OPTED Magazine

If you have a long list of commitments in your life and a number of goals you are striving to achieve, one piece of paper could be all that you need to keep you on track.  A comprehensive list and visual representation of what you want your life to look like can go a long way to directing your energy in a positive way.

I carry a notebook with me everywhere and firmly believe it’s not just sheets of paper.  Each time I begin a new notebook, the front cover becomes my “one sheet of paper to keep me on track.”  I fill it with a mix of text and visual clippings in a collage that captures the direction of where I want my life to go.

The process

The materials for your page could be anything, but as an example, I use a colored piece of scrapbook paper, photos, clippings from magazines, patterned or colored post it notes and markers to add text in color.  To construct it, you’ll need scissors and tape.

The next step is brainstorming what you need on this page.  The idea is that you will refer to this page daily to refocus your attention on your priorities and tasks you want to complete, so include anything and everything that motivates, organizes and inspires you.

What to include

This is, of course, up to you.  But here are some great ideas to include on your page:

• Address label — use one of your address labels somewhere on the page so that if your notebook is misplaced it can be sent back to you
• Goals and priorities — I’m currently choosing to focus on 5 top priorities for my life in an attempt to simplify and make realistic progress on the things that are most important to me.  I refer to this list constantly: when I plan my day and in the middle of the day to bring me back to reality and remind me what I should be spending time on
• Quotes and words of inspiration — if you’re like me, you have a quote, music lyric or movie line that really hits home for you.  It might be a source of inspiration or words that bring a smile to your face.  Whatever it may be, it is a must have for this page!
• Important contact information — I choose to include frequently used phone numbers, passwords and URL’s in a small box on the page, even if they might be bookmarked or logged elsewhere, so I have them handy to refer to on a moments notice
• Daily checklist/reminders — I have a short list of items that I aspire to complete each day, such as a gym workout, performing a decluttering task and drinking 8 glasses of water.  For the latter, I’ve included a small magazine picture for each one as a visual trigger (a pic of a toned body, a pic of a minimalist home, a pic of an icy glass of water)
• Photos — I love my family and friends and those are the most important things in my life, so my page includes two small photos that always bring a smile to my face and remind me how lucky I am!

I’ve included numerous other small lists, pictures, and clippings on these pages over the years, but the same theme remains: a mixture of text and pictures that keep me on track and organized.  I use the page when I build an outline for my day or assess how I spend my time — it’s an integral step for directing my tasks.

And make it fun!  This page should not only be useful, but it should be a work of art and a creative project to enjoy!  Don’t limit this type of page to just the front of your notebook — intersperse these types of pages throughout your notebook.  Or if you don’t carry a notebook, make a stand-alone page to carry with you or post in your office.  Any way you approach the project, one piece of paper will make a positive impact on pursuing your dreams.

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