The first month of 2026 is complete, and it was eventful! So here is how January worked out for me with my new 2026 goals.
1. Health Goals: Four glasses of water per day; three servings of fruits and veggies; taking vitamins; walking 10,000 steps a day plus an aerobic activity every other day; visiting health professionals on an appropriate schedule.
2. Personal Project Goals: Complete editing on In Bloom, share with test audience, collect and incorporate feedback, develop pitch materials, start querying it; start another book; write two more short stories; submit queries and short stories; finish the photo project and start the SU site, autobio site, and essays/rants site; practice music; post regular webcomics; post ace videos; submit voice-over auditions and complete assigned voice-over work.
3. Reading Goals: Read at least every other day.
4. Relationship and Communication Goals: Document more consistently; keep up with e-mail and online messages; keep social life active.
5. Other Goals: Get rid of garage items; clean the house; watch TV shows; plant herbs; wear pajamas/have a night routine; use a new coffee cup every day; do something cool with my hair.
Progress Update:
HEALTH GOALS:
Summary: Water goal was perfect. Fruits and veggies were perfect. Vitamins were perfect. Walking and exercise goals were perfect. I've had a lot of doctor's visits this month including physical therapy, but yearly physical is next week, and still on the agenda will be the recommended screenings (dermatology, mammogram, dental cleaning). The only thing I haven't done well on with health is that my protein goals weren't met the majority of the time, so I'll work on it in February.
Here is my Health calendar of progress:
(Click these calendars and they will expand so you can actually read them!)
Summary:
EDITING: The book is in its fourth edit and almost done. I have succeeded in getting it below 130,000 words. Next stop: test audience. (Comment if you want to be on it.)
WRITING: I've done some brainstorming about one of the short stories I've had on the back burner for a long time.
SUBMISSIONS: I've kept up submissions of queries and short stories. One statement of interest outstanding but I haven't closed the deal yet; we'll see what happens.
Writing Progress:
VOICE ACTING: I got cast in one new show in January from an audition, and was asked to be on another project with someone I was already working with. The announcements section of my VO site has the latest. I have one pending shortlisted show as well. I wrapped up recording for one show and did initial recording for another one.
REGULAR CONTENT: I have posted my Negative One webcomic every Friday; my So You Write webcomic on the last day of the month; and a new asexuality video for the month.
MUSIC: My band is working on new music and practicing to get a good couple of sets under our belt. We have not had our first gig yet, but we have finally succeeded in naming the band.
Here's the Projects Calendar:
Summary: This goal has worked out nicely--I aim to read on the days I don't have exercise scheduled, and managed to do so every day. That said, sometimes I haven't been reading very much in a day, though that might have to do with not liking the book I was reading, so it took me a while to get through it. I completed one book and started another.
Progress:
Summary: I've been doing Jeaux Day, Game Night, band practice, and hanging out with Kari here and there, and have increased the posts about everyday stuff just slightly (but still not really where I want to be). I do have some outstanding messages to respond to (one e-mail, a few social media items).
Progress:
Summary: I haven't yet gotten a plan together to get rid of the garage items. If I'm honest, my house's organization and cleanliness has suffered lately. I have not caught up with the intended TV shows. It is not the season yet to plant the herbs I have planned. I have mostly been doing really well with the night routine--changing into pajamas and doing a reasonable skin-care and hair-care regimen that's new (but I have messed it up a few times by falling asleep early in my clothes). I have indeed enjoyed using a new coffee cup every day. And I did do something cool with my hair; shortest haircut of my life with pink streaks, but the pink wasn't done very well and was VERY short-lived, so I am going to try again when it's time for a trim in a couple months.
