A Confession of Unfinished Projects

February 19, 2018 2 Comments

How unfinished projects seem to take over my life, and how I broke out of a rut and coaxed creativity to come out of hiding.

I get all wrapped up in so many big and small projects. Then thinking that the best way to get the things done, I constrain my creativity and it all backfires, and a week later I’m waking up from a veritable coma of uninspired late nights where I accomplished nothing except me feeling sorry for myself and the amazement of how much time has passed.

A Confession of Unfinished Projects

I confess: I’ve fallen into a slump, I tried to blame it on ‘monthly’ woes, but that’s not going to work anymore. I just can’t find the motivation to do the things that I usually do. There are so many unfinished projects needing attention that I don’t know where to start. Moping around for the past few days wishing I had the energy or the deep-down willpower to just muscle through skip a few days of sleep to get everything done.

I know many people fall into this dazed state where they don’t know where to begin or what needs attention the most. For me, it’s unedited raw videos sit waiting on my hard drive. Images in various stages of editing, and ideas floating around my head and never doing anything about them. All of these unfinished projects vie for a snippet of time, and I am trying to keep them all straight but never focus on one.

There is my problem.

The Problem

The problem is my focus (or lack of focus). Choosing one thing during a block of time to complete (and be entirely done) and then move to the next. The other problem is trying to remember everything. Um… I bullet journal remember? That magical dotted notebook is supposedly the keeper of my secrets, my tasks, my second brain! That’s a big problem, and I wasn’t using the most obvious solution to help me organize these projects.

How Did I Get Here?

Recognizing the path that brought me to this point is essential so I don’t repeat the same mistake again. Why didn’t I just use the obvious solution of using my bullet journal to organize these unfinished projects?

I realized that the reason I didn’t use a bullet journal to organize myself is that I am moving into a new notebook and haven’t transferred over spreads yet. In fact, to combat having to go through this move situation in the future, I am moving into two notebooks: one for planning and one for collections.

In the middle of that transition… well… I decided to put together some tutorials using my real-life experience to create these tutorials. But since I was moving into a new notebook, I had nothing to guide me and tried to do it all in my brain and became overwhelmed. If I had had a journal to help me keep the tutorials straight, I would not be in this mess. Aaaaaah, classic catch 22.

The Solution for Unfinished Projects – Why Didn’t I Think of That Before?

In my collections notebook, I made a list of my unfinished projects. HUGE ‘duh’ moment – why didn’t I think of that before? I considered scrawling a quick list of projects. Unfortunately, that is the type of list I will ignore once it’s written. If I’ve learned anything about myself by bullet journaling, it’s that it’s got to be ‘pretty.’ I feel like a bee attracted to beautiful and fragrant flowers. But in this case, I didn’t want to spend a lot of time creating this ‘project list’.

I lettered the title and then sketched in the projects – but I left it unfinished. Fitting for a page that highlighted the unfinished projects in my life. I decided to ‘finish’ the boxes one-by-one as I completed each project. Once the page was complete, I’d create another ‘unfinished projects’ page and continue the trend.

Unfinished Projects Bullet Journal Spread

The Solution: Have a Keeping Place

Mind-map is one of my favorite ways to layout ideas on a page. For one thing, it doesn’t place importance on any one idea. You start with a central theme and spread out. There are apps and software to create intricate mind maps, but mine rarely go more than a couple of levels deep. For example, my 10-minute task list was a mind map.

Keep It Organized

Even if I am in the middle of moving notebooks, I need to make sure I have a place to keep ideas organized. When I organize my ideas, it makes ME feel more organized and confident. When I am confident, I’m pretty sure I can take on the world.

It’s Got To Be Pretty

Oh, and it needs to have a pretty header. Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and a place for quick note-taking and ‘brain dumps’ but if I intend to spend any time on the page, it has to be attractive. The goal here is to choose a project and get it done not feel more scatterbrained after I look at the page.

This spread is a ‘brain dump’ or idea log of sorts, but it’s more than that. It’s a place where I can sort through all unfinished items and figure out where to focus first. And knowing where to focus is what got me into trouble in the first place.

