2016 + January Goals

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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.)

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

[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

Thoughts on the New Year

I had every intention of posting this yesterday, but then I got sick on New Year's Eve. Womp womp. I was really bummed that I was starting off 2015 quarantined in my bedroom (I was going to work out! I was going to blog! I was going to start off the new year on the right foot!) but then I realized that it was the perfect reminder that I can't control everything. I need to show myself as much grace as God does and, darn it, I'm determined to cut myself some slack this year!

For some time now, 2015 has seemed like a mile marker. This is the year I will turn 30 and I can feel that sense of time marching on. I've really loved my 20s (the best college years, living in Europe, an extremely loving family, loyal friends, truly experiencing independence post-college, marriage, our first home, business success, a cute cat ... SO many blessings) and for the first time, I'm a little unsure of what's ahead. I know age is just a number, but that number—and getting older really—makes me nervous.

Nathan and I have talked a lot about where we're at right now. We've decided we're in between. We still feel young but we're way past college. We see lots of friends starting families but we're not quite there yet. Our careers are moving along but we still feel like we have lots to learn. It's this in between that makes me feel slightly unsettled, grasping for something concrete and less lonely.

The past few years I've thrown myself into my business, taking on as much work as I possibly can. That caught up with me last year when I realized my work-life balance was completely off. While I love my work and feel purposeful doing it, it is still work and everyone needs a break from work now and then, right? I realized that sometimes it means more to do less.

This year's balance was better—even Nathan agreed—but there were still late nights and weeks without a break and being too busy to catch up with this friend and that family member. My wake-up call (if you could call it that) came at the end of the year when I sat up panicked in bed one night realizing that I'd completely forgotten one of my best friend's birthdays. That's not me. I value my friends, and I love to keep up with them and celebrate their milestones. Thankfully, my friend is the most gracious person on the planet and she quickly forgave me.

But ... that doesn't make it OK. I knew I needed bigger changes. I needed to ensure that I was giving the best of me at work and at home.

So, I decided to take fewer weddings in 2015. 25% less, in fact. I want to serve my clients well—SO well—and having a smaller client base will allow me to do this on an even more personal level. Remember that whole more with less thing? I've never been interested in expanding and growing my business with lots of employees until we're bursting at the seams. I want to offer a personal, relationship-based service that means something ... to the client and to me. Taking fewer weddings also means I have more time for the things that matter the most: Nathan, my family, my friends, my health, creating memories.

I discovered that I need more focused work time. When I listen to music while I work? I'm a machine. When I watch Netflix while I work? It takes me twice as long to get something done. After attending Making Things Happen I realized that I could be about 1,045% more productive with work if I just sat down and did.the.work. No messing around with my laptop, no checking my phone every 10 minutes. Eliminating distractions during work hours means I get more meaningful personal time later. It's taken me ten months, but I think I finally understand.

We've planned fun trips and activities throughout 2015 to keep ourselves energized at work. As I get older, I realize that stuff—consumerism—doesn't matter to me as much as it used to. Don't get me wrong, I still struggle with wanting, wanting, wanting, but it's the experiences that mean more to me at this stage of my life. I would go without shopping if it meant I could see a new part of the world and make memories with Nathan. I know that taking a purposeful, distraction-free break each week is crucial to me giving my very best during my "on" hours.

So what does all this mean? It means that I'm still striving to find balance, and I know I'll be working to find it for the next year, 5 years and probably 25 years. I don't have it all together. I know I'm going to fail. That's just human nature. But I hope that each time I regroup and start again, I learn a little bit more and start the teensiest bit ahead of my last reset.

It's a constant struggle: the need for perfection vs. the urge for something deeper and more meaningful. This year I will let go of this illusion of perfection and all that comes with it. I will move toward what's meaningful, even if it's not as shiny and colorful on the surface.

In light of these thoughts, my January goals are simple. And I want to hear from you: What are your thoughts on the new year? Did you set resolutions or do something different? Do you struggle with the need for perfection? How do you focus on what matters most?

Thanks for reading, friends! Today and all the other days. You make my life more meaningful!

January Goals

Handwrite and mail four letters/cards to people I love Update my new address book Finish The Goldfinch + read two more books (Me Talk Pretty One Day and Mere Christianity) Attempt skiing once again (and maybe try to improve upon my speed/skill) Complete a mentoring session with a photographer I admire Update my website galleries Start work on a new client guide Start a new personal photography project (more coming soon!)

May Goals

Already May is off to a great start. We have sun for basically the first time this week! Sun makes everything better, right? Here's something that's also great: I finished almost every, single one of my April goals! Whoo! That's especially exciting because April was my month to get caught up before I dive into wedding season this month. I'll be tackling a few goals from slow season that keep hanging around but otherwise May goals are about fun and making sure I leave time for play. Remember my whole New Year's Resolution for balance? Yeah, that's still happening. I'm going to work smart this month (something I learned at Making Things Happen, which I'll be sharing more about next week!) so I can step away from my computer and play hard, as well.

• Read two books (25 in 12): Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver and Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner (plus finish Film is Not Dead!)
• Take one weekday OFF before wedding season gets into full swing
• Design a new sample album
• Continue practicing with film (and try Kodak film!)
• Clean off my computer so it's fresh for busy season
• Set up e-mail templates
• Write content for a new client info guide
• Host my family for a cookout
• Finish decorating our entryway
• Start a new 101 in 1001 (or 30 before 30) list
• Take (at least) one bike ride
• CANCEL our cable for the summer
• Go out for ice cream with Nathan
• Get our own photos taken (Yay! Can't wait!)

March Goals

How the heck is it March already?! The older I get, the more time flies. It's just nuts. This month, I really get back in the swing of things with three weddings and a handful of portrait sessions. It's been a little tough for me to make the transition to working on deadline again, but I'm sure by the time March is over, I'll be loving the busyness. Without further ado, a recap of my (very successful) February:

Professional

1. Back up website.
2. Back up 2012 files and clean off computer before first wedding of 2012.
3. Organize all files for taxes.
4. Update/organize photography budget.
5. Shoot first wedding of 2012 and get 75% of editing done. (More like 50%, but still good!)
6. Blog every weekday. (I only missed two days, but I guess I can't cross this one off. :) )

Personal

1. Design OUR wedding album (whoo!).
2. Read three books (Where’d You Go, Bernadette; The Kitchen House; Fine Art Wedding Photography).
3. Finish my office and blog it! (Ohhhhh, this is sooooo close! I'm such a tease!)
4. Clean at least two big boxes out of our junk room.
5. Work out 5/week.

And my March goals:

Professional

1. Finish editing February wedding and send vendor discs.
2. Shoot all March weddings and stick to my new two-week turnaround on each.
3. Submit at least one March wedding for publication.
4. Clean up my office each day after office hours are over.
5. Rent the markiii to see if it's worth the buy (Eeeee!).
6. Blog every weekday.

Personal

1. Read three books (Fine Art Wedding Photography, Bread & Wine, The Scent of Rain and Lightening).
2. Finish my office and blog it! (Come on office chair that I'm waiting on!)
3. Clean out two more boxes out of our junk room.
4. Cook at least 2/week.
5. Work out 4/week.
6. Stretch each night before bed.