How to plan for your best year ever. No experience required.

Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.

I recently read an article about planning for the new year.
It included things like:

1. Answer some simple questions about last year.
2. Write down 25 things you want to accomplish.
3. What is your vision?
4. Write down your goals and make sure you review them regularly.

You may be thinking:

1. So if I am trying to get my act together what have I got from last year that I can review?
2. If I am only listing 25 things they better be important. The small stuff just won't fit.
3. What the heck is my vision?
4. I wrote my goals down last year but I lost the note book or I didn't leave any room for review.

As I read through the article I realised that I was already doing all the right things in an easy to follow method with lots of structure and all in one lovely book that I will not lose. I will be able to keep it and use it to review when I come to do my goals for 2017.
I am not affiliated with Kikki K in any way but I just love the Kikki K Goals Journal.
It is a perfect companion to my 101 Dreams Journal.
You really need both because the 101 Dreams Journal is all about listing what you wish for and the Goals Journal is all about getting what you wish for.

SMART goals are the way to go.

There are easy to work through activities.

1. Smart and Present Goals
2. My Dream Life
   - Including how to work out what my core values are, and
   - How I measure success in my life
3. How I'm Going to get There.
4. Ideal Weekly Planner
5. Things I'm Not Going to Do
6. Monthly sections with room to set out 4 goals for the month, a monthly planner page and a page for review.

You get examples of how to complete the activities.

I will be breaking down some of my long term dreams so I can get started on them this year. I will also be using my 1 year dreams from the Dreams Journal to fill out at least 2 of the 4 monthly goals each month to make sure I achieve as many as possible this year.

Inspiration and instructions

The journals are so easy to use because they include examples and break down the sections into easy to answer questions.

How to write a SMART goal

The 4 goals for each month have several sections to fill in so you know you are writing SMART goals.

Space for 4 goals each month

You can read the original article from Finance Girl.

You can buy from Kikki K online from most countries.
The Goals Journal

Life is just so much more fun when you are aiming for something.
Life is just so much more rewarding when you achieve success.

Happy New Year,
Val

Nothing Happens Unless First We Dream

Just recently I have discovered some beautiful journals from Kikki K. I love to make lists and make plans. I have bought the 101 Dreams Journal, the Goals Journal and the Habits Journal.

I plan to use them together to plan my dream life. I am retired now so career and family planning are not my priorities but it is important to examine where we are going and what makes life happy and meaningful for us even now. I have achieved many things but I don't want to just sit back and drift for the rest of my life.

I prepared a little desk area that is very pleasant to sit at for my journal writing.

I have a small day planner where I keep track of my internet posts.
I have a little dish for my biscuit and a mat for my cup and tea pot.
I have a to do pad where I list what I plan to accomplish sewing and pattern wise.
Just peeping out on the left is my iPad stand and underneath is my colouring book.
In the centre front is my Dreams Journal.

Today I filled the first page with what I am passionate about. I used mainly one word thoughts with commas between them. For example I included sewing, reading, pattern making, cleaning my teeth, along with other greater and lesser passions.

I included cleaning my teeth because my dentist said I had to be careful about keeping my gums healthy to help prevent heart attack. I passionately use a pickster twice a day along with brushing and I floss in the evening as well without fail.

The second page I used to list things that give my life meaning or purpose. I described five things including my family and my doll clothes pattern hobby business.

Until you start to think about them you don't notice how important some things really are to your well being. I found this exercise very enlightening. I am passionate about the big things such as peace, freedom, and freedom of speech but it helps to articulate those little things that make every day a happy day and nurture them.

My tea mug has 'Be Grateful Today' written inside.
One of my pens has 'Be Brave' written on the side.
It helps to be constantly reminded of such things.

A journal from Kikki K. You can buy them online.
I have no connection with Kikki K but I like a lot of their products.

Cheers,

Val

Ready With My 2015 Calendar Pages

I do get a small commission when you buy through my affiliate links.

I love it when things are easy. There may be some free calendars out there but I love the reliability of Mom's Toolbelt. I visit my downloads area and it takes a few seconds to download a whole year of plain or themed calendar pages in a great variety of styles.

I still like the two page spread for a month. I downloaded the summer theme and used some washi tape to tape it to the inside covers of a manilla folder. I added a few plastic pockets to hold planning ideas I am working on this month and the beginnings of projects that haven't been assigned a folder yet.

I also printed out an  'At a Glance Planning' page to list the things I want to do this month in no particular order.

One thing I want to do this month is get back into my applique quilt. It is on the list.  I will put it on the calendar maybe twice a week.
I also like having the calendar and planning files on my computer so I don't have to go on line to get them.

A great resource for quilters and crafters. Get your UFOs listed and organised on pretty calendar and planner pages.



Happy Planning,
Val