Setting Self-Care Goals

When was the last time you set self-care goals?

Any time of year is the right time to take care of yourself. However, the holiday season is the perfect reminder to take a step back and think of what you need to do to have more of that essential work-life balance.

Last month, I posted a self-care goal every day as part of #BeNicetoYou November. Here are some of the highlights.

10 Self-Care Goals

1. Take a Walk. Walking gives you a physical and mental boost. It can be short or long; around the block/your home. The point is to give yourself a break, step away from your computer, and shake up your routine. 

2. Set a Dream Goal. Part of self care is allowing yourself to dream. What do you want to do? To create? Reach for the stars.

3. Set an Attainable Goal. In addition to dream goals, it's important to give yourself some easy wins.

4. Meditate. Whether it's 5, 15, or 50 minutes, take some time to sit still, breathe, and reconnect.

5. Start a Project. Bonus points if you choose a back-burner project.

6. Take a Dance Break. This is my favorite way to hit the reset button.

7. Learn Something. Want to pick up a new hobby, language, or skill? Spend some quality time on YouTube, and educated yourself.

8. Disconnect. Take a few hours to unplug and chill out.

9. Curl Up. With a good book, a puzzle, or your phone.

10. Make Soup. Preparing and enjoying comfort food - soup or otherwise - is the ultimate self-care goal.

Make a point to do something to take care of yourself each day, Whether it's a few minutes or an hour. Your body will thank you. Plus, you will be happier and much more productive,

Read all of my November self-care goals.

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So, what do you think? How do you take care of yourself? Please share your thoughts and experience in the comments.

Debra Eckerling is the author of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals. A writer, editor and project catalyst, as well as founder of the D*E*B METHOD and Write On Online, Deb works with individuals and businesses to set goals and manage their projects through one-on-one coaching, workshops, and online support. She is also the author of Write On Blogging: 51 Tips to Create, Write & Promote Your Blog and Purple Pencil Adventures: Writing Prompts for Kids of All Ages, host of the #GoalChat Twitter Chat and #GoalChatLive on Facebook, and a speaker/moderator on the subjects of writing, networking, goal-setting, and social media.

Creativity & Work-Life Balance

When was the last time you did something creative just for fun? 

If the answer doesn't come to you immediately, you are missing out.

There are many benefits to being creative. Among other things, it helps with critical thinking, relieves stress, and is just plain fun. Whenever you are having a particularly stressful day - or even if you are not - a creative endeavor will add much needed adrenaline, motivation, and spark. And just a few minutes can make a huge difference.

Here are ten creative things you can do today or any day.

1. Doodle or Sketch. You don't need to be artistic to make art.

2. Take Photos. Just about everyone has a camera on their mobile phone. Take a walk and take some pictures.

3. Write a Poem. April is #NationalPoetryMonth. Celebrate.

4. Turn on Music and Dance. Regular dance breaks also help with your physical health. 

5. Write a Story. Just for Fun!

6. Garden. The bonus: flowers to beautify your home or something good to eat.

7. Cook. See what you can make with the ingredients in your fridge or pantry. 

8. Bake. Yum. 'Nuff said.

9. Craft. Sew, scrapbook, knit. The options are endless. 

10. Write a Letter. This is a fun exercise. Plus it will make someone's day. 

For more on the power of creative pursuits, check out the recap from my #GoalChat on this topic.

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How do you incorporate creativity into your work-life balance? Please share in the comments.

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Debra Eckerling is a writer, editor and project catalyst, as well as founder of The D*E*B Method: Goal Setting Simplified and Write On Online, a live and online writers’ support group. Like the Write On Online Facebook Page and join the Facebook Group.  She is author of Write On Blogging: 51 Tips to Create, Write & Promote Your Blog and Purple Pencil Adventures: Writing Prompts for Kids of All Ages, and host of the #GoalChat Twitter Chat. Debra is an editor at Social Media Examiner and a speaker/moderator on the subjects of writing, networking, goal-setting, and social media.

Combining Writing with Other Passions

Writing is part of my life but I am finding although I want to make money at it, sometimes the monetary part of the equation takes the fun out of the pure act of writing what comes to my heart. I also am finding that if I combine the writing with other passions ( for me the love of fabric, quilting, and kids) I am able to create with words and the money will come.

Does it make sense? Maybe not to six figure authors which of course I am not, yet. But in reality words are part of every hobby, craft, conversation, or story I create. Why can't the money follow?

