Hi friends,

I hope your 2021 is going well! My kids are all enjoying an extra week of holiday since we decided to copy our local schools and play a little longer before starting up homeschooling again.

I thought I'd share a fun goal-setting tidbit I use.

Tiny is better!

Here's an example:

Mom of many kids decides she wants to write a book because she's always loved stories.

• A book is about 80-100k words = huge goal
• Day 1 = She writes 200 words = Fails to reach her goal of writing a book
• Day 12 = takes a break because this is so much work and she's nowhere close.
• Day 40 - 47 = Writes every day this week in a spurt of enthusiasm. Only up to 3k. Failed again to write a book.
• The next 8 years: Writes in fits and spurts. Still failing to write a book.

Mom reads about making small goals that are too easy not to do = Tiny goals.

New Goal: Write one sentence in her book every day but Sunday.

• Day 1: Did it! Reached her goal . . . actually overachieved and wrote half a page.
• Day 2: Achieved her goal AGAIN! Over achieved and wrote close to 1k words!
• Continues without missing a day for months!
• Day 72: Feeling sick, but can't ruin her streak, she sits down and types. "She was." = a complete sentence and STILL reached her goal.
• After 8 months of reaching her goal six days every week, she completes the book she'd been working on for the previous 9 years.

What do you think? Is there a tiny goal that might help you?

Here are some ideas:

• Eat healthier: Eat one bite of leafy green vegetables every day OR Once a day - put one unhealthy item back instead of eating it OR Drink one glass of water at the start of the day.
• Exercising: put on exercise clothes and jog/walk ten steps OR do ten reps of an exercise.
• Sleep: Brush teeth, get PJs on and lay down in bed at 11 pm every night. You can get back up if you want, but stick to the tiny goal.

Just find simple starting tasks. Make that your tiny goal - so easy, you can do it every day. At some point, you may just find yourself reaching the big goal.

I'd love to hear about your ideas and successes!

All the best,

-- Misty :)

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Misty's Writing Update:

I wrote the first chapter of our Storm book 4 this week! Woohoo! Another book is always fun to dive into.

This one revolves around strengthening the homestead against outside groups who want to raid and attack because supplies are getting scarce.

What do you think? In addition to the chain link fence up around the property, what would be the best way to keep it safe?

I'm brainstorming early warning systems, maybe some ambush traps out on the road, a rotating guard schedule and some kind of safe areas for the guards to hunker down to keep an eye out for bad guys. :D

It's actually pretty fun to think how I would build up and protect a homestead. I'd love to hear your ideas!

Enjoy reading this week!

— Misty :)