Hi everyone, as promised, I am back with my first Quarterly Goals post of 2018.
In case you are new to my blog or this segment, here’s a quick summary of what this Quarterly Goals series is about – Every quarter, I set between 10-20 goals for myself (which span several areas of my life) and then I give myself 3 months to achieve them. After the quarter is over, I go over the goals, and review the wins and losses of the past quarter, and set goals for the upcoming one.
If I manage to accomplish more than 75% of my goals, the quarter is considered a win, if not, I am doomed forever and ever. Just kidding! I lose, but since there’s always a next time, I pick myself up and get cracking on my new goals, because as the very cliched saying goes, the show must go on.
If you are interested in knowing why I decided to follow this system of Quarterly Goals, you can check out this post.
Now without further ado, let me share my goals for the first quarter of 2018.
Home & Family Goals
Sort & Organize All Digital Photos/Videos: I know it seems like this task has been on my list forever, because well it has. And I realize you all are possibly sick of seeing this again and again. But please bear with me folks, I just need this to be on here, as it’s the only way it’s going to stay on top of my to-do list. And who knows, one day I might get sick of seeing this crop up over and over again, and actually get it done?!
Plan Family Vacation: I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this, but I am bad at taking vacations. Actual vacations, I mean, not India visits to meet family and friends (and there is a difference, I tell you). The last real vacation we took was to Miami, when D was barely 2 years old, and he is now turning 6 in a couple of months, so I’d say it’s about time we went on another one.
We have nailed down the destination for our next holiday (Disneyland, Universal Studios/Harry Potter World – yes all of it in one trip), but if you know me, you know that it’s only the beginning, because I am the sort who would devour guidebooks to ensure that we have a proper plan in place to get the most out of this trip. Which is why, this is now on my official goal list, to get all the planning done, and the tickets booked.
Fitness Goals
Food (Portion Control): I know this is easier said than done, but portion control is something that I am actively working on every single day, and my goal here is to eat right at-least 5/7 days. I do have a plan in place, so it’s not an unrealistic, unachievable goal, but it’s still definitely going to be a challenge.
Exercise (Cardio): The goal here is to do some form of cardio for 30 minutes – 3 days a week. When I started doing cardio some months back, I was mostly relying on my elliptical, but it gets boring and monotonous after a while, so going forward, I am looking into switching it up with brisk walks, runs, and even Zumba.
Exercise (Strength): This is completely new territory for me. I have never ever done any kind of strength training in my life, not even any light exercise. But over the past month or so, I have taken an active interest in my health, and started doing basic workouts on a daily basis. Of-course it took a lot of reading and research to know where to start, and to get the form and the reps right, but I think I have a fair idea now.
I started with basic body-weight exercises like squats and planks, learning only one thing at a time, to get the form right, and also build endurance. When I began I was able to do only 5 squats, and 3-5 sec hold on plank – yes, my fitness level was that bad. After about 3 weeks now, I am able to do 3 reps of 10 squats each, and a 30 sec hold of the elbow plank.
So the first part of my goal here is to be able to do 3 reps of 20 squats each, and a 1 min hold of the elbow plank (by the end of the quarter). The second part is to learn and incorporate 2 new exercises in the daily/weekly workout routine.
Blogging Goals
Shanaya Tales: This year, I have a lot of plans, for both my blogs, but this particular quarter, I am prioritizing the family & fitness goals, so I am keeping it easy here. Now this doesn’t mean that I am taking a break or even cutting down on posting. In-fact, as far as Shanaya Tales is concerned, I am going to be posting just as many, if not more posts than usual. It’s just that I don’t want an extensive task list here.
So for this blog, my only goal is to ensure that I keep up my posting frequency (so I don’t slack off), and possibly incorporate different kinds of bookish posts, outside of the regular review posts that is. It’s been on my wishlist for far too long, and I am making it a goal for this quarter in hopes that it will actually get done.
The Love of Spice: I know (and by now you do too) that starting a food blog has been on my list forever, and I hate it every single time when I have to come on here to say that it is still not done. But it’s especially difficult this time, because towards the end of December I thought I was all set to go live, and just before I could actually publish the post, I got hit with a huge display issue because of the recipe plugin I was using.