Do I still need to market? Of course marketing takes a major role in any product I am producing. I am creating stories to go along with the fabric packs from our little Nashville fabric shop. The story is a part of the product and becomes a marketing tool. for the fabric, the shop, and the town. And the story can become part of a bigger product outside of the shop which is also on my planning board for the future.

The lesson here is that life brings with it changes, changes in your interests, changes in what you are passionate about, and changes in life style. Use those changes to create more with your writing rather than less, to increase products for your niche market and to step outside the box and create products in a new niche or genre.

I keep these tips in mind when following my passions.

1. I continue to keep to three major writing goals because it will help  to focus my new passions. My writing and creating now will be focused on  new major goals.
2. I won't be afraid to let go of past projects that are not performing. Take what I have learned from those ideas and put them to use in my new projects is difficult but worth it. It may be that at some point those projects may have a place again or maybe not, but it is okay to move on.
3.Never give up. Just because I have relocated, changed my line of products, or found a new and wonderful genre, I can be even more successful with all my knowledge. ( and so can you )
4. Follow my heart. My writing will show it when I am writing and creating what I love. ( Do you see yourself here)

As a newbie so to speak in the writing and publishing world I can say that it is fun and exciting to write and create. By following what I love and researching  new markets I avoid the discouragement new writers often encounter with the publishing aspect of writing because I am always finding new ideas to work on while those I have submitted find their way to editors.

What is your passion and how do you channel that into both writing and the monetary reward that comes with those words?


Terri Forehand is the author of The Cancer Prayer Book and the soon to be released children's book, The ABC's of Cancer According to Lilly Isabella Lane by Inkspotter Publishing. She writes from her rural home in Nashville Indiana where she and her husband have also opened a small quilt shop. Follow her at http://www.terriforehand.webnode.com , http://www.primitive-spirit.com  or at her blog at http://terri-forehand.blogspot.com . 

Maintaining a Work/Life Balance as a Writer

“If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do matters very much” -  Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

I remember reading that quote shortly after I became a father and it stuck with me, mainly because I recognized the truth in it.  With all the demands on my time, it is a terrific reminder to keep my priorities in order.

For me, balancing a full time day job, a family, and my writing career is no easy feat.  I’ve learned how to squeeze every ounce of productivity out of the day.  My morning and evening commutes into New York City and most of my lunch hours are dedicated to writing, whether it’s writing, critiquing, or promotional activities.  I will hash out plot ideas and story lines while standing on the subway platform.  I will check email and social media on my smart phone and tap away on my iPad while riding Metro North Railroad.  I will think about various promotional activities on my mental “to do list” while stopped at a red light during my drive home.  But once I’m home, it’s time to unplug myself from my smart phone and hang up my writer’s hat and spend time with my family.  Though occasionally, I’ve been known to plug myself back in after my daughter is in bed. 

I know that being a writer takes a tremendous amount of discipline, but I also believe that deliberately stepping away from writing actually makes me a better writer.  I’ve found that my time spent with friends, family and even complete strangers, have been directly responsible for at least half of my story ideas that led to publication.  How tragic (and ironic) it would have been if I had been so engrossed in my writing, that I missed those ideas entirely.

I’ve met quite a few writers over the years who would talk about their sacrifices made for the craft.  I heard how they would miss family gatherings and lock themselves away in order to finish whatever project they were working on.  I always thought that this approach to writing was a bit misguided.   I truly believe that as writers we should never be so focused with writing about life that we neglect to live our own.  It’s our interactions with other people (both good and bad) that give us content for our writing, and balance in our lives.  Our experiences provide the foundation for our creativity to build on.   

My latest children’s book, Just for Today, touches upon this thought.  This book is based on the time I have spent playing with my daughter.  In this book, a young boy pleads with his father to stay home and play with him.  Together they will go on a safari, find buried treasure and win the World Series, among other adventures.  All things considered, when I stack this up against the rewards of writing, it’s not a bad way to spend the day.  

Kevin McNamee is a writer and poet who writes primarily for the children’s market.  He is the author of seven picture books.  His poetry has been included in the collection, An Eyeball in My Garden: And Other Spine-Tingling Poems.  To find out more about Kevin, please visit his website at http://www.kevinmcnamee.com or visit his blog at http://www.kevinmcnameechildrensauthor.blogspot.com.   

You can also friend Kevin on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kevin.mcnamee.author