Because I knew that I hadn't accomplished most of my 2016 goals, I made a point of writing down my Goals Master List for 2017 before the end of December. Then I went through it looking for the 7 to 10 major goals that I really wanted to accomplish in all the various areas of my life this year.

I thought perhaps it would inspire you to do the same if I shared with you my goals. Here they are:

1. Publish the first three books in the Strays of Loon Lake romantic comedy series
2. Publish “My Bullheaded Superhero Valentine” by February 14
3. Outline Burden of Magic, the working title for the supernatural thriller that I've been working on and thinking about since grad school in 2011
4. Create a business system for writing, marketing, finances, etc.
5. Finish creating the video-based self-publishing class that I started, and update the time management class I teach
6.  Begin my new podcast in late spring (I'm so excited about this!)
7. Read one or more nonfiction books on business or writing, and one or more novels every month
8. Lose 25 to 30 pounds to get to 145 by December 1
9. Run one half marathon at my fastest time ever by December 31
10. Create a habit of 60 minutes of Bible study and prayer daily, Monday through Friday

And then I have my extra goals, the ones I'll do if I have time while making sure my primary goals get accomplished first. They include finishing every class and course I have ever signed up for! Haha! And to also finish writing and publish Rent-a-Wife, book 2 after Little Miss Lovesick in the Traverse City in Love series.

As you can see, some of these goals will have many smaller parts to them. And a few of these are smaller parts of bigger goals. For instance, for several years I have said that I want to be my fittest, strongest, fastest ever by the time I hit 50. I turn 49 in two months! So I only have 14 months to sign up for and run a half marathon, and make it my fastest one ever. And I'll need to be my fittest ever in order to reach that goal, which includes losing those last 25 to 30 pounds.

This year, I tried to balance my work and personal goals so that I don't ignore one part of my life in favor of another. There are a lot of factors that may change the likelihood of me accomplishing any or all of these goals, of course, just like for any of us. But I'm excited to have a list that looks challenging as well as doable.

What about you? Do you have 2 or 3 or 5 or 10 goals that you'd like to accomplish this year? Have you written them down yet? And have you written down the steps you'll need to take in order to accomplish those goals? I hope that by sharing my list I'm encouraging you to work on making this year your best year ever!

Good luck! I know you can do it!