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We are one month into 2019! Time really has been flying!
Last month everyone created new resolutions or better yet — goals for the year. How are you doing with those after one month? Are you on track? Do you need encouragement to maintain your focus or have all of your plans kind of fallen apart already?
Use a Journal
Perhaps you should consider writing things down in a journal
Have you ever had an experience that showed you how helpful it can be to write things down? You can actually use your writing ability to help break down the list of things that you need to do to arrive at your desired result. Some people have turned that skill into businesses that help people to gain control over their lives.
Without organization, it’s easy to feel lost, but this article will show you how to use your journal to visualize your goals.
Pick a Good Time
To get started, you have to make sure that you have some time set aside so that you can focus on this task. It doesn’t matter what else is going on that day as long as you have some kind of quiet time where you can sit down and do some serious thinking and recording of your ideas. For some people, the early morning is an ideal time to visualize your plans. Typically, most people and their families are still asleep at this time, so you can sit down during this quiet time and get some things figured out.
Like the Noise — Use It!
Whichever times you pick should lend well to the task of prioritization of your aspirations. Every person is different so if you’re used to a lot of noise and bustle, then you might not be as bothered by the presence of people while you’re looking at your goals. People who require more concentration, however, might need to find time during a day off, or a day where they avoid any kind of interaction with other people online or on their phones.
What Journaling Can Do for You
What is your reason for journaling? People journal for a lot of different reasons. Here we are discussing a very specific way that you can use your journal as a tool. One way that journaling can help you to visualize and attain your goals is through allowing you to focus and solve your current problems. Likewise, it can help you to identify the exact things that need to be fixed.
Writing It Down Makes It Tangible
When you write things down, you’re giving your mind a tangible affirmation that will help you make your dreams a real thing. The primary difference between real plans and imagined plans is that real plans involve taking steps to get to the goal. Imagined plans are vague ideas that don’t have real focus at all. The only thing you’ll usually know about those imagined plans will be that you want to do something. After all, you haven’t spent any time trying to learn how you’re going to get there.
Another great thing about listing your goals is that they give you a chance to reflect on the things that make you feel gratitude in life. Examples of journals that might help with this are New Year, New Beginning and A Grateful Heart — both on sale on my Amazon Page.
Goal Setting: Busy vs. Productive
A lot of people fail to realize the difference between being busy and being productive. People who are busy are always worrying about random tasks that won’t allow them to make real progress they can enjoy. Productive people execute carefully reviewed plans that allow them to make leaps that improve their lives. Much of this is done through reviewing details over and over again until the productive person feels like they know the plan inside and out.
You can use the journal to hash out the details while you are reviewing. It adds clarity to your thoughts and can serve as a guide you if get confused.
Give Your Mind a Break
There are certain things that your mind requires that will make you healthier. Much like after physical workouts, your body requires rest periods. Many of the same principles are at work during study and work periods. You don’t need to be preoccupied all day. Balance is an important part of growth. As a rule, when things become imbalanced, you won’t function as well and your work will suffer.
Disconnect Yourself
While you probably won’t always have a 7-day span to rest and replenish, it’s good to try and have a day where you disconnect yourself from the rest of the world. Especially when it comes to your work. You’ll need to find some time to get this kind of rest. When you’re not under as much obligation, it would probably be a great time to sit and think about how you’re going to accomplish a few goals. It’s a perfect time to visualize what you want and where you want to be. As a matter of fact, giving yourself a rest will allow you to process things a lot more clearly once you’ve completed a rest period.
After this period of disconnection, you can write down everything in your journal. Your mind was clearer. You want to write down the things that you visualize while they are still fresh in your head.
Find Somewhere Outside of Your Daily Grind
The best way to utilize time off would be to find a spot that’s completely outside your normal scene. That way, you won’t have any emotions tainting your experience. It’ll be a blank slate with no expectations other than to be able to rest. Take full advantage of this time because it’s going to help you to come back with renewed excitement.
If you’re hitting a wall in reaching your goals this year, it’s good to kick-start your goals with a journal. As you visualize where you want to go and each specific step, you can be more successful.
If you are just starting your journaling journey, you may have questions about how to get started. Here is a free guide about some introductory tools that you can use in your journals.
Loving Life–The Reboot!
Dominique
Comments
Great tips. I definitely need to get better with writing my goals down and making sure I achieve them on time. Getting a journal would definitely help.
Author
I agree! Thank you for reading!
Journaling totally works. If you don’t set your goals down, it is harder to measure your progress and actually achieve them. I’m a big proponent of getting things down in order to truly commit.
Author
Writing down your goals and the steps you plan to take is so very helpful! Thanks for reading!
