 | Welcome 2016!! In this 3rd and final part of the series, we will discuss some goals for 2016 and how I hope to achieve them. Notice I said goals & not resolutions. I think we are programmed not to keep resolutions because they appear lofty or ambiguous while goals are specific, measurable, attainable, REALISTIC and time sensitive. |
That is called the S.M.A.R.T. Goal System and I was introduced to it in a past life as a Project Coach in a call center. I will show an example of how it works:
Time Management: I want to get better at managing my time by using a wall calendar, white board for important projects and keeping a 5 year journal to be able to compare where I am to where I was and working off farm fewer hours in 2016. This will be ongoing through the entire year. Is it specific? Yes. Is it measurable? Yes, I either did it or I didn't. Is it attainable? Yes, I can do those things. Is it realistic? Yes, I have the self discipline to do those things. Is it time sensitive? Yes, it is ongoing.
I am not going to go through the S.M.A.R.T. system for all of my goals but I do have them printed out and above my computer to serve as a constant reminder. Not all goals have to be ongoing but most of them are.
In Part 2, I talked about some of the things that I was going to do to overcome obstacles and shortcomings. I am not going to rehash those here but merely list them. Yes,some of these goals seem personal in nature and they are, since I am a solo homesteader, it is difficult to separate the two as neither would exist without the other.
Goals:
Finances:
1. I will start saving to purchase my own property. I am using the 52 Week Challenge. You can learn more about this in the facebook and tweets later today.
2. I will continue self financing expansion and projects with money earned through the egg sales and hopefully produce sales this year.
3. I will continue to evaluate and alter practices and procedures to be more effective and achieve better financial results.
4. I will keep my records organized.
Organization:
1. I will be more organized with my filing and data entry.
2. I will organize tools and parts by use and frequency of need.
Reformation:
1. I will practice more permaculture and holistic management on the homestead this year. At least to the extent possible on this property.
2. I am moving existing raised beds and adding more, using natural shading and natural water flow to determine the best plant selection.
3. I will add perennial vegetables into the raised beds and berries, grapes and fruit trees (in containers of course) this year.
4. I will find and add other outlets for the egg and produce sales.
5. I will switch to more organic products- cleaning, toiletries this year and establish a greywater system.
6. I will put a rain harvesting system in place.
7. I will be more involved in local civic/environmental organizations this year.
8. I will continue to find new uses for old items and recycle more.
9. I will increase my composting efficiency.
10. I will discover and use more natural methods of predator and pest control. Cactus around perimeter fencing, etc.
Education:
1. I will learn more about permaculture and aquaponics and incorporate as much as I can.
2. I will learn to can and preserve my harvests this year.
3. I will learn more about alternative building methods. I found a local group that makes adobe another that uses straw bales and cob as a building material.
4. I will join blogging networks and improve my posts.
Simplify:
1. I will declutter my possessions. This one seems contradictory, since as homesteaders we have a tendency to stockpile things to use or repurpose later. It can be done and organized so as to give a neater appearance.
2. I will donate, sell or recycle things that I have not used in at least 6 months. Clothings, books, magazines, etc.
3. I will distance myself from Negative Nancies and Gloomy Gusses. We all have them in our lives, those people that you share an idea, project or thought with that come up with 100 reasons why something can't be done or won't work.
4. I will eliminate projects that are not producing the desired results.
Time Management:
1. I will manage my time, instead of time managing me when it comes to projects and activities. (In homesteading, we ARE on Mother Nature's schedule when it comes to crops and animals.)
2. I will work less of farm hours.
4. I will eliminate activities that are not productive.
5. I will stop procrastinating. Eh, maybe this one can wait a bit... Just kidding ;)
Notice that my goals all include "I will" and not "I want". Will implies a positive statement and for me it helps in visualizing success. "Want", in this instance seems dreamy or a desire and not a need, which is why I avoided using that word.
