I’m a bit late on these, as it’s now the 10th of November, but I wanted to share my goals for the month of November. I’m hoping this makes them more tangible and holds me more accountable for them.
I’ve got 10 goals for the month, separated into two categories: blog and personal.
November Goals
Blogging Goals
- Have more productive weekends. Because I work full time, weekends are basically my only opportunity to work on blog posts. I had a really productive Sunday this weekend, but I didn’t do much on Saturday. I had a ton of plans for the day, but before I knew it the sun was going down and hardly anything had been achieved. I’d like to fix this by the end of the month.
- Start an email list. I know this is a huge part of blogging, but it goes back to goal #1: I haven’t had time to devote to it yet. I know the steps I need to take to create an email list that people can sign up for. Now I just need to do it.
- Make a plan for opening an Etsy shop. I’ve wanted to open up a shop on Etsy for some time now, but for one reason or another it has gotten away from me. I know it will be a long process, but I’d like to come up with a plan this month.
- Do more link-ups. Now that I’ve joined the TriStyle & Co. Google+ Community, I’ve found a lot more opportunities for blog link-ups. I love it! Now I just have to join them
Personal Goals
- Watch less television. This should be a bit easier by the end of the month, because Sean and I decided to cancel our cable starting the week of Thanksgiving. We really only watched two channels, and the bill was crazy high. Unfortunately, our apartment complex only lets us use one cable provider, so the only cost-cutting option was to drop cable completely. Even before then, though, I’d like to watch less television because it’s just a giant time-suck.
- Read more. I absolutely love reading, but I’ve found myself reading less and less as of late. I’m in the middle of a long book series, so I just need to power through them. I’d love to finish the series by the end of the year, but for now I’ll stick with finishing book three by the end of the month.
- Order holiday cards. I haven’t decided what I’d like to do for mine and Sean’s holiday cards yet, but I’m excited that we’re finally doing our own this year. And by “we” I mean “Caitlin.” I’d like to have them ordered / planned out by the end of this month so I’m not scrambling at the last minute / back out of sending them in December.
- Spend more time with friends. Sean and I joined a 3D Dodgeball league (it’s dodgeball on trampolines–who could turn that down?) that started last week Monday, and it’s helped me realize how much I value time with friends. Since moving in with Sean, I feel myself becoming more and more of a homebody, being perfectly content staying in every night of the week and watching television. (See goal #5.) I’d like to stop automatically turning down opportunities to hang out with friends.
- Use Rosetta Stone more. As you can see on my bucket list, I’d really like to learn French. I’m using Duolingo regularly, but I have strayed away from Rosetta Stone quite a bit. It’s a bummer, because I spent a lot of money on it. I’d like to use both so I didn’t waste that money.
- Spend less money. I joined the #30DaysNoShopping Challenge from Stylebook two weeks ago, but I’ve only stopped spending money on clothes. I really need to curb spending (outside of gifts and holiday cards) for the rest of the month, if not longer. Which is really difficult when A Beautiful Mess just opened their online store.
What are your goals for the month of November? Do you have any suggestions for how I can achieve all of mine this month?
I’ll share my progress at the beginning of December!
I’m working on so many of the same things, especially with your blogging goals! I’ve got a small email list up and running, but I need to put more time into making it a more viable part of my blog brand. I just need MORE TIME!! 🙂 Good luck with all of your goals!
Yes! Wouldn’t it be great to have more time? I feel like it’s one thing everyone wants 😉
Awesome goals. I totally literally have 4 of the same goals. I need to for sure be more productive and get my butt in gear on the weekends. Thanks for sharing these goals.
Thank you!
I wish I could be more productive, as well. But, lately, I feel that I have managed time a little better than in the past, so that is something I want to continue working on! Good luck and wishing you success this month! <3
Thank you! And good luck to you as well 🙂
I only have weekends to devote to blogging as well, I feel ya. Spending less and watching less TV are on my goal list too. I am reducing our cable package so I will be forced to watch less
Yes! I’m jealous of my future, cable-less self who doesn’t have the temptation. 🙂 Can’t wait until it’s officially canceled!
great goals! I just scheduled an hour to myself to start working on the blog, so I like that one. #10 with No Shopping terrifies me! I need to read your posts on that to see how you are doing it!
Thanks! Hopefully my blog posts help 🙂
Fab goal, I definitely want to read more but no shopping in November? Yikes 😉
Right?! Especially with Black Friday AND Cyber Monday. Womp womp womp.
Exactly!
Wow what an ambitious month! Good luck with all of these!
Thank you so much!
Those are really great goals. I want to have more time to blog on weekends too – but with the 2 kids and trying to get caught up on housework it’s hard. It was great in the summer because I could take pictures and stuff in the evenings when it was still light out but now it’s dark by 5pm… yikes! Good luck with your goals 🙂
Thank you! I’m trying to remind myself how lucky I am to have weekends relatively to myself since I don’t have kids, but it’s still difficult! 🙂
I am loving the idea of your monthly goals! I have a similar thing…I call it my Monthly Resolution for a Road to Wellness. I learned it really helps to put your goals out there so that even your social community can help support you! Good luck!
