March Goals

The girl in that picture up there? It's not me. I snapped this photo while we were in Sleeping Bear Dunes last year, and I just love the mysteriousness of it all. It reminds me of a new month or a new day or a new year because this girl, whoever she is, looks ready to conquer something big. (Actually, she was probably about to attempt to conquer the giant sand dune in front of her. If you've never been to Sleeping Bear Dunes, just trust me when I say that thing is steep. I'm not afraid of heights, but it even freaked me out.)

And I'm ready to conquer March! I have faith that this month will be the start of buds on the trees and productivity in my office. My biggest business goal is to get ahead on stuff that generally holds me back during busy season. I've had quite a bit of free time this winter, and I want to use it to my advantage so I'm not running around like a crazy person come June.

In case you need a kick start this month, check out this Jess Lively podcast with Alex Ikkon on productivity that I found super helpful and inspiring.

March Goals

  • Read four books (finish The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George and start and finish Woman Code by Alissa Vitti and 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam)
  • Finish my new website + brand refresh
  • De-clutter our bathroom (SO many little bottles … ahhhh!)
  • Sell my Mamiya 645 AFD
  • Get ahead on business stuff (gather packaging, update forms, etc.)
  • Update my client guides with brand refresh
  • Start a new client guide (this has been on my list FOREVER. Just gotta get started!)
  • Do lesson plans for my gymnastics girls

February Goals

Wedding Flowers on Film January was such a nice change of pace for me. Less editing work means more time to focus on things I've been putting off for months and months, and let me tell you that getting big, daunting work finished (or even started) feels good! I hope you all had a productive and healthy start to your new year too!

February is more of the same for me. Continuing work on big projects, reading a LOT and making plenty of time to visit with family and friends.

February Goals

  • Read three books (Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee, The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and Hope by Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus)
  • De-clutter our "reading room" (really our catch-all room that happens to house our bookshelf, which makes it our reading room)
  • Redo my website (eek! This is a scary one, but I think I can make this happen)
  • Complete our travel wall(s) in our dining room
  • Sell my Mamiya 645 AFD! (if you want it, make me an offer ;) )
  • Decide on and order my 2016 wedding packaging
  • Decide on a software management system
  • Review all the items in my closet and make sure they still have purpose (oops, didn't do this last month)
  • Go on at least one winter hike with Nathan
  • Get a new phone!

2016 + January Goals

Lara Casey Goals

[source]
 

When I think about January 1, I always feel completely inspired. I know it's a little cliche. It's just a date—a seemingly regular Friday (or Monday or Saturday or Tuesday …)—but no matter how good the previous year was, I'm always motivated to set new goals, try new things or improve upon the foundation that's already there. Sometimes I follow through, sometimes I don't, but either way I always come back for more each January 1. Thinking about all the possibility right before stepping off into a new year is kind of intoxicating!

This year, I decided to choose a word for 2016 and make sure my goals for the year resonated within the word PURPOSEFUL. After four years of running this business and slooooowwwwwllly getting better at balancing my personal and professional life, I want to make sure I'm still moving away from the 24/7 hustle (been there, done that!) and closer to more rest, more deep breaths, more reflection.

I divided up all my 2016 goals into six categories: Business, Family, Financial, Intellectual Health, Physical Health and Spiritual Health (thanks, Nancy Ray, for the inspiration!), and I'll be sharing a couple from each category here, along with my January goals. If you set your own goals for 2016, I'd love to hear/see them! (For real. I'm kind of a nerd when it comes to this stuff.)

Photography Goals

2016 Goals

Business

  • Decide on a software management system
  • Create a new gallery wall and vendor area in my office
  • Blog at least 2/week
  • Continue working towards real office hours (office door shut by 5:30 p.m.)

Family

  • Set aside one evening a week for a date night with Nathan
  • See my grandma at least once a month :)

Financial

  • Complete our Emergency Fund
  • Give $50 to a new (to us) charity each month

Intellectual Health

  • Read 25 books (this has been my goal for the last couple years, and I always fall just short of 25. Hoping to stretch my mind even more this year!)
  • Develop a morning routine
  • Declutter each room in our house and give unwanted items away (technically I guess this falls under "Organization" but it's also good for my mental state ;) )

Physical Health

  • Stretch for 10 minutes every day
  • Drink 2 water bottles a day (I am not a natural water drinker [is that a thing?] so I really have to work at this one!)

Spiritual Health

  • Do Savor devotional every morning
  • Refrain from scheduling Sunday morning sessions so we can attend church at least 3/month

Etsy print

[My little family, with whom I want to spend my most PURPOSEFUL time. Cartoon portrait by Lili Di Prima.]
 

January Goals

  • Read three books (Scary Close by Donald Miller, All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and The Very Picture of You by Isabel Wolff)
  • Start experimenting with a morning routine each day (even if it doesn't look the same morning to morning this month is for figuring out what works for me!)
  • De-clutter our kitchen
  • Start designing our travel wall in our dining room
  • Review all the items in my closet and make sure they still have purpose
  • Unsubscribe from junk e-mail
  • Delete old e-mail folders that I don't use anymore
  • Complete my business tax documents
  • Experiment with two software management systems
  • Create a portrait session guide
  • Talk with an industry friend about potential work on my website

December Goals

Firewood in SnowSo, there's no snow in Cleveland yet, but I'm willing it on with this photo from a couple years ago. I really love fluffy, white snow around the holidays (let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!), and I'm kinda bummed we've only had a dusting so far! Here's to hoping we have a white Christmas.

Speaking of the holidays, this month, for me, is circled around the most wonderful time of the year. Most of the things on my goal list are in preparation for Christmas, and I'm totally fine with that! My 2015 wedding editing is complete, and I'm ready to take it slow this month.

December Goals

  • Finish Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less and read Scary Close by Donald Miller
  • Decorate our house for the holidays (inside and out!)
  • Mail our Christmas cards by Dec. 14
  • Finish all Christmas shopping by Dec. 21
  • See a Christmas show with Nathan
  • Try at least one new Christmas cookie recipe
  • Finish vendor galleries for the 2015 season
  • Take a 12-day break from shooting and revel in this season