I recently finished The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I had heard of the book before, but really had no intention of reading it. It wasn't even on my list, but as luck would have it, found it while perusing the library shelves. I found some parallels with what I've been personally trying to do and will take on a few things that the author has done. The first takeaway action item for me is to write my own Personal Commandments - things that I believe in and will hopefully dictate my actions for the year. Not really realizing it, I have been doing this for years now. I would write the Top 5 Resolutions and put it into a frame. The challenge with a Resolution is sometimes it gets misconstrued as Goals so I am taking a different approach on how to differentiate them and how my Personal Commandments come into play.
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Personal Commandments
My Personal Commandments are fairly broad and generic and kind of pie in the sky thinking, but they don't have deadlines, but instead are guiding principles which hopefully I can reference to each day. Things like "Do It Today" to help with procrastination. "Get Sunlight and Fresh Air Everyday" which seems inconsequential, but can actually boost mood and overall well being. "Walk It Off" to encourage me to move. "Smile on Rainy Days" so I don't let the weather affect my mood or my language. Another one is to "Get Creative" and not to take the first solution that comes to mind.
I'm still trying to think of more so will write them down as I think of them.
Goals
With regards to goals, I'm following the SMART method and the chunking method. I've written some high level goals that I want to accomplish this year and will eventually break them down throughout the year, but I wanted these to be less pie in the sky and more attainable and something that I can cross off at the end of a certain time period. Because I like to compartmentalize things, my goals are all related to the tenets I cover in my blog: Health, Environment, Adventure, Personal Finance, and Minimalism.
The Process
Free Journal Printables & Inserts for 2019.
To help me track these goals, I've done a few things. I opted out of purchasing a pre-templated planner or journal (I used Ink and Volt in 2017 ), but instead made my own high-level templates. These templates are meant to track shorter time frames and smaller goals. Get these templates emailed to you. I've also included prompts to get me thinking about why I'm doing what I'm doing. I've made these so that when printed, they fit into an A5 notebook.
I opted to purchase smaller notebooks this time around and bought these 25-page recycled dotted notebooks. I purchased the 3-pack and will be splitting the notebooks into the following:
Book Notes (because I read a lot and take notes)
Personal Commandments and Goals (to track my progress and thoughts)
Daily (to track my to do lists, doodles, etc.)
I've also decided that I want to try using the bullet journal process this year. I've never taken notes or written to-do lists like these before so it's a bit of the beaten path for me, but my other Commandment is to "Get Creative" and I believe this will help me to that. It will also help me really sit down and think about what I'm doing, my goals, and my next actions.
I just recently went through a Skillshare class on Line Botanical Drawings to exercise my creativity for bullet journaling and it's making it fun to enter things into my journal.
I'm all about process and sometimes can be considered a systems thinker. In my past life, I've implemented a fair amount of efficiency software for companies which I love to do so time will will tell how efficiently I can keep up with this method. So far I've already created and printed out the templates. Bought the notebooks and have started my Personal Commandments and my 2018 Goals.
Some might say, this is a lot to do, but you know what, I like it and my other Commandment is to do what I want.
Free Journal Printables & Inserts for 2019. Click to get it.
Happiness is work.
Do you agree or disagree with that statement?
I had the chance to read and review the book The Happy Mind: A Simple Guide to Living a Happier Life Starting Today by Kevin Horsley and Louis Fourie. This book is about the dynamics of what constitute happiness and I think deep down we all know what these are, but may have forgotten these basic and simple rules in our busy lives and our distracted world.