Hello!

The end of June always feels significant because we’re closer to the end of the year than the beginning so it’s the perfect time to check in on my goals for the year, adapt if necessary and document my progress!

Quick explanation: I split my goals into 4 categories, the first three are Professional, Personal and Home which all have three goals, then I have ‘bucket list’ style goals that are less progressive but still important to me. So let’s jump right in!

PROFESSIONAL GOALS:

• Start my new job
• Make a proper portfolio
• Adapt a book into a screenplay (just for the experience)

Well, I’ve been working in my job for six months and looking how much progress I’ve made in that time is somewhat baffling! I’m actually really proud of myself and feel like I’ve properly put my foot on the first rung of the career ladder and I’m going to work hard to climb my way up.

And with the inspiration in the workplace, I’ve been making decent progress with my portfolio – I’ve been updating my instagram account whenever I do something new and worth documenting and I have been working on a new website which I will be launching at some point!

The screenplay I’m not so enthusiastic about writing at the moment – it feels very intimidating and I don’t know if the skills I would learn from it will serve me in the long run, but I might find the motivation and time to work on it later this year, so I’m leaving the goal where it is to evaluate how important it is to me.

PERSONAL GOALS:

• Start a bookstagram account
• Make a cosplay costume
• Find a therapist

Yes, kinda, yes!

I’ve just hit 100 followers on my bookstagram account, I’ve bought the first part of my cosplay costume and I’m going to refocus on it soon, and I found a therapist! She’s brilliant and I love her and she’s about to go on a sabbatical, but I’m going to be okay. I still have ups and downs as anyone with mental illness does, but I’m much more self aware and I feel happier than I have in probably years.

HOME GOALS:

• Put money in savings
• Organise wedding according to monthly to do list tasks
• Travel – pandemic allowing!

Also relatively positive progress! Saving took a few months to get off the ground because of the new job and moving house and life things, but I’m starting to get it all under control which I’m feeling really proud of. The wedding organisation is very much underway and travel isn’t really happening, but that’s not really down to any fault of my own – I’m hoping my partner and I can go on an English holiday this year and we’re often here, there and everywhere seeing our families and friends so we’re still seeing lots of people in a Covid safe way!

BUCKET LIST GOALS:

• Read 25 books – I’m at 16 so far and goodreads tells me I’m 4 books ahead of schedule! If I had my way, I’d be reading 90% of the time so not worried about this goal.
• 5 writing challenges – I’ve done 2 of 5 so far, the first one I achieved my word goal but the second one coincided with moving house and figuring out a new working from home set up, but at least I wrote something and that’s the important bit! Next challenge is 40,000 words in July and I’m looking forward to it actually!
• Monthly date nights – we haven’t managed a single one so I’m scrapping this goal! We’ve spent lots of time together and that’s more important than an official ‘date’.
• Limited spending – Uuummm… well… I’ve put money in savings and haven’t had to ask my parents to bail me out so could be doing better but not doing too badly either!
• Find a dance class! – I have! I haven’t actually started yet but I’ve done the research and I’m going to figure out my finances to start going back to classes when term starts again in September.
• Knit myself a Weasley jumper – I’ve found the pattern but I’m a little intimidated by it to be honest! This feels like more of a winter activity anyway!
• 1 Second Everyday 2021 video – I’ve recorded a clip every single day so far!
• Develop 5 year plan – Now that I’ve started work I feel like I both can and can’t plan for the future, but I started a new bullet journal a couple of months ago and made a new table.
• Upkeep dentists/doctors appointments – I’ve registered in the area of our new house, had numerous doctors appointments, an x-ray and a CT scan! As soon as the dentists open again for appointments I’ll be booking myself in.
• Learn more about sewing and adapting my clothes – I haven’t actually used my sewing machine since we moved, so I’m hoping to have at least one weekend with ZERO plans and then I can craft to my heart’s content.
• Get a tattoo! – I’ve found a studio I like the look of in my new home town, now just to figure out the finances and get in touch.

I always do long posts when talking about goals. Maybe it’s a bit self indulgent but it means I check in with myself. I probably don’t need to publish it either but hey ho – it’s my blog!

I think the first step is setting goals, the second step is checking in and holding yourself accountable, and the third step (that I’m still working on) is being able to adapt your goals to match your current aspirations, rather than working on goals that are no longer important to you.

Thank you for reading,

Sophie xx