So I put together a post after I was asked by several people how I do it--write so many books, and stick so firmly to my goals. So I figure I'd spill some of my secrets here on my blog, to maybe help those of you who want to hit goals while still being a homeschool parent and working part-time.

Set the Goal

Honestly, this is the easiest part. I typically write down all the things I want to accomplish in a list, and then number them one to ten, with one being the item I want to complete first, then ten (or more) as the more optional ones. Once I know my top three goals, I can move on.

Make sure my goals align with my Priorities

I have three priorities: My God, my family, and then my life's work and purpose. This helps me prioritize my top three goals (and honestly, keeping these in mind likely helps me decide which goals to set in the first place as well). If the top three goals fit in one of these categories, it is easiest to decide which goal comes first. If it's to spend more time with my family, that easily goes higher than anything I want to do for work. Trying to keep things balanced works better when I focus on the things I want to do most and the things I think are most important.

Goals, Priorities, Bite-Sized Steps

Once I have my top three goals, make sure my priorities are in the right place, next, I decide when I want to have the goal accomplished by, or if I want to create a habit, I set a certain amount of time to create that habit.

Set a time limit: Deciding when I want the goal accomplished by will help me break the goal into bite-sized pieces. Since this article is mostly about writing, I set a time limit that allows me to have wiggle room. So if I want to draft a book, I know I can push myself up to 10k in a rough or first draft in a day, but I also know that isn't sustainable. An easy goal for me is 2k a day for a rough or first draft and one to two chapters for revisions. So I would set a goal of 1k words for a draft or half to 1 chapter a day for revisions; that way, when I hit my easy stride (of 2k for drafting and 1 chapter for revising), I get a win, which drives me to do more. This success often pushes me to do more, and then I accomplish the goals a lot faster than if I had set higher goals to challenge me.
Set a habit chart: When I was a kid, I heard once that one percent a year is a huge change and that three weeks of consistent effort creates a habit. So that's what I do. I do "21-Day" challenges to set habit goals. If I fail in the 21 days, I keep going until I have marked off that I completed 21 days (even if nonconsecutive). I draw it up, put it in my planner, or put it on a calendar, and then mark it as I do the habit each day. Seeing charts fill up makes me excited, so that gives me a win. I also don't beat up on myself if I miss or skip a day; I just reset every day and continue on in my marking until I can finally mark that I did the habit for 21 Days. I will then give myself a week to see if I can maintain my habit (6/7 days is the goal), and if I don't, I revise the habit to something that feels more manageable/doable and set another 21-day challenge. I will keep revising the challenge until I become consistent.

What If I Just Can't?

Some of my emergency ideas for getting out of burnout:

Create non-pressure art--for me this is drawing, crocheting, painting, gardening, or taking pictures of nature. I just do these things for fun, and if no one else likes them, it doesn't bother me that much. It's for me mainly.
Experience non-pressure life--this is why I hike, garden, and go on adventures. Doing things that sound fun or enjoyable just for the sake of doing something I want to do brings so much creativity to my life. I don't even always bring things with me to write or work on my goals. Especially if I feel burned out. I will focus on just being and enjoying my life.
Change your scenery--and this is why you might hear about me writing in nature, on a hike, near the water, or with friends. Getting out of the rut of writing in the same place and be hugely freeing and joyful. Especially if you set a time limit. I will go on a hike, take one hour to write, and then I need to return home. Plus, being flexible on finding joy instead of forcing myself helps a ton. I am very disciplined, though, so sometimes I have to choose to take a break. It may be a good choice to commit yourself to writing for that hour you change your scenery, because then you can actually dig in, get work done, and make progress!

The Most Important Thing

Make sure you are willing to pivot when you realize something isn't for you (even if that just means right now). If something isn't bringing you more joy than pain, especially with something like a job (which is what I consider writing to be), then let it go. Remember, sometimes letting things go is the hardest, but the most beautiful. Letting things go allows for more things to come into your life, and even allows those things you let go to return when you are more ready.

Happy writing <3

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