I’ll definitely have to check it out! And yes, I love putting my goals out there so I’m held more accountable. 🙂
I’ve been living on a strict budget since I moved to the USA (with my husband) back in Feb. Once you get used to not spending oodles of money, you kinda get used to it! Good luck with your goals! 🙂
I feel like I have the opposite problem right now! I stick to my budget, but then I slip up once and go down the slippery slope until the next month’s budget rolls around. I’ll get there eventually. 🙂
I’ve been living on a strict budget since I moved to the USA (with my husband) back in Feb. Once you get used to not spending oodles of money, you kinda get used to it! Good luck with your goals! 🙂
So inspiring – I share some of these for sure. I’m trying to make a wish list every weekend and see how many things we can check off – hiking, blogging, time with family, new restaurants, etc. I love how focused your goals are!
So inspiring – I share some of these for sure. I’m trying to make a wish list every weekend and see how many things we can check off – hiking, blogging, time with family, new restaurants, etc. I love how focused your goals are!
Thank you so much! The weekend list is a great idea too. It holds you more accountable in a shorter time frame, so it’s harder to forget about. 🙂
Great goals. Cable was too expensive so now we just use Netflix and Hulu. It’s much cheaper.
Yes! We have Netflix now, and Sean has a Playstation, so we can bring it up right on the television. Easy peesy!
What would your Etsy shop be? I am in love with etsy….. yeah and that kinda goes hand in hand with spending less money. dang.
Me too! Right now I’m looking at knitting / crocheting scarves (infinity and regular) and possibly getting into some jewelry or stationary making.
It’s really easy to get started on a mailing list through MailChimp!
That’s what I am planning on using! 🙂 I started to look into it a while back, but got intimidated by the need to open a PO Box or list my personal address. Luckily, my mom and I opened a PO Box together for our two businesses, so now I have that big element out of the way. Thanks for the suggestion!
I am still trying to plug away at posts from my trip in May, argh! I work full time too so only have the weekends which is really only Sunday as well as I need to prioritize my hubby 😉
Haha yes! I definitely feel that way about Sean sometimes. 😉
This is an awesome list of goals – I’m excited for you! Good luck opening an Etsy shop! I can’t wait to visit! 🙂
Thank you so much!
I totally need to spend less too! And work on my Etsy shop, so I can make more 😉 Hahah.
My thoughts exactly! The more I make on Etsy, the more I can spend on myself 🙂
Love love love your list of goals. Except for spending less. A Beautiful Mess products are just too good to pass up. 😉
Exactly!! I just ordered my third package. Whoops.
these are great goals. I failed to make any goals for November for myself….
There’s still time to make a list! You have 2/3 of the month left 🙂
These are fantastic goals!! I need to work on getting an email list for my blog as well 🙂
Good luck! I’ll try to share some tips once I get it going. 🙂
These are some amazing goals to have! Good luck working on the Etsy shop!
Thank you so much!
I am with you on the reading more. I read so much over the summer and just haven’t had the time since then! Guessing I need to check out the Beautiful Mess products you mentioned as well!
Yes! Summer is the best time to read. And definitely check out the A Beautiful Mess products, but be warned–they’re addicting. 🙂
Hahaha I did and added some items to my Christmas Wish List 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!
I am with you on only have the weekends to blog I need to utilise this time more wisely unfortunately life likes to get in the way. Good luck with your goals
Thank you!
These are awesome goals! I’m with you on the spending part. What type of Etsy shop are you wanting to open up? 😀 I have a small shop but am working on opening up one thats more “me” if that makes sense?
Thank you! I’ve got a couple ideas, from notepads to handmade scarves. I’m going to do some price checking and see what makes the most sense. Maybe both! 🙂
I really want to read more and watch TV less. That’s a huge goal for me at the moment. But also have more time for blogging etc!
Katie <3
I feel like we underestimate how much time we spend on TV! If you cut down on that, you might have more time for reading AND blogging. 🙂
Realistic goals. It’s good that you’ve separated the business and the personal instead of lumping them altogether.
Thank you! 🙂
These are some great goals. I would love to add some of those very goals to my list… Goal snatch…is that allowed. Lol.
Thrifting Diva
http://www.thriftingdiva.com
Definitely! 🙂
Your blogging goals are right in line with mine. I really need to dedicate a day on the weekend to blogging for the week. I am so all over the place with posting and I need to be more consistent.
Yes! That’s exactly what I need to do.
I have the same first two goals as you! I try to do two blog posts a week, but with work (and life), somehow things get pushed back until the weekend. And… same with the email list. Am in the process of writing an e-book now for the freebie… and of course, it’s taking longer than expected. 🙂 Good luck!
xo,
lauriel
EyeForElegance.com
That sounds daunting! Good luck with your goals too 🙂
Sometimes I feel like my blog and personal goals compete – I want to read more and hang out with friends, but then I want to work on my blog! It’s always about juggling priorities, isn’t it! Good luck!
It is! Which is so difficult. Good luck with yours too! 🙂
I love your goals, especially the read more watch less tv ones. Those are high on my priority list. it’s amazing how much I accomplish when I stop watching tv and incorporate reading into my life. It makes my brain more alert, and I find I start using more words in the english language that I had forgotten about. Also, I love the name of your blog!
Thank you so much! I like it too. 🙂 And yes, I’m really excited to get rid of cable so I HAVE to stop watching television. I’m hoping that means I’ll read more rather than substituting it with mindless internet time. 🙂 We’ll see how it goes!