I inspire & teach believers the skills needed to make passive income so that they can design a life not dependent on a 9-5!
We a moving to digital journals, planners & workbooks for productivity & business growth! All sticky notes & notepads can be purchased on Etsy while stocks last.
Here are three deep writing prompts about life and why I chose these prompts.
. For many of us (many being me), we have these ideas of who we think we should be. This could be based on dreams we had growing up, the life we planned in our little diaries or it could be from the investments we have made in ourselves (i.e going to college lol). For me, it’s really all three. But more so the going to college part. Some years ago, you could not tell me that I was not going to be some fancy researcher working at a university on some important groundbreaking project. Honestly, that is who I think I should be. But that’s not who I am, nor who I want to be if I am being honest in the now. . . Life takes turns and things change, we change but somehow still hold out to the stories we sold ourselves instead of embracing the here and now! . . These prompts are o help you to look at who you think you should be and either start on that journey or let that go and embrace who you think you are. Either way, my hope is for you to find a healthy and happy medium where you can embrace joy and satisfaction. .
. I’d love to know your thoughts on these deep writing prompts about life and what they bring up for you. Feel free to comment or DM me. . .
Also, feel free to grab some of our stationery sets as a resource for your writing practice.
This time blocking technique has helped me get so much more done!!
If you are anything like me, then you struggle to get things done. For me, I have a lot of BIG ideas, and sometimes it’s hard for me to prioritize and get things completed.
If you are anything like me, then you probably also get super frustrated when you don’t get things done.
So, herein lies the problem. You struggle to complete things but have a deep desire to be the person who completes things. In realizing my dissonance, I have decided to create various resources to help me get more done and feel productive each day. And I want to share one of those things with you.
The time blocking technique that I am about to share with you, will hopefully be a healthy medium for you.
For this technique, you need a few items. They are listed as follows:
Sticky notes ( You may consider purchasing some of the sticky notes that I design and sell here in my shop)
a few minutes to spare before getting right to work.
Time Blocking Technique
This time blocking technique builds upon the original idea of time blocking as well as a few elements of the Eisenhower method. Time blocking is as the name says, you mark off blocks of time to do something specific and that things only. For the Eisenhower matrix, check out this video below for an overview.
My Timeblocking Task Flow
Created by shanicedkdesigns.com – Download for Free
So here’s what I do.
Step 1: Write out a list of all the things that you need to do. Once you have a list, now you can write each task on individual sticky notes.
Step 2: You need to assign a set amount of time to each task. Try to assign more time than you think you need.
Step 3: Align your tasks by your top priority. Then layout your other two tasks however you choose or stick with the priority aspect (this is the Eisenhower matrix part).
Step 3: Set your time and begin working on the most important task. Work on it without distractions for the allotted time.
Step 4: Take a mini-break. You can set the activities for breaks as well as your allotted time for breaks before starting.
Step 5: Repeat step 3 for your other two tasks.
Here is a fun video that breaks this down.
Thanks so much for reading! Let me know your thoughts and if you found this helpful.
Becoming that girl… your ideal self or living your ideal life is not the easiest of things. It takes focus & grit. As a personal example, I would ideally like to live in a well-organized home with matching furniture. However, my pockets are not in support right at this moment and so our house has a mixture of my items and some of my husbands. Each day, I express gratitude for all that I have while I work towards achieving my goals.
In this article, I will share my process with you for becoming my ideal self and living my ideal life.
Becoming Your Ideal Self, Living Your Ideal Life
(becoming that girl)
Who is your Ideal Self or what does your ideal life look like?
In order to become your ideal self, you must first know what or who that is. Knowing yourself is the most important thing, not just for you but for the people around you. This being said, if you don’t know your ideal self or life then take some time to figure it out. Get a journal and write to your heart’s content. What would you love to do? What business would you like to start? How would you like to live your life?
Goal Setting!
Once you know your ideal self, you can begin to map out goals or intentions for your life. Make your goals SMART.
That is:
Specific – Clear and Concise,
Measurable- You can track your progress,
Attainable- It is hard but within reach,
Relevant- In line with your overall plan (Ideal Life / Self),
and Time-based – Set deadline
Take Action Steps Daily
Now that you know your ideal self/ life and you’ve made your SMART goals, the next thing to do is to create your action plan. Your action plan is the task or duties that are needed for you to achieve your goals. What are the things you need to work on? How much do you need to earn? and so on. With a specific task, you are now actively working towards your goal.
Doing the best where you are!
While you are actively working towards your goal, don’t miss the process. Enjoy the journey and enjoy where you are and what you are doing. This also means that you must make your surroundings manageable for now so that you are happy. For instance, I would love to grow my own fruits and vegetables and be able to pick from my tree but I don’t have the means, so I go to the farmers’ market and take in the scenery and get my produce.
