I’m a firm believer that your planner and methods need to change with your needs. There’s no use trying to make a system continue to work if your planning needs have changed. That’s just silly. Plus any excuse to get new planner supplies, right?
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2020 has been a whirlwind of a year already and we aren’t even two months in. With the opening of Oh, Hello Paper & Gifts and the expansion of The Oh, Hello Branding Group into inbound marketing, my plate looks like I just went to an all-you-can-eat-buffet. She full. To do list items started slipping through the cracks and I felt like I was losing my mind with forgetting things. Enter, The Never-Ending To Do List.
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Now it’s going to be overwhelming at first. Any lengthy to do list will. But there’s just something about writing EVERYTHING down in one place that makes your head feel a million times clearer. Sure you still have to get things done, but you’re no longer holding everything in your head hoping you won’t forget.
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Any notebook will do the trick, but I love my Clever Fox Dotted Journal because the cover is gorgeous, there are a ton of ribbon bookmarks, and the paper quality is great. It’s also an A5 size so larger than 5×7 to have plenty of room to write longer to do list items.
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I add in random stickers and cross off the list with a variety of bright colors to keep me engaged and excited to cross something else off. It’s all about tricking yourself into getting more done. I’ll take this master list and piece it out in my daily planner into more manageable bites.
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Check out how this planner coordinates with the other two planners in my system in this video. What’s your current planner routine?
We finally got around to seeing The Womb by Rebecca Louise Law at Frederik Meijer Gardens before it leaves March 1, 2020. It definitely did not disappoint. Frederik Meijer Gardens is a must-see if you’re ever in Grand Rapids, Michigan and one of the few places we never get tired of visiting.
If you happen to find yourself in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a few hours on your hands this weekend, here are some of my favorite activities to do in the city.
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Make a candle at Wax Poetic Candle Bar
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One of the best ways to spend a few hours is creating your very own candle at Wax Poetic. There are a variety of different sizes and price points to choose from whether you’re looking to go big, or just try it out. With over 100 different scents to choose from, you could literally make thousands upon thousands of combinations. The staff are super helpful when mixing your scents and give great recommendations to round everything out. Come back in a few hours to a candle ready to take home with you.
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Take a cooking class at The Local Epicurean
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As your candle hardens from Wax Poetic, pop over to the nearby Local Epicurean for a cooking class. They offer a variety of different class options from Italian dinners to all things chocolate. Choose between a lunch or a dinner class. It’s best to make a reserve your spot ahead of time and you can usually find a good deal on Groupon. With a bar in store, enjoy a glass of wine as you learn new recipes.
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Shop at Oh, Hello Paper & Gifts
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Pop into OHPGfor gifts made my local artists and vendors or a quirky greeting card. The inventory is constantly changing so you never know what you’ll find.
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Try to get out at The Ruse Escape Rooms
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Escape rooms are a great way to get a group of friends together for a fun activity. Ruseoffers some really well-thought-out rooms with detailed themes. The staff is incredibly helpful and no matter if you escape within the hour or not, you’re sure to have a great time solving intricate puzzles.
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Get a tiki drink at Max’s South Seas Hideaway
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End your day of activities by stopping at Max’s South Seas Hideaway for a cocktail. There are roughly 50 different drinks to choose from including a scorpion bowl that’s on fire and quenches the thirsts of a group. The decor at Max’s transports you to a tropical getaway and you’ll forget where you are for an hour or two. A great way to end a fantastic day in Grand Rapids.
24 hours. 24 hours ago I crumpled into my husband’s arms outside of my parents’ house. Police cars and an ambulance surrounded the house. I knew before my husband spoke through his own tears. I knew someone was dead.
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My dad died yesterday. At 57 he just didn’t wake up. The man that walked me down the aisle at my wedding. The man who was always there to help me when I couldn’t figure something out. The man who bought me a hot pink tool set when I moved out of the house. The man who loved fiercely without so many words. The man who has left a huge hole in my heart.
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Life will go on without him. That’s the thing about life. It has a magical way of carrying on even when someone’s world ends. It doesn’t care if your dad just died. It doesn’t care about you, in a beautifully tragic fashion. And you know what? That gives me comfort in some strange way. Life will go on. Day after day will continue to trudge by. I know that in time I won’t want to shrink into a tiny ball until I blink out of existence to go find wherever dad went without me.
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My dad would always say, “Welcome to my world.” I’m looking forward to the day when I’ll get to hear him say it to me again. In a world that has no end.
I feel like “resolutions” has become a dirty word this time of year. Sure most resolutions are given up by the middle of February, but I still love the concept of resetting, refocusing, and picking goals for the start of the new year. It all comes down to creating a good plan that’ll help you stick with it throughout the next 365 days.
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MY GOALS FOR 2020
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Lose 20 pounds to regain a healthy lifestyle and build more self confidence
Take a yoga class in a studio
Put at least $5,000 into savings
Spend at least 2-3 days a month with girl friends
Spend one day a month with my family doing an activity together
So how am I going to actually achieve these things? Simple. I’m going to put them in my planner and make time to do them. Like purposely set time out in my day in order to do yoga. I’m mildly obsessed with the new Erin Condren Softbound Planners* as they’re so easy to throw into a bag and travel with. The quality is top notch but I don’t feel the pressure to make it hella cute to post on social media.
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Plus I’ve given my goals clear benchmarks for success. I don’t just want to “save money.” I want to save a certain amount so that when I know when I have an extra $5,000 in savings, I’ve hit my goal. It’s so important to know exactly what constitutes a goal accomplished.
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What are some of your goals (ehm…resolutions…) in 2020? Do you have a word for your year? I’m thinking mine is going to be purposeful.
