It doesn’t help that modern life means we’re constantly connected, and this always-on hustle hustle mentality is slowly poisoning our wellbeing.
The drive to work dominates our waking thoughts, leaving many of us perilously close to total burnout. With 13% of Aussie employees working 'very long hours', the country’s work-life balance lags behind even that of the US. Unpaid overtime adds an average of 4.3 extra work hours per week, amounting to a collective $93 billion a year, or $8000 per worker. This haunting fear of financial insecurity is so tangible that one in four Australians struggle to get by on their current income. The escalating cost of living has necessitated longer working hours, but at the expense of health and wellbeing. Our immune systems suffer under the weight of our anxiety, impacting our ability to be present with loved ones and enjoy life.
It’s tough times right now, but there’s a lot we can do to ride it out and emerge more resilient on the other side.
At times like this when many of us are struggling to survive, focusing on small, manageable steps can help us find a way through. Rather than setting insanely ambitious goals or attempting a total life overhaul, aim for incremental progress. Simple practices like maintaining a wellness journal, chatting with a friend, or dedicating five minutes to breathing exercises can have a profound impact. Breaking down overwhelming tasks into smaller goals, like a short walk, and spending more time in your 'happy place' can significantly improve our quality of life. Our Wellness Journal is designed to help you focus on the basics of your health and wellbeing; something that’s crucial if and when you’re struggling.
Practicing gratitude is also proven to help maintain a sense of positive and grounding. It shifts our focus from what we don’t have (‘I don’t have enough money’) to what we do have (‘I have a shelter over my head’). This small mental reframe can help provide some mental relief from what’s happening around us. Our Gratitude Journal is designed to help you do just that.
There will always be tough times in life but it’s important to remember that nothing is permanent and everything will ultimately pass by. Remind yourself that tough times don’t last, but tough people - like you - always do.
If you need tools to help you reframe your mindset, check out our Journal range and make 2024 your best year yet!
]]>I’m in my mid 30s and feel totally stuck.
A few years ago I completed my Masters Degree in Public Policy. It took me years to complete and also cost an arm and a leg, I’m talking upwards of $60k. I’m still paying this damn thing off and I’ve made a lot of sacrifices to get here.
I now work in Public Policy, and it’s not what I expected or hoped for. Most days I feel empty. I’ve been playing this feeling down, telling myself that a job is just a means to an end and I can still enjoy my life outside work, even if I can’t enjoy myself within it.
But the more I tell myself that, the more I realise I’m fooling myself. I’ve recently felt the urge to explore a passion of mine - personal training. I’ve always been a fitness freak and love running PT sessions for my friends. I’ve found an online course I could take but it costs $2k and even though I can afford it, I just can’t drum up the courage to buy it when I’ve already invested over $60k in my Masters Degree. I want to explore PT but I’m scared to put the wheels in motion that may mean giving up what I’ve worked hard for.
How can I gain the courage to explore something new?
— Maddie
This month’s Ask MiGoals column is written by Anna Mackenzie.
@annaclmack
Anna is a founder, startup consultant, host of the lady-brains podcast and writer of Anna Mack’s Stack; a weekly newsletter sharing business, career and life lessons infused with a dash of humour and vulnerability. Subscribe to her newsletter here and follow her on instagram.
Ohhhh, Maddie. I hear you, I feel you. Leaping into the unknown is terrifying and even more so when it means ditching a path you’ve worked so hard to carve for yourself. Earlier in my career I went through something similar when I decided to leave my dream first job at Japanese retailer Uniqlo. I was hired to help launch the brand in Australia - a pretty big job for a very inexperienced graduate - and while most of my peers were taking meeting minutes or doing data entry, I was living in Singapore and Tokyo slurping ramen and shadowing the Asia-Pac CEO.
After completing my overseas training I moved home and opened the first two megastores in Aus. I should have been celebrating our success but a voice in my head had emerged, telling me that I should leave and do something else. I pushed that voice away and doubled down, convincing myself that I couldn’t leave after only two years, especially since they’d already invested so much in me.
But the longer I stayed the more miserable I became. I couldn’t see it then but I was deep in the throes of the Sunk Cost Fallacy: the false belief that I should continue with my career just because I’d invested time and effort into it already.
Maddie, might you also be blinded by similar sunken cost thoughts?
Is the main reason that you want to stick with Public Policy due to the cash you’ve poured in already?
Or is this the only reason?
Are you keeping on with something you don’t want to keep on with, just because you’ve kept on at it for so long? If you answered yes to these 3 questions your response may be driven by fear. And I viscerally get why: changing course could have real life implications and you still have to pay rent and put food on the table even if that food is only a packet of chicken 2 minute noodles.
But here’s the thing. The Sunk Cost fallacy is just that; a fallacy.
Doubling down on an existing path is pointless if it’s not the right path in the first place.
You say you don’t want to give up on the career that you spent so much time and money on creating. But I’m wondering, how do you feel about giving up on a potential passion that’s just starting to emerge? How might you feel 40 years from now when you’re kicking back in a Retirement Village thinking back on your career, if your entire career remained simply ‘a means to an end’?
It may be useful to throw on some binoculars and point them towards the future. Ask yourself:
When I pulled on the threads of these questions all those years ago I realised that I wanted to live a big, full life that lit me up no matter what it took. I was passionate about building businesses and writing, not about Uniqlo’s Ultra Light Down Jackets or White Crew Neck Tees. And so…I finally summoned the courage and took the leap. And as someone who has landed safely on the other side, I don’t regret it one bit.
Maddie, you’re in a unique position where you can pursue your PT passion on the side to see if it’s truly the life path you want to take. So why not bet on yourself and buy the course?
If you end up realising that PT isn’t for you after all, at the very least you will have given yourself the chance to find out.
And if you discover that it is?
You’re a smart cookie, you’ll figure out what to do next. You have a Masters Degree after all.
— Anna
Got a dilemma MiGoals can help solve?
Have a question about goal setting or personal growth that you’d like answered? We’d love to hear it. Go on, ask us.
We’re hurtling towards the end of the year and now is the perfect time to set your sights on 2024. What do you want to achieve next year? What new skills and habits will you cultivate? How will you make progress towards your dream life?
If you fail to plan, then you’ll plan to fail. So let’s get planning!
Your personal vision of success is just that - it’s personal. It’s not what your Mum thinks success should look like, nor is it the version of success you see as you scroll through your Instagram or Tiktok feed.
Take the time to reflect on your passions and values. What truly matters to you? What brings you joy? What makes you feel a sense of accomplishment?
Then visualise your ideal year. Imagine it’s December 2024. Where are you? What are you doing? Who are you proud of being?
Once your vision is crystal clear it’s time to translate it into specific and measurable goals.
Make your goals SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound). Instead of setting a vague goal to ‘get fit’, make it specific by saying ‘run 10k non-stop by September’.
Also set goals that give you energy. It’s critical to be excited by the goals you set because otherwise you’ll lose motivation and will stop taking action. Choose something that gets you fired up!
Lastly, write them down. Use our Daily Goal Digger Planner or Weekly Spread Diary to not only note your goals down, but track your progress as you achieve them.
While goals provide direction and push you forward, it’s the daily habits and systems you create that get you there. Define how small actions map back to the bigger picture, and create a system that will help keep you accountable.
You can set all the goals and identify all the habits you want, but unless you have a strong and positive mindset, your effort will be in vain. Learn to adopt a growth mindset and see failures as opportunities to learn, and setbacks as merely obstacles in your path.
Having a strong gratitude practice can help ground you in appreciation and positivity - and our Gratitude Journal can help you do just that.
Last but not least, the most important step!! Take action! It’s the key to everything and without it, you’ll stay right where you are.
Celebrate every time you make progress, no matter how small. MOving closer towards your dream life is hard, but it should also be fun!
To help you make the most out of your 2024, check out our range of Diaries, Planner and Journals - all 33% off this Black Friday!
]]>But that doesn’t mean you should give up on your goal! The key to being able to exercise consistently is creating a workout plan that you can easily follow. This means setting realistic goals, choosing activities you enjoy, mixing them up, and more.
So, if you’re currently binge-eating on chips while feeling guilty for not being able to stick to your workout routine, get up and brush off those crumbs; we’ve got you covered!
Read on to learn how to create a sustainable exercise routine tailored to your body and fitness goals.
As mentioned above, one of the most important things you can do when creating an exercise routine is to set realistic goals. Don't aim to run a marathon in a month if you've never even run before. Even Usain Bolt started walking before sprinting!
Instead, start with smaller, more achievable goals such as walking for 30 minutes daily or doing 10 minutes of yoga each morning. Once you've achieved these smaller goals, you can gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts. This also gives you a sense of achievement and motivation as the small “victories” will give the impression that you’re on the right track.
The best way to take note of your progress is when you can visually see it. More than the number on the scale or your reflection in the mirror, jotting down your daily target achievements in a fitness journal will show you how far you’ve come.
This is because initial physical changes may take time to show, and sometimes this might deter your progress as you may feel that there are no changes. Keeping a log of your workouts, noting the date, activity, duration, and intensity in a fitness diary will help you “see” the changes. For example, you may notice you can do 20 more push-ups than two days ago. That’s significant progress, especially if you’re starting from scratch!
One of the main reasons people fall out of their workout resolutions is due to being bored with a fixed routine. The key to avoiding this is to incorporate activities that you enjoy into your exercise plan so that you will be excited to work out.
This means you shouldn’t force yourself to run daily if you hate running. Instead, try different activities such as cycling, swimming, or dancing until you find something you enjoy. When you enjoy the activity, you're more likely to stick with it.
While you’re incorporating your favourite workouts into your exercise routine, keep in mind that doing something you initially enjoyed for long periods can also bore you out. Imagine only cycling around your neighbourhood daily – it will turn into a chore.
Hence, you should mix up your routine occasionally by trying different activities or exercises. For example, you could alternate between running and cycling or try a new strength training routine each week. Mixing up your workouts keeps things interesting and challenges your body in new ways.
Once you’ve gotten the hang of the trial-and-error phase, take it a step further by scheduling your workouts in your daily fitness journal. This teaches your mind that your workouts are now a priority and not an option.
Choose a time of day when you have the most energy and make it a habit to exercise during that period. If you have a busy schedule, try breaking up your workouts into smaller sessions throughout the day – you could do a 10-minute yoga routine in the morning, take a brisk walk during your lunch break, and do some strength training in the evening.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s important to start slow and progress gradually when you wish to create a workout routine you’ll stick to. The saying “you haven’t worked out if you aren’t sore” is not necessarily true for everyone. If you push yourself too hard too quickly, you may become discouraged or even injure yourself.
Start with low-intensity activities such as walking or gentle stretching, and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts. Note your routine and activities down in your fitness diary and increase or switch them according to your progress.
Most importantly, rest and recovery are just as important as exercise when it comes to creating a sustainable exercise routine. Your body needs time to rest and recover after workouts, so make sure to include rest days in your schedule.
Resting also ensures that you don’t feel as if you’re forced to do these activities. Remember, even your day job has off days! On rest days, focus on activities that promote relaxation and stress relief, such as meditation, yoga, or a massage.
Ultimately, it’s important to be flexible when creating a sustainable exercise routine. Life can be unpredictable, and there may be days when you can't stick to your usual routine. So, don't be too hard on yourself; if you continue doing it the next available day, you will be back on track!
