I’ve been using a bullet journal for several years on and off.  This year, since my Word of the Year is Focus - I want to really work on daily plans so that I can focus on getting at least my top three goals completed each day.  Last month, I did okay at daily planning, but I'm hoping by simplifying some part of my process that I will do even better this month!

Why I Plan

Let's take just a minute and discuss planning.  There is magic in the act of putting your intentions down on paper.  Somehow things just seem to happen once you write them down.  This applies not only to your big dreams and goals, but also to your daily tasks!  That is why I'm working on making daily planning part of my routine.  I'm a very busy Momma to a lovely 2 year old, and planning helps me to remember life's little moments (through my monthly calendar and daily notes), while also letting me get stuff done so I can actually focus on my daughter.

When I don't write stuff down, it all builds up in my head until my head feels like it's going to explode.  I will get more frequent and downright horrid migraines if I don't get that crap out of my head.  That's one reason that I love brain dumps as part of my daily planning sessions.  It gets all that junk that is bouncing around in there out of my head and onto paper so I can actually start crossing it off!

Another reason I plan is that it actually helps to increase my focus.  The act of planning helps me figure out what my top priorities for the day are, and planning helps me to break those priorities into action steps so that I can actually get them done without feeling overwhelmed!  Now, let's take a peek at how January worked out for me in my bullet journal and what February is starting to look like.

Changes, Experiments, and Lessons Learned.

In January, I experimented with the addition of a weekly layout as a way to track the tasks that I accomplished each day.  These tasks were my "Big 3" tasks and goals that I decided were my priority for each day.  While I did love being able to review all the these I accomplished at the end of the week that moved me forward in my bigger goals, I found that by adding this extra step to my planning process resulted in me simply not filling them out.  Plus, my daughter was sick for the last two weeks in January, which probably didn't help with using these weekly layouts.  Therefore, I decided for February to just nix them and move back to using strictly my daily pages for planning.

Another thing that I'm switching up for February is playing around with having an editorial calendar spread so that I can have easier access to the content that I am creating for my blog, YouTube, and other social media outlets (like Twitter and Instagram).  I created a spread that divides each page into two quadrants that gives me enough lines for two weeks on each page.  I also divided these weeks into four separate sections, one for each of the social media areas that I'm focusing on creating content for (Blog, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter).  I made sure that each week had 7 lines, so that I have each day of the week represented and can make notes on what content I've created for each platform on that day.  So far, I really like seeing everything altogether in this fashion, but this spread may need additional tweaking for next month.  We will see how it works out!

Finally, I've decided to allow myself some leyway with color coding, at least until I can find my highlighters that are currently MIA.  Last month, I did pretty good about coloring for about half the month and then it completely dropped off (I'll continue to blame my daughter being sick, despite the fact that it just added another step that put me off this whole planning process).  Instead, I'm going to outline the boxes in black pen this month for my monthly tracker and daily time tracker (with written notes on what I was doing), and then color code it later - probably at the end of the month because that's how I am.

That’s pretty much my setup so far for 2016.  I’m sure it will continue to evolve and change - that’s one of my favorite parts of the Bullet Journal system, it can work for you however you need it to!

Hello, lovelies, and Happy New Year!  How is 2016 treating you so far?  Well, if you're anything like me, this is the time of year that we think up resolutions and changes we want to make to our lives this year.  I've never been very successful with resolutions, so for the past five years I have been choosing a Word of the Year to encourage and guide me to make the changes that I desire in my life.  I have done a variety of words through the years from play to create to flow for last year.  So I spent my New Year's Eve drinking some lovely Serena wine and choosing on my Word of 2016!

When it came to deciding on my guiding word for this year, I struggled between three different words that all felt right for a variety of reasons.  The words that I wrestled with this year were Action, Focus, and Fearless.  I decided to try out Christine Kane's Word of the Year Discovery Tool in order to help me think through my reasons for each word.  You won't believe what I found when I dug deeper into how each of these three words would effect my life.  All three of my words ended up expanding into the same ideas and changes that I want to make with very slight differences in attitude and the process in which I would achieve these changes!  Truthfully, I debated for several moments if I should just rearrange my words into a phrase and call it good enough - Focused Fearless Action!

ac·tion

/ˈakSH(ə)n/

noun

• 1. the fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim (synonyms: measures, steps, activity, movement, work)
• 2. a thing done; an act (synonyms: deed, act, move, undertaking, exploit)

I felt like Action was the perfect word for the year.  I've known action was going to be my word for several months.  I have lots of projects, ideas, and stuff that I have got to get a move on in order to succeed this year!  Action would help move me towards my goals.  I knew that habits that encourage action would help me in all areas of my life.  Action would also cross-over to other areas of my life, not just art and work related, because it would help me get chores done, commitments achieved, and planning integrated into my life!  By committing to daily planning, I could determine my top 3 things that I have to get done and then through action I would work on achieving these goals and action steps in order to build upon my long-term goals for the year.  I would get more things done and stop procrastination in its tracks.

fo·cus

/ˈfōkəs/

noun

• 1. the center of interest or activity (synonyms: center, focal point, central point, center of attention, hub)
• 2. the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition

verb

• 1. (of a person or their eyes) adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly 
• 2. pay particular attention to

I believed that Focus was a great Word for the Year to guide me.  Focus would bring enhanced concentration on the important things that need doing every single day.  I’m trying to focus this year on really accomplishing my goals.  These goals range from developing my handmade business to expanding my YouTube, Blog, and Social Media presence.  Focus would move me towards success in batching my processes, routine creation, business development, and helping me move through my action steps with concentration on the most important items first instead of the busy work.

fear·less

/ˈfirləs/

adjective

1. lacking fear "a fearless defender of freedom" synonyms: bold, brave, courageous, intrepid, valiant

I briefly debated on Fearless.  Honestly, this was the most seredipitous of all the potential words.  I found this word in a zentangle piece that I created earlier in the year as I was flipping through my art journals.  And it made me go "Hmm..."  The reason this word felt so right was because I need to believe in what I'm doing 100%.  I need to act fearlessly and try things, experiment, and make changes when things aren’t working.  But above all of those things I have to remain fearless for the year, not allowing doubt to invade and destroy my dreams.  Being Fearless encourages taking risks daily, which doesn't allow fear to let in procrastination tendencies.  By allowing this word to guide my year, I would be braver by the end of it, and more willing to try new things, plus have new knowledge and training in new techniques from all the risk-taking throughout the year.

Know The Triggers that Stop Your Dreams

Another really helpful part of the Word of the Year Discovery Tool is the determination of your triggers that are stopping you from making these valuable changes in your life.  My three triggers are:

1. Procrastination - when something seems overwhelming, I don’t do any of it
2. Fear of Failure
3. Lack of Confidence in myself and my abilities

Basically, I get overwhelmed by everything I have to do without focusing on the most important steps and then I don’t do anything except sit on the couch and watch TV.  I'm sure I'm not the only one in the world like that right?  I struggle with the idea that anyone in the world actually cares about me, my projects, so I don’t take additional risks that would push the envelope.  I’m afraid that I will fail, even when I devote 100% of myself to something so I devote less than 10% and I still fail.

Ask Someone Close to Help with Your Word of the Year

Even after having completed the Toolkit, I couldn't decide between my three words.  Especially since, it was clear that except for some minor differences, I wanted the same end result between all three.  So I read it to my husband.  Everything that I had written!  Without telling him what the three potential words were.  Then I asked him what my word was.  The funniest part of this whole experience was that the first words out of his mouth were,

"Well, I know one of your words is Focus.  And I think that's the one you need to use this year."

And then we had an hour long discussion on exactly why that was my word.  So don't forget to let your friends or family help you if you're still stuck on a decision!  Sometimes, they know you better than you know yourself.  Other people can often see the things that we have put blinders on about or even things we are just avoiding.  And your best friends and close family are the people who will usually call you out about it!

Add New Habits to Help Embrace Your Word

So this year I'm going to try to incorporate these 5 new proactive habits and practices as a means of supporting embracing the word Focus more fully, because just choosing a word isn't enough.  Your word is not a magic pill to fix everything that is wrong in life.  Your word is simply a guiding force that you can use to bring about change, big or small, that you feel you need this year.

1. Daily Planning Sessions
2. One act of Fearless Creation Daily (more on this next week!)
3. Focusing on the top three action steps to complete my projects
4. Daily writing - tuning into myself, my feelings, and how I’m moving towards my goals
5. Prepping materials for projects in order to complete projects, but break down everything into actionable steps that can be scheduled into the day

I would love to hear what your word for the year is and what changes you are going to make to incorporate and live with your word this year!

I have discovered in my time as a Momma (this last year plus a bit) that this momma stuff is HARD.  I know that’s obvious (at least if you’re a Momma), but it is so very hard to juggle every day between what I need to do (things around the house) and what I have to do because my daughter needs me to do these things (like sit on the couch and cuddle and watch cartoons).  Don’t get me wrong, there are some fabulously awesome moments that drastically outweigh the bad (and there are a ton more good than bad moments, which helps).  But I really struggle with the balance.  Especially when she needs me and I’m already so far out of balance with myself as it is.

The last several months have been really hard with Jamie being out of commission.  He was in the hospital for the majority of August and we struggled as a family without him being able to watch her during the day while I worked.  Once he was released from the hospital, he was unable to lift her or walk, which meant that he couldn’t watch her during the day still.  A lot of the weight of these last couple of months has fallen on my parents, who have been amazing.  They have helped watch her while I am at work and Jamie is at various appointments. 


Yet, every moment that I am not at work, I am with her.  Trying to take care of her and help Jamie get around and do what he needs to do.  And as much as I love that little bug, it is really wearing on my self care.  I have lists upon lists of things that I want to do that I just can’t because she’s changed her sleeping schedule (again), or she’s teething something horrible (again), or she’s literally attached to hip (this has become the norm lately).  And I feel like I’m drowning. 


Namely, teething sucks.  Not only does it drain my poor girl, it drains me!  I feel like we’ve been teething almost since birth.  Obviously, we’ve had small breaks between, but nonetheless, the last year has felt like a constant battle with teeth.  We have all the “stuff” from Orajel to teething rings and biscuits, but during teething it seems like it never ends (or helps, though it does).  Teething changes my normal, independent, playful one year old into a fussy, crying brat that royally frustrates Momma.  And no matter what may be going on - teething means that naps and bedtime will be difficult, routines will get messed up, and Momma will spend hours on the couch, cuddling - no matter what I may have planned or need to do.  It will fail during teething.  Every SINGLE time.  Which is fine, because I don’t get enough of that throughout the week while I’m working.  But man does this teething thing suck!  This time we are working on back teeth.  On the top, she has two poking through, and the bottom gums are really swollen.  She’s been running a fever and my poor girl is really hurting.  So we cuddle and when she feels better we play.  We play tag and chase and “you can’t catch me”, we have tickle fests, we watch a lot of Sophia and Jack and anything else on Disney.  And we have wonderful golden moments that I wouldn’t miss for the world.


Jamie is getting better and can walk short distances now, as well as being able to maneuver her as long as she’s not struggling.  But the attachment to Momma is still going strong.  I feel awful that I want time away from her.  My balance is simply out of whack.  I no longer work on my stuff and take my time when she goes to bed (around 7pm), because now she’s waking up at 4 am.  This Momma is exhausted and needs some sleep too.  So gone are the days of staying up until 10 pm to try and get some work done (or blogging or scrapbooking or art making in general).  And I’m struggling because there are simply so many things I want to do!


Jamie tells me I’m over-planning.  This is one of my downfalls and always has been.  But I have so many ideas flowing around my brain that its hard not to try to take some kind of action towards them.  BINGO this month was a fail.  I half participated in Stash Bash towards the end of the month, and managed to use 3 paper clips from my BINGO stash (woot?).  And all of this leaves me feeling like a failure.  Honestly, it’s not just my creative life that is suffering, this feeling follows me to my full-time job as well.  In  my attempt to work on my balance, I’m cutting projects and plans.  One of my problems with the blog is the amount of time that I have to spend creating projects so that I can share them.  My creation process is no longer organic to the way I work.  Instead, when I want to create I go through this process of dread beginning with - I should film this...but my filming area is trashed...okay well I’ll just do it in the other room and photograph it....I need to write down all of the products that I’m using....oh wait, I haven’t made a Counterfeit Kit yet this month....I need to start with the kit....oh...I haven’t ordered any photos since April, and I don’t want to scrap Easter.....and then I go to bed, FRUSTRATED!  The sad part is, no one made these rules for me.  I did!  Without even realizing it!


I spent a lot of time today reading Elise Blaha’s blog.  I mean... A L O T of time!  I’m so focused on wanting to build up the blog that I feel like I have to jump right into posting regularly 4-5 times a week.  And I plan for it and then get bogged down by being a Momma and a wife and and and!  And then I don’t bother to move forward, because I’m burnt out before I begin with what I think I HAVE to do in order to succeed!  I need to refocus and just do my thing.  I’m taking Elise’s advice and I’m going to just make things that I’m making anyway and take lots of pictures, and then I’ll have things to share and ideas that actually make sense with my life.  Plus, I’m working on managing my time, forming habits, and other behind the scenes stuff.


So with all of that in mind, I’m participating in Layout a Day (LOAD) for October.  And I’m leaving it at that.  From my last experience with LOAD, I know it takes every ounce of my energy and doesn’t leave time for other projects.  In November, I plan to take part in NaNoWriMo.  Finally, in December, I will be creating my December Daily Album and taking part in that project.  These are my 3 goals for the end of the year.  I am heading into the busiest time of the year for my full-time job and these three projects will be how I try to nurture my creative side that is getting crushed between work and family.  And now I’m off to bed!

• I want to nurture my home life and my new little 4 month old baby
• I want to nurture my inner artist and really focus on producing again this year
• I want to nurture this little blog and allow it to grow especially with regular content
• I want to nurture myself and start taking better care of myself with eating right and taking more time for me
• I want to nurture my photography which has gotten better with project life but had fallen to the wayside for several years.

I feel like a lot of things have fallen to the wayside.  And I'm missing that creative component of my life.  I know that it will take a lot more planning that it did before the baby, and I'm not intending to have these massive huge projects that take all of my time.  However, I'm seeking a way to take 10 or 15 minutes a day to play and nurture my creative self, as well as keeping the focus on nurturing Atty and seeking out positive experiences that continue to allow all of us to grow :)

One Little Word is a project concept devised by Ali Edwards.  When choosing your word for the year she explains that "You live with it. You invite it into you life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities."  For more information on One Little Word, check out her blog!  She also has a workshop that she does for One Little Word.  I will not be taking the workshop this year, however, I do intend to allow my word to guide me and to document my progress with my word on a monthly basis.