Yes, I realize that the first letters of my goals for 2016 spell FOREST. Creating a food forest is one of my end goals and part of the permaculture I want to implement on the homestead.
Please share some of your goals for the New Year. Sharing them publicly may help you reach that goal!!
Time Management: I want to get better at managing my time by using a wall calendar, white board for important projects and keeping a 5 year journal to be able to compare where I am to where I was and working off farm fewer hours in 2016. This will be ongoing through the entire year. Is it specific? Yes. Is it measurable? Yes, I either did it or I didn't. Is it attainable? Yes, I can do those things. Is it realistic? Yes, I have the self discipline to do those things. Is it time sensitive? Yes, it is ongoing.
I am not going to go through the S.M.A.R.T. system for all of my goals but I do have them printed out and above my computer to serve as a constant reminder. Not all goals have to be ongoing but most of them are.
In Part 2, I talked about some of the things that I was going to do to overcome obstacles and shortcomings. I am not going to rehash those here but merely list them. Yes,some of these goals seem personal in nature and they are, since I am a solo homesteader, it is difficult to separate the two as neither would exist without the other.
Goals:
Finances:
1. I will start saving to purchase my own property. I am using the 52 Week Challenge. You can learn more about this in the facebook and tweets later today.
2. I will continue self financing expansion and projects with money earned through the egg sales and hopefully produce sales this year.
3. I will continue to evaluate and alter practices and procedures to be more effective and achieve better financial results.
4. I will keep my records organized.
Organization:
1. I will be more organized with my filing and data entry.
2. I will organize tools and parts by use and frequency of need.
Reformation:
1. I will practice more permaculture and holistic management on the homestead this year. At least to the extent possible on this property.
2. I am moving existing raised beds and adding more, using natural shading and natural water flow to determine the best plant selection.
3. I will add perennial vegetables into the raised beds and berries, grapes and fruit trees (in containers of course) this year.
4. I will find and add other outlets for the egg and produce sales.
5. I will switch to more organic products- cleaning, toiletries this year and establish a greywater system.
6. I will put a rain harvesting system in place.
7. I will be more involved in local civic/environmental organizations this year.
8. I will continue to find new uses for old items and recycle more.
9. I will increase my composting efficiency.
10. I will discover and use more natural methods of predator and pest control. Cactus around perimeter fencing, etc.
Education:
1. I will learn more about permaculture and aquaponics and incorporate as much as I can.
2. I will learn to can and preserve my harvests this year.
3. I will learn more about alternative building methods. I found a local group that makes adobe another that uses straw bales and cob as a building material.
4. I will join blogging networks and improve my posts.
Simplify:
1. I will declutter my possessions. This one seems contradictory, since as homesteaders we have a tendency to stockpile things to use or repurpose later. It can be done and organized so as to give a neater appearance.
2. I will donate, sell or recycle things that I have not used in at least 6 months. Clothings, books, magazines, etc.
3. I will distance myself from Negative Nancies and Gloomy Gusses. We all have them in our lives, those people that you share an idea, project or thought with that come up with 100 reasons why something can't be done or won't work.
4. I will eliminate projects that are not producing the desired results.
Time Management:
1. I will manage my time, instead of time managing me when it comes to projects and activities. (In homesteading, we ARE on Mother Nature's schedule when it comes to crops and animals.)
2. I will work less of farm hours.
4. I will eliminate activities that are not productive.
5. I will stop procrastinating. Eh, maybe this one can wait a bit... Just kidding ;)
Notice that my goals all include "I will" and not "I want". Will implies a positive statement and for me it helps in visualizing success. "Want", in this instance seems dreamy or a desire and not a need, which is why I avoided using that word.
Yes, I realize that the first letters of my goals for 2016 spell FOREST. Creating a food forest is one of my end goals and part of the permaculture I want to implement on the homestead.
Please share some of your goals for the New Year. Sharing them publicly may help you reach that goal!!
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