Using the Happy Planner to Set Goals: 3 Page Ideas
When I created my disc bound Happy Planner goals cover page for 2021 (see it here: How to Create a Vision Board for Your Planner), I knew I’d want to expand on that idea. As promised, today I’m sharing more pages that are within that tab in my business planner (see How to Use the Happy Planner as a Blog Planner). You can get even more out of your planner by using these 5 Tips for Creating the Perfect Happy Planner For You.
Have you ever created a “word of the year”? I have to admit, I had never heard of this until I was deep into the planner community. Although I quickly found it is an amazingly great productivity tool. Having a word of the year helps to guide you in creating goals and steps that move you towards what you want (to achieve). So naturally the next page in my goals tab section is my word of the year for 2021: Grow.
A few months into the year the Happy Planner came out with these black alphabet stickers with florals on them. When I saw them I immediately went into search mode to find them because I had a great idea to use them for my word of the year page. Once in hand, I got them onto the page, added some Cocoa Daisy Tranquility planner kit washi tape and thought I was done. But it was just lacking something. I let it sit for a while and then out of the blue the inspiration struck to add trailing vines with tiny leaves on them to the letters. Now I was done. LOL
On the back side, I created a simple list of the areas in life (personal, business, etc) that I wanted to grow in and specifically what I wanted to do to grow. Then I listed some steps under each category on how I planned to achieve growth in that area.
Funny thing was I tried to move away from my Happy Planner (early in the year) and made the mistake of listing a different word of the year in the other planner. I still don’t know how I did this. The other planner, at least for my business, just didn’t work for me so when I pulled back out my Happy Planner I had realized I wasn’t even using the correct word of the year. This is why I choose a planner and stick to it.
Here was the “before” picture (above) of my word of the year for 2020 -Shine. As you can guess, it didn’t go so well. I’ve chalked 2020 up as a lost cause. Although I did fill in my planner page I really didn’t reference it much. But I won’t let that word go to waste. I’ll revive it for another year and give it time to shine.
This page was dedicated to focusing on just three areas, two of which would require a budget and then at the bottom was a space to list a long term goal. The stickers I used came from the Happy Planner Homebody sticker book (kind of appropriate for 2020 wouldn’t you agree?!). It was also the beginning of my personal movement towards living simply and being more in the moment. I’m still working on that today. It’s a process.
Next planner page in my goals section is….you guessed it a debt repayment page. Don’t we all have one of these?! To make mine fun and interesting to look at and be inspired by, I chose a beach vibe to decorate it. To date, I can say it’s working. {wink}
It was a lot of fun though to set this page up. To start, I found some inspiring beach pictures on the internet, printed them off on regular paper and used glue stick to adhere them to the page. Next, I put the name of the account at the top (like how I covered the name with seashells?!) and then pulled out my Happy Planner Budget sticker book. From this book I used a financial goal box sticker, ‘goal’ circle, ‘debt free’ circle and ‘live on less’ circle stickers. I added a journaling sticker which flips open and I wrote an inspiring message to myself.
From there I just pretty much filled in the page with seashell washi tape and other stickers. The seahorse sticker is from a sea themed sticker pack at Michaels. It’s actually 3-D as its raised up from the page.
On the backside of this debt repayment page is the actual tracker that I will fill in on the 4th day of that month for that days’ quarterly summary. These weekly boxes were modified using my favorite sticker book Colorful Boxes #594 (I own like 5 of these sticker books!). I just used the smaller box to cover the header and then wrote in the months. I didn’t actually create this tracker until the end of May (when the previous debt was paid off) so it started fresh June 2021 and will go for 12 months.
In my haste to create it, I had to add December 2021 on as a separate box because after I already created the headers I realized I made a mistake in counting June as part of the 3rd quarter. But it all worked out. I continued on with the same theme as the front page and at the bottom I added two pictures as motivation. Both pictures are of my husband and myself, one was a holiday dinner and the other is our vacation to Sanibel Island (my absolute favorite beach!). For personal reasons I just covered those photos with more shells before picturing.
“To be successful in your planner goals, choose one planner and stick with it.”
Behind the Designs
Did I mention all the seashells in these pictures came straight from Sanibel Island. I have a whole small bucket of them. Oh and I grabbed some sand too. I’ll post separately how I used that sand and some of the shells.
Of all the stickers I used, I most love the coral and pastel rainbow “happy” word. So far, having created these planner pages has been extremely helpful and I look forward to looking at them everyday. I also like that I can visually see my progress on our last debt repayment. It is true I can see that progress in our statements, but, it’s more pleasing to see my personal progress at staying focused and the growth I’ve achieved in the areas I wish to improve on.
If you are inspired to create planner goal pages don’t forget to share by tagging me on Instagram and using #btdinspired, I’d love to see your work (and I just might repost your photo)!
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Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I just really love the product(s) I’ve willingly chosen to feature. All opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
