If you’ve followed my blog for awhile, you know I’m settling down after transitions and a difficult few years. As part of my transition, I’m changing the way I’m planning my journaling.

I also have the wonderful opportunity to be an Archer & Olive ambassador. It’s especially exciting for me because I believe in and use their top quality notebooks and it perfectly coincides with the personal season I’m in. I’ll share a bit more about this at the end of this post.

For the upcoming new year, I am keeping three journals: a planner to organize my time, a diary to process life, and a commonplace book to record ideas and inspirations. I imagine these three will be a good foundation for the year and a springboard for my creative life adventures and journals for the coming year.

Looking back on the process

For nearly two decades, at this time of year, I’d go through the process of choosing a word for the following year, and setting up a planner/calendar journal that includes the chosen word. You can find many published planner/calendar journal posts and word of the year posts on my blog. It is a great way to plan and look forward to a new year.

Here are a few links to posts about choosing a word for the year and journal set-up

• How to choose a Word for the Year

• Pages I include in a Word of the Year bullet/planner journal

• 7 Reasons why I include a Word of the Year in my planner journal

• https://www.valeriesjodin.com/blog/plan-with-me-e-course

• Plan with me 2021 journal set up

Changing the way I journal

After my hand injury a few years ago, mobility was limited and I experienced pain in my dominant hand. It caused me to steward my detailed art activity differently. I decided I didn’t want to spend so much of my hand activity on artwork in a planner journal. Also, being semi-retired, my time is spent differently, so I don’t need a planner like I used to.

Last year, for the first time in many years, I bought a simple printed planner instead of making my own planner in a dotted or grid notebook. After two months of keeping that calendar, I abandoned it, and kept track of my life on my phone instead. It did not feel fulfilling, and I knew I needed a change.

My chosen word for the past year has been Wonder.

Wonder was a good word for the year: ‘Wonder’ as in being in a state of awe and wonder. I looked for beauty and found it in so many places, especially nature, the forest and the ocean. ‘Wonder' as in, ‘I wonder what the heck is going on?’ Both uses of ‘Wonder’ have been extremely relevant this year and I am thankful. 

Here are the Wonder journal blog post links:

• https://www.valeriesjodin.com/blog/art-in-real-life-12-poetry-word-of-the-year-journal

• https://www.valeriesjodin.com/blog/word-of-the-year-poetry-journal

INTO THE NEW!

100-day project as a springboard

Doing the 100-day project earlier this year was a great way to get back into art making. It was a good discipline, without a lot of pressure, and a springboard that jumpstarted my art making again after the moving to a new home.

Here are the beginning and ending links to posts featuring my 100-day project for 2024. There are more posts on the blog for sets of pages.

• 100-day project - Getting ready

• 100-day project Finale

New Journals

After completing the 100-day project, I began three new journals: a commonplace journal to put garden notes and quotes in (B6 size dotted journal), and an illustrated garden journal with watercolor paper (Archer & Olive 8” square watercolor notebook). I also began a new diary journal (A5 size) to pour out and process my thoughts and feelings.

In August, I felt a hankering to prepare a planner journal for the fall, so I ordered an undated planner from Archer & Olive. It was easy to set up and modify for September  through next September, with pencil and Washi tape. I’ve used it every day since then. 

Woohoo! I’m an A & O Ambassador

Early in the summer, Archer & Olive, put out a call for Ambassadors for their company. Over the years I’ve ordered more from their company, especially this year. They have wonderful customer service and top quality products. Their notebooks are spectacular. I looked up their mission, which lines up with mine, and submitted to be an ambassador.  

A & O mission:
“Our customers are at the core of everything we do. Our mission is to introduce as many people as possible to the influence that creativity can have on mental wellness.”

You can imagine how thrilled I was to find out I was chosen to be a part of the team. I’m using their products anyway and now get to use more and share more with you!

You can get 10% off your order at Archer & Olive when you use the code Valerie10. It is an affiliate code where you get a discount and I get a small commission - Win/Win!

Thanks for stopping by!
Feel free to leave you thoughts, suggestions, and questions in the comments section below.

Be blessed!
Valerie

Affiliates etc.

Amazon: Sometimes I post links to Amazon products on my site. I receive a small commission if you click on the product and purchase it. I only recommend products I use, am happy with. It costs you nothing, but does help me cover some of my costs to host the site etc.

Archer & Olive: I am now an Archer & Olive ambassador and affiliate. To receive a discount of 10%, use the code Valerie10 when you order. You get the savings and I receive a commission to help cover my online and tech costs.

StencilGirl Products: I receive royalties from stencils I’ve designed from StencilGirl Products. I hope you enjoy creating with them.