How To Schedule Your Day and Get Your Life Together (Again)
Is there a way to type out that exhausted, tired of it, sound you make when you breathe in through your nose and exhale like a horse? Because that’s me, several times a day. Or hour. Right now.
Getting life back together again is an interesting concept. We revisit the idea of getting your $h!t together every January 1st when the champagne pops and we are relieved that that stinky old year is behind us and a landscape of newness lies ahead of us. I have even been known to treat the arrival of Autumn as an organization, revelation, inspiration moment.
But what do you do when a pandemic hits and you aren’t just shifting things a bit, but rather, pivoting and in some cases, starting from the ground up?
DON’T WORRY. I GOT YOU. LET’S GET IT BACK TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME.
HERE ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF THE KIND OF WEIRDO I AM (AND I BET YOU ARE TOO)
I’m self employed. And normally, I’m on the stage as a singer and entertainer. I love my blog, but I have to have more than that to focus on (and pay my bills.) I won’t be able to plant my feet on a stage again for a very long time! So I’m pivoting, to focusing on my other talents/skills like graphic design, writing, and painting.
JUST LOOK AT THAT PRODUCTIVITY!
A routine is ideal in any circumstances, but especially when working from home. But I also can’t help but indulge in the luxury of taking it day-by-day. Some days I want to get dressed head to to toe, look in the mirror and see a little makeup on my face, work a solid set hours with a lunch break in-between.
What’s cool? I designed this printable to include your habits you are working on. You can type them in or write them in. Whatever!
Because some days I’m this girl. I’m still that A+ student working over time trying to make sure I stay on the Dean’s list.
And on those days I…
love the feeling of checking off the list
love knowing I have my habits in check
love my career and how driven I feel
MENTAL HEALTH DAY, K, THANKS.
And then some days I want to luxuriate in no makeup and just enjoy the feeling on sunshine on my face, yoga pants and a t-shirt, and a good book. That’s one of the reasons you want to be self employed to begin with. I love working within the rhythms of each day depending on who I wake up as.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU CHOOSE A DAY OFF, INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL YOU NEED IT, IT MEANS MORE TO YOU.
and
CHOOSING TO EAT BON BONS AND WATCH THAT DUMB SHOW YOU’VE BEEN WANTING TO BINGE WHILE DOUSING YOURSELF IN CHANEL IS CHOOSING YOURSELF.
THAT SAID…
This theme is called the “Bright This Way” and I don’t just use it on my indulgent days. I also LOVE it for the days when I want to feel really chipper and cheerful.
I made it because honestly, most planners….are boring. This one isn’t!
WHY DID YOU MAKE TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT DAILY PLANNERS, JOLIE?
I know maybe it sounds bonkers, but I created these two totally different themes of daily planners, because GASP… I am a person with a lot of interests, moods, vibes, thoughts, and careers. Each day is not the same for me.
Some days I arrive as a crazy artist lady who writes songs and sings and wears costumes.
Some days I arrive as a focused, no nonsense graphic designer who has a SUPER cool blog with a SUPER successful printables shop. (eh?)
OKAY, SO HOW DO I CRAFT THE PERFECT DAY WHEN EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY?
Start where you are. Quickly write down a list of everything you’d like to get accomplished for your work, home, habits, life. Then pick only the things you can realistically get done in a day. Even if you only pick ONE THING today, that’s great! Nice and easy does it!
STOP mindlessly scrolling through the news and social media. Get informed, do something towards being a better citizen, and get on with it.
Block out the hours needed to complete your tasks
Write the steps you need to take to complete those tasks
Determine a goal for the day. Can be practical, spiritual, mindful. Can be on-going or change day by day!
Cover your bases
Did you eat good food today?
Did you do something that’s going to help you pay your bills?
Did you get your body moving?
Did you pay attention to your plants so they don’t whither?
Did you honor to your goals and habits?
Did you make sure your house feels like a home?
Inject some fun into it so you love yourself! Include things like;
5:00 try that delicious cocktail/mocktail with fresh cucumber from the garden
7:00 cut flowers and leave them on the neighbor’s doorstep
Movie Night : what Rita Hayworth movie have I NOT watched yet?
I need to hold on to good habits, even if the work flow changes day by day. So I created this daily planner for myself in order to account for each day and how it’s spent. I still have to keep a roof over my head, even if my method is sporadic and varying.
And because I have different moods, I created two different themes, depending on how I’m feeling that week.
Super simple, “Modern Muse” themed daily planner
Fun, bright, happy “Bright This Way” themed daily planner
LET’S LOOK AT WHAT’S AVAILABLE TO YOU AGAIN, SHALL WE?
{and pssst. If you actually read this insanity, bravo! Here is a 10% off discount for you to apply at checkout : JOLIELOVESYOU }
I’m sharing them with you, because I figure, there’s now way I’m the only one struggling to make a schedule, wondering, “what did I do today?” I hope you enjoy them every day and please post photos of your daily planner life and tag me @joliegoodnight or @leopardandlilacs in them so I can see!
Xo, Jolie