18 BEFORE 2018 CHALLENGE

I’d like to challenge you today and I want you to be brutally honest with yourself.

Sit back for a moment, close your eyes, and reflect back over this past year. How was it for you?

I have no doubt you had struggles because, quite frankly, none of us are immune to them. But you’re still here, standing stronger, and have grown because of them. So you can rejoice in that!

Now think back a little further – to the beginning of the year. Do you remember what you told yourself you were going to accomplish this year?

How’d you do? Did you conquer all your goals? Do you wish you would have done things differently? Do you still have a list of items that you haven’t gotten to?

If so, why? And I want you to be brutally honest with yourself.

I certainly have several things that I haven’t done this year…..that I just keep putting off.

I have a confession to make

I’m a huge procrastinator!

There, I said it. Now it’s out there. Ah….that feels good to get it off my shoulders!

I have a couple things that I just don’t like doing. Laundry…..cleaning……so I set them aside and do what I enjoy – talking with all of you! It’s great and wonderful, however, I’ve got things that need to be addressed!

So going back to you….being honest with yourself, why haven’t you gotten your list done? Running after the kids? Working outside the home? Chronic Illness? Taking care of an elderly parent?

I’ve got news for you, my friend! They’re all excuses! Yep, even the chronic illnesses. (I can say that to you since I live with one too! You can catch up at What I’ve Learned from my Chronic Illness.)

We all have stuff in our life, but we all have choices as well.

The choice between sitting in front of the t.v. instead of taking 30 minutes to work through the pile of papers that need to be scanned. (guess who I’m talking about here!)

The choice between scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for hours on end instead of folding that load of clothes and putting them away. The choice between playing those, oh-so-addicting games on our phones instead of reading a great motivational book or spending time with Jesus.

As I said, even a chronic illness can be an excuse. I get it, it’s tough! And some days you truly can’t do anything, but there are days that you can.

Make yourself do something other than laying around, even if it’s only fifteen minutes at a time. I can guarantee that when you get to the end of your day and have spent just a few minutes doing something productive, you’re going to feel a whole lot better mentally. Perhaps not physically, but every chronic illness warrior knows how important feeling more positive is.

I could go on and on with the choices we have each and every day, but you get the idea.

What’s your excuse? As I said earlier, I want you to be brutally honest with yourself.

I’m not proud of my procrastinating tendency, but this is exactly why I love this time of year!

For the last two years, I participated in Lisa Jacobs’ (from Marketing Creativity) year-end challenge, and I’m joining her, again, this year for her 18 Before 2018 Challenge!

I’d love for you to join me!

Sit down and make your list right now and then hit reply and let me know your #1 item. I’m going to push you, my friend, and I want you to push me too!

• It’s important to be specific. (Not: I’m going to start exercising; but rather: I will be exercising three times per week by Nov 1.)
• Give yourself a deadline.

Let’s get to the end of this year and sit down together for a virtual “high five!” I want to see you succeed! Imagine how incredible it’ll feel when you’ve gotten to Dec 31st and have knocked out those 18 items! It’ll be absolutely glorious!

Since we’re holding each other accountable, I’m giving you my list right now! 

18 Before 2018 Challenge

1. Plan and set up my 2nd launch by Oct 13.
2. Launch my new planner and prayer journal stickers by Dec 31. 
3. Put together our BIG Christmas giveaway by Oct 27.
4. Keep growing my blog to be able to start Unit 7 in Elite Blog Academy by Dec 31.
5. Dive deeper into learning ConvertKit by Dec 31.
6. Have my January launches completed by Dec 31.
7. Map out my 2018 goals for FOI.
8. Map out our financial goals for 2018.
9. Get my pile of desk papers scanned by Dec 31. (My son was looking for a little extra money, so I out-sourced this out to him. It’ll definitely be finished by the 31st!)
10. Have all Christmas presents bought by Nov 15. (Fun fact: we pay for Christmas entirely in cash.)
11. Christmas present wrapping day on Dec 15.
12. Christmas decorating completed by Dec 3.
13. Pay off our 2nd debt by Dec 31. (If you’re interested in becoming debt-free like us, read The #1 Step to Becoming Debt-Free.) We didn’t make this goal due to my chronic illness and being out of work so much this last quarter, but we are close and we’re on track to hit it by the end of the 1st quarter in 2018.
14. Reach out to four friends I haven’t spoken to in awhile.
15. Hire a cleaning service to come in twice a month. (We’ve decided to table this goal at the moment. As much as I really want to have someone come into the house, our budget just isn’t ready at this time. My MIL, however, did get me a Roomba vacuum for Christmas and this little robot is awesome! Let me tell you, it’s making my life easier and I’m feeling a lot saner now since I’m not seeing dog hair in every corner of the house! Now if I can just get it to clean my bathrooms!)
16. Start doing yoga twice a week by Oct 27.
17. Read a book for fun.
18. Plan a February trip with my husband. (We’ve, also, decided to table this goal for the moment. We’re going to reevaluate our budget at the end of January to determine if this is something we still want to spend our money on in February.)

So there it is! I’m putting it out there for you to hold me accountable. Now it’s your turn! I challenge you to write out and complete your 18 Before 2018 Challenge list.

I’d love to hear what’s on your list!  Comment below and tell me what your #1 item is. And then let’s get to work! We both have a lot to do!

Until next time, my friend……..

P.S Need help conquering your goals? Enroll in my free e-course below – Conquering Your Goals – Turning your dreams into actionable steps!

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