Always be grateful
Expressing gratitude will not only allow you to enjoy the process without being so concerned about the destination, but it will also literally change your life in all aspects. Life is a blessing and if you take a little time to appreciate what’s around you and express gratitude, you will see that.
With a little work and focus, we can all become her ( becoming that girl), living our ideal life. Or at least, that’s my belief. Therefore, it’s okay that my house is not how I want it to be because I am grateful and happy where I am while I am still working on being where I want to be.
Thank you for reading! Feel free to drop me a comment. How are you working on becoming your ideal self or living your ideal life?
Gratitude is an emotion in which we express appreciation for the things we have. When you are showing or expressing gratitude you ignore the ‘i wish I had’ thoughts and instead, say thanks for what you do have. So here is a personal question, how often do you practice expressing gratitude? Do you do it on a daily basis?
The truth is, not many people give thanks for what they have without thinking of what they do not have. This practice has also been enhanced with the social media era which often causes people to be in constant comparison. (I wish I had a house like that. Or, I wish I looked like him/her). I wish, I wish, I wish. I want, I want, I want.
Well, I WANT you to turn ‘what I want’ into ‘WHAT I HAVE’. Because guess what? You do Have.
Things everyone reading this post has:
LIFE
INTERNET and DEVICES
Someone who LOVES you (I Love you), Someone who will HELP you as best they can if they can (I will), Someone who CARES (I CARE)
A GOD who watches over you and protects you (If that is your belief)
The ABILITY to HEAL
FRIENDS and/or FAMILY
Things majority of people reading this has:
a ROOF over your head
FOOD in your belly, cupboard or fridge
WATER to drink
Now, After listing the things you do have, most people will go on to say “appreciate what you have because others do not have”. Whilst this is true, I for one don’t feel I need to tell you that. You see, gratitude is not something that comes naturally to us (humans). We weren’t made with a gratuity button. Being grateful is a skill, one that requires practice and effort. But, it is worth it.
Gratitude Clip
Expressing gratitude daily offers lots of benefits, this is why I created our gratitude clip, which is inspired by the concept of having a gratitude rock. You can use this tool to practice this essential skill of expressing gratitude and change your life! Each time you see the gratitude clip, share some things that you are grateful for. Just as many do, with a gratitude rock. A gratitude clip is included with every stationery order here at Shanice DK Designs as well as orders from our Etsy Shop. We sell sticky notes, journals, bookmarks, self-care resources, and much more. Keep reading for the benefits of expressing gratitude daily.
Below I will list a few benefits of gratitude then I will tell you some simple ways to practice it.
Benefits of Expressing Gratitude
By being grateful you will ultimately be happier. The thing is when you focus on what you have there is nothing to be sad about. Frankly, you will believe that you have it all. Once this is unlocked then you have all the benefits to gain.
People will like you more.
When I say people, I mean the people who matter to you.
YOU will like you more
Expressing gratitude has the power to boost your self-esteem. This is because you will feel like you are enough and have enough. When you are grateful you will stop thinking things like “That’s a handout, I don’t take handouts”. Gratitude will make you take kindness at face value, no hidden agenda.
Gratitude will improve your mood
To prove this, I challenge you to write 5 things you are grateful for each day. If your mood doesn’t change then I owe you one free stationery item of your choice. Connect with me on Instagram to claim it. Yes, you can connect with me either way. I’d love to hear if it works.
Gratitude reduces feelings of envy
It will Improve your career and personal relationships
Expressing gratitude will improve your health and help you to live a longer life
Believe it or not, a lot of health concerns can be linked to stress. Reduce your stress levels and your health will improve ( Yes 1+1=2).
Convert negative thoughts into positive thoughts (turn I CAN’T into I CAN)
Instead of focusing on the bad situation, ask yourself what is this teaching me?
Your struggles will make you who you are. Learn from them because they won’t last.
God will never let what you’ve lost, be the best you’ve ever had – Sprinkle of Jesus
Stop complaining! Easier said than done but earlier I did say:
Gratitude requires practice
Be happy for people. Genuinely.
Forgive yourself
You are not your past, you are not the decisions you’ve made and you are not that one bad thing that happened to you.
Everyone has at least one flaw. Accept yourself.
Celebrate yourself
Stop comparing yourself to people on social media
EVERYBODY has problems. They might not show it so don’t go thinking people on social media are perfect. Their profile seems real and perfect but so does Photoshop.
Eat one healthy thing per week
Show some gratitude for the wonderful produce that’s available for us to enjoy.
Just as there are more benefits, there are more ways to express gratitude. Feel free to leave some in the comments below.
That’s’ all for now. Thank you so much for reading.
So, for this week, I motivate you to express more gratitude. I am grateful for life, family, friends, and food! What are you grateful for?
PS: You are beautiful and my purpose is simply to remind you.