At MiGOALS, we support living a healthy lifestyle. That is why we produce motivating and empowering fitness journals, goal planners, and more that are tastefully designed to help you set goals (and achieve them!). View our amazing organisational tools that have helped many people upgrade their lives!
]]>Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” He was right. The reality is that you need proper planning and active action to achieve those goals, let alone crush them.
With tools such as a wall planner, planning your goals has become much easier. These engaging organisational tools offer tips, prompts, templates, and more to help you see through your goals without giving up halfway.
A wall planner is a large poster-like calendar that you can fix on your wall for maximum visual goal tracking – it’s the in-your-face effect that will help remind you of your goal and your progress every day.
It usually has space to fill in your tasks according to days, months, or years, and jot down your notes accordingly. High-quality wall planners are also designed in a way that helps you divide your tasks into thirds or quarters. This method helps you break down your goals into smaller, more manageable tasks that won’t leave you overwhelmed.
So, if you’re looking for ways to achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself, we’ve listed down a few ways you can crush your goals using a wall planner.
Start large and narrow it down
If daily planners aren’t your thing, you can try to start off with a large monthly wall planner first. As time progresses, then you can move on to recording your tasks and progress to a weekly and daily planner. A monthly wall planner will also offer a clever view of your progress as the tasks are spaced out and less cluttered.
There is a common misconception that multitasking helps you achieve your goals faster. However, research shows that it actually weakens your focus and quality of work, and wears you down quickly. On the contrary, focusing on one task at a time helps you tackle your task effectively and efficiently.
By time-blocking your goals on your wall planner, you get to manage your tasks more systematically and have realistic expectations of your progress. It also prevents you from panicking when you’ve missed a task – which is totally normal. As you can now visually see your schedule for the rest of the week or month, you can slot in the missed task at the next available time with ease.
As with any goal-setting tool, the key to effective planning is to break down your goals into manageable, actionable tasks that you can easily check off. These tasks have to be so small that getting them done will only take an hour or two. This also helps in motivating you throughout your goal journey – small wins are still wins!
If you have a fitness goal, just jot down on your wall planner to exercise an hour for four days a week. You are encouraged to be as detailed as you need, breaking down every single step of the process. The more you break down your goal, the easier it will be to do the work and make steady progress towards the result.
The most important and cliché step is to use your wall planner every day. It’s undeniable that discipline plays a significant role in achieving your goals; however, we understand that sometimes you can get bored with a routine. So, don’t be afraid to personalise your wall planner to make yourself want to use it every day.
Track your progress with colours or pins, tick off completed tasks with a star sticker, and mark your milestones with polaroids. Doing this will help you easily identify where your trouble points are and revise them accordingly to ensure you get right back on track.
It’s normal to get distracted every now and then – you are only human! Try not to be a perfectionist and beat yourself up every time you slack off. Starting from scratch multiple times only deters your efforts further as it gives the impression that you are stuck in a loop.
Instead, take a breather, revisit your wall planner, and reorganise your tasks to continue your journey as if nothing happened. This also tricks your mind into thinking that you’re still on track and keeps you motivated.
By following these simple steps, you can rest assured that you will be able to crush all the goals you’ve set for yourself. However, you should also be patient and flexible throughout this process as it may take some trial and error to create a schedule that works best for you. At MiGOALS, we design our organisational tools with your convenience in mind. Our wall planners, desk pad calendars, and goal journals changed so many people’s lives! View our extensive collection of amazing empowering planning tools today!
]]>Time management is key to maintaining productivity and achieving personal and professional goals. We understand that planning all your tasks in one go can be overwhelming. This is why we suggest organising your life one week at a time. Creating a weekly schedule is an effective strategy for managing time, prioritising tasks, and maximising efficiency.
Interested to know how you can do the same? Fret not; we’ve compiled a short guide on the process of creating a killer weekly schedule that will unleash your productivity, reduce stress, and leave you with plenty of time for the things you love.
Get ready to level up your time management game and take control of your busy life!
Before creating your weekly schedule, setting realistic goals that resonate with you is important. Picture what you want to achieve in the upcoming week – whether it's acing that exam, nailing a work presentation, or finally finding time for your side hustle.
Outline your personal and professional objectives somewhere you can visibly see, like a weekly planner. This will give you a clear understanding of your priorities, allowing you to allocate your time more effectively and ensure that your schedule aligns with all your goals.
Let's face it, we all have those guilty pleasures that eat up hours of our precious time. Whether it's scrolling through social media, binge-watching the latest Netflix series, or endlessly adding things to your favourite online store cart, it's time to take control – it's time for a real-life audit.
Take a moment to evaluate your current schedule and identify all the time-wasting activities. By analysing your existing timetable, you can identify areas that require improvement and make necessary adjustments. This doesn't mean you have to give up on fun completely; consider limiting these activities or finding healthier alternatives. It's all about finding a balance that works for you!
In this new media age, there's no shortage of trendy planner apps and cool digital planners; however, don't underestimate the power of an old-school pen-and-paper weekly planner that you can customise and word-vomit your thoughts in.
Having a visual representation of your week helps you stay organised and aware of upcoming commitments. Take time each week to sit down with your 2023 weekly planner, review your goals, and map out your schedule. Be intentional about scheduling time for activities aligned with your goals, such as self-care, hobbies, and socialising, in addition to essential activities, such as academic or work-related tasks.
Find a weekly planner that vibes with your aesthetic, and get ready to fill it with your weekly plans. Remember, your planner is not just an organisational tool; it can also be your creative outlet and a reflection of your lifestyle.
It's time to flex your prioritisation muscles!
As you map out your week, identify the tasks that are urgent and important; and tackle them head-on. Make a to-do list in your weekly planner to keep track of your chores and deadlines. The beauty of a weekly planner is that you can break large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks and set realistic goals for each week.
Still finding it overwhelming? Don't be afraid to delegate tasks to friends or colleagues – remember, teamwork makes the dream work! Delegating allows you to free up time to focus on what matters most. By combining prioritisation and delegation, you ensure that your time and energy are invested in activities that align with your goals and bring you closer to your aspirations.
Say hello to the secret weapon of time management: time blocks!
The key to mastering time management is effectively managing your focus and attention. Allocate specific time slots for different tasks or activities in your weekly planner. Whether it's conquering emails, working on projects, or chilling with your friends, this structured routine keeps distractions at bay and allows you to focus wholeheartedly on one task at a time.
Set clear boundaries with yourself and others, communicating that you are fully committed to the task at hand. By immersing yourself in focused blocks of time, you'll be amazed at how much you can accomplish and how efficiently you can work in a week.
We understand that sometimes life happens, and plans change. Embrace the fact that not everything will go exactly as planned, and that's okay! Keep some wiggle room for unexpected events or spontaneous adventures in your weekly planner.
This way you'll be better prepared to roll with the punches and modify your schedule to fit any last-minute surprises that come your way without completely derailing your entire week. Remember, life isn't always about sticking to a rigid timetable; it's about finding a balance between structure and spontaneity.
As illustrated, a well-planned weekly schedule is a powerful tool for effective time management – it’s a superpower that sets you apart in a world filled with endless distractions and competing demands. Armed with these weekly scheduling tips, we hope you’ll be ready to take charge of your week, crush your goals, and still have time for the things that make you happy.
At MiGOALS, we carefully curate the most aesthetically pleasing 2023 weekly planners that effectively aid your personal development. All our organisational tools are produced with the same goal: to help turn people’s lives around. View our amazing collection of high-quality planners, journals, and more today!
]]>Although wearable smart devices may offer convenience and advanced features, the traditional method of using a sleep journal allows for a more intimate and comprehensive understanding of your sleep patterns. It provides a tangible and personal connection to your sleep journey – much like pouring your heart out in your pocket-sized diary – enabling you to track and analyse crucial details contributing to your overall sleep quality.
Sleep diaries aren’t only for chronic sleeping problems. If you wake up on some mornings ready to take on the world, and other mornings barely able to tackle your coffee machine, monitoring your sleep can lead you to make small changes to your daily sleep habits that will help you consistently get your best snooze.
Here’s how you can harness the benefits of a sleep diary to fall asleep like a baby!
Before we dive into the practical aspects of a sleep journal, let's first digest what a sleep diary is. A sleep diary is a simple yet effective tool that helps you monitor your sleep patterns, identify any poor sleeping habits, and start getting on track to rest better.
Psychologists and sleep therapists usually recommend these traditional sleep trackers to diagnose or rule out sleep disorders. It involves recording various aspects of your sleep, such as bedtime, wake-up time, sleep duration, and subjective sleep quality. In your sleep diary, you can include factors that may influence your sleep, such as caffeine intake, exercise, stress levels, and bedtime routines.
By consistently keeping track of your sleep schedule and habits, you can gain valuable insights into your sleep patterns and identify areas for improvement.
Now that we know what a sleep diary is, let's explore how you can unlock its full potential for a healthier and blissful slumber.
Record relevant information
In your sleep diary, include details such as:
Be observant
Make use of the limitless pages of a sleep journal and note any patterns or trends that emerge from your sleep tracking. Look for correlations between your sleep quality and other variables, such as daily activities, diet, or emotional well-being, and jot this down.
These observations will help you identify potential triggers or factors that influence your sleep so that you can take the necessary steps to address them appropriately.
Prioritise sleep hygiene
Your sleep diary can be used to help you monitor and improve your sleep hygiene. You can also write down your daily sleep hygiene as you note your daily sleep habits. This includes keeping track of what you did before bed and how your bedroom condition was that day.
Always ensure your sleep environment is conducive to restful sleep by keeping your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet. Additionally, establish a relaxing bedtime routine that promotes winding down, such as reading a book or taking a warm bath.
Set realistic goals
Based on the insights gained from your sleep diary, set achievable goals for improving your sleep habits. Many people fail to sleep better after using a sleep journal because they set unrealistic expectations.
One of the secrets to a good night’s sleep is to start a routine you can follow. For example, if you consistently have trouble falling asleep, you may aim to establish a calming pre-sleep routine or limit screen time before bed.
Consistency is key
As with any habit-tracking or goal-setting process, consistency is key. Without a steady routine of tracking and noting your sleep patterns, you can never identify the exact problem or diagnose yourself accurately.
So, commit to recording your sleep data consistently by setting a regular bedtime and wake-up time. This will help establish a sleep routine that aligns with your body's natural sleep-wake cycle.
Seek professional guidance
Consider consulting a healthcare professional or sleep therapist if your sleep issues persist or worsen despite your efforts. Share your sleep diary with them to aid in their evaluation and explore potential underlying causes or conditions that may be affecting your sleep.
Incorporating a sleep diary into your daily routine may require some discipline and effort, but the rewards are well worth it. However, remember that a sleep journal is not a magic solution, but rather a tool that empowers you to understand and take control of your sleep. Use it as a compass to navigate your way towards better sleep habits and a more fulfilling life.
We hope this guide will help you utilise your sleep diary properly so that you can reap the benefits of a good and healthy slumber! At MiGOALS, we design our organisational tools to specifically benefit your well-being and aid your personal development. From high-quality planners and journals to desk accessories and more, view MiGOALS’ awesome collection of stationeries to turn your life around!
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In this article, we suggest some helpful tips that you could implement in your workday to better manage your time and stay on top of your tasks.
