October Goals 2024

 

Hello!!! Hello!!!

Long time, no see...

I haven't sat to write for a while now... More specifically, more than a while... It's been months...

I cannot say something "bad" happened, but working seasonally at a highly touristic island of Greece is not the most relaxing thing in the world...
Not that I complain, but I didn't have time to do a lot of knitting and a lot of writing...

But, now, I finished work and from today I am a "free" person to pursue my hobbies and look after myself... 

I must say... It is not an easy task...
I feel really tired and I need a fare amount of time doing nothing. Just to relax and restore my energy

That being said, I have a few things I want to focus on...
And if history showed something about me, even when I have S.M.A.R.T. goals, I tend to not follow the plan.

But, I had a thought... What if I had people to keep me accountable... What if all of you, who read my blog and follow me on social media, could help me get to my goals.

So, the first post of the month of October will be my goal setting for the month.

I plan on having the below categories
Knitting
Moving
Reading
Skin Care/Self Care
(I know, all of the above are self care, but in lack of a better title, we will do with that)

Let's brake them down

Knitting

I plan on finishing - at least - one project. But, I will probably have 2 or 3 on the needles.

The projects

The Montrealer
I will knit this for my partner. I have already bought the yarn and I will cast it on as soon as I get the 4.5mm needles that (apparently) I didn't have in stock...

That one will be the project I plan to finish by the end of the month. If I don't do anything else, that is the only thing I want to achieve.

Free Knitting
I have yarn (not my favorite, but I manage) to knit a cardigan for my sister-in-law. I already have it cast on and it is just garter stitch.
Since I like the effect of the garter stitch for cardigans, it could be a sample knit for a very simple cardigan pattern...
Now that I say it out loud, it sound unreal, but I think I could do it... To be continued on this thought...

Shawl Knitting
I also have plans to cast on a shawl... I would like to cast on a half-pi shawl, it will be a lace one and I am thinking of making something up, using stitches I like...

Is it going to be easy. I don't think so... But... Who stops me from trying it??? Nobody...
I will write down the process and - if it ends up nice - I will post the pattern here...

Do you think I will - someday- end up writing patterns? Who knows... Maybe...

That doesn't sound so bad, actually...

Video Knitting

I have a thought about some videos on Youtube..
Nothing extremely fancy and curated.. Just me, sitting and knitting and keeping you company... Mostly, as a background video...
I haven't figured out the specifics, yet, but when I do, I will let you know

Moving

Working behind a desk for a long period of time, was not the most active thing in the world... And - additionally- I would not get out of the house for my own sake, but only to do things that I had to. Groceries, work staff, etc

In order to achieve this goal, I am thinking of doing two things

Walking

I would like to go for - at least - a 30 minute walk 3 times a week... It could be more, but I don't want to push myself too much. I feel that I want to stay in the house for a few days, just to recharge, but I also feel that not moving at all will be worse. So 30 minutes 3 times a week. Not a lot but doable. 

Yoga

I would also try to do yoga for 15 minutes 2 times a week... Is it much??? No it is not... But I want to get into the habit... Just thinking a 60-minute yoga session is overwhelming at the moment... But 15 minutes feels closer to what I feel I can do...

Reading

This is more like reading/listening... I am in a reading slump... Not that I don't read, but I start and I stop and I don't finish anything. Plus, I don't feel like sitting and reading. I just scroll on my phone all the time and I don't use that time for me. I use it just to make my brain feel like it is doing something. And, then, it feels like a waste of time and I feel that I should have done something else...

Which is why I thought of book listening... Have I tried it? Not particularly... I mean, I have listened to an audio or two, but not a fiction one and not in my mother language. I am thinking of using the free trial of an audiobook service and see if I can listen and knit at the same time. 

My goals for reading are

Listen to 1 audiobook while knitting or doing chores
Read 1 physical fiction book
Read 50% of 1 physical non-fiction book

To be honest, when I sit, I like to read, I just need the motive to do it... So, 2,5 books is a realistic goal for me.

Skincare/Selfcare

Although, all of the above can be considered selfcare, what I actually mean is taking care of my skin and doing special treatments.

I started a new skincare routine this summer, but I am on and off of it, depending on my mood. So, I would like to create a routine and stick to it for 1 month. It is not a difficult one and it doesn't have a ton of steps.
Specifically...

Morning
Micellar Water
Eye Cream
Day Cream

Night
Cleansing
Eye Cream
Night Cream

That's it... Is it too much??? Nope... Can I do it??? Sure...

Additionally, I am aiming to 1 facial treatment per week

Also, I would like to get 2 relaxing massages in this month period, which will help me to relax both my body and my mind

And a 10-minute guided meditation every morning before I get out of bed...

Habits I want to lessen

Scrolling on social media before sleep
Scrolling on social media when I wake up
Using my phone as a distraction for my mind

Do they sound a lot??? Maybe they are... But they don't feel that much, especially, if you break them down in small steps...

I think I can reach all the goals that I mention on this post... Also, these are things I like to do, not things I want to try and see if I like. Which means that, it won't be a chore to do them.

I want to try new things, but I am not sure I am ready, yet... So, I will stick to those that I know I like and then I will take it from there...

I would, also, love to have other people who want to try and stick to a habit or two... If you are one of them, feel free to contact... I would be more than happy to have a friend with me...

I will try to post everyday on Instagram my progress of all the things I mentioned above...

Hopefully, I will make most of them...

Have a nice October!!!

Cheers!!!
Jenny xxx