AUGUST GOAL REVIEWS AND 8-18 to 9-11 UPDATE
- monthly review
I hope everyone had a great week! If not, I am sorry but it is now a new week! A fresh, shiny, new start filled with new opportunities! You will do great in hitting your goals, we just gotta take it one step at a time. For example, my first goal is every Sunday, post a review of the week and every second Sunday, post references and research materials. But with my first entry, I’d like to go over my current project list, deadlines and things I will be covering. Be prepared for my project list as it is a bit, uh….heavy. But, they are all important, I swear it! (whistles suspiciously while looking away from readers)
CURRENT PROJECTS AS OF JULY 2025
While I think it’s not bad to have a beefy project list (but as you can see, I am biased on this), I have learned prioritization is a huge part in juggling such a list. To be honest, it is also something I truly struggle with. I have pretty bad ADHD, so you will see me quite often talking about prioritization, time management and general work life balance. The current sequence listed above is what I have ordered from most to least important (don’t get me wrong now, they are all important to me). But as much as I want to do them all with the same level of time, with my current schedule, it just is not feasible if I want to hit goals and make progress. With this in mind, some projects may take you longer than you want. That is okay! The most important thing is to make progress, no matter how small!
My biggest goal is to become a full time published author. I have tried writing my current book about 3 times but I kept hitting dead ends. So, I have gone back to the beginning and have started to do thorough world building. As of right now I am working on my map and the surroundings with the original civilization before the second civilization invaded. I spend at least forty five minutes to an hour every day, using my breaks and lunch when I’m at my 9 to 5 job to work on my book.
I am also working on trying to get up a bit early to work out (physical and mental health is very important) and work on my video game project for fifteen to thirty minutes every day. Over the weekend will be a mix of studying, practice and working on the other projects in small doses between breaks and relaxation. Progress on the solo journaling rpg project will most likely progress a bit faster than the card game currently because I mayyyyy be hyper fixating on it. (I would also like to make all these pieces a portfolio piece which is why they are all important to me.)
Look at your project list! Let’s break it down! I purchased this on ETSY which is a PDF that helps break down goals. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1775837213/printable-break-it-down-planner-for?ref=yr_purchases
With this sheet, I listed all my projects, listing in order from most to least important. Then after reviewing them, I made sure to break them down into the smallest pieces as possible. Then looking at my list, now broken down into bite sized pieces and prioritized, I broke them down into weekly and monthly goals. I make them into minimum goals, in case something comes up and reduces my speed for the week. Then a “if I have time” list to see if I can get a buffer. After putting down my weekly goals, I review it again and show it to a few people who know my stamina level. They help me put in breaks as well as asking the question “Which project is the most important? Is this going to help or get in the way of your monthly goals?”
I have found using an accountabilabuddy system helps me tremendously as well. What’s a accountabilabuddy you ask? Well, it’s someone you can meet in person, online or even on the phone and work on something as long as they are there. Tell them your goals so they can check in and work with you if needed (for example, brainstorming or making sure you keep to your break set times) For example, every Friday, I meet with my friend to work on our video game together, making sure I work on the game a minimum of once every week, go over things and keep track. I think constantly reviewing my list every day, and using accountabilabuddies, has been helping me stay consistent.
Using a timer has been a huge help to me as well. You know those days where you’re dragging and just can’t seem to get motivation? Getting up, setting up your station and setting a timer for 5 to 10 minutes, gets you started. I have found that once I get over that hurdle of starting, I keep going. If you can’t continue after the timer dings, that’s okay too! But look at this way, you did it. You worked on it. You followed through and made a tiny step forward. Momentum is key!
The last thing I highly recommend is getting a small notebook. I often buy bulk from Aamazon or buy a bunch from the dollar store. Using that notebook, log what you did for the day and what you need to do next. This has helped remind me where I was at when I hit a lull for a few days or my goldfish memory activated, causing me to struggle to remember my next step. As you can surmise, I am a big fan of writing things down. For me, it helps things stick to my brain. But, it might be different for you. Find what works best for you. Can’t find something that works? That’s okay, the most important thing is to keep trying. Look at other processes people use, track what works, what didn’t etc.
Most importantly, make time for breaks and taking care of your health. Mental and physical! Trust me on this. If you put off sleep, relaxation etc, it will harm you and your progress in the long run. I have learned that the hard way.
So, tell me about your projects! What order would you put them in? What has worked for you and what hasn’t? What resources do you use?
Have a great week creators and remember, you CAN do this!
-Squeaky