Whether it’s planning your week ahead, or your month, or even the year, the most important thing is to plan. By putting a MiGOALS diary in your office, it gives you an overview of what your days look like. Creating this schedule allows you to visualise the future and structure your time so that you can prioritise and re-prioritise tasks. Organise tasks based on deadlines, and prioritise the big jobs that need more time and attention to be completed. Make sure to be realistic when creating a plan or you will end up with an overly ambitious work schedule that is impossible to follow in a realistic manner.
Other than buying a year planner, it is good practice to also have a small planner for yourself – one that is compact and small enough to carry around. A journal in A5 is the perfect size to bring around in a bag, especially if you have meetings or work remotely in different places.
Time blocking is the practice of dedicating specific sections of your time in your workday to a single task. Essentially, it is the opposite of multitasking. When multitasking, your attention is spread across multiple tasks all at once, making you inefficient. But with time blocking, the idea is that by dedicating all of your focus in that predetermined chunk of time, you will be able to get it done quicker, and to a much higher standard than with multitasking.
To start, you need to schedule the amount of hours you have available and assign them to items in your to-do list. The best daily planners will allow you to structure your time in an efficient way, while also having enough space to write a few words about each task or targets that you want to achieve. If necessary, you can have a separate diary planner solely for the purpose of breaking down your day into specific blocks of time instead of cluttering up your main 2023 year planner.
We’re fickle creatures, prone to getting distracted and side tracked from our work and goals. Now more than ever, especially with social media, it is getting harder and harder to focus. Which is why it’s important to stay prudent and alert.
Realise what your distractions are, and admit to them being a distraction. It could be anything, whether it’s an app on your phone, social media, or even having too many browser tabs open. Once you have spotted the things that are taking your mind and attention away from your tasks, you can start taking steps to eliminate them, until you finish your work.
The steps can be simple, such as putting your phone on silent mode and keeping it in a drawer, or even downloading a Google extension that stops you from accessing social media on your browser. Over time, habits like this will become automatic, to the point where you can become completely focused and nothing can distract you.
No matter what field or industry you work in, we hope that these tips will help you manage your time better. At MiGOALS, we produce the best goal setting planners that are beautifully designed especially for your personal development. View our range of empowering planning tools that have aided so many in changing their lives!
]]>In fact, they act as guidance and words of wisdom meant to encourage each of us in becoming the best version of ourselves. From motivation to goal achievement, and even altering one’s mindset, these words are crafted to leave a lasting impact on the reader.
In this article, we share eight inspirational quotes that can help you achieve your goals.
Every one of us would have required a little nudge now and then to push us past the slump of procrastination. But what if this is an everyday occurrence? Indeed, keeping track of your tasks, objectives, and aims is not always easy. Purchasing a planner with goal setting is a convenient and nifty way to keep yourself organised. By creating schedules, to-do lists, and setting goals with a weekly planner, you can effectively visualise your day and keep track of due dates with specific timeframes. Remember, while taking the first step is always the hardest, it is sometimes important to stop wishing and start doing.
When the going gets tough, it’s easy to spiral down the road of fear and self-doubt. This is why many of us don’t even attempt to chase our dreams. But inner strength is key to building your resilience during the days when things just don’t seem to be going your way. Instead of giving up, this quote teaches us to put one foot in front of the other, persevere through hardship, and test our limits. The journey to achievement is never easy, and sometimes the obstacles along the way are just the limits we place on ourselves.
While being perfect sounds ideal in theory, it is just not feasible. As human beings, we will inevitably stumble and make mistakes. Achieving perfection is not only impossible, it can be the seed to self-doubt, criticism, and never starting to begin with. Focusing on perfection can riddle you with anxiety and frustration and magnify every minor flaw or failure, eventually becoming a roadblock to your own success. Alternatively, striving for progress can be far more rewarding. It allows you to accept your imperfections and look forward to the future with enthusiasm.
Are you in the habit of making excuses for yourself? Excuses can keep you going down the same old path, preventing you from ever growing, branching out, or discovering your full potential. While there are some things that are truly out of our control, there are also others well within our capabilities and influence. The universe doesn’t conspire against you, nor does it go out of its way to line your ducks in a row. Instead of searching for the perfect conditions, simply try taking a shot at your goal and getting rid of the excuses that prevent you from doing so.
Ever embark on the road of fulfilling your goals full steam ahead, only to falter and fade midway? It is so very easy to lose sight of your end goal and forget why you were ever doing it in the first place, which can lead to making you feel frustrated, demotivated, and overwhelmed. That’s why you need to remind yourself of the very reason and motivation behind your goal. Put this as a prompt on your phone or stick a post-it to your front door. These reminders will help you remember all the reasons why you should get up and conquer the day.
Accomplishing your goals is not a one-day effort. Nobody in history has become the best or greatest overnight. Instead, we achieve our dreams through constant and continuous hard work in improving our craft. Your effort and progress don’t have to be in large leaps and bounds. Adopting a realistic approach of simply taking small steps that accumulate over your journey is a better approach to keep you motivated and inspired along the way.
Did you know that Walt Disney was once rejected by a newspaper editor for “lacking imagination and having no good ideas”? Undeterred, he pushed forward and went on to create an iconic brand bearing his name. It takes true courage to keep moving forward – especially in the face of failure. The reality is that failure is part and parcel of living, and we often need to correct our mindset in responding to challenges by courageously standing up every time we fall.
Today offers you the perfect opportunity to make tomorrow better. Consider each day as an investment in tomorrow. You can easily do this by prioritising your tasks and daily goals with the best goal planner you can find. Simply make use of some time at the end of your day to make a list of everything you aim to complete on the following day. This way you can ensure continuous progress towards your objective.
The very first step to reaching your goals is to stay motivated, organised, and inspired. At MiGOALS, we produce the best goal setting planners that are beautifully designed and aimed at best supporting your personal development. View our range of empowering planning tools today!
A weekly planner allows busy bees to create short-term plans for a particular week and offers a bird’s eye view of the tasks you have for the week – you get to see everything at once, so it’s easier to plan out your time and not get overwhelmed.
If you’re wondering what else a weekly planner can do for you, we’ve compiled a list of benefits to organising your life one week at a time. Read on to find out!
Work-life balance is a concept that many companies are slowly beginning to embrace – some companies have even started offering a 4-day work week!
All work and no play will only reduce your productivity levels and affect your mental health. According to the Australian Government, about 10% of Australian employees work more than 50 hours per week, which is considered “very long hours” by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).
If you’re part of this 10%, planning your time effectively each week helps you to enjoy more free time. A weekly planner allows you to divide your time efficiently among all your tasks as you have a clear overview of the week. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with work because you don’t have a clear and visible schedule, you can plan accordingly and slot in time for your hobbies or simply catch up on your favourite TV series.
When you use a weekly planner to organise your life, you will learn to identify the tasks that are useful and productive in the long run and the ones that contribute very little to your overall success.
By doing a weekly review of your schedule, you will be able to reduce your workload by either automating or delegating certain tasks, removing activities that don’t no longer benefit you, or shelving some projects for another time when it’s more relevant to your goals.
You will learn to say “No” to people, tasks, and activities that don't help you achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself for the year. In return, you get to make space for things that benefit you and help you reach your goals more effectively.
Being productive doesn’t have to mean you’re always working – the key is to work smarter, not harder!
By prioritising the right things and focusing your energy on what matters the most that week, you will reap the benefits of your “hard work”. With a weekly planner, you can reduce or spread out the workload weighing you down, prioritise and make space for activities that relieve your stress.
This organisation method increases your productivity levels as you’re no longer working yourself to the bone on one task, unable to give your 100% energy for the next task. You will be more refreshed and excited to take on the week once you prioritise your work and activities for the week.
By planning ahead, you are saving yourself from reaching a point where everything seems urgent and important, leaving you seconds away from a meltdown. When you utilise your weekly planner effectively, you will have all the high-priority tasks planned out properly with backup plans to follow suit.
A weekly planner's overview also helps you see where you can slot in a last-minute meeting or an unforeseen event without affecting the rest of your weekly plans. Crisis averted!
Most importantly, a weekly planner gives you a consistent dose of serotonin when you tick off the finished tasks at the end of the week.
Now that your accomplishments are visible, they can serve as fuel to get through the following week of tasks and the week after, repeatedly until you achieve your goals. Every time you tick off a task in your weekly planner, especially the ones that are complicated, it will motivate you to accomplish any task easily!
There are many other benefits of organising your life one week at a time using a weekly planner – it’s a breath of fresh air in a world where people are living a life that gets busier and busier as time goes by.
With a MiGOALS weekly planner, you can face your daily tasks with as little stress as possible and achieve your goals effectively! Our organisational tools are tastefully designed to aid your personal development. We produce high-quality planners, journals, and more. View MiGOALS’ collection of awesome stationeries that can help change your life!
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When you start your day this way, you’re starting on the defence.
Instead, start your day on the offence by asking yourself three simple questions.
When was the last time you became fixated on something outside of your control? Perhaps it was a work promotion that slipped through your fingers, a crush that didn’t text you back, or a difficult friendship that continued to challenge your health and wellbeing.
You’d hoped and dreamed for that job, that relationship, that friendship…but all the things you fantasised about didn’t happen and you just can’t let go.
Sound familiar?
When you hold onto situations or people that are outside of your control it creates anxiety, stress and worry. You simply can’t move beyond the state of obsessing when you’re ruminating on the past or worrying about the future.
Letting go can be HARD especially for those of us who love being in control. But when you learn to let go, you create space for something new and beautiful to emerge.
We know you’re not hearing this for the first time, but practising gratitude daily is a surefire way to boost your mood and set you up for a positive day. That’s why we created our Daily Gratitude Journal as a way to help you develop a consistent gratitude practice.
In positive psychology research, gratitude has been proven to help people feel more positive emotions, improve their health, build healthy relationships, and deal with stress and hardship.
If you’re struggling with finding something to be grateful for, think small. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Once you start cultivating an appreciative mindset you’ll notice things to be grateful for, everywhere.
In today’s chaotic world filled with incoming notifications, emails and requests, it’s easy to get distracted and fill your time up with ‘busy-work’ that actually doesn’t move you forward.
That’s why this last question is so important; if you could only focus on ONE THING each day, what would it be?
Would it be that big presentation you’re giving at work next week? An important job application? A chapter of the book you’re writing? A difficult conversation you’ve got to have?
Choosing one key focus each day that requires a deeper level of thinking or concentration ensures that you have something to anchor to when the inevitable distractions start entering your space.
If your first instinct is to reach for your phone the second you wake up, set yourself a challenge to give this morning practice a go and see how it changes your productivity and mood.
]]>For many of us 2022 has continued to throw curveballs; new COVID waves, interest rate hikes, social and political unrest and personal struggles. For others, it’s been a time of growth, self exploration, redefining success and pursuing new opportunities. Regardless of how you may have experienced this year, taking time to reflect is a helpful and healthy way to say CYA 👋🏼 to the year and prepare for what's to come. At MiGOALS we suggest asking four key questions as part of your end of year reflection.
One of the first things to do is to take stock of progress you’ve made towards your goals. What goals did you set for yourself at the start of the year, and how far have you come?
If you’ve fallen short, think about why that might be the case. Perhaps you were distracted by urgent tasks that didn’t actually move the needle? Maybe you were overly ambitious and set goals that were a little too difficult to achieve? Maybe you weren’t energised by certain goals and didn’t feel motivated to work on them?
