Scrapbooking Your Goals
Creating a Goal Journal to Help You to Stick to Your Resolutions
Dec 20, 2007
As the year draws to a close, people often look forward to the new year to make positive changes in their lives. The new year provides a fresh opportunity to reflect on life and how it is being lived. Setting clear and reasonable goals is easy, and the first step to achieving goals is to clarify them. Putting resolutions into writing makes them more real. For scrapbookers and paper crafters, or for those who wish to express their goals in a creative way, a resolutions journal is a fun way to clarify, track and monitor resolutions.
Step 1 - Create Your Journal
To create a resolutions journal, start with a tabbed journal or chipboard book. Books with binder rings make the assembly process easier. Decorate your journal in your papers and embellishments of choice. Then, label the tabs with the following categories: Self, Family (if applicable), Work (if applicable), Relationships, Community, and other categories that are appropriate. Also add a tab for Completed Goals. Manufacturers that make tabbed albums include Maya Road, Page Frames, and Junkitz.
Step 2 - Brainstorm Your Resolutions
On a sheet of paper, write down each of the categories that you added to your journal tabs. Brainstorm a variety of goals for each one, including short term and long term goals. Don't be afraid to write down lofty goals if they are attainable with a little work. Don't rush to write down all of the ideas at once. Leave the page and come back when you get new ideas.
Step 3 - Narrow Down Your List
From the list that you created in Step 2, select one or two goals for each category for your journal. These will be the goals that you clarify and work on first. You may want to create a pocket in the back of your journal to keep your "master goal list", so it is accessible when you want to clarify and work on new goals, or to add new goal ideas.
Step 4 - Clarify Your Goals.
For each goal that you've selected, create a page for your journal. At the top of the page, write a goal statement, making it clear and measurable. For example, if you are looking to lose weight, state precisely how much weight you want to lose. Also, set a "due date" for your overall goal. The date can always be moved based on life changes, but putting a date in writing helps to make a goal more real.
Step 5 - Create Reasonable Steps
Next, create a list of interim tasks that will need to be completed for your goal to be attained. For example, if you want to attend college, your interim goals may include researching schools, visiting schools, filling out application forms, researching financial aid, and so on. Also include due dates for your interim tasks.
Step 6 - Work Towards Your Goals
Go through your goal journal on a weekly basis and schedule any subtasks for the goals you are working on into your weekly routine. Write big due dates in your calendar. As you complete subtasks, check them off in your journal in a creative way, such as adding a brad or embellishment, or stamping the task with a whimsical stamp. If you complete a goal, move it to the Completed Goals tab of your journal, and celebrate! Add new goals to your journal as you complete older goals, and pat yourself on the back for your achievements!
A goal journal is a tangible way to remind yourself of the committments you have made. Adding touches of creativity personalize the journal and make it more likely that you will revisit your goals throughout the year.
