are a quarter through twenty12 already? This weeks Journey Forward was to look back at the progress we have made towards our one word & goals.

• Complete 4 or more blog designs per month.

Holla! I'm not quite up to four every month, but my average is right around four. Blog design can be tricky in that some projects take longer than others & carry over from month to month. Nevertheless, I'm quite proud of myself & these 15 designs!

January (3): Mrs. Alana's Miscellany, Lattes & Love, Of Our Parents
February (6): The Shelton Family, Reading, Eating & Dreaming, You are the Roots, Post Cards from TG, Creative Bug
March (3): Human Sparkler, Keep Your Sunnyside Up, C Squared W
April (3): Maggiano Takes Austin, Lovely, Flowers, Ribbons and Pearls

• Find an online teaching job at a college or university. 

Fail. I did have one fun job opportunity sent my way, but it didn't work out. I have a feeling this is going to be hard to accomplish before moving back to the states. The good news is that I have my portfolio & resume all ready to go when the time comes! {www.kathrynprice.info}

• Make dates with my husband to have fun together at least twice a month.

At the beginning of the semester Chris and I were going out together almost every Saturday night. In March we had fun at his 4th Semester Banquet. But as the semester has started closing in (tests!) he just hasn't had the time for it. Hopefully in 5th semester there will be more time for these sorts of things without the stress of so many exams.

• Read 12 books. 

Yes! I'm at 4 books: Love Wins, Outlander, Sing You Home, Fifty Shades of Grey. Reading is one of my favorite things to do, so I think I will always find time for it. It helps me to relax.

• Relax

Seriously, I feel like I'm working on this daily. Starting my own little design company has been a lot of hard work and a lot of long hours. That little list of 15 blogs up there represents my heart and soul for the past 4 months.

I feel like the Journey Forward challenge has helped me stay accountable during this time. Knowing that I have to write a post every week about how I am doing with relaxing has really helped me to stay in check. I get so easily lost in my computer & design; two hours can feel like twenty minutes for me. Living with a relaxed attitude is a work in progress for me.

1  ∴  2  ∴  3 ∴  4 ∴  5 ∴ 6 ∴ 7 ∴ 8

What about you? Do you want to join in on the Journey Forward challenge? It's not too late!

Journey Forward ∴ 4 - Goals

This week's Journey Forward asks me to set some goals towards my one word: RELAX.  Earlier this year, I set myself 4 goals to work towards.

• complete 4 or more blog designs per month
• find an online teaching job at a college or university
• make dates with my husband at least twice a month
• read 12 books 

It's interesting that 2 of the 4 goals are aimed at relaxing, and the other 2 are aimed at working. I still like all 4 goals, but thinking in terms of becoming a more relaxed person I think that I should add two more to the list:

• exercise at least 3 times a week: yoga, gym, something
• create working hours and stick to them

I have rarely been spending time alone that doesn't involve working or blogging (which is sort of working as it reflects on my brand). Exercising has just gotten thrown out the window. It feels more "okay" to take time away from working to hang out with Chris or friends than it does to go work out by myself. 

How is it possible that finding 3 hours a week to go work out is hard for me?! I just need to suck it up and go do it. 

I'm learning just how hard it is to get a small business going. Even when that business is online! There are just so many things I have to learn about advertising, client management, and the like. I could seriously spend all day, nine to midnight, happily working on PDS things. Between creating designs and working on my site, creating content, advertising, working, etc; I just get sucked in and don't leave time for relaxing. 

This might sound like I'm a recluse, but that isn't the case either. I'm still going out with friends (Pinterest Party last night, what-what!) and going on trips, making dinner and hanging out with Chris. But any extra time is spent on the computer.. not relaxing by myself. 

I think creating working hours might help. Even if they are non-traditional, like 10-3 and 9-midnight. Or saying that I only work certain days of the week. The first goal is to create those hours, and then secondly I need to stick to them. 

I have found a lot of helpful tips and articles at Revolutionize Her, a blog where self-employed women share their stories on how they make it work. Definitely go check it out!

I think the moral of today's story is: I need to work smarter, not harder. Part of working smart is going to be finding time to relax so that I don't burn out. Even if I'm happy spending all my time working right now, I don't want to come to regret it later.

Thanks for sticking with me on this long post. I'd love to hear your tips on time management & relaxing!

Goals for 2012

Goals vs. Resolutions 
Setting goals seems less daunting to me than making a resolution. Goals are something you work towards and can adjust and change. A resolution seems so definite and well, breakable. So this year, I'm going to skip the resolution bit and set out some goals for myself.

• Complete 4 or more blog designs per month.

Starting my own business is so exciting. I want to build my skills and portfolio, but also want to avoid burnout and enjoy my last few months on the island. As I get gain experience, this number should increase.

• Find an online teaching job at a college or university. 

Once my degree is posted I want to start searching out online teaching positions. I want to use my Masters degree in some way this year, ideally having it pay for itself through new job opportunities.

• Make dates with my husband to have fun together at least twice a month.

I know what you are thinking, "you only plan to have fun with your husband twice a month?!" But listen. Life as a med-student is no cake walk. Between him finishing his fourth semester, studying for the step, and starting rotations, twice a month sounds like a good start.

• Read 12 books. 

This is significantly less than last year, but I am being realistic. Between starting a new business, job hunting, and moving, I think one book a month sounds just about right.

• Relax *

I need to learn to let go of things that make me anxious and worried. I want to focus my energy on what is good, and stop dwelling on what makes me feel anxious. Not only my mind, but my body too. I want to go to yoga & spend time relaxing.

*This goal was added as part the Journey Forward challenge.