I grew up immersed in good literature, and devouring shelves of books, but since having kids, reading (except to the kids) hasn’t been a priority to me. I want to get out of this habit and so one of the goals I’ve set for myself this year is to read at least one [non-children’s] book a month–something to inspire me, something to stretch me, something to help me remember how to communicate in non-toddler language.
This month I’ve started reading (and am so far loving) EntreLeadership. Since I’m a huge Dave Ramsey fan anyway, it’s no surprise I’m wanting to highlight just about every paragraph, especially the parts on setting goals.
Dave teaches that goals need to be five things: measurable, specific, written, time-sensitive, and yours and in order to meet your goals, you have to DO things to hit the goal within the time allocated. If you don’t act, that goal will “condemn you and call you a dreamer.”
I’m definitely a dreamer, and that’s one reason I love making an annual vision board. But I also want to be a do-er, and the best way for me to DO things to hit my bigger goals is to break them into manageable, less overwhelming, bite-size pieces.
To help break my 2012 goals down, I made a weekly list to add to my Motivated Moms planner. In each of the four boxes I set weekly goals/make to-do lists in different categories: personal, family, business, and community. Every goal/task might not be met during the week, but the planning (and “brain dumping”) helps relieve my tendency to get overwhelmed.
If you think this weekly planner might work in your home, business, or life responsibilities, feel free to download and print in black and white or color.
Happy goal setting!
If you’d like a tool for setting your goals, you can use this web application:
http://www.Gtdagenda.com
You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, and a calendar.
Syncs with Evernote and Google Calendar, and also comes with mobile version, and Android and iPhone apps.
I love DR so much too, that I think he should run for president! Thanks for the printable. I am pinning on pinterest!
Oh, wouldn’t that be great? lol
I am LOVING your blog! I’m so happy we got partnered together! I will be searching through your blog I’m sure all day today! : ) I want to print these weekly goal forms!
I needed this ! Thanks so much for your great ideas & the printable… I got an ipad for Christmas (and probably for the next birthday & Christmas !) and its been FANTASTIC for getting back into reading books, when I can take it away from the kids (luckily they have very limited time on it… thank goodness for screen time 🙂
@libbywilko, How do you like the Ipad? Since my laptop died a few months ago I’ve been saving up for a new one, but keep wondering about an Ipad instead.
@pameladonnis, I do love my Ipad .. I wondering if you can borrow a friends ipad to play with first before you bought one ? I played with my cousin’s one for a couple days before I got one and it helped me make the decision.
I also have a laptop and need to still have it because I don’t have access to our main computer as my husband as he works from home as an industrial designer.
But I’ll admit I don’t use the laptop much at all unless I’m downloading files or my photos, using photoshop, watching the occasional vimeo video as they don’t play on it (although you tube does work ), easily commenting on a blog post 🙂 and reading email (I could set up the email on ipad but I’m enjoying NOT being able to check it.
What I love most about the ipad hmm; reading books… oh how much do I love that this is letting me do my favourite hobby once again.
I like many of the other apps especially the organizational, weather, recipe and music apps (actually listening to adult music again is really nice too) and I LOVE reading my blog feeds on it too it makes it quick, easy and the photos are just so pretty! I think the ipad would be a fantastic way to show photos of your work or portfolio in a work situation.
I love the ease we can use it as a family one touch its on and we’re answering those questions the kids pose without having to turn on the computer and wait for it to start up. Now they know how to use it, they love hearing audio books , having music anywhere in the house and there are a bunch of educational apps.
Overall I guess I would say I LOVE it… but if you need something to use with a bit more space or powerful enough to run Photoshop and don’t have access to another computer and already have a smart phone (I don’t have a smart phone my old phone just keeps carrying on!)…but it just keeps carrying on!) maybe the laptop is a better choice.
That said I would totally recommend it to a friend if they asked my opinion about it as its been great for me and our family.