If you’ve known me for a long time or even a little while, you know I’m obsessed with goal setting. As a friend of mine once said, my goals have goals. And she’s right. I’m a goal digger.

It’s April 1, so, of course, I’ve set some goals for the new month and the new quarter.

But I almost didn’t.

I almost didn’t set any goals for April and I even thought about telling you not to bother setting any goals either. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and a health issue I’m dealing with that has nothing to do with the Coronavirus, I was convinced that it was pointless to set goals.

And maybe you are in a season where you just need to take care of yourself day-to-day. But I wasn’t deciding to not set goals because I wanted to give myself time to rest. I was deciding to not set goals because I had given up — on everything. And that’s unacceptable. 

Nonetheless, I couldn’t just go on with business as usual. Many of my 2020 goals and many of the items on my 40 Before 40 list have to be put on hold because of the social distancing we must all practice to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and because of the personal issue I’m facing.

So, I decided to do three things to continue setting and slaying goals even in times of uncertainty.

Create a Quarantine Bucket List.

I decided to replace my 40 Before 40 list with a Quarantine Bucket List. Many of us are finding ourselves with a lot more free time on our hands either because of changes in our work schedule or because social distancing means we’re not going out after work or on the weekends. One of the publications I write for, StyleBlueprint, has encouraged readers to create a Quarantine Bucket List, a list of things to do while we shelter in place.

This can be a list of home projects, writing projects, acts of self-care, or things you want to do just for fun. My list includes all of these and more (you can check it out here) and the items on this list will be my goals for the month and the quarter.

Live your best life day by day.

Along with working on My Quarantine Bucket List, I’m also going to be very intentional about how I’m living each day. There are six daily quarantine questions that I’ve seen floating around the internet and I think they’re a great way to check in with yourself each day. Those six questions are as follows:

  1. What am I grateful for today?
  2. Who am I checking on and connecting with today?
  3. What expectations of “normal” am I letting go of today?
  4. How am I getting outside today?
  5. How am I moving my body today?
  6. What beauty am I either creating, cultivating, or inviting in today?

As writers, I think we should make it a point to write something every day (even if it’s just one line) and read something every day, too.

Keep going.

Some goals obviously will have to be put on hold during this crisis. My travel aspirations and plans to host more in-person events won’t be realized anytime soon. But there’s a chance that your 2020 goals won’t be hindered by the COVID-19 crisis. In fact, maybe the extra time at home will help you accomplish one, some, or all of your goals.

I’m hoping that this time at home will help me finally write a book I’m proud of.

If you also have a goal that doesn’t have to be put on hold, then simply keep going. Of course, give yourself grace and time to rest, grieve, and process all that’s going on. But then get back at it. Your future self will thank you.

What are your goals for April?