September is About Small Moments Each Day

As I reflect on the planning that I did at the beginning of August, I am keenly aware of the transition to the fall teacher schedule that happens in September. Yesterday was the first day of school and our first day implementing our district’s online learning plan. While today was the first full day, and I think it went pretty well, there still is something to be said about the major adjustments in the schedule that happens in not just my life, but in the life of a teacher. Really, anyone associated with someone going to school. Different pockets of priorities sneak up around keeping track of new tasks, email inboxes, trying to stay organized, and encouraging personal creative growth and inspiration. One way I like to try to maintain life’s course during times of transition is through journaling. Last month I wrote about how I was utilizing the Undated Daily Passion Planner in Lush Green in order to take things one day at a time. I can focus on the goals and the tasks that need to happen that day. This has been an adjustment in how my brain thinks. I am a habitual planner-aheader. I want to know what is happening a week from now, a month from now, and a year from now. I am constantly making lists. However, I think this particular fall season calls for all of us to maybe considering slowing down.

However you find yourself slowing down this fall season, I hope you get a chance to focus in on your goals, get curious about your own learning, and indulge in small moments that make you happy. One way to do that is to focus on your journaling habits. You may be choosing to use a bullet journal system, keep a Passion Planner, or write down your thoughts in any notebook you have around the house. My process for September involves figuring out where my motivation is through an inspiration layout, and then planing for each day, one at a time. This post is a preview of my inspiration layout for the month, some dailies, and my process for tackling the rest of the 29 days ahead.

Create An Inspirational Layout

This will be a layout I come back to on the harder days. This layout will be for the days when I am full of doubt. You could easily print off an image or draw something that stands out to you. When I am searching for a monthly theme in my bullet journal or Passion Planner, I try to think about what is inspiring me at that moment. What has the power to carry me throughout the month? If you look at past bullet journal layouts, you can see that sometimes these may make sense to people who don’t necessarily know me. You can see some spreads and layouts filled with coffee and birds. Other spreads may be harder to tell from the outside. These are things like blue skies and different books I am reading. Remember, your monthly inspirational layout is meant to encourage YOU. Be specific and as odd as you want to be.

Some things to include:

People, places, or things that make you happy
Quotations you find inspiring
Goals you want to work toward
Habits you want to focus on
Small moments that matter to you

A pumpkin spice latte and a pumpkin donut don’t ever hurt as planning companions when you are trying to find inspiration!

Monthly Reflections

Passion Planner has these monthly reflections built into their layouts, but you can look up tons of ideas for your bullet journal. I love doing monthly reflections because they force you to look at how you spent your time and your mindset for the previous month. I like that Passion Planner has you do a self-check-in that includes your mindset, memories, accomplishments, and biggest lessons. This allows you to see your own growth, even when it sometimes feels like you may not be making any growth or progress. I also like how Passion Planner gives you space to refocus on your big goals and habits.

From my bullet journal work, I always remember to focus in on these other areas as well:

Gratitudes/Positives
Physical Activity/Health/Wellness
Books/Music Playlist/Podcasts
Space for New Learning
Blog Information/Ideas

Perhaps, you have other categories that fit your life! Add them to your monthly reflection.

Daily Layouts

As I said above that I am looking to take each day one at a time. I want to focus on the small things each day as I am feeling overwhelmed with the transition to fall and online learning. This section has some daily layouts for the upcoming week. I also plan on keeping the fall theme going for the month. I am using the right-hand side of my Passion Planner for daily journaling and morning pages. It is also a great place for a brain dump for a to-do list. I am using the left-hand side to focus on tasks.

Gamechanger Goal: Blogging
Personal: Chores, appointments, self-care
Work: Work-related tasks (I am trying to use this space to limit the number of items I am expecting myself to complete each day)
Free Space to Grow: Gratitudes, positives, or quotes that I like
Self-Maintenance: Physical activity/Self-care
Best Thing That Happened: Highlight of the day
Today I Learned: Today’s lesson (I love this part! I love refocusing on the importance of learning something from each day.)
Today in One Word: Choose one word (I go with my gut on this one. It doesn’t have to make sense.)