I can’t believe we’re already halfway through 2021. Maybe it’s because most of the world is starting to open up again, or because I have a few things back on my calendar. Whatever the reason, the first half of the year has flown by.
While the halfway point of the year means summer vacations and longer days, it also means the start of a new quarter for those chasing goals. Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you can’t start something new. You don’t have to wait for the new year to set new goals.
This week begins Quarter 3 of 2021. A new quarter provides a fresh start to evaluate progress on past goals and set new ones.
Wrapping Up Quarter 2
My Quarter 2 didn’t go quite as I had planned. And that’s totally okay. I missed a couple weeks due to having family in town for the first time in 16 months. And, for the first time since early 2020, I attended a few events in my area. Even with more activities, I still got quite a bit done.
At the end of every quarter, I take time to look at what I accomplished. While I might not have gotten everything done I had hoped, I still got more done than I would have without a specific plans in place.
Here are a few highlights:
- Finished eight chapters for my second draft revision. (Only six to go!)
- Wrote a new blog post every other week
- Completed two self-development courses
- Read nine books
- Participated in three virtual writing retreats
- Lost 14 pounds
Starting Fresh For Quarter 3
For Quarter 3, my main goals will stay the same. However, I tweaked them a bit to reflect my progress from last quarter. I’m also expanding my health/personal goal to be more intentional about some things I want to do.
While I don’t want to share all the specifics, here’s a general idea of what I’ll work on for the next 13 weeks:
- Writing – Move towards publishing my first novel by completing the manuscript and edits, get feedback from beta readers, and research/hire a professional editor; develop an email newsletter and add free options to build my email subscriber list
- Professional/Financial – Move towards more professional and personal financial targets by obtaining a new full-time job, being more intentional about budgeting and spending habits, and find ways to learn new skills
- Health/Personal – Move towards my ideal life through increased attention to nutrition, activity, faith, and hobbies
Diving In Head First
In addition to these specific goals, I will also focus on some smaller pieces that will aid in making progress towards all three. I want to establish a consistent morning and evening routine. I will also track my time for certain activities. Without a regular schedule, I have developed bad habits around staying up late and then sleeping in. I want to get back to a more normal day and focus on how I can use my time more efficiently. These goals aren’t so much about having strict guidelines. They’re more about helping me learn how to work more effectively.
Quarter 3 will be an interesting one. Looking ahead, I’m excited for the return of football season and a new season at the local performing arts center. But more events on the calendar mean less time to work on my goals. By being proactive in breaking down projects into a realistic timeframe, I can plan ahead for this. I know I need to frontload the quarter, planning more projects in the first half of the quarter, so that I have more flexibility later on to enjoy games and concerts. While I’m looking forward to having fun with friends, I do have to keep these activities in mind when planning my projects for each week.
**What goals are you working on this summer? Do you use a paper planner or do you prefer digital trackers?**
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