Last week on the blog I shared some tools to help you analyse how you are spending your time. When I sat down to write my review for April, I decided to reassess where I am spending my time.
I felt it important to do this as I was starting to feel a little stretched again. My assessment looked like this:
I circled the activities I want to spend more time on and put lines through the activities that I am going to prune, which are:
- My book list – I have just published my first review for the year and if I am to meet my goal for 2013, I need to read and review five more. I weighed up the competing needs of reading and making more one on one time with the kids and have chosen one on one time with the kids. I do hope to read another book this year, but I am going to take the pressure of myself, by not forcing it.
- Unpaid speaking – each year I speak at many not for profit groups for no fee. I have always been happy to do this and will always try to fit some into my calendar. However I am not going to take on any further speaking commitments of this nature for the remainder of 2013. I put in the exact same effort and time to these presentations as I do for paid events, so I need to limit the time spent on them as it has a domino effect on my work load. More time spent on these activities, means less time on the blog – if I try to catch this up, it means less time with my family and that is not a sacrifice I want to make.
- Coaching – I am in the process of finishing up with the last of my coaching clients and am not taking on any further commitments. This should leave room for me to take on a new project.
So some new additions and subtractions for this month!
My April goal review
Goals | Progress |
|---|---|
Me - I am less rushed and healthier. |
|
| Continue to improve my diet: one meat free meal a week, reduce consumption of sugar and carbs. | Over the last two weeks I have made the most significant changes ever to what I eat. With the exception of my diet coke addiction, I have completely taken processed foods out of my diet! Massive win this month. I feel confident I can keep it up too. |
| Read six books by the end of the year. | As noted above, I am going to abandon this goal at this point. |
| Add variety to my exercise regime. | Went back to check with the phsyio in April on my running injury as I was a little worried - thankfully it was nothing a little massage couldn't fix, but I do need to make sure I am stretching well and incorporating massage into my exercise routine. |
| Sleep at least 6 hours a night on a regular basis. | April was not as good as March, but with the above pruning May should be better. |
Family - We spend more time doing things together. |
|
| Monthly family meetings. | Target met! |
| Eat out together on a quarterly basis. | Not applicable this month. |
| Have an active family holiday. | Not applicable this month. |
| Two big bush walks throughout the year. | Not applicable this month. |
Relationship - We have more time together on our own and support each others interests. |
|
| A weekend away in 2013. | Not applicable this month. |
| Attend an event in the Comedy Festival, see 1 play, see 1 live music gig and a attend one event at the Melbourne Festival. | Not applicable this month. |
| Mr I will play football, cricket and cycle. | Mr has started doing more running and swimming which is great to see. |
| I will continue exercising 5 - 6 times a week. | Goal met! |
Work - Improved usability and resources on the blog and improved blogging skills. |
|
| Analyse PWK survey and implement changes to the blog by quarter one. | Completed. |
| Develop the calendar to the next stage by quarter two. | Still at a crossroads with this project at the moment. |
| Take course at Australian Writers Centre by quarter three. | Not applicable this month. |
| Release new product by quarter four. | Not applicable this month. |
What are you adding or pruning from your to do list?