prairie girl musings

Tag: goal setting

  • My Goals For the Next Few Months

    My Goals For the Next Few Months

    It feels a bit unusual to be setting goals in a time that’s still so uncertain. With our move completely thwarted, Nick and I feel like we’ve hit pause. We had so many exciting plans for the (Northern Hemisphere) summer, which is now a blank page and I have a serious case of writer’s block.

    This lockdown period has been a complete rollercoaster for many of us. Personally, I’ve felt stuck both literally and metaphorically as we moved through the Alert Levels here in New Zealand. As an introvert and someone who works from home, I didn’t imagine it would be as difficult as it’s been. In the past few weeks, I’ve joked that I’ve moved into the ‘acceptance phase’ and have been taking steps to reset and figure out my short term goals. I know I find it helpful reading the ways others are moving forward, so here’s what I have in the works:

    01. Streamline my wardrobe
    I had a head start on this task, having listed and sold over half of my possessions on TradeMe in anticipation of our move (our house is looking especially bare at the moment!) Rather than shipping everything overseas, most of our furniture, household items and summer clothes, the ones that wouldn’t get as much wear in Canada, have now found new homes. My current wardrobe consists of a few high quality basics and special occasion pieces.

    02. Embrace a slower pace
    One of the reasons I wanted to work for myself was to establish better work/life balance and prioritise my mental and physical health. I count myself lucky to be able to work on projects I’m passionate about, but in the past, I’ve been known to say yes to work that paid the bills but didn’t fill my cup. Not having the security of a regular income, it’s easy to get carried away and never really ‘switch off’ even in the evenings and weekends. If this lockdown period has taught me anything, it’s how important down time really is, whether it’s binge watching Normal People or baking muffins in the middle of the day.

    03. More staycations and day trips
    I love a staycation and I’m hoping to continue exploring my favourite regions (North Canterbury and Akaroa) while we’re still based in Christchurch. Hanmer Springs Hot Pools plans to reopen at the end of May, so that could be a nice little getaway. We’ve stayed at a few hotels and Airbnbs in Christchurch from Crowne Plaza to the Britten Stables and will definitely book a night somewhere fun again soon!

    04. More domestic travel
    Name a place in New Zealand and Nick and I have probably been there. Nick’s parents made sure he’d visited every inch of his country and that’s something he’s shared with me. We’ve been lucky to spend countless weekends road tripping around both the North and South Island whether for work or purely out of interest. I know it sounds silly, but BC (before Covid) I felt like I had exhausted my time in New Zealand. I know we’ll make our way back to Canada eventually, but I plan on revisiting a few of my favourite New Zealand destinations and supporting businesses in the meantime.

    05. Practice French
    I definitely didn’t learn a new language during lockdown, but I have been trying to refresh my French. I grew up speaking French; all my core subjects at school were in French until grade 10, but I’m ashamed to admit my conversational skills leave much to be desired. If we end up on the East Coast of Canada, fluency in French will be useful in securing employment and it’s always handy to speak a second language.

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    So that’s the next few months in a nutshell! I don’t know what will happen in terms of our moving plans, but I know it’s important to look after each other. I hope you’re all feeling okay, too. Sending love to anyone who needs it.

     

     

     

  • Let’s Catch Up

    Let’s Catch Up

    It’s that time of year again. A golden glow is permanently cast over the city, weekends are quickly booking up, and Kiwi holidays are fast approaching. If you’re anything like me, you live for the summer months when the days are long and BBQs are plentiful. I always find myself reconnecting with long lost friends during the warmer months, finding extra time in my schedule for coffee dates and afterwork drinks.

    One of my favourite parts of summer is the anticipation. The anticipation for more sunshine hours, holidays and weeks at the bach (Kiwi beach house). These feelings are amplified this year… I’m also anticipating 2019 to be a year of development and growth; one where I plan to invest in myself, my freelance business and my future. I plan to throw myself into my work, travel as much as possible (and in the least conventional way possible) and spend time with those who matter most.

    A few weeks ago, upon returning to New Zealand, I experienced my regular post-travel blues. I always feel a bit out of sorts whenever I return from seeing my family in Canada. I think it’s the disconnect between my Canadian and New Zealand selves. It’s something anyone who lives far away from their immediate family can relate to. Lately, though I’ve found myself grateful for the privilege of being able to travel between the two countries and the exposure to two different cultures. It’s funny how I always say how similar Canada and New Zealand are because in many ways, they are vastly different.

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    So, how will I fill the next few months? Well, I’ve been experimenting with different exercise routines. From cycling and running to yoga (I just did a two-week trial at Apollo) and regular strength training and classes at Les Mills (my go-to for its proximity to my house), I’m also getting back into cooking and selling my wardrobe on Instagram (gotta save for the wedding somehow…) One of my goals is to shop less and streamline my wardrobe. One thing that’s helped immensely (and will continue to be a godsend come wedding season) is renting occasion wear and designer pieces. Lend the Label is my go-to and I love their business model and philosophy. Why buy new clothing when it’s more sustainable to borrow? I’ve just become an ambassador for them, which means I’ll be borrowing for all my major events this summer.

    Professionally, I’m working on a new website — one that outlines my services (copywriting, SEO, content creation, guest blogging, sponsored content, etc.) because it’s clear I can’t keep directing prospective clients to this blog (as much as I love to!) I’m also looking into workshops, conferences and networking opportunities. Oh, and I think I’ve finally nailed that all-important pitch email, so more on that later… I went through a period of event exhaustion (all the bloggers in the house know what I’m talking about…) Going to events constantly can become draining, but during the summer months, I’m way more inclined to accept invites to media dinners and events. I find they are a great way to socialise and connect with people whom I have an online relationship but rarely see in person.

    I’m also spending more time with myself, reflecting, reading and meditating. I’m truly cherishing working alone, having space to create, to write at my own pace, and to live more intentionally. As I get older, the more I want to commit to truly understanding myself and my behaviours.

    What are your plans for the next few months? Whether you’re heading into the depths of winter or the sun-drenched days of summer, I hope you are well.

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    Photos by Malia Rose
    Dress courtesy of Lend the Label (of course!)