The After-Effects of This Realization

As I unleashed my creativity and watched my brush pen slowly mark the page lettering the words ‘Unfinished Projects’. I made another realization: when I restrict my creativity and restrain myself from writing, drawing, painting or creating in any form because these do not complete the to-do list I rebel and instead do nothing.

‘Idea Keeping’ is Like Beekeeping?

I’m going to think of this page as ‘idea keeping’ kind of like beekeeping without the stings and the buzzing. If I want the sweet stuff (finished projects), I need to have a place for the bees (ideas) to come home but allow them the freedom to explore, just like giving myself creative freedom to explore. (This is a fun idea! I think I may have to see where that one takes me).

Allow Creativity

There will be some days that are more productive than others. If I have learned anything from this experience, it is that creativity spurs my productivity and restricting frustrates me. Taking a lesson from the 10-minute task list, if I need to get things done but am itching to create something, I need to give myself just a few minutes and listen to my inner muse without restriction. Doing this frees my brain to think and organize subconsciously, which, ironically is just the thing that I need.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies when it comes to productivity and creativity.

Choose the First Thing

I’ve honest so far, so here’s a little more honesty. I am going to choose the easiest thing to check off my list and ignite the momentum. It feels good to get something done, and now that is important to keep me going. I feel the spark again, and it’s lovely. I am sure there will be follow-ups to this post. This breakthrough in creativity has spurred many other ideas. It’s nice to have the spark alive in my soul again.

Question:

What do you do to break out a slump?

My solutions are:

realize why I got here (to prevent for the future)
write down all the things I need to do
make it pretty (so I want to look at it again)
allow time for creativity and not restrict it (helps me mentally sort through the tasks)
choose something from the list and get it done to create momentum (choosing the easiest thing is the fastest way to create that momentum)

All of this will enable me to focus which is essential for feeling accomplished. I know I don’t get anything done when I bounce around from thing to thing, but if I give myself 10 minutes to do something that has bothered me, I can then turn my attention to other tasks done.

I’d love to know what you do let me know in the comments below.

Remember to plan your life so you live beautifully and don’t be afraid to find your inner muse.

~Tricia

Medicine Tracker – I Don’t Have to Remember Everything!

February 8, 2018 2 Comments

It’s So Nice to NOT Have to Remember Everything!

A few weeks ago, my baby was not feeling well. I took the poor little guy to the doctor and came home with 3 separate medicines 3 times per day for two weeks. I knew that I would have to wrack my brain to remember when I had given him the last dosage. Then try to remember if I gave him all nine dosages of medicine the day before. I just knew I was going to forget dosages. Then knowing when to stop was the other issue. So what did I do? Created a quick medicine tracker spread in my Bullet Journal of course!

medicine tracking spread, use your bullet journal to remember for you

The Medicine Tracker

Each column has the dosages per day and the rows were the dates. Each day I would mark off the medicine without too much effort to remember what I did or did not do. Except for maybe one day, I successfully administered all the dosages and thankfully, the little guy is feeling better.

Before I started planning with a bullet journal – I would have just tried to remember. Thankfully, now I don’t have to remember everything. I write it down, then out of habit, I check my planner and do the things I am supposed to. What a relief. Medicine tracker to the rescue!

I’d Love to Know: What uncommon trackers do you use in your planner or bullet journal?

Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Remember to plan your life so you live beautifully.

~Tricia

Plan With Me: February Monthly Calendar Doodles (+Video)

February 4, 2018 3 Comments

Monthly Calendar Doodles

February just seems ‘doodle-y’ to me. With all the hearts and candy and the flowers and the hearts (oh wait, I said that). It just seems like it needs some extra swirls and flourishes. Is it me? It must be just me. All of those things were the inspiration for my monthly calendar doodles. From the font I used in February to the banner and the leaves floating across the page.

New Video Format – Created to Provide Inspiration for You

Yay or Nay?