Whatever the case may be, reflection can help you to identify areas for improvement and make a plan for how you’ll do better next year.
It’s absolutely critical to celebrate your wins and successes! This is the perfect opportunity to look back through your MiGOALS diary and identify the things that you nailed over the course of the year. Maybe you landed a new job or completed your first marathon, or perhaps you had some smaller wins like finishing a complex project or having a tough conversation with your boss.
By focusing on your wins, you’ll remind yourself of all of the epic things you’ve done and give yourself a boost of confidence. This exercise helps to put things into perspective, and reminds you that even when you face hard times, you’re capable of achieving great things.
Think about all the challenges and down times you faced this year, and more importantly, the lessons you learned throughout the process. Perhaps you learnt how to handle difficult people, how to stay focused when you’re feeling overwhelmed, or how to stay true to your values. Perhaps you learnt a new skill, or learnt that you don’t enjoy certain tasks. This exercise brings the lessons you’ve learned to the front of your mind, so you can take them with you into the future.
Finally, it's a solid idea to reflect on your strengths and capabilities and how they’ve changed over the course of the year. What are you naturally good at and where do you excel? What skills and capabilities have you built or developed, and how can you continue leveraging these next year? Knowing what you’re good at and doubling down on these areas will help you build confidence, gain momentum and make progress towards your goals.
Our hot tip: enjoy this process! It’s not often we give ourselves the gift of time to sit back and reflect on what we’ve achieved and learned. Think of the 1 or 2 hours it’ll take to complete this exercise as an investment in your future, because doing means you’re setting up for big things in 2023.
]]>Studies show that only 8% of people achieve the goals that they’ve set for themselves at the beginning of the year. It can feel overwhelming at times – as change often is – but you don’t want to be standing still in the same place as you are now in a year.
Once you’ve determined how you intend to achieve your goals, it’s time to get proactive and put your plan into action. So, if you’re looking to achieve your goals but have not moved past the planning phase, here’s what you should be doing after setting your goals in order to achieve them successfully.
Taking your first step
Once you’ve identified your goals and planned out how you want to achieve them in your time block planner, it’s important to not procrastinate. You don’t have to wait for the “right” time or day to start. Get started now and make adjustments as you go – it’s okay to make mistakes along the way.
If you wait until you’re “ready” or “prepared” to start working on your goals, you’ll never get started. Understandably, the first step is always the hardest one to take – you’re nervous, anxious about the outcome, afraid you may fail, and so on – but once you’ve taken that first step, the following steps will get easier as you go.
To help make this easier for you, write down a simple first step in your productivity desk pad for you to commit to. This will encourage you to start as soon as possible and get the wheels rolling towards achieving your goals.
Journaling your journey
Journaling your goal-achieving journey helps you to keep track of your progress and identify areas that can be improved. It also serves as a motivational tool to visually show you how far you’ve come and how much closer you are to achieving your goal.
Your writings are not limited to only your tasks and your progress; you can also journal your unfiltered thoughts while going through your goal-achieving journey. Writing down your frustrations, the difficulties you face, and your feelings of gratitude will help you declutter your mind and refocus on your goal-achieving process.
The MiGOALS time block planner allows you to time block your schedule, pen down your thoughts, list down your feelings of gratitude for the day, and much more. This planner also helps you visually see how you felt during specific phases of your goal-achieving journey in a side-by-side comparison so that you can change and improve as you go. It’s the perfect planner for those who hate having too many organisational tools.
Reviewing and adjusting your goals
Sometimes you may find yourself slowing down and not achieving your goals in the time frame you wanted to. Don’t feel defeated – this may be because your goals were a bit too unrealistic. Fortunately, you can review your goals and adjust them accordingly as you go.
Ideally, you should reflect on your goals weekly to see what you’ve accomplished that week and how you’re doing on your goals. Analyse your weak points, where you gave in to temptation, and where you failed. Then, note down a plan in your productivity desk pad to make sure the same thing does not happen the following week and set yourself one or two objectives to accomplish.
This way, you are setting yourself achievable mini goals each week that will take you closer to your end goal. It also keeps you focused on what you want to accomplish and reinforces why you’re trying to achieve those goals.
Being accountable
It can be lonely and overwhelming to work towards achieving your goals on your own – it may cause you to get demotivated easily or lack discipline in carrying out your planned tasks. Practising accountability allows you to make consistent, steady progress towards your goals.
There are many ways to hold yourself accountable; you can write down your goals and share them with a friend or go public and post them on your social media account. Either way, there will be someone to give you feedback, motivate you, and get you back on track if you fall back.
Continuing to completion
Goals aren’t going to achieve themselves just by planning – you need to put in a little bit of elbow grease. Even the smallest act gets you one step closer to your goal, so don’t give up when you encounter any obstacles along the way. Always keep the end result in focus and keep moving forward until you achieve your goals.
Remember, success is a journey, not a destination! With MiGOALS’ stunning goal setting and personal development stationery, you can stay on track and remain motivated throughout your goal-achieving journey. View our extensive collection of empowering planning tools that have helped so many people turn their lives around. Now, it’s your turn to make the change!
]]>Here are my top 5 products to help you create that roadmap towards your dreams and become the best version of yourself.
Our 2024 Goal Digger Planner is the ultimate personal development tool to help you live a more purpose filled life. Think of it as your personal life coach that keeps you focused on your goals, encourages you to create positive habits and empowers you to take action towards achieving your dreams.
Let our 2024 Diary guide you through our simple process for uncovering your purpose, setting big goals and developing an action plan that will enable you to actually achieve them.
Split into three sections, you’ll have space to write out your goals, plan out your week and budget your life with an extra bonus section for note taking, doodling or brainstorming.
Our 90 day Progress Journal will motivate you to make the small steps towards your dreams and will set you on a path of task tracking, reflection and gratitude to develop new habits and set achievable daily goals.
This Goals Journal contains space for ten short-term goals, ten medium goals and five long-term goals to help you take the action you need and turn your dreams into reality. Our goals book is perfectly sized to live on your desk or carry with you wherever you go.
Our classic daily minimal desk pad is structured to help you get results and make progress every day. With room to write your to-do list, take notes and accomplish your goals for the day our deskpad is your perfect desk companion.
]]>Setting goals is more than just a wish or a dream. It involves taking continuous action to pursue your aims and targets regardless of obstacles. In essence, goals can be seen as various destinations on the road map of our lives. They help us stay focused and motivated as we strive to be the best versions of ourselves.
In this article, we take you through some steps to create and successfully achieve your goals.
The key to achieving your goals is to set goals that motivate you in the first place. Many people end up abandoning their goals simply because they are not motivated to achieve them. However, if your goals provide you with a purpose and direction to focus your efforts, you will feel more inclined to spend time and resources towards achieving them.
To go about this, begin by making sure you see the value of reaching your goal. Picture yourself accomplishing this target. What do you feel? Proud? Satisfied? If the outcome is but a blip on your radar, the goal is not compelling enough. Weak or unimpressive goals are one of the most common reasons why we feel less motivated in achieving them.
Once you have an idea of what your goals might be, it’s time to clarify them. Creating SMART objectives are essential to avoid setting yourself up for disappointment, while offering just the right amount of challenge within realistic expectations. These goals allow you to effectively form your timeline and define action steps to minimise any guesswork involved. The following are some questions that will help guide you set SMART goals:
With innumerable thoughts and ideas running through our minds each day, keeping track of what needs to be done can be difficult. This is why it is crucial to write down your goals with a daily planner as a tangible reminder and to ensure accountability.
After all, written goals are more powerful than the ones kept in mind. You're also more likely to regularly reflect on these notes and consistently evaluate them for ongoing improvement. Similarly, you could also add a desk pad calendar to your table as a visual aid for time-sensitive objectives. So, if you’re someone who works better with tasks that are written down, it’s time to go out and buy a diary!
If you don’t put in the time, effort, and energy in reaching your goals, you can’t expect to achieve them. A plan can only go so far without follow-up actions. While it may be tempting to change your mind or draw new plans when things don’t go your way, make sure to always trust in your capabilities and instincts. Remember, results are more important than sticking to your comfort zone.
Life happens. Sometimes this means putting your goals on hold for a short period or even speeding things up when a perfect opportunity presents itself. Regularly reviewing your targets will help you to keep track of your progress, including what worked and didn’t. This allows you to easily identify and work around possible impediments in the future. Setting aside time each week to review your goals is also important to help you evaluate your progress towards larger goals as well as celebrate small victories.
Paying attention to how you set up your goals is key to successfully accomplishing them. While the journey to these achievements may not be the easiest or smoothest, it will definitely be worth it! At MiGOALS, we produce beautifully designed goal-setting and personal development stationery. View our range of empowering planning tools that have aided so many in achieving their goals!
]]>Caring for our mental health is integral to our overall well-being. As we enter into October Mental Health Month, now is a good time to reflect and check-in on your mental and emotional wellness. So in the spirit of helping our global Goal Digger community, we're giving some actionable tips to help manage your mental health in 2022 and beyond.
This is something you can work on immediately. It may sound simple, but it's crucial as sleep impacts our daily lives. Without enough sleep, the more hypersensitive your emotions become. You're easily irritable, more anxious, and exhausted when you usually aren't.
Of course, during these unprecedented times, getting enough sleep might prove to be more complicated than usual. Put in some extra effort and create little habits to achieve the recommended 8 hours of sleep. Some positive habits could be: shutting off technology at least an hour before bed, practising mindful meditation, consuming natural ingredients that encourage sleep like lemon balm or passionflower or even keeping a night-time journal.
There are no "right" or "wrong" ways to feel. It's easy to beat yourself up and guilt yourself into invalidating your feelings. It's much harder to accept these feelings as they come, welcoming them with open arms.
It's okay to feel. It's okay that you might react to certain work-related or personal situations in ways you usually wouldn't. Instead of pressuring yourself to feel a particular way, be kind and cut yourself slack.
A great way to do this is to ask yourself: would you treat your friend or loved one the same way you treat yourself?
Something like a Gratitude Journal can put your situation in perspective and allow you to feel gratitude for the things that you already have around you.
There's a term for this penned by therapists - it's called Catastrophic Thinking. It's when your brain automatically resorts to the worst-case scenario, no matter how big or small that change in your life is. Indeed, there are common ways to manage it, including tackling it head-on or doing a quick Google search to quell your theories. Still, those probably aren't the best tactics, given how everything in the world is unpredictable.
Instead of attacking it directly, we recommend more of a side-stepping approach. If you feel yourself spiralling into catastrophic thinking, interrupt its flow by redirecting your energy to something else. Whether it be ticking off your daily to-do list, making a cup of tea, watching your favourite television show or planning your goals, appointments and schedules ahead of time for a sense of security.
When we say keep active, we don't mean doing an extensive workout to exhaustion (but if that works for you, go for it!). Keeping active can be anything from a 30-minute walk to a 10-minute light stretching session or even just vacuuming the house.
Whatever you decide to do, the goal is to boost your energy levels. According to Harvard Health studies, exercise reduces stress hormones in your body, like adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins - chemicals in the brain that are the body's natural painkillers and mood elevators. Note how you feel pre-exercise versus post-exercise, and see if you notice a change in your mood.
At some point, the things we are thinking about in our head become too much; speaking out to a family member, friend, or medical professional takes that pressure away.
