My last blog post was before Christmas and I’ve spent the last three weeks offline and out of the loop on a lot of things. I hung out on Instagram because I like it there. I didn’t worry about page views, returning comments, or retweeting much of anything.
To say that I’ve come back refreshed is an understatement. I’d also like to use the words revived and renewed. December was busy for A Cookie Before Dinner. In hindsight, I think I probably said yes to too many good things. Isn’t that the way it goes? Too many good things is still too many things.
I didn’t hit many of my December 2014 goals because I spent the better part of the month away from home. At the last minute, we decided to spend Christmas in Illinois visiting with my family that lives in my hometown. I’m choosing not to beat myself up over still (OMG THIS IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN) not filling out and turning in Malone’s school paperwork or going through Lola’s outgrown clothing. These things will happen in January or I’m going to just take them off of my list completely!
What I learned in December.
Blog: December 2014 came with a few really great opportunities for me professionally. I appeared on a local television show twice and had a great month as an Amazon associate. I was able to earn enough money to fund my flight to the blog conference Declare (in TX in August). I also learned a lot about what it means to hustle and work efficiently. A colleague called me a “big” blogger. I am 100% sure that isn’t true, but I’ll take it as a complement. Lesson learned…act like a big girl and you’ll be seen as a big girl.
Life: Our Christmas Cards were New Years Cards and they’re still not addressed. But, I came to a very important realization this month. Being around people fires me up. I spent most of December protecting my family’s time and investing wisely in the lives of others. I wish I could be super close to everyone, but it just isn’t possible. I’m casting my nets deep instead of wide.
Motherhood: Malone and I had a few days together where we really butted heads. He wasn’t intentionally trying to get under my skin, but I let him when I started placing adult expectations on a five year old boy. I need to remember that he really is still just a little boy and fight really hard to connect with him. He loves Star Wars and so does Michael. So, it is very easy for them to bond over them. Me on the other hand? I don’t share those same passions so I need to work a bit harder to connect.
January 2015 Goals
Blog:
- Develop a spreadsheet to keep track accounts payable.
- Finish super secret project #1.
- Finish my goal yearly goal setting for 2015. I’ll be using my powersheets to help me work through this.
Life:
- Attend girls night out with the women from my small group at church.
- Attend girls night out with my mama friends.
- Send 10 pieces of snail mail (outside of my New Years Cards).
- Go out on a date with my husband.
- Prep January’s snail mail newsletter.
- Keep up with my 2015 read the Bible in a year plan.
Motherhood:
- Take Malone out on a date.
- Finish Malone’s school paper work and going through Lola’s outgrown clothing.
Did you set goals for January? What are they?
I spent a couple of weeks mostly offline too and am ready to start this year off with a bang! Congrats on the television spots, you big blogger you 🙂
I’m sitting down and goal setting tonight and one of my goals is to lurk less and comment more!
Happy New Year, NJ!
Herchel S recently posted..One Word 2015
I’m blushing. I’m certainly not a big blogger. I just play one on tv! Haha.
My time away was really refreshing. I’m working through some personal growth worksheets and they’ve been really great for my soul!
I lurk more than I comment too. I need to stop that!
I love that statement about casting your net deep instead of wide. I feel the same way about my relationships – I would rather have few really deep, rich relationships than have a million friends that I barely have time to talk to. Having those deep relationships takes time! As for my blogging goals – I’m just going to try to be a little more consistent. It’s pretty unaggressive, but last year I totally stopped posting for months at a time because of my pregnancy. So cheers to 2015!
Gracielle recently posted..That’s a Wrap
It is hard for me in some ways, because deep down I long to have tons of friends. It goes all the way back to jr. high when I wasn’t one of the popular girls. But, I’m learning slowly that it is much better to have a few really amazing friendships than a bunch of surface level friendships. I’m working on things… for sure.
I think you should totally post more. I miss your blogging skills!
I spent most of my break offline too. It was a nice, needed break. At first I was upset with myself, but like Elsa says, I let it go. I’m glad to find that so many others took the time off too. Now I feel less behind!
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted..Post Number 1000!
I’ve found that the week of Christmas and the week of New Years are two of the slowest on the Internet. I had hoped to get ahead and write some of January, but I’m okay with how things turned out!
I think taking blogging breaks are so important. I mean, if we were working at a job outside of our homes we would expect vacation time, right? I’m glad you were able to visit your family and focus on them. Thanks again for the inspiration to do my own monthly goals post 🙂
Bev recently posted..{DIY} How to make your own small hoop earrings
Casting your nets deep instead of wide – I love that, NJ. I think that’s smart and productive, and I have no doubt that you will accomplish your goals!
Dana recently posted..Now, for our next adventure
So happy to hear you are renewed and refreshed from a break in Dec! Your goals of casting a deep net instead of a wide net sound great for your relationships, as well as connecting with your son. Dates with him (and hubs) sound good! I don’t make a lot of goals but want to start on a path to a healthier me.
lisacng @ expandng.com recently posted..The holiday {photos}
Welcome back and I’m glad to see you’d had a nice break! Congrats on the TV spot too! FUN!
My break was really productive too. My January goals include my blog redesign, launching a small group workshop, and hibernating. Love the thought of casting the net deep and not wide.
Tara Newman recently posted..A Letter to Our Readers
[…] spoke about this in my January goals post, but I’m casting my nets deep instead of wide this year. I spent a good part of 2014 feeling […]