January Check in

Hi Friends! I don't know about you but January has absolutely flown by for me! I have had so many life changes in the past 27 days I don't even know where to start. I'm here to give you a life update and spark some ideas for things to take into the next 11 months of 2021.

With this being said, my sweet man Ryan proposed to me in the middle of the month! Truly the biggest blessing as well as an additional reason for my major focus of 2021! I realized there are so many different things I have started to do to keep myself "on task" that I needed to share them with you!!

1. Monthly Planning

I am a planner girl. Always have been, and always will be. Nothing makes me feel more at rest than sitting down at the beginning of the month and writing everything down on my planner. I include everything on 1 planner, that way I never am looking around for my "work" planner or my "social" planner. Every single bill, doctors appointment, workout, dinner date and volunteering at church is included on that calendar. If you are feeling overwhelmed by 2021 already I HIGHLY suggest getting yourself a planner. This is my personal favorite brand "Blue Sky" .

2. Thankfulness LOG.

This is a pretty simple one but one that I already am loving. I started a note in my phone titled "thankful" and under it I have every single thing that the Lord has done! So far this is what my list looks like!

January 4: Promotion

January 10: Payed off one of my debts in full!!! #daveramsey

January 14: Engaged

January 26: Started my Instructional Design Certificate

Keep this one in your phone so you can add to it as soon as life comes your way! I am hoping that this list is such a source of thankfulness and praise at the end of 2021.

3. Books

Another list guys...…stay with me I promise they help! In the back of my planner my goal is to list every book that I read in 2021. This doesn't mean that book that I "almost" finished. I mean FOR REAL finish. At the end of the year I want to be able to look back at this list and see all the stories, knowledge, and rest I took in! That's right I said rest. Up until this summer I never liked reading. Those people who could just devour a book in a weekend I literally didn't understand.... now I am that person and I can't say I am mad about it. Here are two books I am currently reading but have yet to finish!

Captivating by Stasi Eldridge

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

4. Staying focused working from home

I don't know about you but literally staying focused working from home has been one of the hardest things for me in 2020 and still continuing into 2021. So I started making a "not to do" list. This is literally a list of things to not let yourself do while you are working. So for those of you who struggle with self discipline this list is for you!!

Here is an example of my working one:

NOT TO DO:

1. Check social media

2. Answer Text Messages

3. Watch T.V. while working

4. Take Gabbie for a walk before Lunch

5. Online shopping

6. Opening up random browsers

7. Make plans with people before 4:00 P.M.

This is my current working list and I am sure it will continue to evolve over the year!

5. Brain Dump

Last but not least, our final list. The Brain Dump. I am started to do this once a month, not get too excessive with it unless I start to really feel I need it more! Take a timer and for about 15-30 minutes write down every thing that is taking up "space" in your brain. This can range from cleaning your bed sheets to planning a wedding. Yes, both of those are on my current brain dump. After it if you are like me I categorize them into easy tasks, deadlines, bigger projects, zero control. Random categories that make sense in my brain. It is a great way to destress as well as organize some of your thoughts! It can help you look at how much time you might be spending thinking about work, or family. Whatever ends up on the list, take a look at it....do you have control of it? If not lets let go of it and not carry it into the next month!

Well friends there you have it, a look into my mind! As always I am not perfect at these things, I forget and don't do them and that is A-OKAY. Give yourself some Grace! Take a bath, paint your nails, get outside and enjoy the day.