For the last few months, I’ve been the only one in a job that previously had a three-person team. This has had a couple of consequences:
Firstly, I’ve had to think more seriously about becoming a better programmer, so I can keep up with what work needs of me.
Secondly, I’ve been finding reasons to stress out, and allowing this blog (and other bits of my life) to fall apart.
Goals for 2016
I’d like to do a few things differently this year:
- Make programming a proper part of my goals. ROW80 being a round of words, I’ve tended to exclude (and hence ignore) my programming projects.
- Communicate more with my fellow writers (and programmers). Living in a small town, it’s easy to neglect this.
I’ve also made a few commitments for the year already:
- Prepare for Pathfinder (roleplaying) starting again in February; it’s my turn to run this again. I’ve got some preparation done already, but it will need adjusting for where the game ended up.
- Participate in my family’s impromptu writing competition (write a love story). This might not produce a good story, but it’s a good chance to write as part of a group.
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Lastly, I’ve been considering taking a holiday in February or March, if the situation at work is stable enough to allow it.
January/ROW80 Goals
In light of all that, here are my ROW80 goals for January:
(other ROW80 participants)- Finish writing up an adventure for the roleplaying group, by working on it for at least ten evenings. This will be my main focus this month.
- Find some programming events I could go to. There are two organisations that run events within driving distance; I expect it will take an evening to research each.
- Re-read Pride and Prejudice and start on a story for the writing challenge. I’d like to get 2,000 words done on this by February, which should take four or five evenings.
- Get started on holiday plans, by spending a (weekend) day or so finding possible destinations.
Programming is notably missing from this list. It’s possible a programming project will grow out of the roleplaying prep; if not, I’ll add it to my goals once I have some of the other things under control.
I am also still looking for a house (indeed, I should be inspecting one this week), but I’m reluctant to make this a goal, since it depends so much on what is there to buy.
Good luck and happy writing!
Jenkins Rising 
5 responses to “Goals for 2016, and for ROW80 Round 1”
Sometimes it’s tough to keep each part of life balanced. It’s good you are setting goals to help that. Good luck on the house hunting — it can be great, but also stressful. Remember to keep things in perspective. Good luck. :)
I wish you luck in your writing and programming goals. I have to balance school and writing this quarter and until last May, I hadn’t stepped foot inside a classroom for almost twenty years so I was only able to do one or the other (writing when the semester ended). This year I hope to be able to do both at the same time.
I think your flexibility is a great way to avoid stress. I’m also fighting the work stress of doing essentially two jobs without extra remuneration (money isn’t everything, but it is the currency of the workplace). We are also looking for a new place, in a very small market, so I’m working on my patience, trying to trust that something wonderful will eventually show up.
All the best for this Round, and for a reduction in your stress!
[…] in all, though, it seems to be a positive thing. And since this is the love story I set a goal for at the beginning of the year, I can’t afford to turn aside too […]
I love Pride and Prejudice! You have excellent taste in books!