OCTOBER GOALS

Yes, we are 7 days in. But for the record I did write them before the start of the month on my Truro trip (one morning I got up fairly early and felt some planning inspiration, as one does!).

PERSONAL

🧡 DRAW SOMETHING. Anything. I want to doodle cute things in my planners and I am intimidated, okay? I can create very pretty planner spreads with text and highlighter and stickers alone (okay maybe some washi in there too) but I would love to be able to add some drawing and I think it would be fun, if I were not so terrified of doing a bad job and then regretting my ugly artwork sullying the page. So I bought an A6 MD notebook with the sole purpose of just playing around and putting things in there without any pressure for them to look proportional, realistic, or good in any way shape or form. If I have put SOMETHING in this notebook (more than 1 page: bonus) I will consider this item a success.

🧡 FITNESS: Basically just keep doing what I’m doing (strength 4x/week, Pilates 2x/week, walk most days, track macros, emphasize protein) with the exception that during my call week, workouts are purely option on any morning after I’ve gotten called overnight. At least I get more steps while I’m walking in the hospital, and a few missed sessions will make zero difference (BUT the policy may make a difference in how I experience call; see more goals below).

🧡 MEDIA: Read most days and make some progress on my TBR pile (see yesterday’s post!); continue choosing albums to listen to each week and enjoy on commute. Catch up on Ted Lasso and possibly go back to Emily in Paris as a solo show (I got through season 4 but then stopped and I know S6 is coming). That said not sure bc I think I’d rather work on this pile:

RELATONSHIPS

🧡 Date nights x 2. One already down, so this is looking good!

🧡 Sunday dinners: Cook as long as a) home and b) not on call. Let’s continue to take that call pressure off!

🧡 Get everyone set for Halloween. 3/5 of us have costumes, so this is looking pretty good too!

WORK

⚠️ PROTECT CALL!!!!! I had a really rough time on my last call week and want to just do my best to prevent the rest of life from trying to compete for my attention during this time. This means planning ahead really well (no pending podcast eps or ads!), saying no to social things that pop up (I mean YES sometimes it works to squeeze something in, but ultimately I should preserve my peace during these limited windows), and outsourcing kid obligations to the extent feasible.

The one nice part about this month’s call responsibilities is that they are not all crunched together. I am always happy to take call more often vs the 7 day stretch, but it’s not always easy to orchestrate because my colleagues do not all feel the same way!

My October call week however is super split up – I’m covering a makeup day Saturday, then on Monday / Tuesday / Thursday / the following Tuesday / the following Friday through Sunday. For me that is much preferred to 7 nights in a row. My goal: remain as rested and unstressed as possible. I *have* done it before and I can do it again.

✅ Follow creative work plan. Projects to complete: CME recordings, staying on top of BLP (avoid having anything bleed into call week), prepare final details of Planning By Season 2027, final preparations for BLP Live (COMING UP), and enjoy my own seasonal Q5 planning session at the end of the month!

HOME

🧡 G’s ROOM RESET! Slated for 4 sessions. I did take before pix but I will spare you until I have an after to celebrate! We did session #1 last weekend (clothing). Session #2 will be books – wish us luck.

🧡 Call for some preliminary bathroom estimates. We are going to see if we can do this in a reasonably budget-friendly way, so just putting some feelers out.

FUN

🧡 WEEZER/SHINS CONCERT! Can’t wait for some nostalgic singalong opportunities! It will also be a break from call (traded a night) which is always welcome.

🧡 Keys night. Josh has a vascular conference in the keys that we’ve been to a bunch, and he’s now on the board, which is cool! I’ll be just spending one night there (driving A/G up on the ‘late bus’) but it is something nice to look forward to.

🧡 SPA DAY with colleagues –> actually this got moved. But I’m fine with that as there were a few things complicating the date choice (#1 being Josh is on call that day). I’ll pivot and take the girls for a mani/pedi with me that day instead, and now I have until February to look forward to our spa experience.

METAPLANNING

🧡 Figure out G’s bday celebration plans

🧡 Solidify robotics team dinner

🧡 Book final elements of Big Sky trip (not until Feb but nice to have everything set!)