Journaling

[Eileen K.]

Does anyone here do some kind of journaling/planning? Bullet, Quilter's Planner, etc? I'd love to get some discussions going about setting up a journal along with people here. Anyone up for it? Could be fun!

[Eileen K.]

I’m up for the discussion.
I’ve done a far amount of journaling/planner/documenting,,,, well, you get the idea.
Best advice: Remember that a planner is for planning-not a whip to make you feel bad when your day or week or ?? Doesn’t go to plan.
Second best advice: If you want to keep the planner and the journal of what did happen together, just draw a line down the page and use one side for each activity.
I am looking at making my own planner-journal-notebook for 2019. I’ve said this in the past, but I always have succumbed to just grabbing something and moving forward with it.
Starting mid-November there’s a blog I follow that each week we do an activity to prepare for the upcoming year. One of the first things you do is ‘reflect’ on what you did over the past year. Most of the time it’ll surprise you. I know a lot of people don’t make New Year’s resolutions or goals for the upcoming year. But I bet they just don’t have them written down or said out loud to anyone else. We all know we have things we’d like to either get finished or progress made on, and whether it’s for today, or this year, it’s in the back of our minds all the time. I find that writing them down, just notes not a full blown plan, gives me something to look at and I love crossing things off when I consider them as ‘done’. That sometimes means I’m done with it ! !
Third tip: Be flexible after making your plan. However, remember you can’t flex ‘from’ a plan if you don’t have one.

Chatty Cathy signing off for the moment, lol
Luann (AnnieLu)

[Eileen K.]

AnnieLu, what blog do you go to mid-November? I'm trying to do this and I'm not organized about it at all. I'd like to get a group of us together, what do you think?

[Pamela N.]

Count me in on discussions sounds interesting

[Pamela N.]

Do we need to start a separate 'thread' or can we just continue from here?

[Eileen K.]

I say keep it right here. That way, there's only one location and people can find it if they want. What do you think? Hi Pam, have you done this before?

[Barbara B.]

In case you missed it, I wrote about my rather simple "bullet" journal and why it works well for me here:

http://bbquiltmaker.blogspot.com/2018/07/top-three-tips-for-time-management.html

Some of you may have much more elaborate systems--whatever works for you is the best system.

Thanks, Eileen, for getting the discussion going.

[Pamela N.]

I've never done this before Eileen but something I've wanted to try, I agree keep it right here.

[Terry K.]

I kept a list of projects and where I was with them. (I started other projects and projects on the list became UFOs. Also, there were projects that never got on the list!) I journaled every day for a couple of years. The journaling was part of working through the Artist Way exercises. I restarted my blog. For a while, I wrote posts and journaled. For the last 11 months, I've just written posts for my blog.

I use my blog as a way to document the projects that I work on and finish. For the last couple of years, I've been participating in the 2018-Finish-A-Long community. It is a low pressure way to help finish and to celebrate the finishes. I like looking at other people's projects at the start and end of the quarter. I am inspired by their posts!

I always put too much on my list; I start new projects that aren't on the list and projects that I think will take me a few hours generally take much longer! Still, posting my intentions and reviewing my intentions post twice a day, has helped me progress on my stitching goals. I look at my list at the beginning of the day and review it again at the end of the day. I tell myself--hey, I've finished that and I've made progress on that one. . .shall I take a break and work on that one for a bit??? At any rate, the post of my goals for the quarter is here. I've a year end goal to have a net loss (or stitched) 50 yards of fabric from my stash. Every quarter, I review, revamp and post a new list. It is all good!! Sorry for the lengthy reply. Bottom line: Find what works for you and use it!

[Eileen K.]

Terry, I want to do this for more than just quilting. Here's the bullet journal site: http://bulletjournal.com/
What do you think of it?

[Terry K.]

Eileen,
Your video is a lot like the way I set up my day planner--I had some Franklin/Covey training back in my working days. Yes, it is a good system. . . .if you use it! Wishing you the best!

[Terry K.]

I’ve read about bullet journaling but I must admit, that video was the best incentive to try it. He didn’t get all carried away with 'small intricate detailing'. His approach sounds very doable and can easily be adapted to any area(s) of creativity that one would choose. For me, I have gotten to a spot where I want ONE journal/planner/notebook so I can do everything in one 'book' and be able to look back at what I’ve done from projects finished to a list of my passwords for websites.
Eileen,
Did you get my private email about Kim at Sublime Reflections? That was the site where I’ve been a part of Design Your Own Destiny for the past two years. Free course, starts in November. I downloaded all of the info, both years, so I can use it at anytime that I’ve gotten off track. I believe it’s helped me a lot.
Hope you are having a lovely summer day
Luann

[Pamela N.]

I really like the approach to bullet journal Eileen that you suggested, I've just watched he video and I'm now going to explore his blog/website. His system appeared clear and easy to follow without unnecessary information, I'm with Luann in that I want a system with everything in one book (don't know if there is a book big enough lol).

[Pamela N.]

I had the same idea about trying to keep an entire year in one spot,,, So my thought is this. If I purchase a pack of 3 of the very portable size Moleskine notebooks, I could start one and see how far it goes. Perhaps 3-6 months?? But with having the other 2 ready, I could easily slip on into the next one at month 4 or 7 or 2. And if I get bored or overwhelmed or, or, or,,,, I can use them for gifts with a pretty pen to my friends! LOL

[wendy w.]

When I read the title I thought we were going to start making journal quilts but I think I more or less understand what you are talking about. I'll watch the video and follow the links. I think this is an interesting approach that would motivate me. I'm not as productive as Lu Ann or you others but I'd love to join in.

Off to find a nice moleskin notebook that appeals.