Why my word of the year is always... 'intentional.'

Every year I select my 'word of the year'...and every year I pick the word intentional...and there is an intentional reason that I pick it every single year. Let me explain why...

Most people start their year out be selecting a word that they want to focus on through out the year, and in most cases the word is different every year. But for me...my word is the same and that word is 'intentional.'

I have picked that word for many years in a row now and I will keep picking it until I feel that I can move on to another word because I have mastered this one. You see...being intentional is really hard and every day I have to remind myself that my actions and my thoughts need to be intentional because when I don't, I find myself feeling out of sorts and traveling on a path that I didn't intend to be on.

Because being intentional requires me to think about what I say, when I say it, and how I say it. When I am not intentional with my words I can hurt people. I can say things that might not be thought out. Things that may sound sarcastic or judgmental ...and those are two things I never want to be to the people I care about. 

Being intentional with my actions helps keep me moving forward on the path I want to be on. When I am not intentional with my actions I veer off path and find myself in places I don't want to be and not accomplishing the goals that I have set for myself.

Being intentional with my love and respect helps remind me to cherish the people in my life that love me and care for me. Being intentional with my relationships helps me let the people in my life know how important they are too me and how much I respect how they support me and show up for me.

Being intentional in my own personal and spiritual growth helps me better understand how to be a bigger person in this world. When I am intentional I read more and apply what I learn in a way that helps the rest of the areas of my life flourish. When I am not intentional I can become tired, sad and anxious...making life dark and dreadful. 

Being intentional with my finances allows me to live my life in a way that feels good for me and my family. When I am not intentional with my money I spend it on things that are not in line with my goals and life choices. 

You see...I have picked this word several years in a row and I have still not mastered the word intentional. Because being intentional is hard and I am not perfect. So I will keep working on being intentional with my thoughts, actions, love, relationships and finances until it becomes a habit for me...a habit that makes me a better person...one that make choices with the best of intentions.

What's your word for 2022? 

Use Your Planner Like a Power Boss

Do you use a planner? How about a to-do list? How you keep yourself organized? For some people staying organized is easy. They know how to do it, but not everyone is as adapt at keeping themselves organized...and to that I say...you just haven't found your system yet. 

I am a systems person...systems help me complete things, manage projects, and stay organized and on track. Without my system I would be at an utter loss.

In order for a planner to be effective you have to use it regularly. Here are four steps that I use to help me manage my schedule - give them a try and then tweak them to fit you! 

1. Make time to review your planner every morning before you start your day, or in the evening the night before. When you take time to review what needs to be done each day and review what appointments / commitments you have it helps you gain a clear understanding of what you have to get done that day.

2. Make sure your planner has a full monthly calendar. Take time to review the next month and add your important dates on your monthly calendar; birthdays, anniversaries, business trips, vacation days, and even bills that are due during the month. 

   Having the ability to take a full look at your calendar at one time is super beneficial.

3. Prepare for each Week - At the beginning of each week - transfer any dates for that week to each day so that you can prepare your to-do's in an efficient manner. You can fit a whole day of work into a day that has 3-appointments and a kids soccer game...so preparing for your week is essential for success.

4. Use your planner as a tool - because that's what it is. However, if you don't use you planner efficiently it won't be of any good to you.

We have several types of planners available in the shop - if you're looking for a planner there are many different types out there. What I will tell you is you may use one for several months and find that a different type fits your needs better. Don't be afraid to experiment with different types until you find the one that works for you.

Check out our store and look at the different planners we offer. If you're interested in one that we have, I want to give you a 10% discount code to use. Most of our planners are undated, however we do have some 17-month planners that started in August 2021, but they are good through December 2022! 

Here's the link to shop and here's the code - plannerpower - to get your discount, if you're interested. The code starts today and is good through Thursday, September 9, 2021.