I’ve always been a list maker. I have monthly lists, daily lists and seasonal lists. I still write them down on paper because nothing beats the satisfaction of checking something off a list. I’ll even go back and add it after I do it, just so I can check it off. Special, I know.
For as long as I could remember, I have set monthly goals. Over the years, there have been a number of books and planners I’ve used to store those goals. The last few years, I’ve chosen goals in certain areas of my life each month. I focus on faith, fitness, family, fun and finance. I have a different area for loving on others, a tending list that I work on all month and also an area for self-care. It works for me. It helps me accomplish more and it also helps me prioritize.
Our family is also big on bucket lists. We make one for pretty much every season. The kids love making them and checking things off. As a mom, I love having them as a reminder of fun things to do- especially on those “I’m bored” days. We’re now to the point of where my AG is more on top of them than I am. She gets on me to make a new one, knows how to pull up Pinterest to help look for ideas and is all about checking things off.
Last month, we decided on a Christmas Bucket List, instead of a Winter bucket list. When the holidays were over, AG asked what we were doing next. I told her we were going to hold off on a bucket list until spring and focus on setting goals in the new year. An eye roll followed, because goal setting definitely didn’t sound as fun as a bucket list filled with things to do.
Which, I completely understand. But I felt that she’s at the age where she would benefit from it and old enough to be able to set and work towards bigger goals.
The last year has involved much more balance for the kids and I than ever before. Both kids are now in sports but AG has been doing gymnastics a few days a week, which takes up a lot of our evenings. She was recently invited to join the team, which will take up 9 hours a week for practice. In order for her to be able to do this and CONTINUE to do it, she can’t slack on school and home responsibilities- which is tough for a 7 year old who just wants to “play all day” at home.
Thankfully, my kids are very familiar with goal setting. The school they attend (and I teach at) is a Leader in Me School. The 7 habits is a part of their curriculum and something they focus on weekly. We talked about setting goals and things she wants to accomplish. As I listened to her, I realized that they each fell into a specific area. So I decided to create a monthly sheet that she can use and post in our command center as a reminder of her goals- with a particular area of focus. I used her ideas along with some things I thought were important too (health.)
At the beginning of the month, I printed this out, which you can also do here. We went over some of the goals she was thinking of and then she filled out her sheet all on her own. We review it weekly, some she’ll have no issue accomplishing and others she’ll have to continue onto the next month. But the most important thing is she started and I am so proud of her. I can’t wait to look back on all of these sheets at the end of the year and celebrate with her. My hope is by starting this young, she’ll develop lifelong skills and increased motivation.
*affiliate links have been used in this post*
This blog was packed with a lot of great ideas and info, thank you very much! I desperately need to de-stash my supplies ☺️ I have so many art hobbies
Zandra H recently posted…The Best Strategies to Improve Employee Retention