I believe the kinks (on that front) have been straightened out now, though of-late I’ve to admit that I’ve been feeling very discouraged with the amount of issues I am running into with this blog. And there have also been times when I have wondered whether I have bitten off more than I can chew with this one. Anyway, I am trying to not focus on the negative and keep moving forward, and so here I am setting a goal to post 6 recipes this quarter. I think it’s a very conservative estimate, but considering the initial learning curve, and my recent experiences with the technical issues, I’d rather be safe than sorry.
Reading Goals
Jane Austen Project 2018 – Read Persuasion: I am not sure if you remember, but I had mentioned in an earlier post, that this year, I will not be setting any reading goals for the whole year, but instead breaking up the things on my reading wishlist into my quarterly goals. So one such thing on my reading wishlist is to read all of Jane Austen’s books (that I haven’t yet read) in 2018.
Now for you to better understand the scope of this thing, you have to know that I have only read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen so far, so I pretty much have all of Austen left. At first I was a little confused as to which book to start with, but then I got an ARC of By The Book (releasing Feb 2018), which happens to based on Persuasion, and so I thought I’d as well read the source material first.
So for this quarter, that’s my goal, to read Persuasion by Jane Austen. Yes, just 1 book for now, because this particular quarter is full of review commitments that I have to deliver on, so I’d rather work on what is realistic now, and catch up on more books by Austen in the coming quarters.
Buddy Read (and Review) – Anna Karenina: If you recollect, last year around this time, I had buddy-read Jane Eyre with Ashwini (Bookish Muggle), and this year we hope to take on Anna Karenina together. I think we are only going to start some time in Feb, but I am so looking forward to it, because I haven’t read much Russian literature, and this book has been on my wishlist for way too long.
Read 2 books with Movie Adaptations Coming Out Soon: If you know me, you know that I love to keep on top of the book to movie adaptations coming out every year, and this quarter has some very interesting movie releases lined up, so there are a few books that I absolutely have to get to. Hence the goal.
Oh if like me, you too prefer reading books before the movie comes out, watch out for my next post, where I will list out the movie adaptations coming out in 2018.
Deliver on 8 pending review commitments: This goal is self-explanatory. I have to read and review 8 books from among the ones I have accepted for review. I know it might seem like a lot, considering there are many other books I want to read this quarter as well. Even outside of Persuasion, Anna Karenina, and the books which have movie adaptations coming out (not to mention other life things that I need to get done). But well this number is reflective of only a small part of my pending review pile, and to be honest, I’ve gotten pretty sick of my eternal backlog situation, and so this year I have decided to tackle it head on. Hence, the goal.
That’s all from my end folks. I would love to hear from you. Do you set goals for yourself? How do you track them? What’s your #1 goal for the first quarter of 2018? Do share!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
The #ChattyBlogs Linky: A monthly linky which goes up on the 15th of every month, and is open for 2 weeks.
Here’s how it works:
- Write a chatty/rambly post – it could be a deep, thought-provoking one or even a random ramble. No judgement here.
- At the bottom of your post – add the #ChattyBlogs badge, and link to this post (which hosts the linky) to encourage other bloggers to join in.
- Add your link to the #ChattyBlogs linky.
- Visit and comment on the fellow bloggers’ post in the linky.
- Enjoy!
Chatty Blogs Badge
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Note: I have created a twitter handle for ChattyBlogs & registered the actual hashtag #ChattyBlogs. So, when you do write and link up your posts, please do use the hashtag & I will be sure to RT & share it.
You can also connect via the Chatty Blogs Facebook Page, on which I will be sharing all the posts that are linked up every month.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
I am super impressed with your goal setting and putting it out there. I have daily, weekly and monthly goals in the broad categories of work, blogging and fitness. But nothing this long term. As you can tell, I am not a very write down your goals kind of person. Good luck with your food blog. Hope to read your first post soon. Don’t be disheartened, it takes work and learning. About arranging digital photos, I’ve managed to arrange half my photos. Not sure what to do with only the print kind. And fitness I am happy with the progress you are making. Do use trackers for both food and fitness. These are the spheres where these actually work. I love strength training as you may already know. Slow and steady will get you there. Good luck.
