Setting Goals

Debbie Macomber spoke to the STAR (SpacecoasT Authors of Romance) group here in Florida. For those of you who’ve never heard her, Debbie is a very inspirational speaker and a down-to-earth, fun but practical person. She chose Setting Goals as her topic.
Of the several goals she mentioned, only one referred directly to “writing” goals. Some of the other goals included: A new experience in 2010, one thing about yourself to improve, family goals, recreational goals, financial goals, physical goals, and spiritual goals.
Goal setting shouldn’t include large picture, nebulous things. Start small. Perhaps a physical goal should be to take time from writing to walk around or to do small exercises between writing stints. Making the goals achievable is important. Goals can be expanded on a regular basis. From small exercises at the computer, a new, expanded goal might be going to the gym for one hour a day, then two. You get the idea.
Sometimes we writers can be so focused on our writing--typing away in a room by ourselves, translating the stories in our heads to paper-- that we forget how important it is to be healthy and well-rounded. A recent article in our newspaper told of the dangers of people sitting in front of computers for long periods of time. It stated that those who spend their lives doing that run the risk of shortening their lifespan. EEEK! Time to set a few goals.

What personal or writing goals have you recently made for yourself?