Productive Pixie: March 2019

March 30, 2019 No comments

Have you ever heard of goal mapping? Maybe you have a goal you want to complete, but it is very overwhelming because you have no idea how to take any action to reach this goal. Goal mapping is a very effective tool you can use to reach your goals, and today, I'll be showing you how you can get started with this easy technique!

How to Use Goal Mapping to Reach Your Goals

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Updated for 2024

If you haven't, today I am going to introduce you to how you can do goal mapping to help you reach your goals.

Goal mapping is a great way to set and achieve your goals because it is so flexible and there are so many different ways in which you can do it.

I use goal mapping for all of my goals, and I use multiple different types of goal mapping because each goal is different so I can't usually use the same type of layout for each goal.

Let's get started because I am super excited to introduce you to goal mapping!

How to Use Goal Mapping to Reach Your Goals

So, how do I create a goal map?

Great question! :) All you need to create a goal map is a piece of paper and a pen or pencil, but a protractor and a ruler are great to have too.

I use two different types of goal maps. One has lines on it in a 1, 2, 3 fashion and under each number an a, b, c layout which is great for more structured goals.

It would look something like the following example.

My first step to reach my goal

My first sub-step
My second sub-step
My third sub-step

My second step to reach my goal

My first sub-step
My second sub-step
My third sub-step

You probably get the idea. You can add as many steps and sub-steps in as you need, so this is ideal for structured goals.

The other way, which you can also use is a little harder to set up, but I really like using it because it can work for any goal.

You can check out the image at the beginning of this post to see what this type of goal map looks like.

To make a goal map like this, start with a blank piece of paper. Now divide it up into as many sections as you need for checkboxes, doodles, notes and more.

I can't really give much more instruction than that because every goal map is different, but I can try. :)

One way to do a goal map is by starting with writing your goal in the middle.
Then draw lines coming from the goal in the middle.
At the end of each line, write the steps you are going to take to reach that goal.
Now draw lines coming out of each step.
At the end of each line, write down the sub-steps you are going to take to finish each step.
Add some doodles and have fun!

This type of goal map is great for goals with lots of steps, sub-steps, and even sub-steps of the sub-steps.

I like to use a ruler to draw lines, so the lines on my goal map don't mess me up. Stickers are a great way to add some motivation to your goal maps too!

How to Use Goal Mapping to Reach Your Goals

If you liked this post, make sure you check out these other ones too.

If you are running out of ideas, make sure you head over to Pinterest.

Thank you for pinning!

March 23, 2019 3 comments

What do you think of when I say the word "habits"?

Updated for 2024

How to Easily Create Habits in 6 Simple Steps

Do you think of all of the failed habits, or how much you struggle to keep your habits going when your planner doesn't even work for you?

When I think of habits, I always think of a habit tracker, which is one of the first things you can try to see if tracking your habits works for you.

There are many creative ways (and minimalist ways) to do this! Find whatever works best for you.

In your planner or bullet journal

habit tracker on a separate page
habit tracker going down the side of your monthly page
putting a habit tracker sticker on your weekly page
writing your habits in your monthly squares and then checking them off or coloring them in
using a yearly tracker (like a year in pixels spread)

On your phone

have your home screen be a to-do list with your habits on it (I use my home screen as a to-do list and it works great!)
add your habits into your calendar as a checklist with reminders

On your desktop calendar

Use a habit tracker stamp to add monthly habit trackers into the notes section or space at the top of the page

On a separate page

If you feel like none of the above options work for you, try printing out a free habit tracker printable and putting it next to your bed.

After you have picked out one or more of the above options, it is time to actually create those habits. Write down on your habit tracker every single habit you want to start.

Pick a time of the day when you are going to do your task to turn it into a habit. Below are some ideas you can use.

Wash the dishes right after the meal
Make your bed right after you get out of it :)
Go to bed at or before a certain time
Exercise at 3:00 in the afternoon
Wake up at a certain time

I hope you get the point; you need to pick a time of the day for each one of your habits. If you pick a time of the day to do your task, it will more easily turn into a habit.

You need to make sure that you don't put off doing your habit because then you just end up not doing it!

Okay, so the next step after you have picked a time of the day is to set your reminder or your alarm.

How are you going to remember to do [Insert your task here] at a certain time?

Set a reminder on your phone (Certainly one of the easiest ideas!)
Do that task after a certain thing

Doing it right after lunch
Right when I arrive at the house
Right after I exercise

Set an alarm on your watch
Use time-blocking in your planner or bullet journal, to keep your day on track

Now you need to think about what is stopping you from creating these habits. What is stopping you from creating your habits???

Create a list of everything that is stopping you from creating your habits. Below is an example of what your list might look like.

THE HABIT - Wake and get up at 6:00

Going to bed too late
Hitting the snooze button
Turning on my phone first thing and then looking at it "WHOOPS, I didn't mean to be on for 30 minutes!"
Having a too comfortable bed (just joking! :) )
Not using an alarm clock

After you have a list of everything that is keeping you from creating your habits, create a list of what you can do to fix that problem.

THE HABIT - Wake and get up at 6:00

Going to bed too late - Easy fix. Go to bed earlier.
Hitting the snooze button - Put something in the way, so you can't press that button or just don't press it.
Turning on my phone first thing and then looking at it - Don't have your phone next to your bed or don't use your phone for your alarm.
Having a too comfortable bed (just joking! :) ) - No need to fix this one. :)
Not using an alarm clock - Buy an alarm clock.

How to Easily Create Habits in 6 Simple Steps

And there you have it. That is how to create habits easily. Let's recap what is in this post.

Print out a habit tracker and write down a list of all of the habits you want to create.
Pick a time of the day when you are going to do each habit.
Set a reminder or an alarm.
Figure out what is stopping you from creating your habits.
Write down a fix for each problem.
Go start tracking those habits! :)

Other productivity posts that you may like...

