What is a Kettle List?
Well, I’m glad you asked. So, what is ‘Pollys Pad’ all about then, and what on Earth is a ‘Kettle List’?
If you want the long version, check out my ‘Kettle List’ post. It even includes all of the tasks I plan on doing.
However, if you want the TL;DR, it’s like a Bucket List but less depressing. Basically, instead of doing all the things before I die, I want to get them done before March 2027, when I turn … well, a bit older.
I am planning on writing up every task, whether completed or not, and I will update them as I go.
And this happens to be task #1
Sort out Pollys Pad
Yes – I know. I am missing a ‘. – SEO does not like them and it pains me to write it but needs must when Google drives.
This task is going to require a long term game plan.
“Sort out Pollys Pad” is the first task I added to the Kettle List. It was back when I initially wrote it in December 2016.
The task was actually aimed towards my Vlog, which I was using to document my 40×40. It’s still there, but I can no longer access it, so I can’t update it or add to it in any way. For which my children are enternally grateful.
The name Pollys Pad was the brainchild of my friend Rin. It was because I was filming vlogs on my Ipad, and writing about them… in a pad.
The idea about it linking to my home (My ‘pad’) came after, and the idea of it being my ‘launchpad’ to something exciting came after a few gins…
‘LaunchPad’ – Genius!
All of my Kettle List goals are written up in a shiny notebook. (As modelled in the picture below) It gets you to break your goals down into separate sections.
Under the ‘Inspiration for this goal’ section of my Kettle List, I wrote about moving on to create a new list. I also wanted to live a life that was a bit more adventurous and exciting. Developing a few skills and getting fitter were also motivations.
There were no real goals on the list for this task as such, apart from notes on improving my editing skills and making my content more relevant for my ‘aimed audience’.
While this task is still very much a work in progress, I really need to take some of my own organisational advice and use the SMART system for this goal.
It needs to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.
Therefore, I have had to create a few monthly and yearly goals, as well as a long term goal for March 2027 when the Kettle List officially ends.
The Goals of this Task
So here are a few I have come up with, although as per Kettle List Rules, they are subject to change if I need to make improvements:
*. Aim to produce 2 posts per week – one will be ‘Task’ based and will detail something from either The Kettle List, The 40×40, The Bristol Bucket List, or one of the seasonal lists. The other post will be more about self-care, Mid-life crisis survival, generally living your best life, or suggestions for things to add to readers own Bucket Lists. I really need to get on top of this, as I have been producing about 1 post a month. Time to get on with that time-blocking!
*.To have written up a page for every item on the Kettle list and the 40 x 40, complete with headers and Pins.
*.Make sure each post has images and well-written content. Make a better job of rereading and proofing.
*.Be at a point where I am getting 1,000 views per week
*.To have collaborated with a brand that is relevant to my ‘niche’ – so, middle-aged people, people looking to declutter or bucket lists? May need to investigate a bit more on that one.
Moving forward and measuring
As well as setting these goals, which are all technically achievable, I will need to keep an eye on the numbers and organise my time. Much of my time is spent writing either one of my books or this blog. What I am finding though is that I spend more time on the ‘unseen’ aspects, like sorting SEO, taking photos and creating headers and images, or deleting dodgy spam-filled comments.
I need to carve out time to put aside for actual blog posts to meet the ‘produce 2 posts a week’ goal. Also, I need to pull my finger out and write up pages for the tasks I have completed.
Once I can tick off all of those goals, and I am happy with ‘Pollys Pad’, I can declare this task officially completed.
Of course, at that stage, I will have come up with extra goals, because if I can make it better, I will certainly try.
My 5 year plan
Having read up on the subject on the internet, and watching a few Youtube videos, I have come up with a 1 year and 5-year plan. This way I can check back next year and see how it is going.
By December 2025 I will have:
1,000 views per month (average)
an average of 52 posts for the year
Finished one of my Ebooks
Made a Christmas printable
Looked into setting up an email list
Have pages for 75% of the goals on the lists.
Guess I better get over to Trello and make myself some more cards… and start writing up those ‘40 x 40 posts’.