It’s that time again to make some pledges for the year ahead. I think it is important to document this to give the older me, in a years’ time, something to look back on. I have long accepted that memory is far from accurate and therefore there is a need to keep a record.
So, what do I want to achieve in 2020?
As it happens, I already have a few plans in place for the year ahead, so this seems like a good place to start.
2020 sees me planning for a memorable family holiday significantly out with the standard break away we have had over the last two years. My hope is this trip will be filled with memories but also will provide us something to look forward to for a fair part of the year, plus will open up our horizons to considering where we can visit in future. As a family we are creatures of habit, visiting the same places rather than exploring new locations; This is something I would like to see change this year.
Another plan for the year involves me presenting at DigiFest in March. This is something I want to try and do more of, whether this is presenting at events or contributing to online events, etc. I want to collaborate and contribute to the #EdTech , #DigitalCitizenship and #Cyber sectors more actively in the year ahead. Additionally, I want to try and establish at least one group of interested individuals to engage in discussion around one or more of the above topic areas.
Exercise is something last year I improved significantly upon, getting to the end of CouchTo5K. I would like to repeat this feat in 2020 and consider how I might build on this, although to be honest I will be perfectly happy if I can at least match my accomplishments from 2019.
I would also like to repeat my reading target in the year ahead, aiming to read at least 12 books during the year. This is something I have achieved in each of the last few years however this year I would like to see how I can make use of my reading to inform and support my professional development more. As such I want to spend time this year drawing together the strands and ideas from the various books I have read.
My main target for 2020 is going to be one of reflection. I need to reflect and think carefully about what I want to achieve. This is very much related to my questioning of my aim to be “happier”, a target I set myself at the start of 2019. I now question whether such a target was constructive to me as an individual despite sounding like a well meant and aspirational target. Is my focus too much on the future and past and not sufficiently looking at the moment and the now? But linked to this if I spend to much time reflecting on the past I may miss out on opportunities in the present. I suspect this will be hard for me to consider however seldom is anything worthwhile easy to achieve.
Another target for me is to seek some sort of new challenge. Am not at this point sure what that new challenge is. My initial thoughts focus on establishing some sort of discussion forum or group and growing it, such as the #DigitalCitizenship group I mentioned above. Another thought revolves around either starting to regularly podcast or videocast; I have thought of both in the past but never took it much further than simply considering. I suspect this is partly due to both being slightly outside my comfort zone, however anything that is likely to be a challenge is likely to be at least slightly outside you comfort zone. Given this, it may be that establishing a video or pod cast maybe something for me to take on in 2020.
Last year I summed everything up, in terms of what I wanted to achieve, with the word Balance and I think this is something I will stick with. Balance between personal and work, between reflecting and living in the moment, between relaxation and (positive) stress, etc. Everything is very much about establishing a balance which you are happy about and which allows you to enjoy life as it happens; As that famous saving goes, “enjoy life now, this is not a rehearsal”.
And so my pledges for 2020 are set…….game on!
Technology and Learning
One thought on “Pledges for 2020”