PS Can’t link up as it says that the linkup thing has expired.
I haven’t been able to log food successfully, but exercises I am able to track, and for now I am focusing on that. You and your posts have continually inspired me to make fitness a priority, I can’t thank you enough for that. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
I confess, Shan. This is something new. And I’m almost keen to try it out. Quarterly goals, instead of weekly or monthly ones (although they all sort of add up).
Looks like you’re on track.
Special comment about the food blog : don’t give up. You have the right idea; it’s just a matter of getting it up and running and I’m sure you’ll do well.
Good luck!
Sid recently posted…The Date
Thank you so much, Sid. I needed to hear that, especially when things seem to be crashing down all at once around me.
Also, try the quarterly goals, the time frame makes it relatively low pressure, and yet their existence doesn’t let you slack off from your priorities. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
Vacation! I like to research the heck out of it, too! I wish you a wonderful time in Disneyland, etc.
Your reading goals are mind-boggling! But I am sure you’ll accomplish your goals, Shantala! I have a very long list of pending reviews–all self-pressure!
Anna Karenina is fabulous. Even the movie was superb!
Much of what you’ve listed here is also on my own list and well, slowly getting there.
I think you are amazing! Focus on the victory of every single step you take towards your goals! Hugs!
Vidya Sury recently posted…No Mud, No Lotus #GratitudeCircle
Thank you so much, Vidya. 🙂 And yeah I know what you mean. I am the queen of self-pressure when it comes to book reviews. I really need to take the proverbial chill pill at times. 😛
I am still working my way through Anna Karenina, good to know that you liked it. I plan to see the movie after reading the book, so I am glad that they made a good adaptation. Can’t wait to get to it. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
Your goal setting is impressive. I am not even thinking about organising my digital photos. They’re all over the place.
This year I’ve been feeling overly cynical about this whole goal-setting exercise partly because of the overdose of people planning so much (what with the ‘word of the year’ and planners and lists and goals – I’ve just had enough) and partly because I barely managed to meet mine from last year. And so I have no goals except to try to keep my mental balance and peace of mind, be regular with my exercise and eat sensibly. Basically, to just follow a healthy routine mentally and physically.
That said I do love your fitness goals. Hope to be around to cheer you on. And also your reading goals. Please do a post on how buddy reading works. Would love to be a part of one someday.
Obsessivemom recently posted…Piles to read before I shop
A broad overarching theme of the year doesn’t work for me. I guess I need specific goals to work towards.
Having said that, I don’t stress over not achieving them all or doing it all, because let’s face it, none of us can ever get it all done. So these goals are basically relatively low pressure guidelines, so to speak.
Oh and I will ping you about Buddy Reading. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
Sorting out digital photos and videos has been on my list forever! My disk space, G drive, phone memory everything is full and I need to sort it soon!
I love the clarity in all your goals and I’m sure you’ll achieve them! With regards to fitness, I have taken up dance again, I go for 2 classes a week, and on the other days just do some yoga and stretching. I need to push a little more to achieve my fitness goals though.
Always feel inspired when I read your goal posts!
Aditi Kaushiva recently posted…Dazzling Winter Nights – Lumiere London 2018
Dance is such a joyful form of exercise. Good that you are able to pursue it.
And I am so glad that you find these goals posts helpful. Thank you letting me know. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
Your goals sound achievable as always! And I’m envious about Harry Potter world. Strength training is awesome — it’s my preferred form of exercise and so much easier to be motivated to do than cardio. But yeah, you do need to be mindful of form. Good on you for improving your plank hold in a month!
I had a few small goals for Jan but didn’t feel up to sharing them on the blog. Maybe I should share from Feb but I’m still not certain. 😀 Have a great month!
Sanch @ Sanch Writes recently posted…Weekly gratitude 2018 3/52
Yeah I find strength training much easier than cardio, or I guess I am just more motivated to do the former over the latter. Though I realize that both are important. As of now I am counting on Spring to get here soon so that I can walk/run outside, which is always so much better for me than doing cardio indoors.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
I tend not to set too many goals, though I have overarching themes for each year. Somehow that works a lot better for me. It’s interesting to see how you keep yourself accountable and on track! All the best with your goals!