I love your thoughts on busy vs productive. I find that I am only truly happy in my work when I am very productive. I get the most energy during those days.
Author
It’s so easy to be busy and get nothing done! Being productive does make you feel great, doesn’t it? Have a wonderful day!
I use to love journaling when I was younger but I have gotten so use to typing.. hence why I blog! I now do some basic bullet journaling and it’s been so helpful! I’m definitely going to try to keep it up this year to really help with my year goals!
Author
I used to keep a dairy! But I really want to reach my goals here so I am going to stay focused (my word for the year) to get there. Thank you for reading!
Journaling is a good idea to note down our aims and then work on it. I did a lot of journaling in past but now I don’t make time for it but I think I should start doing it again.
Author
It’s helpful — I agree! IF you start again, let us know how it goes! Have a great day!
I love this post and I love journaling and using my organizer to keep myself on track. I cannot get into the electronic journaling like my kids use… I prefer writing things down as it truly helps me to soak it in and remember things better and I guess I am old school now…. but it works for me and I love it. I have a Gratitude Journal now and am going to begin using that as well. Thanks for sharing this beautiful post!
Author
Thank you so much! I have a problem with electronic journals as well — I like to write it down! Have a wonderful day!
I love to journal my thoughts and goals. Journaling is one way that I stay organized. One of your pieces of advice was if you like the noise to use it. I always have my kids around so I am used to a lot of noise when I do my thinking and journaling.
I also like your advice to find somewhere outside your daily grind. I am trying to get out of my comfort zone more when it comes to what to write about.
Author
I have quiet during the day and noise at night, I am used to both 🙂 Thanks for reading! Have a great day!
I love journaling but I realize I havent been able to keep one up weekly. But I have always written and journaled.
Author
Well you can pick a schedule that works for you! Thanks for reading!
I use to like to write down things because it made me realize it needs to be done. Since I’ve been away at training, I understand why. I am an Executor (when it comes to a team), so seeing myself check a box makes me realize I accomplished something.
Author
Writing it down may not look the same for everyone — use what works for you! Have a lovely day!
Oh this is so good!!! I really want and need to journal more and have a Pinterest board to help me with getting started. I’ve pinned your post!
Author
Thank you so much! I have other posts on my blog that talk about journaling if you need any more tips! Thanks for reading!
I love journaling and it it a great way to achieve your goals. I enjoyed reading your pos. It is vert informative.
Author
Journaling is cool, isn’t it? Thank you for reading! I hope you have a wonderful evening!
I like the idea of writing down my thoughts. I also have a calendar of tasks I need to complete and notes I write down about ideas I have. It helps me keep my mind more organised.
Author
Me too. Otherwise, I would lose appointments and tasks! Thanks for reading and have a great day!
I have always been into journaling. I find that it helps me to process what I’m thinking and feeling. It definitely helps me to process my goals as well.
These are some awesome tips to help you achieve your goals. I found in the past, I would just do busy work but wasn’t really doing anything that was really helping me reach my goal. I followed a few of these suggestions and it helped heaps!
I have really tried the journaling thing. Blogging almost works better when it comes to working through my thoughts on something. When I journal I think I’m too close to everything and it takes me months before I can go back and look at what I wrote and feel the power of my own words come to life. I have a hard time using it to build something. Maybe I have gone about it all wrong.
Author
I believe that everyone has to find the method that works for you. Some people can write down everything — others just need to write notes or lists. Besides blogging is a form of journaling — you are writing down your thoughts! Have a great day!
Having a journal can indeed do wonders in terms of bringing out ideas as well as goals and motivations.
Author
Very true! Thank you for reading!
Amazing tips and you said it so right. Morning is the best time for thinking on how to set, prioritize and accomplish our goals!
Author
I am a morning person! Thank you for reading!
Love all these tips! I definitely need to do everything and start setting goals for my self.
Author
Thank you! Good luck with your goals! HAve a great day!
This post aligns with my goals 100%. There are so many tips that I plan to use daily. Thanks!
Author
Thanks! I am glad you enjoyed the post. Have a good one!
One of the best ways of obtaining our goals is be organized. Journaling sure could help to make those goals possible.
Author
Great point! Thanks for reading!
Journaling is such a nice idea to go with your goals. I have stopped it for some years. Need to start it again.
Author
I hope you find it helpful! Thanks for reading!
Actually, my goal is a blog post per day. So it could fall into any of my blogs. And I couldn’t seem to do it. Maybe I should write it down already.
Author
I used to post 3 times a week (still do sometimes) and it was a challenge. Maybe work up to it? Good luck and have a beautiful day!