Yikes- No KDP sales. So, you have published your first few books on Amazon KDP or maybe you’ve used another publishing platform, but your books aren’t selling. Or you could be among those who get a sale every now and then with no consistency. In this article, will be sharing with you the top 5 … Read more
Here are three deep writing prompts about life and why I chose these prompts. .For many of us (many being me), we have these ideas of who we think we should be. This could be based on dreams we had growing up, the life we planned in our little diaries or it could be from … Read more
This time blocking technique has helped me get so much more done!! If you are anything like me, then you struggle to get things done. For me, I have a lot of BIG ideas, and sometimes it’s hard for me to prioritize and get things completed. If you are anything like me, then you probably … Read more
Becoming that girl… your ideal self or living your ideal life is not the easiest of things. It takes focus & grit. As a personal example, I would ideally like to live in a well-organized home with matching furniture. However, my pockets are not in support right at this moment and so our house has … Read more
Gratitude is an emotion in which we express appreciation for the things we have. When you are showing or expressing gratitude you ignore the ‘i wish I had’ thoughts and instead, say thanks for what you do have. So here is a personal question, how often do you practice expressing gratitude? Do you do it … Read more
If you are currently using a Loc’d Natural Hair Journal then you are well on your way to mastering your loc journey or as my husband likes to say mastering the ‘way you express yourself ‘. If you are not using a Loc’d Natural Hair Journal then it is never too late to start. Feel free to skip this article and grab your copy or continue reading to see how this natural hair planning resource would be of benefit to you!
A Loc’d Natural Hair Journal is a resource that allows you to keep track of your hair growth, hair care, thoughts about your hair and so much more. Think of it as a hair care log, you can make entries on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. This journal can be a pre-made journal that provides a guide for you or it can be a free-hand journal that you create in a notebook. You may even keep track on your phone, via pictures or videos.
What are the benefits of keeping a Loc’d Natural Hair Journal?
Keeping a Loc’d Natural Hair Journal is super beneficial to not only those with starter locs but everyone who has locs. I know I don’t need to say this but… caring for loc’d natural hair is very different from caring for loose natural hair and as such it is extremely important to be intentional and precise when it comes to caring for your locs.
1. A well-detailed record
As mentioned above, you may choose to use your phone to keep track of your loc journey. However, this does not afford you the added benefit of keeping a detailed record. A physical or E loc’d natural hair journal with a set structure does this.
It allows you to keep track of your scalp conditions, especially if you have issues with dandruff, as well as note dates you did specific things to your hair such as an apple cider vinegar cleanse. You may also want to note any questions that pop up that you may need to research or ask your loctician
At times in your loc journey, you may forget why you started or even start to wonder if this is for you. A loc’d natural hair journal will help you to create a positive mindset surrounding your locs via positive affirmations and goal setting but it will also help you to track your thoughts about your hair. This can be a key thing when those unnerving questions pop up. Who knows, it may help you to settle your mind or help you to realize that maybe indeed this journey or self expression at this time is not what is best for you and that is completely okay!
3. Helps with maintaining good nutrition
The very best of pre-made loc’d natural hair journals will include a section to track your meals, vitamin, and water intake. This section is very useful in making sure that what you eat is in line with your hair goals. If you desire long, healthy locs then you need to have a diet that will positively contribute to that goal.
4. Great for product, hairstyle, and tools tracking
Another great benefit of a Loc’d natural hair journal is to keep track of products and tools that you use in your hair. Most people with locs are not product junkies. We are aware of the dangers of certain products in causing buildup or damage to over locs. However, there may be a time when we want to try something new., especially for wash days. Keeping track of that and how it works for your hair will help you to pinpoint a good product or a bad product for your hair. You can also do a full wash day plan!
This will also be extremely helpful for anyone with color-treated locs. If your locs are color-treated, keeping track of the month-to-month look and feel of your hair can definitely keep you in good standing. Not to mention, keeping track of all the loc styles that you have tried!
5. Helps you with hair assessment
Conducting a hair assessment is a great way to help troubleshoot any loc’d natural hair problems. I, for one, have had moments when my hair assessment has saved me with my locs as it concerns thinning at the edges. I was able to record my concerns and head to my google loctician to figure out possible causes. Of course my issues were caused by my infrequent retwisting which I was able to confirm by looking at my retwist dates.. At that time, I was not using a physical Loc’d natural hair journal or planner and so I had to search through 1000+ selfies just to find out my retwist dates. I’m pretty sure you can relate. And I also hope you see some benefits to using a physical journal or a combination of both.
Conclusion
This article’s main goal was to share with you the amazing benefits of using a loc’d natural hair journal. Now, this article is not extensive nor does it apply to just loc’d natural hair. These benefits are very much applicable to those with loose natural hair and you can find a natural hair journal for loose natural hair by clicking here.
If you have loc’d natural hair, then please click here to check out a loc’d natural hair journal created by someone with locs for people with locs.
Thanks for reading, and I will see you in the next one.
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