All right! It’s time for the fourth and final segment of Create Your Year! We’ve covered the yearly, monthly, and weekly planning, and today we’re talking about what we’ll do on a DAILY basis to tie it all together! This is another simple 5-minute process I do on most mornings (but not every morning). It’s simply an optional framework that makes my days flow more smoothly!
The accompanying worksheet (pictured below) and all the Create Your Year bonus templates are totally free AND stored on one single page! Simply click here or at the bottom of this post to sign up!
Here we go!
Step 1:
I do like to start with a 30-second review of my vision for the year. It’s a helpful way for me to check in with my goals, and usually I “get to know” this vision really well after a couple of weeks, so it honestly is 30 seconds to reconnect. I have a photo of my vision board inside Evernote in my “Daily Reminders” note, and sometimes I print or draw a copy and tape it to the back of my bedroom door so I can see it right when I wake up.
Step 2:
Open (or bring up a picture of) your Create Your Day template and simply go through each section. This can be done on your phone from a Notes app, if you’d like. And just like last week, I’ll explain what each image means below and give some examples. You’ll notice that this is VERY similar to Create Your Week. It’s just looking at the specifics of that day.
Sun = Connection with Your Higher Power
I simply ask myself the question, “What am I going to do today to connect with my Higher Power, and when is the best time to do so?”
Example: This morning, I’m going to read this specific section of my scriptures, and tonight as a family, we’re going to watch this 5-minute video together and have a discussion about faith.
Book = Personal Learning
Considering the things I planned to learn this week, which one(s) will I focus on today?
Example: I’m going to watch 10 minutes of the leadership Masterclass while I eat lunch, and while I batch my soup today, I’m going to wear my headphones and listen to my Spanish lesson #3.
Dumbbell = Exercise
Looking at the exercise schedule I planned, what am I going to do today?
Example: Do upper body weight training for 20 minutes and walk Sunny.
Dinner Plate/Place Setting = Family Meals
Does the meal plan I put together still look good for tonight? (I often write my meal plan on my planner bookmark, so I can just glance at it from wherever I am…)
Example: Yes! I’m making the crockpot meal for tonight, so I’ll get the chicken out of the freezer when I go into the kitchen and put everything together before I eat lunch.
Zs = Sleep/Rest Schedule
Thinking about how I slept the night before and what our schedule is for the day, I plan my rest.
Example: Teach ARISE class, eat lunch, and then take my 20-minute nap. Get ready for bed around 10 so I’m actually ready to sleep at 10:30.
Balloons = Something to Look Forward To
I like to have at least one thing that specifically makes me giddy each day, and it doesn’t take much. It might be something like, “Enjoy the pomegranate I bought” or “Watch Mark Rober’s new YouTube video with Spencer” or “Read my new book in the recliner after dinner.”
Heart = Relationships
This is just a quick, but very important question: “How will I strengthen my relationship as I go through my activities today?”
I think about our daily routines–things like seeing Spencer off to school, exercising/getting ready with Eric, working with our team and community, seeing neighbors while I walk Sunny, going to calendared events, eating dinner with the family, etc. I don’t want to just “do things.” I want to have a relationship component with as many of my activities as possible.
This might mean I try to have good conversations while driving somewhere with our family members or I involve a friend or family member in an activity I could otherwise have done alone. Sometimes it means I find jokes to share at dinner or I call a friend while I walk the dog or I take a little card over to a neighbor. This single question has made the biggest difference in how I plan each day.
Alarm Clock = Appointments
This is where I briefly look at my calendar to see what appointments I have that day. I try to keep these as minimal as possible…
Checkbox = Tasks that must be done today
I also try to keep these as minimal as possible, but I like to see a very short list and make sure I’m aware of any deadlines (pay a specific bill, make a specific phone call, finish something for LearnDoBecome, etc.).
Step 3:
Usually, once I’ve thought about each area above, I’m ready to go. Sometimes, however, if the day is particularly full (maybe a few days a month), I write out a more complete schedule on my calendar so all of my goals/desires are recorded in order. Then I work the plan, but if something needs to be adjusted, that’s fine! This is a guide–just a basic framework that feels happy to me.
I’m excited for you to try this, and I hope that this process brings you joy!
Remember you can download the Create Your Day template (printable or fillable!), and you can also get the templates for Create Your Year, Create Your Month, and Create Your Week!
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