Setup Your Index Pages
Make it easier to find where you put things in your notebook
A Paper Planner
Give yourself a digital detox.
Storyboarding
Anything from a quick stick figure sketch to a more detailed set of drawings)
Health Tracking
Are you getting enough water? How much are you sleeping? Going for walks each day? What would you like to track?
Booklist
What are you reading? What would you like to read? What have you read this year?
Drawing
Doesn't have to be fancy, just capture an idea. But it certainly can be fancy if you like!
Bucket List
What thing or things would you really like to do but never find time or resources to do them? Let this list be inspiration for you to put yourself first here and there to do these things.
Trip Planner
It can be extravagant or as simple as you like. From heading to another country to a picnic in the park.
Capsule Wardrobe Plan
Would you like to simplify your clothing or ensure things go together better? Or even take the time to look at what you have and try a few new combos?
Craft / Hobby Tracking
What are you working on? What supplies do you have? Anything you'd like to use up? What projects would you like to do or have you done this year?
Favorite Spreads
What journaling setups do you use often? Would it help to have a section of samples for easy access?
Poetry
Are you a poet? How will you know it (if you don't try)? Poetry can be a great way to write out your feelings.
Story Snippets
Is there a scene in your head that needs to be written down? What about an alternate scene for something in your book? Or a pre- or post-story chapter?
Prompt List
Give your future creative self a boost with a list of ideas you like.
Quotes
Sayings from others can be incredibly inspiring. Write them for when you feel down or need a boost or idea for your work!
Sticker Page
Need a place to store your favorite stickers? You can use the stickers or tape them in place for later, so you have them when you need them.
Cover/Graphic Design Ideas
Help your future self by jotting down/sketching ideas for your book/album covers. Give yourself a list of what your brand looks like.
Treats/Rewards List
Need a pick-me-up for those hard days? A reward for completing a tough or undesirable task can make the work go better.
Character Names
How much time do you spend trying to think of a good character name only to find you've already used three with the same first letter? Help your future self out by making a list of names with different first letters or sounds (if the language is syllable-based).
Story Plots
Books or short stories—you can plot them here! Newsletters are great for authors, but we need things to put in them. Short stories are great for this!
Social Media Post Ideas/Calendar
Need ideas, slogans, trope lists, image idea lists, and whatnotfor your social media posts? Have a schedule for your social media?
Emergency Contacts List
Who all would you need to contact in an emergency? Family? Vet? Doctor? Insurance? A Lawyer? Tree or cleaning/restoration service? Get those numbers in a list.
Emergency Supplies List
What are the disasters most likely to happen in your area? Should you have a pack or stash in your place with food, extra clothing and shoes, sanitation items, warm items, etc.?
Low Tech Day Ideas
What can you do to give your brain a break and get away from the computer or have a minimal phone day?
Things You'd Like To Learn
What have you been putting off learning about because you never have the time or don't know where to start? Do you need to set aside even an hour a week for it?
Garden Planner/Plant Care
Do you forget to water your plants? Make a tracker where you put the watering task with something you do regularly. (Laundry and watering plants) Do you want to start a garden next summer? Draw up a little plan for it.)
Pet Shots and Vet Visit Tracker
When was the last time your pet(s) had their shots? Do you have a routine for getting them in? Expenses you know that are coming up for that? Track them.
Home Maintenace
What things should you do regularly for your home? Do you schedule a furnace or air conditioner checkup before those appliances will be used heavily? Clean out your gutters so you don't have ice buildup in the winter or rain overflow that causes water issues? Write them down.
Free Book Marketing/Release Ideas
What free resources can you use besides social media? Think newsletters, your library for interviews and book signings, guest posts on fellow authors' sites, recipe book giveaways, etc.)
Handwriting or Calligraphy Practice
Can you read your own writing? Sometimes it's just a matter of slowing down and practicing a bit to make it easier to read. Or trying a different style. Does writing in all caps like Ryder Carol does make it look neater? Try a few things out and see what works for you.
Page Decorating Ideas
Do you like to make pretty page doodles? Make a list of your favorites so you don't have to go hunting for the last time you used a particular one to have it for reference.
Journaling Pages/Idea Dumps
Need to write out that frustration or idea to get it out of your head?
Things You Said No To
Keep track of what you politely declined and what you chose to do instead. This can help you feel less guilty about saying no and establishing boundaries.
Comments