Today is the start of this month’s blog streak! I’ll be posting every day from now until Saturday. I love blogging week because it pushes me to write more freely. I love it even more this month because I’m hip-deep in creative projects at the moment and feeling so good about it.

But let’s start with you. How is your January going? Have all those intentions from your late-December reflections and resolutions held firm? Have they changed, maybe intensified? Or have you realized that they don’t serve you after all?

Today, I’m going to encourage you to answer those questions. We’re a little more than halfway through the month, the perfect time to think about how things are going and course-correct if necessary. One of my personal goals for 2020 was to plan more mid-month and mid-season check-ins with my purpose, goals and habits. If I wait until the end of a season to reflect and plan for the next season, it’s already too late. Taking time mid-month helps me re-set and re-focus on the big picture.

Since I divide my seasonal and monthly goals into the categories of health, work, creative/writing life and family, I’m going to phrase these questions in that manner, but please alter the wording as it make sense for you and answer them with me.

How is my health? What am I doing to improve my health? What could I start doing differently now?

My health hasn’t been perfect this month. I had a bad cold for about two weeks; I’m still on prednisone following a bad allergic reaction in December; my mental health was challenged by a traumatic experience with a hospital test last week. But I’m proud that I’ve been managing all of my symptoms as needed, and also kept up with my fitness and nutrition plan so far. I started a new strength-training system at my gym that I love, and I’ve been doing it once a week along with at least one group exercise class; I’ve been using the elliptical at home and doing my 10-minute exercise circuit at lunch. I’ve been planning meals that are heavy on vegetables and lean protein, and only having a full dessert on Saturdays (other days, just dark chocolate or a mug of hot chocolate). I haven’t lost much weight, but I’m pinning that on the prednisone, and I honestly don’t really care. I feel good in my body (whenever it isn’t itchy, and my nose isn’t running). I feel good in my head, thanks to meditation, journaling and other forms of stress release.

What could I do better? I want to set up a reward system for myself to make sure I maintain this fitness routine. It’s always harder to get excited about exercise in February, so I need some incentive, like treating myself to a massage if I get to the gym every week.

How is my work life? What am I doing to improve my work life? What could I start doing differently now?

My work life has been super-hectic as I’ve been prepping my students for All-county auditions and now the festival, getting ready for fourth grade band and dealing with a few other things popping up. This week I had a LOT of work to do while I wasn’t teaching, and it created anxiety for me whenever I looked at my lengthy list. By Thursday, though, I could tell it was all going to get done and I felt very satisfied when I left on Friday afternoon.

Next week I want to focus more on my relationships with my students. I want to be observant of any anxiety they might be feeling about starting fourth grade band rehearsals. The first rehearsal is a big deal; it sets the tone of cooperation and communication through discipline and respect. I want all of my students to feel comfortable in that environment and excited to move forward with their band experience.

What could I do differently? I want to hold my to-do list with more lightness and give myself more space in the day– when possible– to deal with things that come up.

How is my creative life? What am I doing to improve my creative life? What could I start doing differently now?

I am LOVING my creative life right now. I decided this month to focus on short-form work, with the goal of producing more creative nonfiction and essay. I’m taking a three-part approach to this. First, I’m getting inspired by reading essays every day. I’ve been looking through back issues of Crazyhorse and Creative Nonfiction, and archives of essays from online publications. I’ve been most inspired so far by Bear Fragments by Christine Byl on Brevity and Body Wash by Dorothy Bendel on Catapult, because I’m fascinated by the segmented, hermit crab and braided essay forms. After I read, I take notes, and then I transition into my own essay writing. I’m still working on something in those particular forms, but I did finish a 250-word piece for River Teeth’s “Beautiful Things” column that I plan to submit tomorrow. That’s the third part: going through my submission database and finding open calls for submissions. This year, I’m going to target my short pieces toward the media outlet I want to be published in, instead of writing something and shopping it around. If the piece doesn’t get accepted, I can always adapt it for elsewhere, but I think that’s a better approach.

I’m also doing research and taking notes on the practice of creativity, working toward my next big nonfiction project. I’ll write more about that soon. Right now I’m working my way through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, which feels to me like the best historical starting point for such a project.

What could I do differently? This week I finished going through my submission database, so I can now spend more time reading and writing with another scan of my favorite outlets in a month or so. Also, I need to find out from my agent about my next steps with The Eugenicist’s Assistant.

How is my family life? What am I doing to improve my family life? What could I start doing differently now?

We’re all in a good place right now. Everyone is well and healthy; everyone seems happy and we’re enjoying our winter-at-home time together. I want to plan a few bigger family outings for February to break up the winter monotony; I think we often default to being home because it’s too cold to go out, but we’ll create more memories if we make bigger plans.

What could I start doing differently? Don’t start doing chores the second I come home to “get them over with.” Spend at least 45 minutes just being with the kids. I’m always happiest and calmest when I make that choice.

Overall, I’m happy with how 2020 is progressing… but I know that if I don’t keep checking in with myself, I can easily lose sight of my priorities.