Visualize: The Days You Want

“Build your life around your dreams and watch them come true.” - Fortune from a Cookie

While pondering the big-picture vision of what I want in life, I wanted to break that vision down into what I want my work life to look like and what I want my personal life to look like. Taking that a step further, I decided to write out what I wanted my days to look like. That way, I could start building daily habits that would move me incrementally toward my larger goals.

Breaking down those out-of-reach dreams starts with smaller and smaller, more achievable goals you know you can accomplish. So long as this small goal is also going in the same direction as the dream that seems unachievable, you're on your way to it coming true!

Here’s what I came up with:

• Wake up with no alarm or at a time comfortable for me

• Do a quick cleanup along my path of getting ready for the day

  • Letting the dog out and feeding pets

  • Get dressed or -ish if it’s a day

  • Personal hygiene

  • Cleaning the guinea pig’s cage

• Prepare for the day ahead

  • Morning stretches

  • Morning reflection (planner questions and reading my life statement)

  • Review the month’s appointments [see example below]

  • Review the week’s goals and priorities

  • Establish the day’s goals and priorities

  
  

[Side note: I have been following this plan as an unemployed person with the time to devote to a personalized morning routine. I will have spent about an hour and a half of my day on the listed items above.]

• Wander out to my office/crafting space (as yet unrealized)

• Work and do crafty, artistic things

• Take time to make a lunch

• Take time to care for pets

• Back to the office/craft space for more work (or take time for self-care if it’s a day)

• Take time for errands

• Take time to make a dinner

• Take time to care for pets

• Visit with family / relax for the evening

• Get ready for bed

• Chill

• Sleep

My current office/craft space is in the house. I have a grand vision of a separate small building where I can spread out, be more organized, and maximize the space's functionality. A building away from the house will have the unfortunate drawback of not having my fur family with me all day; however, for productivity's sake, that’s probably for the best. They are too cute to ignore when they wish my attention.

Being unemployed has allowed me to focus on many of these areas and make them part of my daily routine. As you have undoubtedly read elsewhere on The Rookery, I am putting most of my effort into creating the work life I wish to lead. Stay tuned for more on that specific vision.

Here's an example of how I track my months. In addition to your typical calendar section, I have a goal for the month and space to lay out smaller weekly goals that will lead me closer to achieving the month's goal. I also jot down many random things wherever my pen lays, so space for notes and ideas is necessary for me to keep those more organized.

Here is an example of how I track my week. Each day has time slots for appointments. My friend, the notes and ideas section makes another appearance. I also have a spot for my week's goal with a to-do list below it, where I can break that goal down into manageable tasks to check off.