And speaking of calendars, did you know that your calendar is an important tool for helping you rock the universe?!
Here’s how…
Keep track of progress.
To stay focused on a goal, it’s important to track daily progress toward that goal!
Before we moved to the middle of nowhere, my focus was on reducing our expenses. (The point is now moot since we are far, far away from sources of temptation!) I wrote down the amount of money that we spent each day and totaled it at the end of the month. It was phenomenal for helping me see how little expenses are a constant hemorrhaging of our financial resources.
You can use this technique to stay motivated to lose weight, become a better athlete, or even become a better parent!
Write down goals.
It’s also important to keep your goals in front of you, every day. This reminds us of what is important to you and can help you maintain momentum toward your dreams!
Remember, though, that your goal is not your goal.
Your goal isn’t to lose weight…it’s to be ubersexy or radiantly healthy or able to keep up with your kids. Those are the dreams that are real and connecting with that will help you change your life.
Use stickers!
Basically they’re the stickers teachers give to kids in elementary school that say stuff like “Awesome!” and “Great Job!” (At least that’s what my stickers say.)
After I do something really spectacular, like make a ton of progress on a project, I peruse my stickers for the perfect sentiment to display on my calendar.
When I organized my mother-in-law’s office, a massive 12 hour undertaking, I busted out the “Beautiful Work!” sticker with no shame in my game!
I love looking back on the month and seeing the gorgeousness. Each sticker represents an accomplishment and being able to use them makes me feel a little giddy…and a lot awesome.
Keep track of dates that motivate.
When we take on major obligations, there is usually a date that the process is complete. That’s an important date.
Like knowing when your home is supposed to be completely paid off. Or when you’re done repaying a student loan. The day your kids leave for college.
And because I’m fascinated by it, I also keep track of the end of the world. Like April 13, 2029 which is that date that an asteroid passes close enough to the earth for us to determine whether it will hit us on April 13, 2036.
I don’t know about you but I like being reminded that there is more to our lives than watching tv.
Be inspired to take action.
Find out what speaks to you, what dreams make you uncomfortable with sitting still and go out and claim that. Don’t be afraid to use every tool at your disposal.
…and maybe you can hack your calendar to rock your life!





6 comments
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November 4, 2009 at 8:15 pm
connie
I still use a daytimer *gasp* it often becomes a journal of sorts…the calendar tells the story of where I’ve been and where I may be going.
plus I draw little pictures (but the sticker idea is cute) I recently came across some old ones while sorting through office papers…interesting reading, of course, this is why I never get finished in there!
hayden tompkins says:
Oh, I totally know that feeling! It’s kind of like going on a treasure hunt sometimes.
November 4, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Positively Present
Love this post!
Great info here!
hayden tompkins says:
Thanks, Dani!
November 4, 2009 at 11:02 pm
dreemwhrld
I’m curious – does your calendar go all the way to 2029? If not, how do you keep track of that date?
I keep track of some things on my computer calendar, which seems to have no end to how far into the future you can plan. Things like my vacation next August are on there.
hayden tompkins says:
Oh no, I keep all my future days on the page for “December”. Not sure how it will work with the new calendar!
For some reason, computer calendars don’t work for me unless it is a work calendar.
November 5, 2009 at 2:37 am
thedailydish
Fabulous idea – I have five calendars and love them ALL. PS: keeping a daily journal (or blog) is also a compliment to the calendar. allows for more detail. xo!
hayden tompkins says:
I totally agree! Did you know you can print your blog out and have it bound as a book? I think your daughters would love that when they’re older.
November 6, 2009 at 3:31 pm
thedailydish
John said recently he was going to save all my posts somehow, so if wordpress even goes belly up i would have them. i thought that was incredibly thoughtful. i love my husband!!
hayden tompkins says:
That’s so romantic!
November 5, 2009 at 3:29 am
Randi
I swear we are organizational soul sisters! I use my Franklin planner to chart my goals and my progress toward those goals. I use it of course as a calendar. Like Connie, I also use it as a journal of what happened, along with doodles and drawings. The back of my planner is for things like my class outlines, grading scales and various cards and awards to hand out to students. Sometimes I just open my planner to play—color in the dates, re-organize my sections, make new goals and write down events that I had forgotten to record at the time they happened.
Pens and paper. Ahhhh…
hayden tompkins says:
And highlighters!
I’m really glad I’m not the only person who loves pretty-ifying her calendar. By the way, this is probably going to sound like a stupid question, but are you a teacher?