Nonee's World- A Connecticut Based Life & Style Blog

New Year, Better Me!

Lovelies,

How is it that I haven’t posted in over a month? Between end of semester papers, paperwork, the blogger holiday party I hosted, work, and having all my family here for Xmas; things have been very hectic! As we enter this New Year, I am so eager to get started on the right foot! I have a lot of life changing events happening this year such as I’m graduating with my Masters in May and becoming a Nurse Practitioner, getting married in August, and potentially moving after the wedding!

I have a few major goals I would like to achieve this year! These goals include successfully completing graduate school, growing my email lists for my blog, increasing blog traffic, successfully planning my wedding on a small budget, becoming more disciplined with time management, better financial management, and also better physical fitness. This list to me means nothing unless I come up with attainable steps to achieve my goals! I think that goals or dreams are just a wish without a plan! Scroll down for more...

“I think that goals or dreams are just a wish without a plan!”

What I'm Wearing: Blazer // Trousers // Shoes

5 FORMIDABLE STEPS TO ATTAIN YOUR GOALS!

1. Create a Visual of your goals! One year, I created a goal board and put it somewhere I could see it so that everyday I would be reminded of the goal.

2. Set attainable goals and steps to get there! I am adamant about outlining a way to reach my goals. So under each goal, I will outline steps to do to make sure that this happens. It is a sure way to make sure that its not a wish but there is a plan.

3. Create a timeline to your goals. With each goal, I set a time frame. So usually, I have three columns. Short term (within 3 months), within 6 months, and Long term (9 months- 1 year). So for me, under short term for this year, I have to save $2000.

4. Allow for flexibility with your goals. I am a big person for the principle of plus or minus. To me this means, sometimes things get added and sometimes things get taken away. As I navigate the year and grow, my goals may change and I am fully comfortable with that. Give yourself that flexibility on some of your goals. You are one person. And if you are thinking Beyonce has the same 24 hours in a day as me, don't do it! She is definitely hardworking, but also has a fully oiled machine behind her.

5. Try to stick to the timeline of your goals. In this busy world, we can get easily distracted or buried in the complexities of our lives. Give yourself adequate time to complete a task and follow all the steps your outlined toward achieving your goals.

TEMPLATE

Short Term (Within 3 months):

Finish Major Wedding Planning Items

Find wedding coordinator by end of February
Finalize florist by end of February
Pick dress by end of January
Taj pick tux/suit by the end of January
Finalize catering by the end of January
Get rentals (tent, tables, chairs, linens) finalized by the end of February
Create wedding website by the end of January
Finish Registry by the end of January
Send last of Save the Dates by the end of January
Send official wedding invitations by the end of February

Save Money

Open additional savings account
Save $1000 within 30 days
Save $2000 by the end of March
Create budgets for 2018 for clothing, restaurants, gas, bills, etc by the end of January
Cut down on bills and spending by discontinuing services that are not utilized or essential (Hulu, blogging networks)

Increasing blog traffic and growing email lists

Double my email list by the end of February: host giveaways with link backs to email list, provide value to your audience, send emails to list serve at least once per month, advertise email lists to current audience aggressively via instagram, instastories, twitter, and all channels
Publish blog articles at least once per week religiously and network with other bloggers.

Improve my Physique

Exercise at least 30 minutes/day
Follow more fitness gurus and plant based eaters on Instagram
Limit eating out to once per week
Create Pinterest board with physical fitness role models
Avoid eating after 8pm at night
Eat right and avoid SUGAR like the plague
Drink x4 16 oz glasses of water/day

Time Management

Sleep more at least 6-7hrs everyday
Limit time spent on Instagram to maximum 2hrs/day
Keep track of tasks in your planner and cross them off as you go
Create a routine for each day
Complete homework in advance instead of last minute

Within 6 months:

Graduate with my Masters

Study everyday for at least 1 hour for boards
Start surveying the market for jobs after graduation
Update resume by the end of March
Complete clinical hours in advance at least twice per week
Choose which board review you will use by the end of April
Write and pass boards by the beginning of June

Finish wedding planning

Be done with wedding planning by the end of June
Find bridal party accommodation by the end of April
Finalize wedding plans with family by the end of May
Finalize wedding transportation by the end of May
Finalize wedding week itinerary
Finalize wedding attendees by end of May
Pick Honeymoon destination and set budget
Start joint savings account with bae by the end of April for marriage

Increasing blog traffic and growing email lists

Blog traffic should consistently be about 5000 or greater per month by end of April
Email lists should have quadrupled by end of April

Improving Physique

Lose 15lbs by the end of March (5lbs per month), 20lbs by the end of May
Stay consistent and get an accountability partner

Long Term (Within 9 months to 1 year):

Marriage

Get Married in August!!! YAY
Travel to unknown for honeymoon
Move???
Create a plan B and C since there is no plan A after getting married yet due to many extrinsic details
Get licensed to practice as an APRN in Connecticut, Washington, and Michigan
Start Doctor of Nursing Practice coursework in August part-time
Get a small apartment and decorate minimally
Purchase a new MacBook computer by the end of September

"As you see, most of my short-term goals have a step by step approach to how I will achieve them. I think that this is one of the most important things you can do to achieving goals!"

I hope that this is a post that is incredibly helpful and potent to starting out this new year! I decided to share most of my New Year's resolutions with you guys and exactly how I plan to achieve those plans in the spirit of transparency. As you see, most of my short-term goals have a step by step approach to how I will achieve them. I think that this is one of the most important things you can do to achieving goals! Good luck and see you all on my next post! Until next time loves, big bisous!