Accountability

So this whole holding myself accountable thing is doing its job and showing me where I'm screwing up/needing to step it up. This week the most important thing I realized is just how fast time can slip by and how much of it can be wasted if we're not careful. I said I was going to make a list of things I need to take care of and start doing them so here it is...in no particular order.

1. Finish my story for Pasco. -I've started work on that today.
2. Get back in touch with my editors- just emailed one of them today.
3. Come up with ideas for stories that actually intrigue me- I can jot down some thoughts at work tonight.
4. Make a workout schedule and stick to it- I can also jot some ideas for that down at work tonight or at the very least do it tomorrow afternoon.
5. Pick two days of the week I will spend on job applications/research- I can decide on this right now... best days for this would be Friday for online biz and Tuesday mornings for making phone calls etc. So I should have something in my posts on Friday and Tuesday about this.
6. Getting my school work taken care of (for those that do not know I'm taking education classes at PHCC to get my teaching certificate)- I will not SET days to work on this, but I will make it a priority to split the work into two days. I will start work on some of this tomorrow/saturday.
7. Go to Zumba class again.- I can either go on Saturday morning, or write down the days the classes meet so I can figure out when I'll go.
.....
Will add more to this later since work time is approaching swiftly, but I'm definitely going to start marking up my calendar and organizing myself a little more. Will write about potential jobs/application process tomorrow evening.

thx,

moi

Stalled

So right now I feel like I haven't accomplished much of anything this past week. Yes, I've gone to the gym once and yes, I've cut back calories (until yesterday when I binged at the movies), and yes I've filled out a job application, but I haven't done nearly enough. Between the cold weather and having to work a bunch of extra hours, I kind of lost track of myself, but I also learned something: Life is going to happen no matter what, and if I don't want it to get in the way of what I'm trying to achieve, I need to plan a little better.

My goal this week is to make a plan for this week by tomorrow and stick to it. I'll fill you in on the details after I have it in writing.

Publishing...

Published authors in Spring Hill, Florida? You're kidding...or not. Today I found out about some local people who publish children's books. They have an amazing website and seem to be doing fairly well with their venture. With each step I take I run into more signs showing me realistic examples of going in this direction. I think it's time I take more chances.

http://storiesfromtherainforest.com/

Progress

Well, we are five days into 2010 and so far I've learned a few things...one is that as I've been filling out an application for a reporter position with the Tampa Tribune I've been getting the aching feeling in the pit of my stomach that I'm not cut out for that kind of job.

The idea of having that kind of job after finishing my degree brings feelings of validation, but what happens when those feelings subside after a few months of cranking out stories for the paper? So while I'm still not sure whether I want to free-lance write or work in house for a magazine, I get the feeling I'm not going to be looking at general assignment reporter jobs anymore.

On another note, in regard to getting in shape, I've started to cut back on calories and fatty/sugary foods and I'm already noticing a difference in the way I feel. Maybe it's just a mental thing, but I feel lighter and slimmer just from cutting back. Today is going to be my first day back at the gym after mainly focusing on yoga ball toning in my room for the past few weeks.

 I'm not going to push myself incredibly hard today, but I do plan on burning a nice chunk of calories. My goal right now is to make the gym more of a routine than it's been. I need to pick at least three days out of the week to work out there and a fourth day where I'll do some kind of outdoor cardio.

Before I go to bed...

Okay so I don't need to be able to do this (although it would be fun) but I would certainly like to incorporate yoga into my fitness aspirations for this year. As of right now I'm not promising an automatic yoga class sign up, but before the year is halfway through I'm going to try a class and see where that leads me. From what I've read, yoga helps you become more aware of your body and makes for a more svelte looking silhouette. It also takes those hyper-worriers like myself and lowers the stress-o-meter which I definitely need from time to time. So yes, yoga is a go for this year's quest. Bring on the crazy bending.

Slowly Gearing Up

I'm slowly coming down from the holiday feasts and the lethargy associated with this time of year and reminding myself that it's time to decide what it is I really want to accomplish this year. From what I've heard about setting goals, it's important to make them specific and measurable so I'm going to try my best to do that here. When I think about what I want out of this coming year from myself I have two broad things in mind. One is getting into great shape and the other is making a comfortable living with my communications degree (whether that is as a staff writer or through free-lancing).

Fitness: Of course I want to lose weight. I'd be lying to say I just want to start eating healthier and toning up. I have some really cute clothes that I adore too much to throw out and I will be sorely disappointed if I never fit into them again. I'm not talking about size threes from high school or anything, but I have some sevens and nines that I would like to fit into again and I know this is a tough one, but I would like to be able to get into a bathing suit and feel proud of my body again. Specifically, I want to get down to 120lbs and do it by changing my diet and exercise habits. I don't want to crash diet to try to attain this goal (although the first few months may be more extreme than the next) but I would rather change my absorption and exertion habits for the long term. After all, we only get one body and one century (if we're lucky) to live in it. I'd like mine to look and feel amazing.

Career: This part isn't quite as clear to me. If I were in New York City I'd just go apply at a bunch of magazines and book publishing agencies. My preference would be to work in book publishing, but I'd take either or. The reality is that I'm in Florida, and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon so I've got to find a way to either free-lance write for publications out of state and work on getting a book published or I've got to find somewhere to work down here within driving distance of my current locale.

I think an important decision for me to make this year is to pick one road or the other for the time being so I can start to build up my portfolio or focus on getting an in house job somewhere. My energy has to go to one side or the other for at least a year.

While I'm really intrigued by the idea of free-lancing it also scares me because it's definitely not as steady as having a regular job so I'm still making up my mind. Anyone out there have any thoughts? Right now my experience consists of free-lancing for two major newspapers in two counties and one semester long internship at a magazine in downtown Tampa. I've never submitted a query to a magazine, but I have had articles published in the magazine where I interned. As of right now I'm still free-lancing for a major newspaper in two counties and I'm working part time in social services.      

And so it begins....

Ah, beginnings...they're always the hardest. Once you get going on a project it tends to speed up, but it's always that brainstorming period and those first arduous hours trying to find direction that take the longest. In fact, this period of time can be so agonizing that it causes one to throw up their arms in defeat and just say "screw it." That is precisely why I am starting this blog and sharing this journey of mine with the world. This way my arms are busy at the keyboard, and I'm keeping focus rather than losing it.

This is a journal of sorts, and it's also a tool. My intention is to document my 25th year in regard to my career and health/fitness aspirations and possibly get some feedback from others in similar situations. I have realized over the last seven months that if I don't keep track of myself I start to wander somewhat aimlessly in my life. I've decided that that was okay for graduation day up until now, but now that another year of life has come and gone I need to start re-gaining focus and concentrating on my goals.

It's sometimes hard to swallow this truth, but no one is looking out for your dreams except for you which is why you are the only one who is going to make them happen or let them slip away. This is part of my attempt at the former.