Connecting with others and talking about how you're feeling is essential. Chances are they may have felt a similar way at some point too.
Find someone you trust and openly speak about how you're feeling. Doing this may help others open up, showing them that they aren't the only ones experiencing deep levels of anxiety, grief and loneliness. As the famous saying goes, misery loves company.
The reality is that we can't control everything. Rather than putting up a fight, perhaps the most intelligent action is to let go.
This is where creating daily habits designed to nurture your mental health comes in. Little habits like making the bed every morning, writing a to-do list, going out for a run, and giving yourself an hour of power to get shit done, are all positive actions that provide a sense of security and control.
Instead of delving into the bigger picture of what the world will be like in 6 or 12 months, take it all one day at a time. Pick your battles wisely, and don't expend energy on things that don't serve your mental health, values or purpose.
In other words, write it all down. Put your phone on silent, find a quiet space, and wear your heart on your sleeve as you pour your feelings out with pen to paper.
When you're overwhelmed with your feelings, sometimes the best way to relieve it is by physically acknowledging it all in a journal planner, notebook or diary. This technique is especially beneficial if you're living alone because the notebook acts like an active listener.
Don't even worry too much about structure, spelling, grammar or even sounding eloquent. The goal here is to relieve as much space in your brain as possible. Think of your journal as a mini therapist - it exists to readily absorb every thought, feeling and idea you have so you have more mental space to handle whatever else comes your way next.
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Unlike the stronger purple shades, lilac gives a positive, friendly, and inviting vibe that makes people feel at ease. The pretty colour is quiet in tone, creating a calming and comforting aura that is perfect for interior decor, clothing, and stationery.
Whether you’re a fan or not, it looks like these lilac shades are here to stay, and you best be getting on the trend train or risk being left out! Here’s how you can incorporate this sweet colour into your everyday life without looking like Violet Beauregarde from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
It can be hard to pull off a full lilac outfit – a head-to-toe lilac set is a recipe for disaster. So, try introducing lilac to your wardrobe with accessories that give you the right amount of colour to add liveliness and sophistication to your look.
Statement jewellery such as pieces with amethyst stonework, chunky rings, bracelets, and large earrings are a great way to highlight the shade without looking too crazy. You could also opt for a statement scarf or hat to add a simple pop of lilac to your outfit.
Whether it’s a purse, hair accessories, or even socks, your choice of accessories is limited only by your imagination. Experiment with different items every other day until you're confident enough to go bolder with the lilac colour.
Monochrome is always a safe option for those who are uncomfortable with adding bright clashing colours to their daily wardrobe. Pair numerous shades of lilac and voila, you’re now a runway model!
Trying on a variety of lilac shades also helps you identify which shade works with your skin tone and the rest of your wardrobe. In addition, going monochrome also minimises the risk of looking over the top and gives a sophisticated feel to your outfit.
Alternatively, you can complement your lilac clothing with something in your wardrobe that has a cool blue or grey undertone. This allows you to experiment a little outside your comfort zone while still maintaining a monochrome feel.
This dreamy colour is perfect for your home’s interior – it’s a calming shade that makes you feel relaxed, and that’s exactly what you’d want in your home. However, too much lilac may give off a slightly overbearing feel.
The best way to avoid that is to paint an accent wall in this shade. It is also the easiest way to incorporate this colour into your home without a full re-decoration. You can also make the process easier by opting for lilac wallpaper instead of painting, especially if you live in a rented property. This gives you the opportunity to experiment with patterns and designs that will add more aesthetic value to your home along with the lilac colour.
Since the lilac trend is at its prime, there are many pretty home decor items available in stores and online that you can use to spruce up your home. This is a great way to add the dreamy shade to your house without having to commit to a new coat of paint or wallpaper.
Think cushions, rugs, candles, or vases. Arrange them sparingly around your space and live with them for a while to see if you resonate with this colour. Adding hints of lilac throughout your home is also a great way to brighten up and bring a pop of colour to your home.
When journaling your thoughts, ideas, and goals, you need to be in “zen mode”. This is when the design and colour of your planner and notepads play a significant role in keeping you motivated and excited to continue your journaling habit as studies show that colours do affect people’s mood and productivity.
As mentioned, lilac radiates all-pervasive tranquillity and generates a light and relaxed mood; it’s the perfect colour for stationery, especially goal-setting and organisational stationeries. Lilac stationery is easy on the eyes and can keep you calm when you’re tracking your goals or when you’re simply trying to wind down by journaling your thoughts.
Here’s some dreamy and lovely lilac MiGOALS stationery that is a must-have for all organisational junkies out there:
We hope our tips will help add a splash of lilac into your life because this beautiful shade is versatile and low-key, yet brightens up and calms anything it touches. It’s like lounging in a field of lavender – relaxing and oh, so beautiful!
At MiGOALS, we design the best empowering planners to aid your personal development. We take into account the aesthetics as well as the content of our stationery because we understand the importance of visual appeal when it comes to journaling and planning. View our range of goal-setting organisational tools that have helped change many people’s lives!
]]>Journaling is simply the habit of putting down your thoughts, emotions, and even aspirations to paper. In doing so, you would be ultimately embarking on a journey of self-reflection, discovery, and transformation – the perfect ingredients to cultivating self-care.
In this article, we take a look at some ideas to help you better cultivate self-care through journaling; so grab the best self-journal you can find, and let’s get started!
Ever heard of the term “count your blessings”? Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that is dedicated to studying life’s positive qualities, which includes investigating what makes life worth living and meaningful. Research has since consistently and strongly associated gratitude with greater happiness. The explanation behind this relationship lies in the positive emotions that are evoked when good experiences are relished. This often makes us feel more optimistic and better about our lives in general.
Writing down reasons to be grateful has also proven to reduce instances of social comparison, jealousy, and resentment directed towards others. All in all, a gratitude list will shift attention to yourself and the positive aspects of your life.
Have you had those nights where you’re trying to go to sleep, but an embarrassing memory just won’t stop haunting you? As you berate yourself and silently scream into the void that is your pillow, has it ever crossed your mind that you might be too harsh on yourself?
While some of these situations may seem light hearted or humorous, more serious cases of being unable to let go can be quite toxic and even detrimental to your mental health. This is why it is important to keep in mind that being human means making mistakes and learning to forgive yourself. But forgiveness takes compassion and a whole lot of self-awareness – something that takes time and practice to be instilled. So, start by using these journal prompts to teach yourself to release your anger before beginning the process of forgiveness and healing;
There are thousands of thoughts, reminders, impending tasks, and feelings that cross our minds daily. This can sometimes leave us feeling disorganised and overwhelmed. Cue the brain dump. This technique involves emptying out all the contents of your mind onto paper to help declutter, clear, and organise your thoughts. This can mean getting down to the nitty gritty details of something you’re truly feeling, venting out a stressor, or even simply prioritising the week’s task. Either way, you would be surprised at how easier it is to breathe and how the pressure inside of you lessens with every word you write out.
Purchasing a journal notebook in Australia to make a list of your favourite activities is a crucial part of self-care journaling. It saves you time from thinking of options during days when you are feeling less than a hundred percent. Don’t be embarrassed to include the little things too! Whether it means busting out some moves to your favourite song, taking a nice bubble bath, or enjoying the scents of fresh flowers, be sure to list them all down. Make sure to also continually add to your list. This way, you can have a variety of options to pick from.
When working on improving your mental and emotional state, consistency is key. Having a specific time of day set aside just for journaling will make it much easier to follow through. So, what are you waiting for? Buy a journal planner in Australia and begin your self-care journey today! At Migoals, we produce the best goal-setting planners that are beautifully designed and aimed for your personal development. View our range of empowering planning tools that have helped so many improve their lives!
]]>If you have a friend or family member who takes great joy in organising, then you should consider giving them a gift that helps them in the whole process. Everyone has their own personal system for remaining organised, so here are a range of gift ideas for the organisation-obsessed individual.
Journals are perfect for driven individuals who want to write down their goals and track their progress as time goes by. If your friend is always making lists and writing down affirmations, then buy a journal as their gift and they will definitely thank you for it! Moreover, an A5 journal is the perfect size for those who are always on the go. For those who like breaking down their task lists and weekly to-do’s even further, get them a weekly planner as the perfect present.
Does your friend or loved one have a habit of writing things down constantly, whether personal or work related? Or do you perhaps have a friend who is quite disorganised and prone to forgetting things? A handy desk pad would be a brilliant gift in either situation. You could gift a large desk pad which is perfect for comprehensive lists and carefully scheduled workflows, or even just a small one to have on hand in case of emergencies.
Part of being organised means knowing where to find things when you need them. Storing them is great, but if you don’t know what’s in a box or container, what is the point of storing it in the first place?
Owning a label maker means that one would never need to guess what is in a particular box again. Gift a friend a label maker so that they can produce precise labels that clearly state what is in each container, binder, bin, or drawer. It all makes for quicker and more organised access, so the recipient of your gift will surely love it!
It may be surprising, but organisation also extends to the way we handle our smart devices as well. After all, so much of our lives is lived through a screen these days, so it stands to reason that we should think of better ways to use our smartphones and tablets.
A smartphone or tablet holder means saying goodbye to precariously balancing items on the edge of tables, countertops, and the like. It’s a great gift idea for those who always seem to have their hands full for some reason or another!
A drawer organiser is the perfect solution for individuals with messy wardrobes or those who have trouble putting away laundry neatly. While some people are perfectly content to put their clothes away without a drawer organiser, what makes sense for some may not always work for others.
Besides being used for wardrobes, drawer organisers can also be used just about anywhere: in an office drawer for office supplies, in the garage to keep screws and fasteners, or even in the bathroom to keep makeup organised. It’s a versatile yet simple organisation tool.
Trust us on this one – unruly cords can be a real hassle. Having to dig through a handful of cords and wires to identify what you have and then untangle them is an absolute nightmare.
Give your loved one the gift of saved time and lower stress levels by buying a cord organiser. With a cord organiser, it’s easy to see what cords belong to which device. Everything is neat and safe, and one can easily grab what they need without having to fight through a jungle of tangled cords each time.
Still stumped for gift ideas? Visit MiGOALS to be spoilt for choice when it comes to gifting options and aesthetically-pleasing organisational tools. Help your loved one or yourself kick-start your goal-achieving journey with our range of inspirational stationery today!
]]>Here’s how you can transform your life in the next three months and come out of it a better version of yourself.
Before you attempt to work on your goals, you need to review all parts of your life and determine where you’re thriving and where you need improvement. This can range from your career to your health or even your spirituality. Once you know what you need to work on, select a maximum of three aspects and map out how you plan to work on them within 90 days. By restricting it to three things, you can focus better and not be overwhelmed or distracted easily. If you have more aspects of your life that need improvement, you can repeat the same process after the first 90 days. The best way to do this is by investing in a MiGOALS progress journal to serve as a visual reminder of your growth and keep you on track.
Ask yourself, “Who do you want to be in 90 days?” Based on your self-review, you may want to be healthier or happier. Whatever it is, write it down in your self journal and set specific goals to achieve within 90 days. The goals you set should be realistic and achievable so that you’re not put off easily once this three-month programme gets going. If you want to be healthier, identify which aspect of being healthier you’re planning to achieve. Do you want to gain more muscle mass or eat more veggies? Note these down as specifically as possible in your MiGOALS progress journal so that you can see what needs to be done daily. Start slow and build up as you go along – like going to the gym on one day for the first week and then increasing the number of visits the following week.
