5 journalling tips to reach your dream goals
If you have a dream goal or aspiration, you probably have a million unfinished ideas and projects in various stages of done. The chaos of doing is a part of the creative process, yet it can be a persistent road block, too. There are many different ways to navigate this chaos, and today we’re going to look at one that is near and dear to us: journalling.
At Rosemark Press, we use a version of journalling to help us dream up and plan goals for our business. We write down our thoughts and discussions and worries, and getting it all on paper begins to make it easier to undertake.
Keeping a planning journal is a powerful tool for organising your thoughts, ideas, and goals. By taking the time to write down your thoughts, you can gain clarity on what you want to achieve and how to get there.
It’s not just about setting goals and tracking progress, though. It's also a way to explore your thoughts and feelings. Through journalling, you can gain insight into your emotions and learn more about what motivates you or puts you off. This self-awareness can help you make better decisions and empowers you to create days filled with things you are passionate about. It can help you realise when the goal you are pursuing is not the right one for you, or it can motivate you by showing you just how achievable a dreamed-for goal really is!
So if you're feeling overwhelmed by your tasks and goals, here are five of our favourite tips for getting your creativity back into focus.
Give space to your thoughts
Starting new projects can be intimidating, but starting small will help. Grab a blank sheet of paper and jot down everything that comes to mind - ideas, thoughts, worries, dreams, tasks, and even fears. Don't worry about making it neat or organised. The goal is just to get everything out of your mind and onto paper. You might feel lighter or relieved once you've done this, or you might feel overwhelmed by the number of ideas. Don't worry, that's totally normal!
The next step is to organise your thoughts to develop a clear plan. As you review what you've written, you might notice that some thoughts or ideas are related to each other. You can use these related ideas to create groups of plans and tasks that can be tackled together.
Finally, pick a place to start. One group of thoughts or dreams probably shines brighter than the rest. Start there.
Write your compass statement.
This is where you can start to flesh out the idea of what you want to do and why it is important to you. Take your dream goal and create a dedicated project section in your notebook. Write your compass statement. This where you put your dream goal down in words, as well as why you want to achieve it, and what achieving the goal looks like. You should have a clear picture of what success means.
Next, you organise your original group of projects and tasks that make up the journey to this dream goal. If you find tasks, to-dos, or obligations that don’t move you further along the path to this goal, consider whether they are things you want to expend your energy and creativity on. Focus on the things that are truly important to you.
It's always a good idea to highlight the things that are most important to you. They might include hobbies, pursuing a dream project, researching something for the future, or spending time with friends. By prioritising these tasks, you can ensure that you're spending your time and energy on the things that matter to you most.
Uncover your road blocks
It won’t always be smooth sailing. Spend some time identifying the things that hold you back from your goals. They might include resources, health conditions, lack of confidence or support, lack of knowledge . . . there will probably be a mix of large roadblocks and little ones.
Write down different ways to tackle or avoid these roadblocks, and give yourself the tools and permission to do so. For example, if one of your roadblocks is overwhelm, then you can narrow your plans down to only the most essential items and break the larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps that can be accomplished over time.
Remember, the key to success is not necessarily doing everything at once, but rather taking consistent and deliberate steps towards your goals. By taking the time to sort through your stopping points, you can set yourself up for success and make steady progress towards achieving your dreams.
Best of luck!
Make time check back in with your journal
Now you have a list of things to do, get done, investigate, or dream about. But to ensure that you actually accomplish these tasks, it is important to make a habit of journaling. By regularly taking the time to reflect on your goals and progress, you can keep your objectives fresh in your mind and better adapt to changing circumstances. This habit can be as simple as setting aside a few minutes each day to jot down your thoughts or as structured as creating a detailed plan each week. Regardless of your approach, journaling can provide greater clarity and certainty around your decisions and actions, helping you to achieve your goals more effectively and with greater satisfaction.
Craft a routine that gives you time to work on your goals
Consistency is key! Big goals are reached by many small actions and steps every day. Whether your goal is to open a shop, get a new job, travel the world, or write a novel, there are small things you can do today to get you closer to your goal. A good way to track this is to state your intentions in your notebook and check back in each session to see if you’ve made progress since your last entry.
With journalling, you can organise your thoughts, focus on your goals, and gain a greater understanding of yourself. Through daily practice, journalling can help you create meaningful experiences, grow professionally and personally, and reach your goals. All you need is a moment in your day, a trusty pen, a lovely notebook, and a few wonderful ideas.