Modern Gypsy recently posted…Light, Everlasting
I have tried themes, but I think I do better with specific goals. To each their own, I guess. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
I have always found you so organized. As I was reading your goals, some places I was nodding and telling myself – this is on my list too. 🙂 I remember the digital photo one and I hope you get done with that soon. Please don’t plan so much even on a vacation. Get tickets done and rest takes care of itself. Trust me, my Ladakh trip was done exactly that way. Go with the flow and planning makes it too mundane 🙂
I love Anna Karenina. It’s a huge novel but worth the time it takes. Hope you get to check off all the items on your list this quarter, Shantala! <3
Parul Thakur recently posted…Of breaking the norms and stereotypes
Oh Anna Karenina is quite the beast, but so far I am hooked. And as far as trip planning goes, yes I know I need to relax more. I am trying to this time, just working out a broad guideline and then planning to go with the flow. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
Those are such well-laid-out goals 🙂 I love these posts of yours.
On the blog front, I think it’s a good idea to keep a conservative estimate, especially for a new blog. Learning curve and everything takes time.
On the reading front, YAY for Jane Austen and double YAY for Anna Karenina. This reminds me of my Literature days when we would devour these books and analyse them down to the last word. What fun that was! It’s a bit slow going so be warned. But oh so well written!
On the fitness front, WOAH! Way to go on the plank! You’re amazing. Look forward to the updates 🙂 And good luck with the trip planning. will be fun, I know 🙂
Shailaja Vishwanath recently posted…Tailwind Tips for Bloggers: How to use Tailwind with Pinterest
Yeah, turns out the learning curve is really steep for me. But I am glad I have prioritized for self care now. It has helped me achieve a head space I need to be in while I work on these goals of mine. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
Shantala what a great idea it is to have a quarterly review of your life goals. You really are very systematic and I can see you achieve all of your life goals in your own life time and in the timeline you mention simply because you have broken life’s journey into baby steps and taking them one at a time. I wish I could be so clear headed.
Every year I give myself the same tasks
Lose weight
Sort my life
Sort my photos
Sort my blogs
Exercise regularly
And the list is the same year after year.
Those are some great goals, Sulekha. And actually those are the goals that are central to my specific goals too. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
So many goals! I’m really bad at achieving my goals (especially fitness). I have recently re-started (1 hour) brisk walking. This is all I can do, and it works for me (I can do 30-40 secs plank, but somehow I don’t feel like exercising. I know I’m very lazy). I have decided to reduce my sugar intake. When it comes to blogging and reading, I have been very slow these days. Will try to be better this year.
And, I wish you a very happy and joyful vacation! 🙂
Tarang Sinha recently posted…Best Books I Read In 2017
Oh a 1 hour walk is great. I am definitely going to take that up once summer starts here, right now it is too cold for it, and I lack the motivation required to walk on a treadmill.
Also, sugar control, and diet control in general have given me better results with my weight, though this time I am working on physical fitness, hence the exercise. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
Your first goal has been on my list for years. Now i am so used to the mess that if I clean it up I might not find anything.
Brace up for a weepy time once you start reading Karenina. Took me weeks to get over it.
Love your fitness goals. I need to do more cardio too. But I hate it so much ?
Wish you good luck Shanaya. I love reading your quarterly updates ?
Rajlakshmi recently posted…Tasmania – Lavender Field and Bay of Fires
“Now i am so used to the mess that if I clean it up I might not find anything.” — haha, I think I will reach this point soon too. 😀
I have started reading Anna Karenina, and yes I totally get what you mean. Sigh.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
i smiled when I read the digital photo goal. Come on Shantala, get on to it. I love planning vacations and I am the defacto planner for most of our trips. Enjoy your vacation. Atleast that goal has to be met with an A+.
I have also read only Pride and Prejudice of Jane Austen’s. Need to read the others. But, currently, I am in a huge fan-girl of William Shakespeare. Reading Romeo and Juliet now.
Lata Sunil recently posted…Never again #FridayFictioneers
Ooohh Romeo and Juliet – that’s on my list. I did manage to read Austen’s Persuasion and I loved it. I am eyeing Emma for the next quarter, that or Sense and Sensibility – both come highly recommended.
