Planning confessional… I don’t always want to plan. Some days I am so busy “doing” or even “not doing” that planning is the furthest thing form my mind. Some days I just can’t stand that to-do list staring up at me because it reminds me of how little I accomplished. Some days, I am completely unmotivated to set up a new week and just plain don’t feel like it. Some weeks when I have neglected my planner, my lack of commitment makes me feel like a failure and getting started again is hard! So how do you stick with it? How do you make it a habit?
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Defining a Habit
Somewhere along the line, we were told that it takes 21 days to form a habit. However on closer research I have discovered this can vary greatly from person to person. Some people form habits quite quickly, as soon as 18 days, others can take as long as 254 days! A habit is defined as:
a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously. A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.
Sounds kind of awesome doesn’t it? Could you imagine if planning was a routine that you did subconsciously? If you didn’t have to think about it? How awesome would it be if it became settled and regular, therapeutic even as part of our identity. Who we are and what we do????
It IS possible to get there, but perhaps we need to let go of the 21 day idea and instead stick with it in a regular fashion until it becomes part of us. That is going to look different for everyone. I have very few habits in my life because I don’t stick with much (I seriously lack self-control) however this is one habit I am determined to form.
Dealing with failure
We all fail, especially when we have to make such a conscious effort to make planning happen. Along the way to habit, we’re going to have off days. If you are a perfectionist like me, those off days are going to make you want to give up. I am a hopeless “all or nothing” and blank spaces make me just want to cut it up and walk away.
Instead, I keep those pages. Those blank pages, those terrible pages. It is painful, it is hard BUT it is essential for me in order to commit to bullet journaling. Leaving my failures in my bullet journal allows me to see where I have been and how far I have come. It is often inspiring just to flip through my pages and see the growth, the successes, the improvement. It also helps temper down the all or nothing and forces me to accept the failures as also… part of me.
Practical Tips to Create a Bullet Journaling Habit
So how do you make that habit? How do you keep yourself going? What can you do to inspire yourself and find that ever-elusive motivation? Check out these five tips!
1. PINTEREST! Browse through bullet journaling images and you’ll have tons of ideas. Set up a board and pin to it to scroll through for ideas. Or come follow me on Pinterest and I’ll find pins for you! I pin new bullet journal ideas every single day HERE.
2. INSTAGRAM! Seriously, Instagram is a close second to Pinterest. The problem is that it is a little bit less established so though you can search relevant hashtags, it might be helpful for you to follow some of the top bullet journalists HERE plus come follow me on Instagram HERE for daily inspiration AND a chance to be featured!
3. Create a planning routine. More on this later this week, but a planning routine that you try to stick to is going to help you create a habit much faster.
4. Go small and grow from there. While there are some beautiful, elaborate spreads out there… they can be totally overwhelming if you are just trying to make planning happen. Don’t be afraid to start small, build your habit and then grow from there. Look up minimalist bullet journals, you’ll find planner peace!
5. Set the stage! I don’t know about you, but there are certain things I can do that just inspire me. For example, anything hot to drink, a little bit of chocolate, setting up a workspace that is clean and has all my tools at the ready. I also find music instantly sets the mood and makes me want to work! Find the things that inspire you and set the stage for planning!
Top Weekly Spread Ideas
Tomorrow I am going to put together a list of weekly spread ideas to give you a TON of practical inspiration, so stay tuned!
Did you know this is part of a 31 day series? There will be a post each day this month showcasing how I use bullet journaling, planning, hand lettering, and more! We will talk about the tools you need and I’ll review some of my pen hoard (including my brand new flex fountain pens, eeeeek!). There will be videos, pictures, hand lettering practise pages, doodle challenges, journaling prompts, some amazing giveaways, and hopefully a TON of inspiration to get you writing in your planner, whatever that may look like for you! How can you get on board?
BOOKMARK THE LANDING PAGE (that is where all the posts will be added throughout the month)
FIND ME ON INSTAGRAM (I’ll be posting the daily posts there)
USE THE HASHTAG: #PlanWithRebecca or #planninginspiration4u on Instagram for a chance to be featured on my page!
JOIN THE NEWSLETTER (if you want an short update on the latest post in your inbox)
Your Challenge: Set up a planning space and share it!
If you don’t have a planning space, set up a little nook or area or organization system. Post it to Instagram and tag me #planninginspiration4u or #planwithrebecca for a chance to be featured! Make sure you guys search the hashtag to find other ideas and encourage one another! Let’s build a community together!
