darren r hill : writer, minstrel and journal keeper
It’s July and time to set-up my Journal system for the new month. This is my July journal and planner set-up. It’s also a new quarter and halfway through the year, but let’s not get too excited. A quick walk-through of how I am using and setting up my journals for the new month.
I have been out of the loop for a little while. Getting back into things by sitting down and blocking out my week. But I have an issue, I’m not happy with my calendar and how it fits with my planner, or just not using it properly. Pop in and you’ll see what I mean.
The full moon is about to orbit and reveal itself in all its full glory. This means my previous New Moon Intentions Ritual (or just another way to plan my time), should be bearing a little fruit. As you can see in the image of my journal notes, I didn’t really go to town this lunar cycle. However, and perhaps because of that, I have pretty much succeeded.
I am blocking off time for major work projects. More importantly, I am sticking to those blocks. One thing I needed to help this was making sure I had next actions available. I am quite good at thinking big projects and dreams. I am also quite good and knowing that something, an action, needs to be done. What I am not so good at is linking the big with the little steps. I have been working on that this lunar cycle and I am getting there.
Knowing what I have to do (the next actions) and why I have to do it (the big picture projects) has helped me avoid drifting. I can easily run off down creative avenues and get lost. Sometimes these detours lead to new imaginative locations, but more often than not it is at the expense of something I should be doing or would be better finishing first. I still want to get lost creatively, but only when I have the time.
This has led me to be a lot more positive with things. The less anxious about getting stuff done, the more I am able to do. The new work pattern, a little bit of time discipline (not excessive), has had an exponential increase in my productivity. I often find that a little control offers more freedom. There is a fine line though and in isolation might not have such a positive effect – it is only because of the next actions work I have done that it is really working.
The next couple of weeks, as the moon wanes, I’ll be tweaking and continuing with my intentions for the Hare moon. The way I keep my projects clear and related to my goals and daily next actions still needs some work, but I am pleased with the progress so far.
May this Full Moon be a spring tide1 for you.
1 Spring tide is the name given to the higher and lower tides caused by the new and full moons. There, educational as well as inspirational – ha! More here
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namaste
d
xox
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I thought I was using just three journals. I was in denial. The video evidence is here. I’m not sure whether this usage is a good or bad thing. I suppose being open about a situation is the first step to overcoming it. So if I decide it is a bad thing, then I am on the first step or first page of recovery.
I thought it would be easy to look after a little Venus Flytrap. I let it grow some flowers. I thought that was what it wanted. I was wrong. I cut the flowers back and the plant looks like it will recover.
On the other hand, my Aloe Vera is going great guns.
I have been reading a lot recently. I only discovered Neal Asher in the past few years. I binge read all his novels – friendly and frenemy aliens, a symbiotic genetically ancient virus, and all-powerful and sometimes psychotic AIs – perfect. And he’s just beginning a new trilogy. I bought it.
This year seems to be a trilogy or multi-book, sci-fi time for me. I have just finished the first book of John Scalzi’s Interdependency series and later on in the year a new Peter F Hamilton trilogy begins. And, I just began Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch trilogy.
It seems the only thing minimal in my life is my poor Venus Flytrap.
Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.
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I have been in denial. I thought I might be able to live with three journals, perhaps cut down to two and maybe, just maybe, end up with an omni-journal/planner. Who am I kidding! I might have been hiding one or two other journal/planners. It’s all part of a deeper issue. I am a victim of PPS! More about that in this week’s journal and planning video.
Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.
Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest