This time of year between Christmas and New Year’s Day always feels like a very reflective period of time for me.
I always take the time to reflect on what went well over the last year and what did I achieve. Did I reach any goals that I set at the end of last year? Did I become more of the person that I dream to be? Was I kind and did I treat everyone the way I wanted to be treated.
I also take time to set new goals and think about what I need to accomplish in this coming year.
Catherine Pooler Designs came out with their Canvo Collection for bullet journalers at just the right time!
I’ve got 3 bullet journals going right now.
That’s right…3!
I know it’s crazy, but I am a voracious list maker. I also love beautiful notebooks to create my lists in.
For the last couple of years, I have been using a combination of Leuchtturm1917 bullet journals and leather covered notebooks.
The new Canvo journals have a laminated cover and are spiral bound. I like this better already. I can open it flat and I don’t have to weigh the pages down to keep them open while I work. I also love that the pages are already numbered and I don’t have to do that. I always number the pages wrong.
It seems like such a simple thing. Number the pages! Numbered pages make it so much easier to actually bullet journal the way it was invented. It allows you to have an index page that you can create a use to find exactly what list or calendar or whatever you are looking for in your notebook.
So, why 3 bullet journals?
Journal #1:
When I got my first Canvo in November, I immediately set to work creating my index and then a page for each month.
Now…I need to qualify that statement. I’m not one of those people that makes the amazing monthly spreads. I aspire to be one of those people, but it isn’t me. Yet. (Goal for 2019.)
My monthly pages consist of the month name at the top and numbers 1-30 (or 28,29 or 31 as needed) along the left side. Then I pencil in appointments, birthdays, vacation days and so forth. I keep this simple.
When the month gets here, I will pull out some stamps. I will pick a favorite quote and an image or two to stamp and color. I will also make an attempt at doodling something on the page. It’s just enough. Luckily, Catherine Pooler started a Canvo Club subscription membership. You get a couple of goodies to create your next month’s page. This month I received a January stamp set and a stencil to create boxes for those pages everyone likes creating.
That CP might just make a real bullet journaler out of me yet!
I’m not a person that makes a beautiful weekly spread either. (Again…2019 goal.)
I make lists. Big long term project lists. I just use whatever page comes next in the journal, add it to my index so I can find it again and start brain dumping my ideas.
That’s how I journal and that is Journal #1. This one I carry around with me because my calendar is in there, contacts, business cards are stapled or taped in…you name it. It holds my stuff that I need.
Journal #2:
You can see the list I made that I used to create my favorite craft purchases for 2018.
I realized that I could use one of these sturdy journals to start brainstorming video ideas, blog post ideas, my wish list…all things stamping. Sketches for cards and scrapbooks, doodle practice, lettering practice…you see where this is going. This one sits on my craft desk and I’m always pulling it out to jot down things to remember. The good ideas you forget unless you write them down. How does that saying go? “The biggest lie I tell myself is that I will remember that. I don’t need to write it down”
I’m writing that stuff down! That’s journal 2!
Journal #3:
This is the journal that I started this week. I created 3 categories of goals. For me at this point in my life I have my blog/business goals, my health and fitness goals, and my home DIY goals. I only have that one because we downsized to a fixer upper almost 2 years ago and I am on the 3 phase (the FINAL phase) of the DIY project list I created when we looked at the house and decided this was the one. (Next time, I want a move in ready place. This one is just so doggoned interesting!)
You will notice that I don’t have work goals for teaching. I always create those in August for the coming school year. I create a year plan and I’m in the middle of that plan now.
You will also notice that I don’t have organization as one of my goals. My house is pretty organized. I have a few things to tweak here and there, but all in all it is good. I made sure of that when I packed up the one house and unpacked all the stuff to this house. I donated a lot of things when we moved and I’m so happy I did that. Stuff builds up as you move from one phase of life to the next. Downsizing was the perfect time to donate things that weren’t being used and loved any more.
You will also notice there are no financial goals on my list. Several years ago…like 18 or 20 years ago, I set my financial goals. I had two kids to put through college, a mortgage, two kids to raise…the list goes on. I made a plan way back when and I’ve been sticking to it. I learned to live within my means and to save for the big things. Like college for the kids. We made that a priority in our financial plan. If you are still raising kids and facing college costs, I imagine that you need to have the financial goals. Those don’t go away until after the kids finish college and are out on their own. Unless you win the lottery or you are financially really well off to start. Make a financial plan and set some financial goals. At the very least, just listing these things will take some of the stress away. Living paycheck-to-paycheck is truly stressful, but a plan helps.
You will notice the health and fitness goals…still on the list! This has to be the year I tame the weight beast. I’m sick of that goal section. I feel like it is the only thing that I’ve truly failed at. I just have to do it. THIS IS THE YEAR!
Next year for 2020, I want my goals to read like this:
- Blog/business stuff
- Retire from teaching
- Sip some nice local wine by the pool and have my coffee on the pier in town at 6 AM. That’s right. I’ll be able to do that in 2020. (See goal 2.)
I only ever set 3 goal sections. More than that would overwhelm me. I only ever manage to get two of them done. Until this year! I also think my goals for 2020 are doable!
My goal pages list my dream for what I truly want to accomplish if there was nothing stopping me for that goal section.
Then I break it down into small manageable goals.
I also do copious research and have pages of quotes and a Google Doc filled with links to useful sites and information.
I also stamp or write inspirational and motivational quotes in each section.
I like a good inspirational quote.
For journal 3, I created some section tabs using a stamp and die set from Altenew called Tabbed and their patterned paper. I also created a stick of a gnome house and colored it in with some Copics and stuck it on the DIY page.
I already hate my February DIY goals…I have to get quotes for the roof, the driveway and having the 75 year old landscaping and sidewalk ripped out. I hate getting quotes and having the quote guys tramping around my house. Ugh.
On a happy note…I am going to paint the pantry, add some molding and nicer shelves and also some nice systems for holding the broom and stuff. I LOVE having a walk in pantry and I can’t wait to make it look nicer. It’s pretty organized, but it needs a coat of paint and some fixing up. I want it to be Pinterest worthy like my new shower!
(Ooohhh, does January say strip the kitchen cabinet doors? I’ve been dreading that chore too, but a coat of paint there will make the entire room look amazing!)
I hope I’m inspiring you to get started!
Here is a list of supplies you might find helpful:
Are you interested in the products I used? To make them easier for you to find, I have linked them below. (Affiliate disclosure ) Your purchases help keep my blog running at no additional cost to you and I thank you for the support!
I would love to hear how you use your journals and what kinds of goals you are setting this year!
