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Writing Your Goals Down

  September 14

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Do you ever find it helpful to write your goals down? I’ve been a bit of a Negative Nancy lately about my studies due to the intense strain and stress that writing a thesis will do to the average person. I’ve put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this thing and I’m not even 5% of the way done. I’ve always been obsessive about school. My mom tells this story about me being in Pre-K: Apparently I would come home, invent homework for myself, and then do it. I would give myself things to do like write the numbers 1-100. Then, I would hand it in to my Dad and be done for the day. What type of person does that at age 4? Oh yeah, me. Perhaps that explains why I hyperventilated today over this major proposal I am working on. Have I read enough? Do I know enough? Can I defend my work in front of the entire history factory? Can I just quit and spray paint things pink for a living? Why do I care so much when only about 5 people are going to read this thing? And, why am I writing this 100 page paper/book/thingy if only 5 people are going to read it?

My mom reminded me today that things worth doing are not easy. They take a lot of work. She told me when I’m done, I’m going to feel a sense of accomplishment. Still, when I am finished, the down economy awaits me again. I don’t know if anyone else out there has a Type A personality, but it’s hard for us folks to go with the flow, to remind ourselves that someone has a plan for us in this great thing we call life.

Yeah, worrying like this is not good for myself, my health, my marriage, and my sanity. Ironic, isn’t it, that my thesis is about an insane asylum? Ha, that is funny. Forgive me.

I make the point about writing goals down because so much of my Budget Blonde blog is about saving some moolah and living life on the cheap. But, there is another entire side of budgeting that I never really think about – budgeting my time. I needed to take a break so badly today that I actually cooked! Call an ambulance people – my husband has not eaten it yet. So, if y’all have read this blog for the past few months, you know something is going wrong here today when I actually set out to make a meal. Cross your fingers I make it to another day, because I ingested it as well!

Well here is a short and sweet list of things I want to do in the next 7 years before I hit 30:

1. Get my master’s degree (without getting a heart attack).
2. Pay off all of my school debt.
3. Find a job I like.
4. Keep said job.
5. Learn how to do more crafts (glass beads, jewelry, etching, more paint/furniture treatments, etc.)
6. Decide on a city to live in and stop being nomads.
7. Buy a cheap house and start fixing it up.
8. Have a bean if the time is right….
9. Save up and go on a few vacations.
10. Keep working on/enjoying/growing the blog 🙂

These roses from my hubby kept a smile on my face today!

Anyone else feel like sharing their to do list for the next couple of years? Or, feel free to share the love and tell me it’s going to be a-ok! 😉 Hope y’all are enjoying the nice weather outside!

6 responses to “Writing Your Goals Down

  1. girrrl, you know I am right there with you! Although making a seven year to-do list is way too daunting at this point in my life (and depressing). For work (the most stressful thingi n my life right now) I have to set 1 and 3 month goals or else I might have a heart attack before I’m 30! Sounds like some mini-goals to get you through your first goal (graduate school) would help relieve your immediate stress. Just my two cents! But hang in there, we all know you can do it!

  2. My to do list for the next 7 years:

    1. finish the curtains
    2. finish the curtains
    3. finish the curtains
    4. finish the curtains
    5. finish the curtains…..>

  3. OH MY GOSH! I used to make up homework for myself, too. I would write the longest word I knew (in big, bubbly letters) on a piece of computer paper and color in each letter with a color that started with that letter. I also took graph paper and would write lists over and over again of things like the states or their capitals, and only put one letter in each box. (I was a weird kid but I think that’s where my excel spreadsheet obsession comes from.)
    I think I’m going to make a goal list… tomorrow. Awesome post!

  4. I’ve always been a sucker for lists on post-it notes. I make a list of everything I need to do that day, from my reading to putting away my laundry to how much time I need to put into my job, then I put a little box next to each item and check it off as I go along. Even better, if I have multiple chapters to read, I put a little box for each chapter, so I get to check more things off. I feel such a sense of accomplishment at the end!

    It also keeps me sane to make daily progress, because you said it: theses are stressful. And I’m not even 5% done either, after what seems like an immense amount of work. Heck, I can’t even seem to write an introduction that meets with the approval of everyone on my committee. But the check boxes help!

    ::hugs:: to you. Just know that you’re not alone in feeling the stress, and wondering what to do when you finish your masters. I’m right there with you.

  5. You poor thing- it IS going to be ok! Promise. A plan is always a good idea- just remember to “plan” for enjoying life along the way! 😉

  6. It will be OK!!

    But seriously—love the roses—and that’s a great thing your hubs got you!!

    Okay–I’m so anti-lists. It drives list happy hubs and kiddo insane. I suppose deep down I see them as a negative–Plus I have major commitment issues—says the girl who’s been married 21+ years. Hehhee.

    BUT—what do you mean in the next 7 years till you hit 30? Holy shit girl. You’re so young! Wow blown away by it–hehehe.

    I do have to say that your list is pretty cool though–but a job you like? Girl—moving to a nice place/city? I can relate to both here for sure!!!!!

    Anyway whatever you decide–I’m sure you will do it to your best!!

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