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First of all, if you’re unfamiliar with the goal-setting workbook PowerSheets, go back to read my 2020 PowerSheets and 2020 Goals post.
JANUARY 2020 PROGRESS
I have learned over the years that I have greater success overall when I start slow in January. I try not to pack my Tending List with a lot of intensive goals, and instead focus on small, attainable tasks that will motivate me to keep going.
So how did I do in January? Pretty dang good, actually.
// MONTHLY PROGRESS:
I successfully accomplished all of my monthly tending list items!! YAY!!
✔️Read “Rhythms of Renewal” by Rebekah Lyons
✔️Talked to my friend Susan about pet-sitting (decided it isn’t for me right now)
✔️Canceled YNAB
✔️Made (and went to) dentist appointment
✔️Went on more than one date night with Mark (YAY!)
✔️Hosted Sunday supper (actually went to a couple lunches and a couple dinners) with friends
✔️Planned and executed Women’s Night of Worship
✔️Sent my bestie Kim a birthday card
The dentist appointment, believe it or not, was the most difficult goal in January because I hate the dentist. But I found a new one and they were amazing!
// WEEKLY PROGRESS:
I give myself an A- for my weekly goals.
✔️Practiced the Sabbath every single week!
👎Updated our budget weekly but didn’t follow it every week. We were over budget more than we were under budget. (sigh)
✔️For the most part, we planned and prepared healthy meals, with the exception of the final week.
✔️Updated our church podcast every single week.
✔️Tithed full 10% every single week.
Overall, great progress. Gotta be more diligent about our budget, though.
// DAILY PROGRESS:
As a reminder, my “daily” tending list items are not necessarily things I want to do every single day, but more often than once a week.
✔️Read the book of Matthew as part of my 2020 New Testament Reading Plan.
✔️Went to the gym or walked at least 3 times each week, with only one exception.
The gym thing is huge for me. I am not a fan of exercise, and the gym tends to be intimidating. But I went regularly and actually worked out hard each time. Super proud of that.
Last month, I shared my Tending List and told you that I wasn’t sure how I would use the new monthly spread that is included in the 2020 PowerSheets. I decided to use it to document my goals in a more visual way.
For Tending List items that had a date associated with them, I put those on the calendar. You can see my gym days, Sabbath days, and meal plan days are scheduled.
I also tracked my progress through “Rhythms of Renewal” in order to finish it by the end of the month, and tracked my weekly budget to see how much we were over or under each week.
JANUARY MONTH IN REVIEW
At the end of each month, there is a page in the PowerSheets called “Month in Review”, which gives you a chance to document people and things you’re grateful for, goals that are growing well, goals you’re choosing grace over guilt about, lessons and memories. It’s a great place to detox and reset for the next month.
At the bottom of the page, you write out something you’re saying “no” to in the coming month, and something you’re saying “yes” to. For me, I’m saying “no” to being so overwhelmed with life that I miss God’s voice. And I’m saying “yes” to taking steps in faith toward making my vision a reality.
FEBRUARY 2020 TENDING LIST
Now that I’ve allowed myself to ease into my goals for the year, it’s time to get to business this month!
Before creating my Tending List, I used the “Prepare Well” page to write out important to-do’s, things I’m excited for, things on my mind, and what I’m hopeful will happen.
I have some to-do’s such as getting some car maintenance done, finalizing a speaker for a church event, and making over our laundry room.
I’m excited to celebrate both my mom’s birthday and my daughter’s 18th birthday this month.
My worries and hopes are documented, too, and it helps me clear my head to set good goals.
Next I wrote out my goal ideas on the “Make What Matters Happen This Month” page, and highlighted which ones will be monthly, weekly, and daily tending list items.
Then it was time to tackle my Tending List!
// MONTHLY ACTION ITEMS:
- Submit tax paperwork to CPA: Because I have an online business and personal taxes, I let my CPA do the heavy lifting.
- Plan date night with Mark: I already have a fun idea ready to go!
- Celebrate mom’s birthday: Her birthday is Feb. 16th. I’m thinking I may get her friends together for a nice dinner.
- Celebrate Marley’s 18th birthday: Marley turns 18 on Feb. 22, and we’re planning to spend a fun night in downtown Atlanta. She loves the city.
- Map out Europe route: Marley graduates on May 20th, and we’re leaving shortly afterwards to spend three glorious weeks in Europe traveling by train. So excited!
- Create church welcome packet: We want to put together a gift for our guests and I’m in charge of this project.
- Read “The Ministry of Ordinary Places” by Shannan Martin: This is my February Sabbath book.
- Use then cancel Passive Project membership: I registered recently, but after digging around, there’s not much in there that I don’t already know. It’s a great resource, but not much that meets my needs, so I’ll cancel at the end of the month.
// WEEKLY ACTION ITEMS:
- Keep the Sabbath: Gonna keep a good thing going!
- Update prayer journal: I do this each week during my Sabbath and try to pray through my list of prayers throughout the week.
- Create paycheck budget: Ugh. I didn’t do so well with sticking to our budget last month, but I have a better understanding of our spending habits, so I’ll be working on this one again.
- Tithe full 10%: Again, keep a good thing going.
- Create healthy meal plan: Mark is hunkering down to get his “summer body” back, so we’ll both be eating healthier.
- Use Tailwind: This is my blog focus for the month. In January, I fired up my email list and got back in the routine of blogging again.
- Publish 1 blog post: I was hoping to crank out two each week, but 1 is more manageable.
- Leave love note for Mark: I used to do this more often, and want to start doing it again. He works hard for our family and I want to regularly encourage him.
// DAILY ACTION ITEMS:
- Read the book of John: I’m continuing to follow my 2020 New Testament Reading Plan.
- Go to the gym or walk: Shooting for hitting the gym three days each week, and walking when the weather is nice.
- Morning routine: I’m going to start getting up 30 minutes earlier (at 6:30am) and having a more intentional start to my day, rather than just heading out the door to go to work.
- Eventing routine: I want to start getting ready for bed before my actual bedtime – washing my face and stuff, and then reading for about 30 minutes before lights out.
My encouraging words at the top of my Tending List this month are from the book of Proverbs:
“Commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3
I’m excited to work on my goals this month and make things happen! Are you using PowerSheets? What’s on your Tending List this month?
