WORK, LIFE BALANCE – 2019 GOALS

I am not usually one to set New Years resolutions, in the traditional sense. The word resolution feels too strong, so finite. Resolutions seem to be so “succeed or fail” where as goals are pliable and can evolve as your context changes or opportunity comes your way. I prefer goal setting, goals are closely linked to hopes and dreams and that sits more comfortably with me and the space I am in.

I entered 2018 conservatively, my business only 5 months old, I scribbled my goals in the back of my note book and chose to forgo a blog post – scared I would fail really! One year later, entering 2019 I have gained confidence and I trust that you will hold me accountable. I realise that goals are used to help a business grow and achieve its objectives. They can be used to foster teamwork and help the business describe what it wants to accomplish. I cant wait to see what we achieve together!

So what are my goals for 2019?

Work, life balance is right up there, number one on my list by far. I have the tendency to throw myself into things wholeheartedly, be it a small task or growing a business – I get sucked in and sometimes this can be unhealthy, both emotionally and physically. Over the last year I have been working hard to ensure that I manage my thoughts and actions to be the best me, personally and professionally – some days I don’t get it right but I am starting to experience those days less and less… One of my 2018 goals was to ask for help, I am so grateful that I have achieved this. My support structure is incredible, I would quite literally be a puddle on the floor without you all!

Friends in New York, June 2018. Photographed by Caitee Smith Photography.

Create beautiful content through collaboration, photography and writing. This year I hope to be more consistent with my output, so often we are ‘busy’ but what do we have to show for it? You can help me with this by requesting the type of content you would like to see…

Streamline my business revenue by working smarter, not harder. As a small business starting out we often agree to everything and anything, in fear of the unknown. Similar to a freelancers mentality, you don’t know when or what your next paid job will be… I have found myself doing things that fall outside of my scope, saying yes to everything might mean stable cash flow but could result in a lot of wasted time. I hope to be better at this decision making in 2019.

Travel, both locally and internationally. I find travel to be incredibly inspiring, I am fascinated with how we all go about our days often with the same goals and aspirations. I want to experience new places and meet new people to expand my way of thinking and hopefully by prioritising travel and designing my life in this way I can have this inspiration trickle into my business growth.

Mental and physical health, this is more of a long term goal rather than just a focus for 2019 but I am the strongest and healthiest I have ever been and I am excited about what this year holds for me in this department! I hope to continue to eat well, run far and even maybe complete my first triathlon! In another blog post I talk about my motto to “design your life” and my mental and physical health journey has been the purest example of this in my life thus far. It is something I have become incredibly passionate about and I plan to share my successes and trials with you all over the course of the year starting with this delicious recipe. My versions of ‘pina coladas and getting caught in the rain’ look a little different now… I run 5kms every morning, rain or shine and come home to a pina colada breakfast bowl! lol.

Pina Colada breakfast bowl recipe

If I have learnt anything over the last year its to reset my intention daily, setting micro goals, in order to achieve my goal of work, life balance.

Here’s is how I plan to do it:

5 second rule by Mel Robins “The 5 Second Rule is simple. If you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will kill it. The moment you feel an instinct or a desire to act on a goal or a commitment, use the Rule. When you feel yourself hesitate before doing something that you know you should do, count 5-4-3-2-1-GO and move towards action. There is a window that exists between the moment you have an instinct to change and your mind killing it. It’s a 5 second window. And it exists for everyone. If you do not take action on your instinct to change, you will stay stagnant. You will not change. But if you do one simple thing, you can prevent your mind from working against you. You can start the momentum before the barrage of thoughts and excuses hit you at full force. What do you do? Just start counting backwards to yourself: 5-4-3-2-1. The counting will focus you on the goal or commitment and distract you from the worries, thoughts, and excuses in your mind. As soon as you reach “1” – push yourself to move. This is how you push yourself to do the hard stuff – the work that you don’t feel like doing, or you’re scared of doing, or you’re avoiding. That’s it. 5 seconds is all it takes. If you don’t act on an instinct within that 5 second window, that’s it. You’re not doing it.”

My time VS me time, and knowing the difference – 
I have spoken about this before, way back in my first week as a solopreneur but it has proved to be so important. Being prepared, proactive and productive with my time has allowed me to have more me time. However allowing these two to be fluid has been my biggest challenge, negotiating and giving insight when I have taken on too much or cant cope still feels so awkward.

Show gratitude – starting every day with showing gratitude, this quiet hour I experience each morning before the world wakes up has been life changing. I spend 30min getting dressed, reading scripture and reflecting on the good things in my life and the areas that need improvement. I then head out on a 5km run, this is my way of giving thanks for my able body, by the time I am home and showered I am ready to be of service to everyone else with a smile on my face – be that, answering emails or making breakfast for my husband and kittens. Sidenote: the 5 second rule plays a huge role in me getting out of bed some days, I sometimes don’t feel like it but do it anyway and never regret it!

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Written, compiled and photographed by Melissa Lawrence. 

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