As a creative with a photogenic and metaphorical way of thinking, setting a theme for the year is more helpful than creating New Years Resolutions. It establishes a foundational guide that allows all decisions that align with it, clear and easy.
In this post, I’ll be sharing my New Year’s theme for the year and how I’m going about achieving goals within it.
Themes are less figurative and similar to values
Things happen, plans go awry, and habits may become broken. Therefore, creating an over-arching theme seems to be the most effective way that I can handle the unexpected and/or inconsistency. The theme I set for this year is Ready, Set, Go. Instead of planning, I have always executed my tasks with to-do lists. This allowed me to be free-spirited but ambitious towards completing the items on my list, even though I didn’t measure my progress along the way. However, I’m improving on proper planning, monitoring, and budgeting, so with a theme like Ready, Set, Go, I can put more emphasis on preparedness (“ready” and “set”) which is clear that it’s just as important as “going.”
The goal I set for the year is Ready, Set, Go. The “ready” and “set” is just as important as “going.”
Working From Home
As a single mother juggling 2 kids with a full-time job, all of it can become overwhelming. I had to find a solution for all the unexpected runs to school, sicknesses, and much-needed efforts of assisting my 3rd grader and pre-schooler. Since we are in different times where working from home is the norm, I accepted a hybrid position that begins on the 23rd. The biggest advantage now is not having to get ready and commute every day. I can invest more time using the computer for all of my digital endeavors, personally and professionally. Now that I have that advantage, I need to apply some organization to my life in a different way.
For personal project planning, I’ve tried things like Trello, digital calendars, and digital planners. Nothing has brought me success other than my simple to-do list in my Notes app. However, I did decide to invest in a paper/physical planner as well. For that reason, I am able to practice keeping up with it. My digital talents from my degree can now soar and I can put my production equipment to use all while juggling the kids. I think accepting this offer was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career so far.
Becoming more numerate
When I got serious about budgeting, I discovered the word “numerate.” It was used to describe people who were good with numbers and explained how being good with numbers relates to being good at other things, such as rationality. Creatives usually have multiple outlets/talents and that’s the same with numerate people. I personally described these talented numerate people as “black & white.” Most of these people seem to lack creativity but excel in things that are black and white i.e. spreadsheets, accounting, law, etc. As I became aware of these particular qualities in people, I discussed it with others. I then discovered that there are people who are/can be great at both. Essentially both creativity and being numerate are equally as important in life.
In that case, I will get serious about getting my finances in order without living and spending impulsively. But pause…I have to address something about budgeting. No one said that when you choose your budget, you are essentially choosing your lifestyle! When it’s time to reel things back and become more responsible, you realize you need to be surviving off of BREAD to pay things back, invest, and save outside of your expenses. It is a drastic change that takes an immense amount of discipline that I hope to master soon enough. I’ll be treating my coins like golden eggs and making sure they’re in the right baskets lol.
Soft Motherhood
With mentioning motherhood earlier as it relates to work, I have to understand my capacity as a mother personally. With raising them, I constantly think of myself, emotions, teachings, and delivery in retrospect. I strive to expose them to an amazing mother/woman that they will aspire to be & have one day. Therefore, we are exploring their interests in sports, art, and content while keeping the focus on grades. School itself is such a huge time investment, so I strive to become even more active at my children’s school, especially since my youngest will go to kindergarten in August (ready to get rid of this daycare bill!).
We go to events and do activities in moderation for fun, but ultimately, being entertained at home is the bulk of our time. But this year, I am preparing to take them on family trips so that we all can explore and have breaks. Also, with all of my crafts and projects, they are the best helpers, making this a team effort. I’m sure this year, it will only get better!
Thanks for reading about my New Year’s Theme.