Goal setting

It's New Year's Day, and there's no escaping the fact that now is the time to set out the goals for 2009, and make a start on reaching them.

Areas that I would like to be improved by this time next year:

Tidier, more organised house
Warmer and increased number of friendships
A special man in my life
Fitter, more toned body
Focused development of art life.

Areas that I want to diminish
Distraction, mess, clutter, in both house and head
'non-attentive' time, e.g. mindless TV, crosswords, reading blogs and group mail.

Goal 1: Daily routine
On days I don't have to go into school for the day: read email while having breakfast. Do not answer any except urgent mails. Do not answer any group mails or go off into links etc. Do not write blog. Get dressed. Do 20 minutes Pilates, or 40 minutes walking plus swimming later in day where appropriate. The aim is - ready to start work or creative endeavour by 9 am or earlier.

Do outside work where appropriate from 9 to 11 (unless spraying at 6 am). i.e. before wind gets up and spoils the day.

One hour to do either work or play until lunchtime. Eat lunch and do all the mail stuff. Do not watch meal-time TV. Write blog

Work, study or do creative work for afternoon.

Try to eat at 6.30, and then won't be tempted to watch rubbish TV.

Go out maybe 3 nights, choir, photography, dancing, movies.

Do all this for 4 weeks and then review.

Goal 2:
Work towards specific body of work. Write in creative journal what the aims are for each piece. If the piece is just to finish up an experimental sample, do not spend a lot of time making it perfect. That is time to be spent on development. When doing classes or studying books, make a written plan for how this is leading to the B of W. Rather than doing things that just appeal, find the gaps in skill base or development and work to fill those.

Goal 3:
One day a month (the first or nearest to first suitable day), do some de-cluttering of office, or wardrobe, or garage. At least 2 hours.

Goal 4:
Develop better social networks. Ask people who have the life I want, what is their secret?
Invite 5 or 6 people to dinner at least every 8 weeks.

Goal 5:
Ring up all men on CC lists by January 12th.

Goal 6:
One day a month (last or nearest to last suitable day) review life plan and do at least 2 hours writing life script, visualisation or other training.

Goal 7:
Allocate one workbook of Japanese to every 2 week period. Aim to work consistently through year.


This evolved into much more of a life list than an art list, but I am happy with my choices.

Art goals in next post.