So, first off, a quick note — this is going to be my last blog post of the year! While technically I could fit in one more, according to my current schedule, it’d be published right around Christmas. I’d prefer to spend that time with family.

So, since this is my last blog, I’ve decided to use it to go over my New Years Resolutions.

Reduce Clutter

One of my 2017 goals was to “get more organized.” And I’m very pleased to announce that I have! I’ve worked out a much more effective system for scheduling tasks, keeping notes, and those lessons are going to serve me well as I go forward into this career.

But while I made a lot of progress, there’s one thing that I haven’t quite masted in terms of organization — keeping physical clutter at bay.

I’m not about to show you a picture of my desk (trust me, you don’t need to see it), but it’s not pretty. There are business cards I don’t need, notes for tasks that have long since expired, and far more soda cans than any sane person needs.

One of my biggest goals this year is going to be to stay on top of this.

Keep Track of Income/Expenses

I know that this is something I should have been doing all along. But I admit, my own records of what I earn and what I spend are severely lacking — I kept up with it for a few months, but then got distracted by more pressing matters.

This year, I’m trying a different method. Before, I had an excel spreadsheet to keep track of my finances. While that was very organized, it meant that I had to be on my computer to fill it in.

In 2018, I’m going to start using a bullet journal. (I’m hopping on the craze a little late, I know). I have a specific section mapped out for tracking income and expenses. I’m hoping that, since I plan on carrying this everywhere, it will make me more likely to fill it in.

Market my Blog More

Right now, I’m writing this blog mostly for myself, and for any potential clients who are directed to this site through job apps and similar things.

In 2018, I’m hoping to grow my audience a bit. I try and write content that is directed at freelancers and/or at people who are looking to hire freelancers. So my goal is to market to those specific audiences, depending on the blog posts.

This will probably mean keeping up on my social media a bit better (which, as I’ve discussed, I’m not great at doing). So this goal is really two goals in one!

Have you figured out your goals for 2018?