While many people focus on resolutions at the beginning of a new year, goals can be established at any time.

So in this blog article I discuss journaling about goals.

Now depending on the topic you may want to set up a specific page, or pages, in a notebook.

Or even a designated book all together if it is a bigger undertaking.

I personally love bullet journals* the best for daily writing and special projects.

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S.M.A.R.T Plan

When establishing what you hope to accomplish, a popular suggestion is to follow the S.M.A.R.T method.

S.M.A.R.T stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.

Broken down in to simpler terms, have milestones you work towards to reach the end goal in your preferred time frame.

So take a moment to think about these objectives.

Next, write out these steps in your journal.

Be as simply or over the top creative as you like.

Maybe you just jot down a direct bullet point list. Or you use colors, stencils, stickers, and more to create an aesthetic design.

| Related Article: Journal about Personal Belongings

Action Steps

Now considering the pages you blocked off in your notebook, designate pages for action steps.

For example, I hope to purchase my first home with my husband by the end of our apartment lease. So in my journal I created a budget savings page.

I have a specific financial goal by a set date. As I set aside money, I use colored pencils to shade in each monetary amount on a ladder chart that I drew.

Something like this allows for a specific place to track progress while also being a creative, fun outlet.

If a rewards system helps you, incorporate that sort of element.

Say your goal is to read 3 books in a month. Plan a reward like buying a new book, if you usually borrow books from the library.

Goal Tracking Printables!

If you’d like to have some fun, colorful printable sheets for goal tracking, check out my Etsy shop RLS Photogenic LLC!

I have a 7 page bundle that you can print as many times as you like, or fill the pages in digitally!

Goal Tracking Sheets

Track Your Goals Progress

Often times we have an idea in mind, write it down with the best of intentions, but then never come back to it.

Remember to come back to your journal pages to track your goal progress.

A helpful tip for this is, set up pages or designs in advance.

For example, I’ve been trying to limit my phone usage/ screen time. So at the beginning of each month, in my journal I write out all the weeks and create an hours chart.

Then on the weekend I reflect back in the screen timer app, and color in the chart tracker to see how I did.

If the goals page is pre-set up before the task/topic happens, all you have to do is go back and fill it in after the fact.

| Related Article: What is a Junk Journal?

Journaling Behind the Why

Also take a few minutes to write out why you want to accomplish this goal.

What does it mean to you. What is the cause. The role other factors or people play in this achievement.

Lastly, goals don’t have to be big and grand things.

It can be simple every day aspirations.

Goals frequently connect to emotions in some way. So keep that in mind as well.

Journal about the journey towards completing the goal. How you hope to feel through the process and then again at the end of the accomplishment.