Every year I have plans to start January with a clean slate. I imagine all those admin type tasks that build up will be up to date and I will have a clear path forward for the brand new shiny year. For example (but not limited to):

• All the photos on my phone have been cleared and are stored safely elsewhere.
• I do not have random documents saved to my desktop that I can’t remember what they were for.
• My file directory has a clear system so I can find any image or document I want in a moment.
• I have a clear plan of how my days weeks and months will roll and I will be functioning something along the lines of Bradley Cooper in Limitless.

However, as I write this a couple of days before the end of December, none of these things are done and I know I will spend the first part of January feeling a little haphazard.

So, here goes for my goals for January to try and pull a little bit of this together.

1.) Set up an end of year To Do list taking in the above so this work can be efficient and I have a plan for what I want. A lot of this work is shallow work so I can do it when I don’t need to concentrate too much but also I think it would be good to book in some directed time and just get it done.

2.) Complete my goal statement for 2023. This is an annual do that I have done for several years now. I found it on Nicole Avery’s blog Planning with Kids and it has given me great direction over the past few years. Rather than being task/goal oriented it gives a statement of what I want for the year and can help guide my decisions. I have nearly finished this, I just need to tie it together.

3.) Get a solid start on reading Save the Cat Writes A Novel. This is in line with some more task orientated goals I have set for this year. Check them out here.

4.) Spend the last week of January focused on plotting a novel that I will write later in the year. I noted in my annual goals that I have a new schedule that I think will allow me to write two books in a year. I’m determined to follow the schedule and see if it works.

5.) Start getting up early(er). This one is a bit loose as we will still be in school holidays with not a lot of routine but I think it would help my day if I know i’ve done even a tiny bit of writing before the day fills up with kid stuff.

I’m going to try and keep it ‘as simple as’ in January. As the school holidays come to an end I am always itching to get back to work so I think there’s enough in here to feel like I’m doing something while still enjoying the break before school.

Happy January!