The months are just flying by. It’s crazy to think 2017 has less than two more months. I’m trying my best to make the most out of them. It’s hard for me to keep focused and motivated when winter comes. I suffer from seasonal affective disorder or SAD and it seems to be getting worse each year. My primary motivation for completing my goals is to do well and make enough money to move somewhere that’s sunny most of the year. Things may feel harder to accomplish, but they aren’t impossible. I can beat this. I’m proud that I worked out 11 out of the 13 times I scheduled for October. Time to make November even more productive.

Review of October’s Goals

Goal #1: Improving my productivity. The Tide app was a huge help. Breaking my tasks into 20-minute chunks helped to make completing them feel more manageable. I will keep practicing with the Pomodoro method. I want to become even more focused and productive.

Goal #2: Operation Early Bird is coming along. I followed the steps I set in my 5 Tips to Help You Become a Morning Person post. Those methods are helping a lot. I just need to get to bed earlier.

Goal #3: Project Gut Health is kicking my butt! I thought this would be way easier. I want to plan everything out and do a ton of research. It’s important to me to have a full game plan so that I can stay on track. My goal is to set my gut health goals and create habits that will help me fulfill them. I’m still working hard on this one and will post what I come up with when I finally finish.

 November’s Goals

Goal #1: As I stated above, I want to keep working on Project Gut Health. I am currently researching different methods and tips. I want to incorporate proven techniques for improving my digestion. I’m also testing what I’m learning from my research on my body and seeing if those methods work for me. I want to focus on creating lifelong habits.

Goals #2: Journal regularly. I read a few articles on how keeping a journal can help with goal setting. Journaling allows for reflection. When you periodically reflect you can easily see what’s working and where you need to make changes. I want to try to journal at least three times a week to start, even if it’s just a few sentences. I want to keep track of my growth, so this is exciting.

Goals #3: Finish a book. I use to read non-stop through high school and college. After I graduated, I just lost the habit. As a writer, it’s important to practice writing and to read regularly. I also miss the stress relief benefit reading had on me. I’ve decided to read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I started this book back in 2015 and never finished. The book is only 167 pages, so it’s a good start for picking back up an old habit.

November’s Motivation and Resources

The Meditative Mind channel on YouTube has been a source of motivation for me. The channel features many mantras, chants, guided meditations, and Solfeggio frequencies. It’s an excellent resource for anyone trying to de-stress, focus, or heal spiritually.