When it comes to goal setting, many people usually highlight and focus on what they want to achieve, oftentimes forgetting that there is a reason why they haven’t been able to achieve these things so far. You need to address the habits that prevent you from reaching your goals, like always skipping your breakfast or not getting enough sleep at night. By writing down these “bad habits” in your self journal, you can now see clearly what you need to stop doing in order to achieve your goals within 90 days.
To see results, you need to show up every single day. Intricate and elaborate planning only helps you out at the beginning and the rest depends on your consistent action. Throughout the 90-day process, you may find it difficult to push yourself every day – but keep looking at your MiGOALS progress journal and self journal to remind yourself of how far you’ve come and how near you are to your end goal. There may be days where nothing is going right, but tell yourself if you get through it — perfectly or imperfectly — you’re a step closer to your end goal.
In an age where social media and the surrounding environment play a huge role in our daily lives, it’s important to surround yourself with things that motivate you, inspire you, and make you feel energised to meet the 90-day challenge head-on. Avoid sources of media or situations that make you moody, demotivated, insecure, and stressed as it will only distract you from achieving your goals. That doesn’t mean you need to become a full-on hermit, just limit yourself to information and entertainment that make you feel good.
Change is never easy and it can only be achieved if you never give up. The 90 days may certainly be tough but you need to remind yourself that in the end, you will be rewarded greatly for your focus and determination to come out of your comfort zone. Keep your eye on the prize, refer to your progress journal and focus on those daily changes. Note down everything in your self journal and slowly you’ll realise the change from within!
Self-improvement is a long-term process so take it one step at a time. Remember, a caterpillar only becomes a butterfly when it decides to come out of its cocoon! To stay on track and remain motivated, view our stunning goal-setting and personal development stationery at MiGOALS. We’ve produced a range of empowering planning tools that have changed so many people’s lives!
]]>However, if the problem persists, it can have dire effects on one’s health. In a 2021 report, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare highlighted that lack of proper sleep increases your chances of getting hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, and mental health conditions.
So, if you’ve been having trouble falling asleep, we have a few tips that you could try out to snooze better because there is nothing more satisfying and comforting than getting a good night’s sleep!
This is probably the most important thing that you should try doing in order to get a good night’s sleep. Practise going to bed and waking up at around the same time each day by planning your day ahead of time. Keep track of your tasks and obligations using a to-do list or schedule; this way, you can finish your daily tasks in an organised manner and have enough time to get a good rest. Planning ahead can also reduce your stress levels, which in turn will help you sleep better.
To sleep well, your mind needs to be truly at rest. Your brain isn’t going to switch off if you keep mulling over your thoughts. Writing down your thoughts in a sleep journal can help you relax and de-clutter your mind before bed. It can also help you keep track of your sleep quality and habits in order for you to identify what is affecting your sleep and work on improving it.
A good sleep journal will also prompt you with tips, facts, and exercises to help you sleep better and reset your body clock, while also providing space for you to word-vomit your thoughts and worries at the end of the day or the next morning.
Similar to being tucked into bed with a story or a lullaby as a child, a comforting ritual can help signal to the body and mind that it’s time to sleep. Drinking a glass of warm milk or a cup of tea, taking a warm bath, listening to soothing music, or writing in your sleep journal before bed can provide a sense of certainty and comfort that will automatically lull you to sleep.
Many of us choose to “wind down” by scrolling through social media these days. The mindless perusing may make you feel somewhat sleepy but in reality, the screen’s blue light tricks your body into thinking it is daytime and that you need to stay awake by suppressing your melatonin levels (sleep hormones). Of course, there are now many gadgets and apps you can use to reduce blue light exposure on your devices, but you can also opt to invest in books to read yourself to slumber or buy a journal to empty your thoughts in until you dose off.
A messy and uncomfortable room can have a negative influence on your sleep. Your bedroom should be your “zen” room – walking into your room at the end of the day should instantly make you feel relaxed, and for that, it has to be organised and clean. Take some time to spring clean, de-clutter, and organise your room in order to get the best sleep possible.
Having an optimistic outlook for the day ahead can reduce your stress and improve your sleep. Studies have shown that practising gratitude has many positive effects on our lives, including providing a better sleep duration and sleep quality. So, start a gratitude journal and write down things you’re thankful for that day before bed. Invest in a good gratitude journal that has templates and prompts to ease your way through this new habit.
We hope these tips will help you sleep better at night so you never have to wake up on the wrong side of the bed, ever! At MiGOALS, we produce the best empowering planners that are tastefully created to aid your personal development. View our range of goal-setting organisational tools that have helped so many turn their lives around!]]>Switching off so you get the sleep you know, want and need can be a challenge - to say the least. Even when you’ve done all the right things - cut out coffee at midday, had an early dinner, trying to avoid screens… sometimes your brain just won’t quit - sometimes it’s not letting your fall asleep, or sometimes, it’s waking you around 3am with the energy of 1,000 suns.
If that’s familiar - i’m here to help. As Australia’s leading sleep expert, and friend of Mi Goals, I am more than happy to share my science based sleep strategies with you, so you can get your best nights sleep.
And, principal importance, as you may have heard, is your bedtime routine. So - I thought that if there is one thing I can share with you, that helps you sleep better, it’s this. Enjoy, and sleep well.
Light controls the circadian rhythm - when you are exposed to it, it suppresses sleepiness hormone melatonin, making it hard for you to fall and stay asleep. So - by blocking it out, you ensure it is produced as normal, therefore, helping you rest easier. I recommend 100% blue light blocking glasses, which can be found in my Sleep Kit.
A 2010 study published in academic journal Phytomedicine noted that lavender oil capsules could improve sleep quality by 45%, and reduce anxiety by 59% - ideal for those who can’t switch off in the evening. Of course, speak to your doctor first.
One hour before bed, have an alarm that reminds you to disconnect from tech. To make it even more helpful, label this alarm ‘sleep better’.
By emerging from a steamy shower to a cooler bathroom; your core body temperature drops and sleepiness hormone melatonin is produced - as noted by a 2019 study lead by The University of Texas at Austin. Ideally, this is one hour before bed too.
A 2017 paper by The University of Leeds highlighted magnesium could reduce anxiety by 31% - which can otherwise contribute to bedtime procrastination. Like in step 2, speak to your health professional first.
A 2009 study by the University of Sussex found reading can reduce stress by 68%, with the effects starting in just six minutes. My book recommendation has to be my own - Bear, Lion, or Wolf (naturally!). Second, this is a great time to reflect on the day past with a little journaling - like I do with my Mi Goals Sleep Journal.
Remember - blocking out light is the number one way to improve your sleep, and that includes through the evening. I recommend a 100% light blocking mask, found in my Sleep Kit.
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In fact, the very idea of journals has shifted since then to include a variety of forms – ranging from bucket list journals to gratitude, goals, and even fitness journals that can help improve users’ overall quality of life. Now, if this just sounds like we’re setting you up for an embarrassing revisit to your “Dear diary” days, try asking yourself these questions: did you feel better after those confessions of struggles and fears? Did it feel good to be free of judgment? Did your mind feel clearer? If you answered a resounding yes, you might want to try your hand at journaling.
In this article we share five unexpected benefits of journaling that can change your life (for the better!).
Doesn’t it sound ludicrous that a person could live up to tens of decades, only to realise they’re not familiar with themselves? But these situations are unfortunately common, especially in the growing technological era where it’s so easy to lose sight of yourself when surrounded by so many distractions. A self-journal is the perfect medium for self-discovery. It helps you explore topics and themes you otherwise wouldn't, hence putting you in touch with your authentic self. Embarking on a journey of self-reflection can boost your mood, reduce symptoms of depression, and even improve problem-solving abilities. Stumped on where to start? Here are a few prompts to help you out:
From elaborate food adventures to spur of the moment decisions leading to unforgettable nights, we all have an arsenal of stories we break out during awkward blind dates. But have you thought about writing them down? Better yet, have you considered documenting them for your children or grandchildren? While this may seem unconventional, this “legacy” could serve as an inspirational journal, a little get-to-know-me, or simply an insight into the context of your period. You can also encourage your children and their children to do the same. Compiling an ancestral journal would promote a unique sense of belonging and connectedness between each generation.
The purpose of our life is a question we have all asked ourselves at least once in the course of our days. Sometimes this question even precedes queries of self-worth and satisfaction. When you're feeling down, journaling is the ideal remedy for self-care since it teaches you to speak kindly to yourself without judgment. Some ideas for the rainy days include writing a letter of self-acceptance, making a list to be grateful for, and jotting down positive affirmations to recite when feeling overwhelmed by your insecurities.
You remember having those nightmares of standing in front of an audience and drowning in anxiety as your mind just blanks out on the prepared speech? Well, what about experiencing those moments in real life? Public speaking or general anxiety when communicating with an individual or a group is entirely normal – and even easily solvable. In fact, purchasing a daily journal book is the first step to placing these troubles behind you. By putting your words and thoughts on paper, you can clean up phrases to form meaningful sentences and eventually, form better decisions in verbal communication. As such, journaling is a great practice to improve communication efficiency with yourself and others.
Before this comes off sounding far-fetched, let’s start by exploring the relationship between physical and mental health. As previously mentioned, journaling can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Being in a good mental state can keep you healthy and help prevent serious health conditions. Studies have indicated that people who regularly engage in “expressive writing” have decreased risk for illnesses, including strengthened immunity, reduced blood pressure, and improved liver and lung function. So on top of hitting the gym, maybe try out a few sessions at the writing desk with a journal organiser. We’re sure your body will thank you!
Whether you have identified an area of your life that needs a little nudge in the right direction, or if you’re just looking for a safe space to express yourself, experiencing the innumerable benefits of journaling is easy as picking up a journal planner in Australia. At MiGOALS, we produce the best goal setting planners that are beautifully designed and aimed at your personal development. View our range of empowering planning tools that have aided so many in changing their lives!
]]>Mental Health is a large part of the foundation of MiGOALS and the products that are created.
In an effort to break the stigma and open a discussion we sat down with some amazing and influential Goal Diggers to talk about all things Mental Health.
Remember to take time to check in with ourselves and others and spread awareness on the impact of Mental Health.
Nick: Being open, transparent, and vulnerable in how you're feeling to take steps to improve your own mental health, as well as creating a space that allows others to feel comfortable to do the same thing
Olivia: Exactly that - awareness. It’s being conscious of what we say and how we act - and how these factors reflect our inner worlds.
Holly: To me, mental health awareness is akin to being an intentionally conscious human personally, locally and globally. I check in with myself throughout the day, asking internal questions like 'how are my energy levels today?', 'where am I feeling discontent or worried?', 'how can I support myself fully to get done what I need to get done?'. On top of these internal checks, I'm intentionally aware of the people around me, whether that means my partner, work colleagues, or even the rockstar barista making my coffee. I try to consciously check in by asking people about how they're feeling, but in ways that let them go beyond 'fine'. I make sure I know the names of my work colleagues' kids so we can talk beyond the task at hand, I know my neighbour's hobbies so I can get a sense of whether they're taking care of themselves, I'll find out about my barista's life goal and ask how they're tracking towards it. It only takes a simple act of kindness to brighten someone's entire day.
