How do you keep motivated to complete your dream project? It’s easy to keep a new idea fresh in your head, but it can be overwhelming when brush/pen hits paper. Here is how I keep a fine balance between momentum and delivery. When I find myself stalling I simplify action steps. Progress resumes as I wrestle that bugger to the ground, yell, “I did it!”, and resume moving to my end goal.
Over the last two years I have developed my own unique planning system. I just simply couldn’t find a store bought system that would give me the focus and flow needed for my art and writing. Most day planners I found were blocked in daily spaces which are fine for to do lists, yet I needed a system that would enable my thought process to match with action steps. I needed to figure out a system that would flow as I moved closer to producing on paper what my thoughts were creating.
I took the basic design of a bullet journal and added sections for tracking follow through on specific actions. Using a Peter Pauper graphing paper journal a basic template was laid out for art and pen. From my three month short term goals I add more concise weekly goals. For example, I needed to get into a consistent social media routine. By graphing out when to post for Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest on a weekly basis, I found that I began to naturally post week after week during those times. Bullet lists seem to work best for me. My personality tends to want to get to the point and ignore the fluff.
Each week I try a different color scheme and lettering.
My intention for the week is on the top left corner. For example, “Be open to learning new things, take action steps to increase your learning curve in technology”. Another one I’ve found from this year, “Shine your incredible, amazing bright and beautiful light!” Most intentions focus on keeping persistent, energized, and not giving away power to unproductive thoughts. Setting the tone for each week seems to kick start a good attitude for the next 7 days.
A quote on the upper right corner motivates me for the week. Each quote is arty. Some of the sketches have been done on the fly and end up inspiring me to draw more designs in that style. “Be messy and complicated and afraid and show up always”, is from Glennon Doyle Melton. Many quotes that I find are about staying on the path and ignoring obstacles. I often add scripture such as, “How great is the love of God that has been lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God”, First John 3:1. When my spirit wanes these quotes revive my soul.
Planning each week in my unique style has resulted in valuable results. Friendships with other writers and artists extend around the world. My Etsy shop is selling Garden Letters. I wrote a book. My paintings are being shown in local galleries. Wow! Each project was daunting in its complexity. Fear might have shut it all down. Instead, I dared to dream, and then took baby steps toward completion.
Have you tried bullet planning? How do you add creativity to your planning?
