New You Plan! New Year Resolutions: Using a Note Book to Succeed!
Can you believe it….. 2024 is just a few days away! It’s that time of year when we start contemplating the concept of 'A New You'. Setting New Year's resolutions is not just about upholding traditions; they represent opportunities for setting goals for significant personal growth and improvement. It's a chance to begin again, with a clean slate, to get well on target with your goals and aspirations.
Photo credit: @keletters
Let's delve into why setting these resolutions is so beneficial and discover how using nothing more than a notebook or bullet journal can be your ultimate ally in this journey of reinventing your life.
The dawn of a new year seems to add a mysterious power to our resolutions! That’s because setting goals is a fantastic way to channel your energies towards what you truly desire to accomplish. Just remember - it's not about overnight transformations but rather about establishing achievable, meaningful objectives that contribute to your overall sense of well-being and happiness. It’s the journey that's important, not just the destination. In short, your resolutions are not about striving for unrealistic ideals; they are about crafting a resolution life that's balanced, realistic, and geared towards wholesome wellness.
In this spirit, a good resolution example might be something as simple as deciding to read more books, improve your physical fitness, or dedicate more time to self-care. Whatever it may be, it's about setting a course for a healthier, happier you.
New Year New You!
Before embarking on this journey of self-improvement, there’s one thing you mustn’t forget – making sure you have the right tools for the trip! This is a vital part of the process.
This is where favourite notebooks, some good gel pens and a weekly planner come into their own.
Why? Because a journal notebook has the potential to become your personal, portable wellness journal! It’s not just a place to record goals, but it’s also somewhere you can visualise and plan the steps needed to achieve them. It’s in this guise that a customisable notebook has the potential to transform into a physical manifestation of your resolutions and aspirations.
So, look on your humble dotted journal or note book with lined paper and see it in a new light - as a wellbeing journal – one that becomes your personal space for reflection and planning, as well as a celebration of progress. Each page turns into a canvas where you can track proceedings in a variety of ways, including habit trackers, reflection entries, or inspirational quotes.
A weekly planner pad – preferably one that is an undated planner - is also helpful. Put it on your wall and it can act as a highly visible aide memoire; a goal planner useful for allocating times and deadlines for your new activities and an at-a-glance guide to the progress you’re making towards your destination.
And don’t underestimate the power of a good pen and pencil! The right colouring pencils – we always recommend Faber Castell – as well as black pens and colouring pens will encourage even the most recalcitrant writer to engage with their personalised notebook!
5 Tips for Reinventing Your Life
As we countdown to 1 Jan 2024, now is the time to begin all your planning – so you start the new year as you mean to go on.
Photo credit: letsliveandlearn.com
Here are our 5 top suggestions to help you be successful when setting resolutions for the coming year:
- Be Specific: vague goals lead to vague results. You should aim for clear, precise objectives.
- Stay Realistic: it's important to challenge yourself, but goals should also be attainable, or you’ll just give up at the first hurdle.
- Break It Down: large goals can be overwhelming. Break them into smaller steps to make them more manageable.
- Track Progress: regularly checking in on your progress helps maintain motivation.
- Be Kind to Yourself: not every day will be perfect, and that's okay. Resilience is key.
A5 Notebook: THE Secret Weapon
Now, how can a notebook or bullet journal assist in this process? Let's delve into a few creative ways:
- Trackers: dedicate a section of your daily journal for setting and revising goals. Writing them down, looking at them frequently, makes them more tangible and real.
Photo credit: @cho.journals
- Habit Tracker: whether it’s drinking more water or reading daily, habit trackers can visually show your progress and inspire you to continue on your journey. They are very simple to create and provide an instant snapshot as to your progress.
- Sleep Tracker: good sleep is foundational to achieving other goals. Note your sleep patterns to ensure you’re getting enough rest. And, if not, analyse why.
Photo credit: makingmidlifematter.com
- Step Tracker: for those aiming to be more active, keeping a step log can be incredibly motivating. Try and achieve your target – and challenge yourself to beat your record.
- Food Diary: document your meals and water intake. This awareness can lead to healthier choices, as it keeps you accountable.
- Reflection Pages: regular reflection helps you understand what's working and what isn't. Use your notebook to jot down thoughts and feelings about your journey.
- Inspiration Pages: fill some pages with quotes, images, or anything else that inspires you to keep going. These can be invaluable when feeling demotivated.
The new year is the best time to start the journey to finding a new you! So, during this new year’s countdown, why not treat yourself to a personalised journal? Because this new notebook is more than just a collection of 160gsm paper pages; it's a personal toolkit for growth and achievement.
At The Ink Pot, we believe in the power of pens, paper, highlighters and a little washi tape, to give a great deal of pleasure and to transform lives! They are simple, easy to use tools that can inspire each small step towards achieving your dreams. So, here’s to a year of happy journaling; one of reaching your goals and discovering your best self! May 2024 be your most fulfilling yet!