I've Actually Lived In This Planet For Two Full Decades And Some
I recently started planning my life in 2020. I have very specific goals, and specific projects I’d like to work on.
I totally forgot I was supposed to write to you today, so I thought I'd share a mini break down of my approach to planning 2020. It's nothing too organised, nothing unique. It's my first attempt at planning an entire year. This year, I learned that putting these things down helps, and that’s sorta why I’m doing it.
I recently looked at my 2019 plans and on some ends, I exceeded my expectations, and on some others, I did quite poorly. Output was poor in terms of writing and published stories for instance, but I got into one fellowship, got a new job, won a writing award, got shortlisted for another, etc. — consistently surpassing or meeting my expectations.
Looking at my 2019 mood board and not-so-detailed plans helps me understand where I missed it and what I should be doing better. First step? Detailed plans.
Having an overall vision or theme. It could be, "In 2020, I want to make more money"; or "In 2020, I want to save more lives"; or "In 2020, I want to take care of my mental health". This helps you focus on something and put in the right (micro) steps to achieve it.
Breaking down your overall vision or theme. There might be other ways to do this (i.e. breaking down the different ways to get there) but I'm doing this slightly differently by breaking down all the facets of my life. Health (mental and physical — food and exercises), Relationships (and its many sub categories), Finances, Career, Charity, Assets, Education/Academics (Going back to school, online courses, books, etc.) Investments. An endless list.
Each category will then have a particular goal. Example of an asset goal: I want to buy a car in 2020 (maybe a bit more specific than this).
Each goal will have specific steps on how to get there. This will include daily bandwidth, financial requirements, who to speak with or stalk, podcasts, required reading, etc. Example is me dedicating one hour every day to complete my novel, thereby working towards the goal of finishing my novel in 2020, under the Career category and under the specific vision of say becoming a published writer.
There are like a thousand ways to create your plans, a thousand tools — airtable, Trello, mood boards etc. But I enjoy writing things down and having them on my wall or in easily accessible places where I'll see them when I first wake up. I'm a bit old fashioned. Okay a lot.
Another thing I'd like to do in 2020 is get an accountability partner. I mean I already have one in Tobi, and many within my immediate circle of friends (e.g Assumpta sending me tweets to apply for x, and KT consistenly sending application links and reminding me of impending deadlines.) I think this is super necessary because I understand how a few nudges, a few, "Hey Ope, you haven't written/published in a while," pushed me in 2019. That's what your accountability partner will do, and that's what you'll do for her. Push her and push yourself to attaining your goals.
When I was younger, (probably with a lot less to worry about) I used to do these daily reviews at the end of each day. I'd think of all the words I used, the people I spoke to, what I did and think about being better. It was largely subconscious, and me being careful because I didn't want to offend God in speech or deed or be embarrassed by anything I'd done. It was also me just reviewing the things I'd learned. A structured system of performance reviews is important and you can do this regularly with your accountability partner.
Other things I look to doing at the beginning of the year or towards the end of the year is clearing my wardrobe, giving our clothes I haven't worn in six months or more. Well depending on the type of clothes. (Example: I haven't worn my birthday dress from 2018 since that day, but will I give it out? Likely not.) Arranging my bookshelf and just tidying up generally. These things make the new year seem like a clean slate.
Listening to the Ignis Brother song, "Braveheart" as I write. The chorus, "If I told you I'm not scared, oh I lied, oh I lied," resonates right now. I'm scared of 2019 and of the coming years. Scared of becoming a "woman". A few years ago, I set my benchmark year for becoming a woman as 2020. The year I turn 25-ish. I'd be able to cook, will consider getting married, will be perfect like sitcom and advert moms or women. Perhaps part of wanting to plan 2020 to the detail is to fulfill this. Perhaps it's just me thinking of my life.
You know how listening to certain instrumentals can make it seem like your life is a movie? Idk if that's just me, but listening to the Cinematic Orchestra's Workers of Art in a speeding car at 11 pm gives me all shades of fear and hope
Honestly, writing this wasn't easy; it's easy to plan everything and just as easy to lose everything. I'm scared of a shitload in 2020 and feel like I need to rest for an entire year before it begins. But, c’est ne pas possible.
Till the next Thoughts Day. Adieu et A bientôt.