Ok. Goals Are Nice, But How Do I Keep Focus?

“First, forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice.” 
― Octavia E. Butler, Bloodchild and Other Stories

I am trying to maintain my focus, being present in my own life, so much to do on the to do list. This started as a facebook post and got way out of hand. I thought I would take more time and flesh it out a bit more. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. What are you doing to keep focus?

My creative goals: Read a book every week, a poem every day. Screenplay draft. Chapbook draft. Submit new poetry work. Schedule readings. Cookbook. Memoir. Novel. 5 year timeline.

Here are some things I am trying out.

• Dedicated writing time and space. After kids are in bed. 9-12 every night possible. Not always possible. If I make it a goal it happens at least 3 nights a week. That is 9 hours a week minimum. In practice it ends up about 15 hours a week. It adds up.
• All chores/ housecleaning/ work stop for the night at 6pm. 6-8 is dinner/ kid time.
• Dedicated time for grading papers. Office hours work for me. Being physically on campus. Trying for a goal of all grading and planning done on campus.
• My smart phone notifications off. Phone stays in purse. Messages and calls send alert to my fitbit watch, I return calls and messages that are urgent, but all else waits until I finish task at hand. Then I don't check fb etc every time someone texts.
• Dedicated time for social media work and play.
• Lists.
• White board and pin board up on wall and in use.
• Schedule. Routine. Communication.  Google calendar. 
• Timers. I need reminders for due dates, bill pay, grading, school deadlines, events. I also need them for meals and meal planning. Alerts go to fitbit watch too.
• Exercise. Daily 10,000 step goal. 30 minute exercise goal. Eating better. No snack cakes, cookies, ice cream.


• No TV. Ends up 1 hour a day with oldest kiddo, if she earns it, reading or tea time if she doesn't. I prefer talk and tea, me.


• Make time for relationships and experiences too. Stand on porch during thunderstorm, bake bread, take a nap, cuddle and read to kids, make time for neighbor that shows up at the door to talk about the weather or bees or how y'all been. Be there in that moment, full attention. 

What are you doing to meet your creative goals? ​

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