As I look back on the past year, it is hard to believe everything that happened. I am a proud owner of a new home that sits on 2.5 acres of land. I have worked as a full-time writer at WP Tavern for over a year. Plus, so many other great things took place in 2020.
But, now it is time to start looking ahead at the new year.
Every January 1st, I lay out my goals for the upcoming 12 months. With a new home, it is nearly overwhelming to think about each of those goals. There is so much to do — years of work. It is hard to say what I will get done this year. So, on the home front, I do not want to set out any specific goals. I need to just take this one day at a time right now. Plus, I have only lived at this place for a month now. I haven’t had time to adjust and map out clearer steps for the short term. I have some large, overarching long-term ideas, but the more immediate needs change rapidly.
Like last year, I want to limit my goals to the big-ticket items. For everything else, it’s too early to set any plans in stone.
Writing
After failing to produce a novel manuscript last year, this is one of my top goals for 2020. Sure, I co-authored and published the second edition of Professional WordPress Plugin Development in 2019, but that was not the major writing goal I had for myself. This year, I must put serious work into becoming a novelist.
For complete transparency, I am not currently in the right mindset to take on this venture. I know for certain that it will be at least a month or two before I can start to put together a plan of action. This is simply because I have so much going on with moving into my new home. I haven’t even come close to finishing the unpacking process.
Yes, it sounds like I am already making excuses for not working on my novel. However, that is not the case. I just know the reality of my situation and what I can do in the timeframe that I have.
If March rolls around and I am not at least outlining something, then we have a problem.
Reading
Like the past couple of years, I plan to continue reading every day. On December 3, 2020, I hit the two-year mark of my personal daily reading challenge. I have no plans of stopping this. By the time I write this post next year, I will have read something each day for over three years straight.
I want to take this goal an extra step and make it a lifelong commitment. From here on out, my goal is to read every day until the day that I die.
I will probably stick with epic fantasy this year for the most part. That is my bread and butter. Currently, I am on the fourth book of The Stormlight Archive, Rhythm of War, by Brandon Sanderson.
I would also like to branch out a bit more. I don’t have any specific books on my list beyond the current novel that I am reading. So, let’s just see what the future holds.
Once again, I am aiming for 30 books for 2020.
Here’s to a New Year
Mostly, I plan to stay on course with the things I set out to do last year. I honestly don’t yearn for too much to change in 2021. I just want to stay on track with my big reading and writing goals, continue being smart financially, and settle into my new home.
I will probably do a small bit of gardening. I will continue building my physical media collection as part of a lifelong goal I laid out last year. I will definitely pet multiple cats each day — I have six living in the house with me now.
But, the big goal for 2021 is to just enjoy life and make the most of each day.