I do have to say that I really love the format of the new videos. The new format is slowing it down and talking through the process. I had someone on YouTube tell me that it felt like I was talking to a friend That is exactly the way I want it to feel. Since I really want to inspire people out there and if I run everything at x2500 speed, well, it seems just overwhelming, especially to someone new or if you would like to get some ideas.

This really struck me when I wrote the last blog post (Bullet Journal Fails – when you make a mistake) that there are so many out there who are in need of inspiration and sometimes inspiration is best served in a more meaningful way and not rushed. But it matters what you think – so let me know Yay or nay!

Monthly Calendar Doodles Plan With Me

Watch the video and see me plan out my monthly calendar doodles and let me know what you think of this format. I will do some smaller snippets and hyper-lapse videos as well. (for one thing, they are a lot of fun to create!) If you like to see a little more of my ‘behind the scenes’ thought process as shown in this video, please let me know below in the comments or on the video comments on YouTube.

Back to My Roots

I decided this month to go back to my roots of drawing – which was in essence doodling. Since my yearly theme is ‘grow’ there is no better place to start growing than by strengthening my roots. I used to doodle in class ALL the time. It never failed… a teacher or professor thought I was just whittling the time away before I could bolt through the door to my next class. I was called out so many times in various classes and asked if I was paying attention. My notes were not like the other student’s notes. I had circles and squares and repeating patterns. Sometimes no words existed on my pages.

When an instructor would stop me in these cases, usually with a sneer, they would ask me if I could repeat anything they had just said. I would rapid fire a complete detail of their lesson thus far, including dates, names, important events, and the like. I knew it then but never articulated that doodling helped me pay attention. Invariably I excelled in the classes that I doodled my notes.

Sketchnoting

Since then there are many books written about doodling and ‘sketchnoting’ (see this lovely list at Amazon). I must have been on something and wish I would have explored it further then. In fact, I’ve checked this one out from the library and I can’t wait to see what it says.

One of my friends I met through hosting a challenge on Instagram (@Karinlibrarian) has written her own book on Sketchnoting in school. She also has another Instagram account @365DaysofSketchnotes and it’s like a visual diary. I’ve done a couple and will post them later. I am looking forward to getting that one and reading her thoughts on the benefits of sketching notes. (Here’s her page on Amazon.)

So Why is This Significant Now?

There are a couple of reasons why this is significant to me now. One I have some BIG ideas that I would love to get ready for you and doodling helps me focus. Just as I experienced the focus when I was earning my high school and college degrees. I need that focus to sort through all the ideas swimming through my head.

Secondly, I am working very hard to accept my method of drawing. As I said in the video, I would love to do hyper-realistic paintings, but my current style is not hyper-realistic. It is more fun and whimsical. I see the style all over – it never seems to die. But because it is not what I expect of myself, I do not accept it as ‘good’. That is one thing I would like to accept of myself. So a whole month of doodles seems like a perfect first step.

What Else is New:

This month I am also trying out ‘color-coded’ repeating tasks. I have a key down at the bottom with a color showing which days coordinate with that event. Another new thing on this monthly spread is that the days of the week are at the bottom it was where they fit the best.

One thing that is not new: I forgot to cross the T on my Saturday. I’ve forgotten this for several months. I have since crossed that ‘t’ and dotted the ‘i’ in Friday but none of the pictures show that. The last thing that is new for me on this calendar is that I am scheduling my blog posts with my daily personal appointments.

February Monthly Calendar Doodles - whimsical leaves & banners and handlettered text + Video process

Here’s Your Question:

I am trying to change my opinion of my drawing style and accept it for what it is and not being unhappy with it. What would you like to accept of yourself?

Remember to plan your life so you live beautifully and don’t be afraid to find your inner muse.

~Tricia

January Review: Hello February (What’s Changing & Staying) + Video

January 28, 2018 4 Comments

Hello February – Bullet Journal Changes (and content!)

Wasn’t it just the Christmas season and we were all anticipating the upcoming new year and making incredible plans for 2018? I’m pretty sure that was yesterday. But instead, my January weekly spreads are almost filled and my calendar called for me to start working towards February. I liked January’s theme: transportation, but the last couple of posts were definitely not as inspired as the first couple weeks (see the January Fails post).