Nick: Absolutely! It's the main reason that I have somewhat of a following on social media. I fit an external stereotype of a young bloke that typically wouldn't talk about topics that are hard to talk about, which really helps people resonate!
Olivia: Definitely. After suffering depression, bulimia and anorexia as a teen, and anorexia into my recent years, I feel it’s so important to let my community know - all of us, even those who seem bubbly and bright (that’s me!) struggle from time to time. And that’s completely ok.
Holly: Since my own bout of depression a few years ago, I have consciously integrated mental health into everything I put forward as a leader. So many times people have written to me and expressed how much it helps them to know that depression and mental illness can happen to anyone, and anyone can move on from it. I think normalising the need to speak about mental health has come a long way during this global pandemic. The idea that it's okay to not be fine, and to let people know we need support, has really taken hold. And the beautiful thing is that when we go to that vulnerable space, and people, even strangers, wrap their virtual arms around us, we come away feeling so much stronger.
Nick: Definitely, our mental health is the most important part of our health in my opinion, it's something we technically live in, deal with, and manage 24/7, even while we sleep. Mental health should be a priority in terms of support.
Olivia: Yes - definitely. More government funding, without a doubt.
Holly: 100% yes our frontline workers, students and people living alone should have more support. Mental health is a systemic issue and so requires a systems-based response. The biggest thing is that a huge amount of our government spending on mental health is reactive, paying for the line up of ambulances at the bottom of the cliff, rather than proactively funding a healthy garden wall at the top of the cliff. As with the environment, we tend to act only when the crisis is in full swing. It's so convenient to look the other way until that point. But true leadership means going first into the future. And that's what we need in the mental health system.
Nick: When I find myself slipping into a bit of a hole or rough patch with my mental health, the first things I look at are what I'm eating, how much sleep I'm getting, how much exercise I'm getting, and how much time I spend on social media. When I pinpoint what I can cut back on or work on in regards to these things, I focus on and improve them which usually makes a big difference.
Olivia: Keep up my daily routines which keep me balanced. My morning routine - meditation, journaling, checking in on my habit tracking for example - it’s fundamental. Movement, nature and music are my other go-to’s. Another thing that is often overlooked, but so important, is diet - having regular meals to keep blood sugar balanced. And it goes without saying - sleep is imperative too - it underpins all of the above - our physical and mental health rely upon it.
Holly: Yes! And I would love to talk you through my go-to mental health strategy which I feature in my recent book 'The Leading Edge'. I interviewed Dawn O'Neil AM for the book, the former CEO of both Beyond Blue and Lifeline. She told me that in the same way, we wouldn't expect a single support beam to hold up a building, we cannot expect a single mental health strategy to ensure our wellbeing. Instead, it's important to challenge the idea that being resilient falls entirely on one's own shoulders. Rather than just expecting ourselves to 'be more resilient’, how do we develop a set of resilience tools and relationships in order to bring that reality to life?
Dawn had a powerful way of conceptualising the idea. She said 'One of the strategies I love thinking about is our hand, and how we care for something by wrapping all of our fingers around it. Having one strategy is not enough. To me, our five fingers represent the need to have five support strategies to help us stay mentally healthy.' So grab a pen and paper, here we go: 1) Write down your social wellbeing habit: How are you keeping in touch with people? 2) Write down your time out habit: What are your time out mechanisms to break up the routine? 3) Write down your "exer-scapism" habit: Managing a build-up of stress and anxiety can be helped by exercising or escaping via an activity such as dance, singing, or yoga. 4) Write down your mindfulness habit: how will you be more present and engaged in life? Breathing? Single tasking? Time in nature? 5) Write down your kindness habit: How are you showing up for others, and for yourself? Checking in on neighbours? Journalling?
Nick: No, I don't but it is something I would like to try. I do have a section in my notes though where I often dump a lot of my thoughts which helps to clear my mind a bit, or sometimes I'll make a TikTok if it's something that I feel others can relate to so it then benefits me and hopefully at least one other person.
Olivia: Yes - 100%! I journal each day - it keeps me on track.
Holly: Absolutely and I can unashamedly say that MiGoals is my number one tool in this regard. Currently, my dog-eared, scuffed, well-loved Goaldigger Diary is right by my side.
Nick Robbo https://www.instagram.com/_nickrobbo/
Olivia Arezzolo https://www.instagram.com/oliviaarezzolo/
Holly Ranson https://www.instagram.com/holly_ransom/
]]>We all have our mundane routines we just can’t seem to let go of. But here are some trade secrets from the crème of the crop themselves in their road to success.
Try stepping out of your comfort zone while integrating one or two of these habits into your daily routine and watch in awe as your life transforms!
It’s true, the early bird really does get the worm. Rising early gives you time to prepare for your day and incorporate other activities, such as journaling, exercising, or other self-care practices that help get you ready for your day!
Don’t reach for your phone first thing; instead, give your mind and body about 30 minutes to wake up first. Listen to calming music and nature sounds instead.
You could also try to develop some kind of workout routine, even if it’s just a walk or some gentle yoga, to reset your body. Keep in mind to eat a healthy breakfast that incorporates your macronutrients (protein, grains, and fats) as well as some fruits, veggies, and vitamins.
Try using a goal planner to decide on a few (no more than three) top tasks to accomplish each day. Use it to track your day-to-day development. The 2021 diary will allow you to stay focused on some goals that you want to meet throughout the year.
This goes for digital content as well as face-to-face interactions. Try to read, listen to, and watch motivational content to help keep you dreaming in the short and long terms. Try to surround yourself with people who inspire you and are optimistic. It will rub off on you.
Take some time each day to stay on top of news, trends, and developments in your industry. This way, you can make sure that your own work is fresh, and being in the know can help you feel (and be) more competent.
In order to accomplish your goals, you need to find uninterrupted time to work on your own tasks. Open-door policies are great, but not if they come at the expense of your own productivity and ability to lead. Schedule work time the way that you schedule meetings and use a journal planner if you think that it will help.
Don’t forget to make time for yourself. Your relationship with yourself is the most important, so take the time you need on your own to recharge.
At various points throughout the day, straighten up your desk or workspace. Don’t leave lunch containers out and throw away trash as it accumulates. Designate a spot for everything and keep items in their place. A tidy environment reflects a tidy mind!
We love our goal diggers but the hustle and grind aren’t all there is to life. Before you know it, you’ve been sitting for hours on end. Make sure that you take time to get up and walk around, stay hydrated, stretch those tense muscles, or whatever else you need to do to refresh. Don’t be afraid to do a little mindless scrolling to give your mind a break.
On that note, make sure that you’re practicing some basic and important habits to care for yourself well. Eat a nutritious lunch, take a brief stroll outside for your daily dose of vitamin D, and move about throughout the day.
Whether it’s chatting with co-workers or grabbing dinner and drinks with your mates after work, interacting with others is critical to both your mental and emotional health. As social beings, humans are wired to seek out and depend on relationships, so get to attending those piled up messages and calls!
How a person chooses to do this can be as unique as the person themselves. But regardless of the how-to’s, it’s critically important. Here are a few ideas to try out and see if they stick:
Whatever you choose to do, it should leave you feeling connected to yourself, the world, and just generally centred with a smile on your face.
Think of sleep as your body’s chance to shut down and recharge in preparation for the day ahead. Without adequate sleep, you’ll feel sluggish when working, and be less optimistic and energised. Prioritise bedtime to catch at least seven hours of z’s each night and pay attention to your wake cycles; if your alarm jolts you from a deep sleep, you’re likely not getting enough sleep.
Working on you is the journey of life itself, so take this list one item at a time and do what you can. Before you know it, you’ll be working more efficiently and feeling more confident than ever. At Migoals, we produce beautifully designed goal-setting and personal development stationery. View our range of empowering planning tools that has aided so many in achieving their goals!
]]>But how do you do it? Witchcraft? Time-travel? Well, read on and find out.
Remember that day when you made plans and completely forgot about them, then rushed off while you were in the midst of channelling your inner Aretha Franklin at the top of your lungs? No? *coughs* Us too. You see, humans may be intelligent beings, but it’s impossible to rely solely on your memory to keep everything organised. There is value to writing down your grocery list, to-do lists, and everything in between to help keep track of tasks both urgent and trivial. You can take full advantage of goal setting daily planners available on the market for these tasks. Complete with focus areas to highlight priority chores for the day, week or month, these planners will allow you to bask in that oh-so-satisfying moment when you tick them off your list and feel like the productive human being you are.
If you can’t already tell, we’re obsessed with notebooks and planners, and here’s another – journals. An upgrade from the classic diary, your journal acts as the perfect place to sort out your thoughts, finances and generally, life. Even the most organised person needs a secret space to put down their wild and random thoughts, and yours could be a goal digger journal. Say goodbye to those flustered, chaotic days and welcome in the improved calm, prepared version of you with brain dumping techniques. The intention behind this method is to find the calm within the storm that is our minds. Simply open up a valve in your mind and let all those thoughts flow out of your hand and onto some paper. This would help you gain focus on the things that need doing as you better organise your time and efforts. While you’re at it, get those creative juices flowing, by adding your own twist of colours, stickers and even pictures.
Once your mind is organised, you can then move on to external organisation efforts. We all have that random drawer somewhere that just has a load of junk in it. Got a pile of opened letters? To the drawer it goes! What about those old picture frames or tomato sauce packets from fast-food joints? Guess we’ll add that to the drawer too. Let’s be honest, you’re never going to use these items anyways and would just end up throwing them away, so why not do it now? You can also replace your junk drawer with pegboards. Providing you with a customisable and highly visual storage space for your garage, office, closets, bedroom as well as kitchens, these wall-mounted boards provide a neat way to categorise items in their rightful places, saving you space while leaving more room to breathe and live in your home. Pegboards come in different patterns and can be bent to your creative will. Just remember to organise them every 2 weeks so they don’t appear messy.
When you come home from a long day of work, the last thing you want to do is to cook – but that’s not what the whale noises from your tummy are saying. Meal prepping is an efficient way to get the concerns of your daily meals out of the way and free up more time. You can even focus on making these meals nutritious and healthy. Having a collection of well-balanced meals on hand will help you regulate what you eat and help you stay on track with your personal diet goals. This way, you can even eat your favourite meals with predetermined portion sizes to ensure you don't overindulge. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, plan out and prepare your meals during weekends and freeze them for the coming week.
Finances can be a horrible, frustrating and messy affair – especially if you’ve ended up spending too much in the previous months. Solve this issue by scheduling regular budgeting sessions where you outline how much money you can afford to spend on your necessities, bills, and unforeseen expenses. Once you know how much to spend on your necessities, you’ll know how much you can spend on luxuries too. Yeah, you could do this with budgeting apps, but nothing beats a good paper and pen moment as you break down your monthly cash flow, identify saving opportunities and your financial goals with a goal setting journal.
Now, you knew this was coming from a mile away. We all know the longer you wait to do something, the more difficult it will be to get it done. More stressful and demanding than completing the task in the first place, procrastinating actually leads to quicker burnout and mental issues. By putting in the effort to get things done as soon as possible, you can remove the likelihood of sloppy work while having more time to enjoy yourself. Start by picking a small upcoming task and write it down in your goal digger planner. Following this, organise your schedule for the day to make sure you complete it.