I hope that you liked this post and that it will help you be more productive. Thanks for reading and I would love it if you left a comment!

Every pin and share counts!

March 16, 2019 No comments

Are you feeling unproductive?

Updated for 2024

8 Ways to Have a More Productive Week

Well, now is the time to turn your unproductive week into a very productive week. I know how it feels to be unproductive and feel like you are wasting your time.

In this post, you will learn eight tips you can start implementing right now to have a more productive week!

Let's get onto the tips.

1. Drink More Water

If you aren't drinking enough water, you will feel dehydrated and maybe even have a headache! You don't want that. So, when you wake up in the morning tomorrow, have a bottle of water next to your bed, and take a drink of water immediately.

2. Don't go on Your Phone or Laptop First Thing

If you go on your phone or laptop first thing, when you wake up in the morning, how tempted are you to click Pinterest or Instagram?

Yep, I thought so. Whenever I go on my laptop in the morning, I always click on Blogger or Pinterest, or something that will waste a few minutes of my morning. We don't want that!

3. Exercise in the Morning

In the summer, I wake up in the morning and go on a walk or do some yoga after or before breakfast. This is a great way to wake yourself up and get ready for the morning.

If you have to go to work or to school right away, and you don't have time to exercise, then find a way to exercise during your break for just ten minutes.

4. Eat a Healthy Breakfast (or Actually Eat Breakfast 😊)

Yes, I know that you are busy, but you should take some time and eat a healthy breakfast, so you don't feel tired and unproductive later in the day (or just plain hungry. 😊).

5. Keep a Running To-Do List

If a planner doesn't work for you, then you can try a bullet journal or a running to-do list. A running to-do list is a to-do list that you just add and cross out tasks whenever you finish them.

6. Actually, Use Your Planner

How much do I need to say about this one? If you actually use your planner, you will feel more productive, and you will have your to-do list done.

You could even try time-blocking to schedule your tasks. I don't do time-blocking because I feel like it would be too restrictive to time-block every hour of my day, but it might be something you want to look into.

7. Track How Much Time You Spend on Your Phone

You don't want to get distracted. Right? So next time when you go on your phone, set a timer, for thirty minutes, and then when the alarm goes off, put your phone down and do something productive.

8. Stand up and Walk Around for Ten Minutes

Sometimes when you are feeling unproductive, you just need to stand up and walk around for a few minutes and then you can sit back down and finish your task feeling more refreshed and ready to do it.

This will just help you to take a little break and get some exercise too!

I hope that this post will help you be more productive, and if you need some more ways to be more productive, try some of the productivity posts below.

8 Ways to Have a More Productive Week

Have a productive week!

Every pin and share counts!

March 09, 2019 No comments

What is one of the reasons, that most people give up on their planner?

Updated for 2024

How to Start a Planning Routine + Maintain It

Yep, they fail to use it.

If you just started a new planner after having multiple failed planners or bullet journals, then you are probably looking and hoping for something new that will just make your planner work.

I am glad you are here because that is just what you will learn in this post.

Recommended - How to Plan for Your Goals in the New Year

Creating a Planning Routine

First, you will want to figure out when you are going to look at your planner. (Sit down and fill in all of the nitty-gritty details for upcoming events.)

I always look in my planner every night, to add my to-dos for the following day, but I do miss planning in my planner sometimes. (I'm not perfect! 😊)

That is okay, because missing every once in a while, doesn't mean that you have another planner failure, it just means that you missed a day! (or two 😊)

A failed planner is when you absolutely dread looking at your planner. You would rather take out the trash, than sitting down at your desk and simply writing out your to-do's, that is when you need to change your planning system.

I am not going to lie. I didn't find the perfect planning system right away. You may have heard that I use to use a bullet journal, but I stopped because I dreaded writing in it.

Recommended - Why I Stopped Using a Bullet Journal

Guess what?!

I figured out that I was trying to track too many things. Did it really matter whether or not I tracked when I woke up in the morning since I woke up at around the same time each day? Or track my exercising, even though I exercise almost every day?

Once I figured this out, I was able to get back on track with my planning routine. My planning routine consists of the following.

Write new tasks in my monthly section
Write down my to-dos and appointments for the following day (maybe add a doodle too! 😊)
Make a note about upcoming appointments for the week (If it is something that I do every week, I usually don't write it down)
Update my blogging section with new tasks or experiments I want to try (if needed)
Plan what I am going to wear for tomorrow using my Capsule Wardrobe Planner

And if I have a little bit more time, I may check how I am doing on my goals in my goal planning section.

To get into the habit of using your planner or bullet journal, I would suggest the following ideas.

Leaving a note for yourself where you will see it.
Setting an alarm for when you are going to plan in your planner.
Set a reminder on your phone.
Plan at a specific time. (During breakfast, lunch, dinner, right when you wake up, before you go to bed, etc.)
Write down using your planner as one of your habits. (I use this tip!)
Or if the others don't work, there is always the option of just leaving your planner out in plain sight or carrying it around with you.

How to Start a Planning Routine + Maintain It

Just remember that you need to figure out what works for you, and the only way that you can do that is to jump right in and try different ways to help you remember to use your planner.

Some other posts you might like are...

Thank you so much for reading!

Please pin and share!

March 02, 2019 No comments

53 Things to Track in Your Bullet Journal or Planner

Personal

Business/Blogging Trackers

Goal Setting Trackers

53 Things to Track in Your Bullet Journal or Planner

How to Use Goal Mapping to Reach Your Goals

How to Use Goal Mapping to Reach Your Goals

How to Easily Create Habits in 6 Simple Steps

How to Easily Create Habits in 6 Simple Steps