October is here: Time for a 2022-goal Check-in!

I’m going to be honest here, I woke up just feeling down today. I suffer from anxiety and depression, so it may just be one of those days, and yes, I will do my best to turn things around before the day is done.

But, as I look ahead at the month, I feel so unsure of what’s in store for me… which, as someone who’s still unemployed (and very much on the job hunt), it’s a scary thought.

I already planned to talk about my 2022 goals today — we only have three more months in the year! — but maybe thinking about my goals will get me out of my funk.

2022 WORD: PROTECT

Late last year, this word came to me because I felt like I did such a disservice. I am really bad about saying no. I say yes to everything because I never want to let anyone down, and I always want the extra money if it’s a freelance gig.

Well, I pretty much made myself sick. I cannot tell you the number of times I ended up crying in my bed feeling like I ruined my own life. All I did in 2021 was work, and that included on any plane ride, during “vacations,” etc.

I failed to protect my own peace.

So this year, I’m protecting my peace, my energy, my money, my space, all of it. And a majority of my goals align with this word.

Assessment: I currently have no job and no freelance work, so I’d say the universe took this word a LITTLE TOO SERIOUSLY!

FINANCIAL GOALS

Last year, I used a budget journal for the first time and I spent the entire year just getting a solid understanding of where my money was going and what all of my different accounts (checking, savings, retirement, investment, etc.) looked like.

This year, I’ve got a fresh budget journal and am actually using the numbers from last year to set a budget and hit some goals. My goal is to put $800/month into savings. This is 20% of my 9-5 income and last year I did this, but I used freelance money to do it. This year, I’m doing much, much less freelance (I do have 1 contract job still but am not accepting ANY new clients), so I have to be a better (more mindful) spender to make it happen, but I know I can do it.

I’m also putting $1,000 toward my credit card debt each month and not contributing to the debt. I put a massive dent in my debt last year, but I still have two cards left to pay off. I really enjoy seeing the number go down every month, slowly but surely.

Assessment: Well, I have had to put a majority of my financial goals on pause, because I am currently living out of my savings account. The thought of this makes me sick, honestly.

HEALTH GOALS

I don’t have any goals to work out more or eat differently, really, but in general I just want to be more mindful about all of it. I’m focused more on prioritizing rest and sleep, and just giving my mind a big break.

This also means much less social media (no mindless scrolling), getting a good bedtime routine going, and checking in with my mental health via meditation and journaling daily (which I’ve been doing for a few years).

I’ve also challenged myself to take 1 PTO day a month so I can get a 3-day weekend, just to do nothing. Travel doesn’t count, or a built-in holiday doesn’t count. A day off just because every month — already have January and February’s in the request list!

Assessment: I have been trying to get more steps in each day, and have been taking 1 day each week to unplug and tend to my mental health. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made here.

CREATIVE GOALS

In 2020, I met a fellow Austin writer during #NaNoWriMo and we decided to become creative partners. We check in every month and share our creative goals and just cheer each other on. I keep my goals private to her, but in general, I’ll be writing lots this year and getting a grasp on the industry so I can take some leaps.

I also am going to make an effort to quietly inspire myself and create, and just live with it for a while before I share. I don’t know why, but I feel like I’m just always grinding and doing and sharing, and I want to just marinate for a bit.

Assessment: I am proud of this goal, too. I published one book earlier this year, and the next one is coming up soon. I also finished my first script this year, and am starting a new one before the year is over.

How are your 2022 goals coming along?

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