Do you have Sunday night anxiety? I know the feeling. About 7:00 it sets in. It’s knowing Monday is just a night of rest away. You know what makes it even worse? When I haven’t been using my bullet journal. Yep, using your bullet journal can make Monday the best day of the week instead of the worst day. How, well by preparing with your bullet journal.
Preparation
Monday doesn’t have to be dreaded. As a mater of fact it can be almost pleasant and pain free. Preparation for Monday is the key to turning around the dreaded Sunday night. Sitting down on Sunday afternoon or Sunday evening and thinking the week out can be so calming. When I have the feeling of anxiety on a Sunday before I go to bed it is usually because I have not thought about the week.
Open up Your Calendar
I usually open the calendar up on my computer. It is a big screen and I can physically view the dates of the week ahead. Believe me at my age I have to be reminded of the dates on a regular basis. I don’t know why but I do. Looking at the dates first help me see what bills are coming up and when I get paid. Appointments are not the only reason to keep a bullet journal. Glancing at the dates helps remind me what week it is in the month and focus on the week I am starting.
Before The Month Starts
Before the month starts is the time you get to be a little creative. Being creative is really a stress reliever for me. I like to look at different pictures or themes on Pinterest for the month. If I haven’t already decided how I am going to decorate my monthly page Pinterest gives me inspiration. Sometimes I get inspiration from cards, other calendars or just whatever. I enjoy sitting down a month or two early and drawing something. If you do not fancy doodling or drawing, then don’t do it. Use stickers or scrap book accessories. There is a lot out there, so don’t make this part stressful. Just set your month up.
Don’t Reinvent The Wheel
This is a big beef for me. We don’t have to be the first to do something. If someone else already created a good idea, there is nothing wrong with copying them. Yes, there is nothing wrong with copying. That is what Pinterest is all about. People post on this search engine because they want you to copy them. So go there and look at the ideas posted. It is a great resource . Looking helps my own creative juices get going. You may see something you can do better.
Prepare for the Month First
Once you have set out the month, you are ready to go. It is so helpful to sit down each month at look at the big picture. This is when I put the days I get paid, bills that are monthly and appointments I ca remember. I also try to add birthdays I don’t want to forget and any weddings coming up. My son-in-law works for a college football team, so I try to add his home games as well. If the refrigerator is the place you post invitations to other things now is a good time to look there. Put everything in your bullet journal. You want to make life less stressful. Being prepared and organized will help.
Prepare for the Week
If you do a good job of setting up your month, then the Sunday night preparation for the week is not really bad. It can be a very reassuring to know before anything happens on Monday that preparations have already been made.
Somethings I Like To Do In My Bullet Journal
- I like to set 2 personal goals for the week . I sit down on Sunday night, look at the week ahead and get clarity for what is up. My 2 goals can be ANYTHING. Setting goals makes me more productive. So I have direction. Now the goals maybe finish a project I started or start a project I have been thinking about. I may even say “Finish a book I am reading.”
- What good does writing this down do? Remember when your teacher told you about good study habits? Writing something down imprints on your brain in a physical way. Use your bullet journal to help you accomplish more. I can hear the screams, “No I have a phone!” I promise you writing your goals down can help you so much.
- Keep track of birthdays. I hate to miss someone’s birthday. It hurts my feelings and probably theirs even more.
- The Bullet Journal gives me one place to write flight numbers, times and dates.
- Sometimes I am listening to a podcast or reading an article, I can quickly pick my journal up and jot down notes I want to remember. I like to jot quotes here and scripture that inspires me.
Don’t Leave Home Without It
Seriously, for you to be successful at Bullet Journaling you have to keep it with you at all times. If you keep it beside your bed it does you no good. You want to glance at it in the morning and use it during the day. So take it everywhere you go.
I have been using this Bullet Journal for a few years now. It is hardback and has dots on the page. The dots make it easy to journal in and draw on.
Make your Monday the best day of the week. Take the time to prepare for your months and weeks before they start. Use the bulletin journal to organize and control your days. Create your own individual calendar. Writing down your appointments and goals will help frame the day and give you some direction. Don’t get bogged down in the details. As a matter of fact keep it as simple as you would like or as detailed as you would like. Make it yours, not someone else’s. Honestly, Janet
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