ROW80 - Round 3 - Check-in 8 (August, 2nd 2020): before the crack of dawn

 Hi everyone!

This is going to be a quick one because we have a big day ahead.

I'm writing this at 4 AM, in what I could call one of my usual insomnia cycles, so the work for today will be counted next check-in.

Today, friends are coming to help and we're planning to install new cupboards in the kitchen and finally get it a bit more organized (though it's still technically a temporary setup, we now know it's going to stay this way for a few years). We're also going to clean parts of the annex to prepare its renovation, and do other jobs in the house to keep making progress on our goals.

As a result I doubt I'll write today, though I'm a little behind schedule for my sci-fi series (but mostly because episode 1 became longer and richer, so that's OK.

I'm just hoping to get some sleep again before we get started, as I'm more of a morning person but I also desperately need to sleep a certain amount of time every night. I guess we'll see. I'll probably take some vitamins with my breakfast and I'm counting on having people around to keep motivated too.

How about you? Are you an early or nightime bird? What do you do to boost your levels of energy and motivation? Just let me know in the comments.

Color code:

0-10% in red
11-24% in pink
25-39% in orange
40-59% in yellow
60-99% in green
100% in flashy green
Normally, there's also blue for progress and pause in purple, but right now i'll focus on numbers and only goals where progress has been made.

Now for this week: 

WRITING: I'll focus on one project mainly while following completed ones.

"Hour of the Wolf": If the publisher does not decide to release it as part of the collection, I'll probably make it a freebie (ebook and Wattpad). I'm guessing they'll make a decision soon as their collection is to be released in November, so I'll adjust this goal accordingly once I hear from them. 

Sci-fi erotica series Miss Chief in Wonderland: I started writing again and would like to have a few short stories ready for publication in 2021 or 2022. A little late but that's OK—some progress made anyway, and planning on writing more this week as the girls will be away for a few days. 

• Plan season 1
• Draft episode 1 (July): 85%
• Expand episode 5
• Draft episode 7 (September)
• Draft episode 8 (August)
• Draft episode 9
• Reorganize episodes

WORK: Lots to do here! I'll try and get as much done as possible, though I expect life to keep getting in the way as it has lately. 

Promotion: Over the summer, Hubby and I will build a communication strategy to get more business our way in September (since the summer is always slow). 12%

Online courses: I'll focus on making online tests as I can use it immediately with current student, then I'll go back to making the lessons. Hubby and I will also take a look at a new theme for my business website and also upgrade the webhost (which means my writer's site will be hosted there too). I made 3 tests this week.

• Website stuff : upgrade host, new theme, LMS stuff... 
• English - Starters: make tests 29%
• English - Elementary: make tests 28%
• English - Pre-intermediate: make tests 28%
• Hanashimashou: resume making contents ASAP

Quality certification: I can take it easy now but I'll keep doing bite-size tasks weekly.

• cross-referencing document: I'll finish it during the Round. 29%
• tutorials: I'll keep making them, aiming at 2-4 a month, depending on how much material and preparation is needed. 20%

Story Time: I'll keep making baby steps weekly, mostly preparatory work.

• Wizard & Cat: signpost at least 1 episode a week. 28%
• Timmy & the Hungry Monster: make a general plan, list the language, list the material. Making flashcards: 13% 

PUBLISHING: I'll mostly market my books, old and new.

Curiouser & Curiouser (my debut novel, in French only for now): I'll keep track of reviews and sales, while marketing the book some more. 

Red Hot Spring (English): I'll make the final preparations to publish in August and market. 86%

We Missed Each Other (English): I'll start making preparations once Red Hot Spring is ready. 34%

PERSONAL: We'll do some damage control and try and get help while Hubby is stuck with pain in his back. 

House renovation: that's the big question mark as most of the things that need to be done require Hubby or help. In the meantime, we'll focus on what contractors are supposed to do.

• parental suite: still aiming at finishing it this year if we can. For this Round, sealing the tiles in the bathroom would be nice. And why not buy the wooden floor for the bedroom and threshold? 47% 
• insulation: we need to get the contractor sent by the insurance company to come and the other ones to give us their estimates. 
• original bathroom: 40% 

Housework: I'll mostly try and keep up what's been settled last Round. Maybe add a couple of new rooms (namely the porch entrance & workshop)  if I can get help from family and friends to get rid of the spiders in there (I'm extremely phobic when it comes to those...). I'll also try and get my office in order before September is here. Overall: 67%

• office: finish reorganizing, archiving and so on. 50%
• porch entrance: get rid of spiders and webs, spray with repulsive product, deep clean, add to cleaning routine, set coat pegs. 95%
• workshop: get rid of spiders and webs, spray with repulsive product, deep clean, reorganize. 80%

Self-improvement: I'll keep learning as a teacher, writer and parent.

• Teaching early years MOOC: I'll be an active participant through the 6 weeks and implement new ideas at home and in my classes. 100% 
• Choose next course in August: probably something about teaching again. Done: I'll learn about storytelling in marketing, starting Tuesday.

Physical health: I'll try and be more and more active while making sure to give myself enough time to relax too and avoid burning out as a side effect of Hubby's slipped disk.

• Housework: I'll focus my energy on this to stay active on a daily basis. Since the plan includes rooms we are currently not using and that are either being or about to be renovated, my goal is to reach 90%. Currently, 86%
• Stretching: I'll stretch every morning to prevent hurting myself while being active (I have a tendency to sprain) 
• Yoga: I'll try and have a yoga session with my girls at least once a week. For starters, I'll look for the best time slot for this. Still looking for the right time. I'm guessing it will have to be on Sundays as that is the one day we're all home.
• Abs/Fitness: if there's time and energy (ie if Hubby gets better and life stops happening so much), I'll get down to working on fixing my diastasis recti for good, then going back to fitness.

Mental health & journalling: I've started a digital journal and will keep using it daily to keep track of my moods, ideas, learning, etc. Later, I'll schedule a lookback time to make sure this is useful. I'll also keep reading about emotional intensity but more on that below. Journalling daily.

Reading: I'll try to read daily. Sometimes only a few pages, but I'm still reading daily.

Emotional intensity: I'll try and complete this reading and discuss it with Hubby. 62.5%

Beta-reading a Sci-Fi novel: I'll make notes and send feedback to the writer by mid-August. 100%

Writer's website: I'll start the new website for sure, and hopefully get my hands on the original one to export it rather than rebuild from scratch. Hubby will help since sitting in the office armchair is the one thing he manages to do without feeling too horrible.