Ever just feel like Ariel - with your head thinking about all the things then you miss something important because of all the stuff going on around you and in your head at the same time. Yeah, me too.
Managing THE OVERWHELM is so hard. Even more so now. I don't know what your situation looks like but, mine currently looks like this..
* Online teacher meetings
*Online Class meetings
* Online/phone IEP conferences
*Help my own children with their school work & be MOM
*Lesson Planning
*The normal house day to day stuff
*Keep myself sane (soul care) "Thanks Tara Martin & The Real Journey Show for that terminology"
Oh, & then there is the stuff I want to do to move myself forward in this thing called life.
Flash Back to November 2019
I'm over here thinking about all this stuff & how to manage it when...DunDunDAAAAA I see on Twitter about this Journal Like A Pirate something or another.
Disclaimer: I have been using #journalLAP since it came out at the end of January 2020.
"Say whaaaa?!!!" scroll stopped. If something says, "Like A PIRATE" I'm ALL IN!!
I was determined to be the first person to order this magical pirate journal & I'm just going to say I was.
So I get this journal in the mail & immediately call my bestie to meet me at the coffee shop so I could show off my new purchase.
She meets me & I make a big scene in the coffee shop...because what I am now holding is the magical journal that will CREATE FREAKING TIME! You read that right...CREATE TIME!
First of all, the layout is absolutely beautiful & if you are feeling a little Ariel, this will help you get your voice back. Promise.
I use this golden gem two different ways. 1. As an ACTION PLANNER with PURPOSE & now with the new temporary norm (thanks again Tara for that perspective) 2. as a home learning/teaching management system for my two children & myself.
First Up: ACTION PLANNING with PURPOSE
1. Monthly Layout- You can do this however you want but you have to be able to see your month. Think of one thing you want to make a priority to move yourself forward with whatever it is you want to do. Write it on your month...Don't be lazy & it's ok to roll your eyes but WRITE THE DANG PRIORITY/GOAL, or whatever you want to call it.
2. Brain Dump your week...not day, but week. What the what is a brain dump? Let me tell you. It's where you look at your big month, then the week & write down all the things in any random order that need to get done or you want to do. What's great is that when you think of something you can just add it to your brain dump as you think of it. Trust me when I say once you start using #JournalLAP like this you will carry it around like a security blanket.
3. Prioritize into two categories 1. Must Do (ice cream) 2. Can do Anytime (sprinkles)
FYI- Soul Care is a priority...so write that down under MUST DO..It doesn't matter what it is just
do it.
4. Write your priority for the week so you see it every time you open your JournalLAP
5. Schedule your week by priority (MUST DO) in this order
1. You aka Soul Care- At least 5 times a week, whatever it is you choose. I choose a morning workout, Personal Development (at least 15 minutes per day) & meal prep once per week-
usually on Sunday. Those are the things that keep me feeling good (healthy habits that serve
me so I can serve others)
2. Relationships (date night at least 1 per month, & kid stuff)
3. Daily grind stuff (the normal day to day stuff that must get done)
4. The extra stuff you want to do to move yourself forward in life. This must go with your
focus/priority otherwise you will find yourself committing to things that do not serve you &
then extra overwhelm kicks in.
5. Everyone else
6. At the very bottom of each day is a little box. This is where you write 1-3 things you ARE
going to do that day that will move you closer to your goal. Then pencil them in your
schedule, like a hair appointment & DO NOT CANCEL on yourself. This is the sprinkles to
your ice cream because the said tasks will add a little more FLAVA to your day & make you
smile with pride when you slay them.
PS. If it's not a hell yes, then it does not go on your ACTION PLANNER & you do NOT have to commit to the thing or feel guilty for not wanting to do it. This is why it is vital to write down your priority/focus...to stay focused.
I use the additional pages for the week for notes from Podcasts, ideas, lesson planning, project planning, or whatever I feel like doing with them.
6. IMPORTANT...the last page of your month is REFLECTION. Break it into categories, 1. Achievements, the stuff you did big or small, it DOES NOT matter. If you did something, it goes here. 2. What did you read? 3. What's on tap for next month
& there you have it...a simplified PURPOSE. DRIVEN. ACTION planner
Next UP: JournalLAP is set up PERFECTLY for home learning/teaching & for documenting the current events that are happening right now.
Just so y'all know, balancing mom & teaching has been a roller coster, in trying to figure it all out & make it work. We have had smiles, giggles, tears & we have had lots of learning moments. The awesome part is that my children are learning time management & how to prioritize tasks.
The set up:
Each week layout has a double page (one for listing & one bullet page) for each day of the week.
1. Week layout:
Pick a color for each human
Schedule the times when you are not available to help with school work or anything else your
child may demand during the day. I put any meeting, time I am going to make phone calls, &
a block of time where I need to get work done without interruptions.
Then, schedule in when the kids will be doing their own school work. This can be the same time
you are scheduled for your work. Your children can do stuff independently & learn to do the stuff
they can do on their own and save the stuff they need help on for when you are not working. I
do realize my kids are older & as always find what works best for you & your family.
2. Write out a must do & a can do list. This helps the little humans know what must get done for the day & what they can do when they feel bored. The page right after the week layout works beautifully for this.
3. The next page is perfect for journaling about the day. World events, your day events, emotions,
whatever sets your soul free.
***The weekend before we went on home learning/teaching I set the Journal up for my children & I showed them the system & talked about expectations. So far, it has worked. We do have good moments & not so good moments but I think that comes with everyone who is trying to keep their voice pretty during all of this craziness. I also love how they read the quotes everyday too.***
**** Wahshi tape is awesome for using as page markers. Click here if you want pirate tape & here for mermaid tape. But, as always get what you like.***
So basically, if you're feeling a little like Ariel wanting legs, her voice, & the prince -AKA: the ice cream & toppings to this thing called life then GET THE JOURNAL!!
If you are trying to figure out how to organize your family in the temporary new normal, then Journal LIKE A PIRATE is for you too!!!
Just a few ways you can get your hands on one of these beauties
After ALL...It wouldn't say "LIKE A PIRATE" if it wasn't BA-AF...am I right?!!!!
**** Wahshi tape is awesome for using as page markers. Click here if you want pirate tape & here for mermaid tape. But, as always get what you like.***
I hope this was helpful & you can use this to help with overwhelm management. Please feel free to email me with any questions! I'd also love to hear how you use Journal Like A Pirate!
X,
Lisa
IG lisa_toebben
Twitter @teach_n_boots
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