When it comes to being organised, we all have to start somewhere. So why not begin by purchasing a great planner with goal setting features? Before you know it, you’ll be working more efficiently and feel more confident than ever. At MiGoals, we produce the best goal setting planners that are beautifully designed for your personal development. View our range of empowering planning tools that have aided so many in organising their lives!
]]>For many of us, June is an incredibly busy time because it marks the end of the financial year. So you can think of July as a bit of a clean slate, where you can start a new financial year afresh. Below are some tips and habits to focus on that will help you kickstart the new financial year on the right note.
It makes sense to set new financial goals during this time of year. Here are some questions to springboard your thinking towards this:
Whatever you’re working towards, make it official with a new financial year goal. Write it down and break it down into actionable tasks and smaller goals you could apply everyday.
If you set goals at the beginning of the year, now is a great time to check in on them as it’s the 6 month mark. When evaluating each one, answer the following questions:
From there, create an action plan that covers the next few weeks in July to help you get started on the right track.
Many of us forget to do this in our daily lives, but it’s a small habit with a big impact on your daily life. It has many benefits to it, including:
We recommend you do this at the end of every day, just before bed. Having a dedicated notebook, like a gratitude journal, will also help you build this habit as you’ll be prompted to write in it every night.
Starting your day with a to-do list immediately provides you with structure, helping to give you laser focus on what needs to be achieved. That said, we recommend you be realistic when writing a to-do list - only add what you can actually complete on that day. If you write everything on there, you’ll end up feeling more stressed than before!
Another technique to writing a to-do list is blocking out time to do certain tasks. For example, from 10am - 12pm, you can focus on writing project campaigns. Then at 1pm - 2pm, you can focus on catching up on emails. What’s great about this technique is it gives a start and end time to your workload, increasing your efficiency and motivating you to complete the task within the given timeframe. If you need a bit more help on this, we’ve recently launched our very own Time Block Desk Pad!
We get so caught up in our work that we forget to move our bodies. Exercise is incredibly important to stay focused and healthy, so we recommend incorporating a daily exercise routine somewhere in your day. It could be as simple as doing a quick morning jog, or an easy walk in the park. The point is to get your body moving, because movement will keep your mind active and reduce the possibility of mental burnout from work. And if you need a way to track your exercise, we’ve got the perfect stationery tools to help you out.
By Aleczander Gamboa
]]>Personally for me, the glow of university only lasted the first two weeks before reality came crashing in. Demanding workloads, multiple deadlines and daily readings made university the ultimate test of resilience, motivation and mental strength.
In hindsight, there are definitely things I would have done differently for a more productive experience. So in this article, we’re going to unpack some productivity tips to keep you happily studying for 2021 - all of which I wish I knew back then.
This cannot be stressed enough. Having a routine with positive habits that you do daily is paramount for success, particularly if you’re in university where parties, meet-ups and everyday distractions are the norm.
Start with the basics:
From there, you can expand into other habits like meditation, exercise, practicing gratitude, daily journaling and more. But always start slowly, and expand on your routine at your own pace - cramming in too much at the beginning will not only demotivate you, but break the routine before it’s even gained momentum.
It’s best to set a basic routine at the beginning of March, as it sets the foundation for how your study habits will be throughout the year. It’ll be your saving grace during Week 4 - which if you’re new to university, is reputed for being chaotically busy. A semester planner may also come in handy to help pin everything into place. Be ready!
Blocking out times to focus on important tasks is an excellent way to increase productivity. By knowing an end time beforehand, your brain naturally becomes wired to ‘get into the zone’ because it knows it isn’t forever. Consider blocking out an hour for smaller tasks, and maybe two hours for bigger tasks.
This goes back to the importance of setting goals. Time blocking changes your mindset to a task. Instead of saying ‘I have a whole day to write this report’, time blocking changes it to ‘I am starting this report at 11am and will finish it by 1pm’. Being specific in your actions makes your goals more attainable.
The extra benefit of timing blocking is that it also forces you to evaluate your working habits. You have to ask yourself what you can realistically complete within a given time frame. This is great to do in the morning as time blocking is similar to writing out a to-do list, just a more specific one.
Hate to burst any bubbles, but I guarantee that there will be many low points during your time at university. It could range from a disastrous group assignment, getting a low grade, failing a subject or just being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work that needs to get done.
As such, it helps to spend a few minutes - preferably before you go to bed - to practice gratitude and what you’re grateful for. From great friends to that morning coffee getting you through another busy university day, this will be the light at the tunnel that keeps you going. The things you’re thankful for don’t have to be big or grand, it can be the simple things - anything that brings a smile to your face. Take it a step extra and maybe write it down to remind you.
Practicing daily gratitude will greatly improve your mental health, keeping you focussed on the bigger picture, rather than the occasional low points that will inevitably happen.
University is a busy yet transformative time for students. Because there is so much happening all at once, flexibility and versatility is key. Our Progress Journals are perfect for this, helping you achieve your goals within 90 days.
The Progress Journal is an excellent stationery tool for students because of its undated structure, making it ideal for busy lifestyles that are ever changing. It also features motivational quotes that will inspire you while using it, helping to keep you motivated during those tough slogs and multiple assignments.
Shop our Progress Journal today and have it ready to go alongside your studies!
By Aleczander Gamboa
]]>Goodbye 2020, hello 2021! For many of us, a new year signals a clean slate. But the vastness and ambiguity of it all can be a little bit overwhelming. What do you do first? Where should you begin? How do I start?
We always say to start the new year by building your foundation blocks first - that is, positive habits you can easily adopt into your everyday routine. Have a read below for simple tips you can do for a healthier and happier you.
While meditation has many benefits, it can be difficult to start. After all, the very idea of sitting still for a period of time feels strange, especially if you’re a go-getter. We recommend starting small, and by small, we mean simple breathing exercises to reduce anxiety and stress. This exercise can be less than 5 minutes.
When you wake up every morning, try this breathing exercise below and observe how you feel afterwards. It’s a great way to start your day with a clear and relaxed mind.
If fitness is a big priority for you in 2021, keeping track of your progress is paramount to your self-development. There will definitely be times where you’ll want to give up, so having a record of your progress will keep you motivated and stay on track.
Start by having a fitness journal and write down your fitness goals for the year. Feel free to think big, but try to keep it within a 90 day timeframe. Things might change in 3 months, thus it’s best if you stay flexible. Once you’ve identified your fitness goals, then start researching exercises - whether physical or mental - that you can do to help achieve that.
At the end of each day and before bed, we highly recommend planning out your exercises beforehand. That way when you wake up, you’ve already created a structure that you can get into the habit of. No need to spend time overthinking it.
Consistency is key, and the easiest way to get yourself into daily positive habits is by getting your body used to it all.
For example, you can start your morning with the simple breathing exercise listed above. Or you could start your day by exercising first thing. No matter what you decide, try your best to stay consistent, especially with the time of day.
Doing this on a daily basis will eventually get your body into the habit of it all, making it easier for you to concentrate and stay motivated in achieving your fitness and health goals.
When it comes to anything health and fitness related, it’s always recommended you start small first - whether it be exercises, food plans or goals. You don’t need to start it all with a bang. Baby steps are just as important and significant as the big leaps.
For example, once you’ve mastered simple breathing exercises, start increasing the time spent on it or the amount of exercises you do in one sitting. Meanwhile, if regular workouts are a goal, start with lighter weights and shorter exercises first. Then when you’re used to that, start to increase everything step by step.
Though it may take longer for you to reach your goals, these building blocks will serve as a foundation for the rest of your progress. Trying to achieve your health and fitness goals without any foundation to lean on is a surefire way to experience burnout.
We’ve all been in the situation of choosing to eat something on impulse rather than planning it out. The problem with this is that the choice is often an unhealthy one (or is that just us?). Try planning your meals beforehand, ready for the next day. We even recommend writing it down in a notebook to help remind you.
Doing this will naturally get you thinking about what you should and shouldn’t consume. It’s also a great way to make eating fun and put any cookbooks you have to good use. That said, planning an entire meal from scratch can be a lot, so if you’re pressed with time, even just listing down a few healthy options for food that you can easily consume (eg: fruit) should suffice at the beginning.
If you’re looking for extra assistance on achieving your health and fitness goals for 2021, our GSDFit range is here to help you out! From journals to notebooks and a desk pad, this range is designed to keep you motivated and on track with your progress. See the range here
By Aleczander Gamboa
To say that 2020 was eventful and unexpected is, quite frankly, the understatement of the year. Alas, it’s almost at a close and we’re all still standing! With less than 2 weeks until the year ends, now is the perfect time to reflect and kickstart 2021 on the right note.
However, it’s totally normal to feel confused about how to approach any of those things. After all, 2020 showed us that literally anything is possible. So in the spirit of Christmas, giving, and our general mantra of Getting Shit Done, we’ve collated some helpful tips on how you can reflect and step into 2021 with clarity.
Hindsight is a powerful tool. Before you think about your new goals and what you’d like to achieve in 2021, it’s beneficial to reflect on the year that was.
By knowing what worked and didn’t work for you in 2020, not only are you better placed to set clear goals and intentions for the new year, but it’s also easier to set up comprehensive plans as you’re more aware of your own boundaries.
There are many ways you can approach this period of reflection. We personally recommend using a notes journal to record your thoughts, because sometimes going back to basics (pen and paper) is best. Some questions to ask and answer could be:
BHAG stands for “Big Hairy Audacious Goals”. It’s those ambitious, hard-to-reach goals that may take months, even years, to accomplish. But that’s why they exist - challenging goals are what help us move forward in life. They are integral to our self development and growth.
When you’re thinking about your BHAG, don’t be afraid to reach for the stars! Think big. Think limitlessly. Aim high. They are supposed to be a little bit crazy - in fact, that’s what makes them so fun.
Once you’ve figured out what it is, the next step is to break it down into smaller goals. Each small goal should bring you one step closer to your BHAG, and they should be a lot more realistic and achievable. With every big goal you have, consider having 1-4 smaller goals that help meet it.
Then, break it down even further. But rather than create more goals, make a list of daily positive habits you can do everyday and easily stick to. These could be tasks like writing a to-do list when you wake up, practicing morning meditation, spending a few minutes every night tracking your progress for the day and more. When it comes to daily positive habits, the world is your oyster, provided they somehow relate back to achieving your BHAG and smaller goals.
Now we don’t mean this in the literal sense, because 2021 will start whether you’re ready or not. What we mean by this is don’t feel pressured to start the new year with a bang if you’re feeling anything but ready.
Resting is still an important action, and one should never underestimate its benefits. Sometimes, the best ideas, intentions and goals occur naturally during periods of rest and relaxation.
So with that said, rest as much as you need. Reflect when you feel like it. Give yourself a digital detox. Take time out to recuperate and recover from the crazy year that was 2020. You definitely deserve it. Start tackling the excitement of 2021 only when you’re truly ready. As the famous saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
In a perfect world, we’d be able to get everything done ourselves, but that’s not the case. We all need some help every now and then. To keep yourself accountable and consistent with our goals, we recommend using a 2021 planner or 2021 diary.
Use them to plan your schedule, organise your monthly commitments and track all of your progress from beginning to end. Seeing all of that important information on a daily basis not only keeps you accountable and consistent, but also shows you what areas you’re excelling in and what needs to be improved.
Have a look at our full 2021 range of planners, diaries and notebooks here.
By Aleczander Gamboa