After trying to refine my style of videos and content, but I’m never completely ready with my monthly layouts and all that glitter by the time the next month rolls around. (I kind of like to do them as I go sometimes too!) I really like the idea of a review of the last month and a preview of the new month.

January Review and the Preview of February’s Plans

I’ve themed my months recently. Every once in a while I like to make the month very structured and less whimsical. That’s the beauty of the bullet journaling system, it can change every month or stay the same. Whatever suits your own needs.

February I wanted to bring back all the structure and get things done. But it was just not in the pages. I think I erased 12 different layouts.

Here’s what I really wanted to do: doodle. I want to go back to my roots of drawing and doodle. Doodling for me is almost a mindless meditation activity where I can let my brain meander through its plaguing thoughts or develop ideas and strategies.

I left the weeklies open for interpretation and I would like to fill them with doodles but each week would be themed with doodles in hopes it will give ideas and inspiration.

What Worked in January & This Month’s Bullet Journal Changes

I did a lot of watercolor art in January (using markers – see the post here + video where I explain it in greater detail). I would love to do hyper-realistic drawings but I have discovered that it is not {currently} my style. One thing that I really like is a thin outline around the drawings. It seems to clean up the edges and defines the drawing. I did this with the bullet train in my Future Log – but only in some parts of the drawing. I feel like it gives more emphasis to certain areas of the drawing. (There’s a tip of the day!)

Future Log

For my next planner (which I hope to start in March) – I will carry over my future log. I know it sounds silly to create a future log when I have only a couple month’s left in this journal, but it keeps all the future important events right at my fingertips. There’s no way I would have excluded this spread. One thing I would add to the future log is a section for beyond the current year (in this case, a place to record events for 2019 and beyond.)

January Monthly Calendar

I like to keep all events for the month together at a glance. I’ve tried the log style a couple of times, but I struggle with it. Maybe if I had events that spanned several days it would work to my benefit (i.e. if I traveled for work or if I had several mini-vacations planned in a month – wouldn’t that be nice!).

In general, my family doesn’t have a lot of plans that consume this calendar, just some important events (when the kids are off school) and a few miscellaneous appointments here and there.

For the design – again outlining the plane made such a difference to the overall look of the painting. The stripes on the wings and coming along the back are my favorite additions to this page. Using the gelly roll pen for shine is another favorite. (Tip: let your pages dry COMPLETELY before using the gelly roll. You will see a bigger difference in how bright the white is. In other words, learn patience. I still haven’t learned this!)

Planning Consistently – Use What You Already Have, Don’t Add Something New

One thing that I do need to plan more consistently and a monthly calendar would help is planning blog posts, YouTube videos, newsletter etc. So I think I will start including those plans on my monthly calendar so I can see them all together and work more efficiently. I thought about adding another calendar for tracking these items – but why not use the calendar I already have (that has room!).

Habit & Mood Tracker

I adore the ribbon script-style font and how vibrant the title is for this page. I received several comments on Instagram that people liked the look of the words. That usually indicates that I should make a tutorial. Let me know your interest level for a tutorial how to do that type of lettering.

The black & gray marks on the tracker stand out and I like the consistent look. (Perhaps using black makes the tracker look more complete?) That may change month to month, but I like the look now.

Making designs on my habit tracker (within each of the squares) has been a failed attempt every. single. time. I usually forget which direction my lines need to go and I mess up the pattern within a couple of days. This doesn’t mean that I am going to stop trying. Maybe I need to have a template reminder in the corner.

Habit Tracker Definitions

I generally just keep a mental list of what each habit’s expectations are and mark them based on my definition but I will write them down this coming month for a couple of reasons. One: I don’t have to remember it. Two: consistency in tracking – with defined terms written down I will know I fulfilled my own expectations. I do not plan on being too rigorous, but just so I know if I fulfilled the commitment.

