Intentions Check-In: 1st Quarter 2023

Hello, loves! And welcome back to the blog. It’s the end of March. (I know. What the fuck, right?) And we all know how I love a good introspection and adjusting moment. Since making intentions for the year that quickly fall to the wayside and then become forgotten is my M.O., I wanted to see if intentions check-in might help? Especially if they were quarterly.

So, let’s check-in and see how my intentions have gone so far this year!

2023 Overview

For reference, you can look more in-depth at the following posts:

• 2023 Intentions: a list of all my main intentions for the year
• Blog Expectations for 2023: a summary of how I’m using my block this year (in connection with my Patreon and my newsletter, Inkpot Droplets)

But, for those who didn’t want to read those, below is a quick summary of my 2023 intentions:

• Write for me
• Read more regularly
• Connect with the writing community
• Realign my day job and strengthen my editorial business
• Continue to grow my anti-racist knowledge
• Live more balanced between commitments and rest
• Organize home logistics
• Manage my finances better
• Find routines that serve me, rather than stress me out

Intentions Check-In

So, we’ve survived one quarter of 2023. Somehow, I know. But, when looking at what I hoped when I was bright-eyed and full of promise back at the end of December, how am I faring? Using the same categories I broke those intentions down earlier, let’s see.

Creatively

Creative, I wanted to:

• Write for me
• Read more regularly
• Connect with the writing community

I think, overall, this is an absolute win! I talk about this in much more detail over on my Patreon (I offer all benefits to all tiers, the lowest being $2 a month). But, I’ve managed to write a third of a new book in three months! As someone who has struggled to write anything new in the past three years!! This is something I’m really proud of and I really hope to keep the momentum going.

Reading…could use some work. I’ve read nine books (woot) but am five to six books behind on my reading goal of 62 books this year. And, though I do have a small writing community who I am so grateful for, I would like to still get better at connecting with other writers!

So, I’d rate this 2/3 so far, for quarter one intentions check-in!

Personally

This goal is probably the roughest, but not for lack of trying!

• Realign my day job and strengthen my editorial business
• Continue to grow my anti-racist knowledge
• Live more balanced between commitments and rest

Realigning the day job (i.e., more professional way of saying get the fuck of the one I have) is an ongoing process. At the time of writing this, I’ve applied for 50+ jobs I’ve tracked, but more like 60+ in reality. None of them have panned out so far. And while I have some plans for my editorial business, it’s hard to find the time to level up that knowledge. *sighs*

I am still dedicated to unlearning my own racism, patriarchal and capitalist thoughts, and fatphobia. I’ve only read one antiracist book so far this year. (With plans to start my next one this week!). But, I have kept up with multiple newsletters, including the ARD, the 19th, Them and Prism. Plus, continued my resource sharing in my Allyship series. So, room to improve, always! But proud of the work I’m doing!

More balance? Ha. Ah ha ha. Ha ha ha ha.

Score? 1.5 of 3, I think!

Logistically

I think the goals that fall under this broad logistics umbrella will be intentions that are ever truly “complete” for me, honestly.

• Organize home logistics
• Manage my finances better
• Find routines that serve me, rather than stress me out

We have started organizing some things around the house (our bedroom, for example) that has me itching to do more. (But again, where is the TIME!?) Financially, I just don’t make enough, hands down. But, I’m doing okay on managing it and started to stay more on top of it, so that’s a win. Routine? Ehh…sorta, but nothing concrete.

I’d say this is a solid 1.5 of 3 again, honestly.

Next Three Months

I think, if I want to get into some specifics for April, May and June, here’s what I’d like to accomplish:

• Continue writing for me by completing Act II and polishing Act I
• Get back on track for my reading goal (read 15-20 more books)
• Apply for jobs ntil I find a new one
• Take a proofreading or copyediting refresher course
• Organize our garage
• Have less than $5,000 in medical debt

These goals don’t cover the entire scope of all my intentions. But, they do get specific and help me achieve some things I’d really like to focus on. So, bring on quarter two!

In Sum

So, if we score each goal one point for nine total and tally it up, then means my first quarter has scored 5/9. Or, 55%. So, failing, in the mathematically, technical terms. Yet, for me? It still feels like a massive win. I’m not where I want to be, but I am making progress! And that feels really good. Plus, the goalposts I’m aiming to hit by my next intentions check-in feel doable and exciting.

What about you? Do you check-in with intentions, if you make any at all? How often? Anything I can do to support you? Lemme know in the comments and thanks for reading!

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