And yes, I am planning to get an A+ on the vacation planning 😀 But the digital photos, they are turning out to be the impossible mountain to conquer.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
It is true that organizing the photos can be on our lists forever. We take so many and there is always a pending photo list that we want to get done. I haven’t started working on it yet from the last 2 to 3 years. I can see that fitness update and it is true with plank. I had once set a monthly goal to do plank for 5 minutes at the end of the month. I reached up to 1minute and that felt a big deal. Thanks for reminding me to pursue this again. I love the idea of quarterly goals, however, I am working with a particular word theme for this year. And I am trying my best to align my posts and life towards it.
Oh a 1 minute plank is great. Actually many just recommend to stay at the 1 minute hold, and then do variations with the elbow plank, side plank etc.
And yes, we do take way too many photos, that becomes difficult to catch up. At this point I have atleast 5-6 years worth of backlog. Just thinking about it gives me anxiety. 😛
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
Have fun at Disneyland and Harry Potter world. Your goals seem very ambitious. They will definitely keep you busy. I should try setting goals for myself. I never thought about quarterly goals. And also the idea that 75 percent is a success seems like a great idea.
Yeah, you should definitely try them out. They are relatively low pressure because of the time frame, but still work as an effective guideline so that you can’t completely slack off. Moreover, since I put some thought in carving out these goals to maintain a balance, as long as I follow it, I know that I will be hitting all the most important areas that I want to work on. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…February 2018 – The Month That Was #GratitudePost
Even I would like to know how you organized your photos. That’s something that even I need to tackle someday. 🙁
It’s overwhelming, right? And yes, I’ll keep you posted. 🙂
Trip to Disneyland and Harry Potter world sounds amazing. Hope you guys have loads of fun. I am also planning a trip somewhere foreign this time. Hope it works out. Jane Austen project sounds fun too. I am waiting for your food blog to be up. I am sure it will be perfect considering the time and effort you are putting for that. I am looking forward to our buddy read too. I am planning to buy a fitness machine so that I can focus on some exercise this year. I am too lazy to go to a gym so maybe having a machine at home will help. Do you have a machine at home or do you use office gym or something?
Good luck for all the goals!
Avada Kedavra recently posted…Books I want to read in 2018
I do have a machine at home. I bought an elliptical, because my sister (who is a physiotherapist) recommended to get an elliptical over a treadmill, as the latter can be bad for knees. Having said that, I struggle with the motivation to work out, because elliptical every day gets boring, even when paired with an audiobook (which I always do).
The digital sorting of videos/photos is a task H has mastered somehow. I just rely on Google Photos to get me through whatever it is. And I must say, it works wonderfully (since it can search based on location, people and even dates, everything gets covered)
But this post has prompted me to relook into what my goals for the quarter could be!
Ok, maybe I’ll get back to meditating on that now 😛
Love,
R
Haha…good luck with the meditation. 😛
Digital photo organisation is a huuuuuge project, so not surprised that you’re repeating the goal! Please do let me know which organisational method worked best for you!
Also, love that you are reading Austen! I personally love Emma after Pride and Prejudice, but by all means, try Persuasion first! But, Anna Karenina is a different beast, if you’ll pardon the expression. It’s a very heavy book, though it is brilliant for its time!
Yeah, I’ve read similar things about Anna Karenina, but it’s been on my TBR for a long time now, so it’s about time to finally get to it. And yes, once I do figure out a system, I’ll let you know what worked for organizing the photos.
Thank you so much for recommending Emma. Now that I’m done with Persuasion, I was wondering which is the next Austen novel that I must read.
I don’t set many goals but posting frequently on my blog, completing pending reviews and learning Selenium are high priority this quarter for me. Your Health and fitness gials are great. Add zumba for fun and motivation.
Yeah, the machines get boring and monotonous after a while, even listening to audio books doesn’t help. Zumba is fun, I just need to find longer routines.
Wishing you the best with your goals as well. Here’s to a successful and productive 2018.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…My Quarterly Goals for the First Quarter of 2018 #ChattyBlogs January Linky