Tracking items I will keep for next month:

Combine wake up times 5:30/6 by separating the space with a diagonal slash so this indicator doesn’t take up two rows
Prayers, study & journal (I would like to write to my kids in their own journals I got for Christmas)
No Spend & Make Dinner
Straighten & Clean
Kind words

Tracking Items I am adding:

Yoga
Blog
Kid Time (I forgot to add that to January and I missed it as a great reminder to spend a few minutes each day talking to each child or just playing)
No Soda/No Sugar
8×8 Water (8 oz x 8 servings)

One thing to note:

I am REMOVING dishes! Woo! (Here is the initial post of why dishes were the bane of my existence. In last month’s mid-month habit review, I decided I could successfully remove it). We will see if I actually formed a habit or if I just think I did.

Circular Mood Tracker

The circular mood tracker really works well, but will change from a numbering system simply because adding up the numbers for an average was a lot of math and I tended to calculate incorrectly (did I already add that number?). I like the idea of a 1-5 scale so I think I will assign a color to each number on the scale.

Tracker Additions

In January I added a blog post, video & product tracker (which doesn’t have a set quantity, just a goal. Also continuing from January is the little weekly cleaning tracker. I am amazed at my “have 10 minutes?” post has changed my thought process and inspiration for those pesky projects and mighty to-do lists. This is one thing I will most definitely continue and I will develop more related to it.

One Line Per Day

One line per day wasn’t necessarily a flop, but it wasn’t successful either. Many times I went back to a specific date to add notes. This is a great idea as it was a challenge for me to list out “Only Good Things” but I will need to rethink the process.

Coming Projects

Overall, January has been a great month FILLED with ideas and inspiration which I hope continues to the next months. Because I want to dedicate more time to projects, I needed to scale back the weekly videos and editing so I can have time to complete new projects.

Video Overview

Watch the video overview of January below and get some sneak-peeks of what is in store for February. Let me know what you think in the comments or if you have ideas and suggestions.

Remember to plan your life so you live beautifully and don’t be afraid to find your inner muse.

~Tricia

January Week #4: My Bullet Journal Fails (so far) & What You Should Do if You Fail

January 25, 2018 6 Comments

Bullet Journal Fails - why I'm okay with it and what you should do if you fail too

I see lots of comments on Facebook all the time in various groups “I hate the spread I created, I want to throw this notebook away or just start a new one” or “I’m going to rip this page out” or just simple questions “what do you do if you hate your spread in your bullet journal?” Here is my experience dealing with bullet journal fails.

Inspired by January’s Ugly Spread

If you’re coming over here from Instagram – you probably saw the quote lettering video snippet (if you aren’t coming here from Instagram – here’s a link to that post so you can check it out, and while you’re at it, follow me over there…you’ll get to see all the stuff I don’t post here).

Bullet journal page fails - get back up and try again

Ugly Spreads So Far (well… a few of them)

So here’s a list of the spreads that I hate in my bullet journal. I’ll let you know right now it’s not a complete list. Some of my fails I used through the week. Some of them I turned the page, one I taped two pages together. But the point is, I moved on. When I first started this bullet journal journey, I used a ring-bound set so I could remove pages if I messed up on them. But I became so paranoid about messing up, I would only use one side of the sheet and I felt like that was just a waste and it felt incomplete.

My desire to be perfect all the time and have every page look amazing paralyzed me! It wasn’t until I decided that I would just (ahem) bite the bullet and use a bound notebook. It was at that time that I would finally give myself the freedom to ‘mess up’.

What to do when pages don't work - Bullet Journal Fails, advice & Ideas

When You Make a Mistake

First of all – you are doing this with pen and paper. There is no undo or back button. Life doesn’t have an undo or back button. I am a firm believer that mistakes happen and it is how we deal with them afterward that makes the biggest difference in our character.

For the most part, if I make a mistake in my videos, I tend to keep it in the video. I want you to know that I am not perfect and you should not expect yourself to be perfect either. Expecting perfection is debilitating and will only do you harm.

Instagram tracker page mistake, water painted over and quote written on top - Bullet Journal Fails

I Keep Mistakes – Or Fix Them with Whiteout

Whether you call them Bullet Journal Fails or not, your bullet journal will have mistakes. It will have spreads you do not like. Watch the video on my January 2018 Future Log – and you can see where I make the mistake. It’s at about 30 seconds into the video. In this case, I just used a little whiteout tape (yes, one of my best friends) and moved on. The tape is not exactly the same color as the page, but it doesn’t matter in the long run. I barely notice after I use correction tape, in fact when I review the page I am surprised sometimes to find it there.

Pro Tip: I buy my correction tape in bulk (really) and take one with me wherever I go. There are smaller packs for ‘on the go’.

Mistakes will happen that white out can’t fix. So what do you do about those times?

Suggestions:

Here are some suggestions and tips from someone who has messed up in their bullet journal.

After bullet journaling for less than a month, Amy @purplescapedesign (check her out on Instagram) said: “I’ve misspelled words and it’s by no means perfect but it’s mine and it works for me so I’m happy!”

Realize that this book is yours and yours only. It doesn’t matter what other people do or don’t do. I think this book is a conduit to happiness so don’t let it be something that makes you feel bad about yourself.

Misspelled words – write on it “oops” or “oh well” and move on – I misspelled “horrible” on my December Habit Tracker
Missed days – so sometimes you include two Fridays in a week. I’d be ok with that in real life, but to fix it in your bullet journal, white it out and simply write next to it “oops, meant Thursday” and seriously move on.
Turn the page into something else
- Put a sticker the size of your page on top of your mistake.
- Glue or tape two sheets together (I would not recommend Elmer’s glue – I would say to use permanent adhesive.
- I watercolored over this page – and added a quote over top
One thing that I commonly do – just turn the page. Seriously, I just turn the page and move on.
Washi Tape is your friend. You know those piles of washi tape just sitting in your drawer but never touched? Dust them off. Use them to cover up your mistakes.

Examples of page fails my bullet journal from unused trackers (and bad ideas) to messy pages and washi-cover ups. Bullet Journal Fails happen.

The Technical Reason Why You Shouldn’t Tear out Pages

I had a fear of the bound journals because I couldn’t remove pages if I messed up. I knew from past experience with other bound journals that once you tear out a page, it never is the same. Unless the book is ‘glue bound’ where each page is glued to the spine individually, they are actually a bigger sheet of paper folded in half and stitched into sections then the separate sections are bound together.

That’s why on some pages if you look down the center, you will see a thin string running down the page. That page is the center of that section. But each page is connected somewhere on the other side. If you tear out one page, it’s connected page won’t hold in the binding and will fallout.

When one page falls out, it loosens the stitching and makes it so the other pages aren’t held in as tightly. I cringe whenever I hear people say they are just going to tear it out because if they do that, I am sure they will ruin their whole book and be even more upset. Besides that – the torn edges (because who can tear straight) will still be in the book and will be another source of frustration.

Think About This:

One thing that people forget – this spread will be in your life for a day or a week. If it’s on a monthly or yearly log, you won’t refer to it very often. Your life does not revolve around this mistake. And when you turn that page for the next day’s or week’s spread, you’ll forget all about this mistake.

I remember more details about the time in my life where I made a mistake than where I had a perfect layout. And it’s not just remembering the mistake, the details are clearer to me and the memories more vibrant. It’s kind of nice.

Bullet Journal Fails: Smudged words and a page so bad I taped it together

Lessons Learned from my Bullet Journal Fails

When I started in a bound book, I told myself it was a test of being able to forgive myself for mistakes. The second part of the test is to move on either by fixing the problem and finding a solution or by just turning the page. This, perhaps, has been the greatest thing that bullet journaling has ever taught me.

Two Things You Shouldn’t Do – A Challenge For You:

So the first thing you shouldn’t do I listed above – don’t tear out a page. The second thing is more important: don’t give up. Here is a page of quotes I created after I smeared the ink on the quote. I thought it was a great page to turn into a spread of mistakes quotes.

Page fail quotes - mess up on a page? Add quotes to it.

Remember to plan your life so you live beautifully and don’t be afraid to ‘fail’.

~Tricia