Designing your year

I started with a winding road, since it’s been my experience that every adventure has its twists and turns. 

As I wrote in the months, it occurred to me that although the months are roughly the same length some are fuller than others – like May and December – tend to be filled to the brim so I made those bigger than the others. 

In retrospect, I didn’t have to write them in at all, since I was trying to make my map mostly symbols. You’ll see those are the only words in the map. 

Marking Milestones Along the Way

Next I added in travel and milestones. Big birthdays for me and my husband, my son’s high school graduation, my niece’s wedding, and my 20th wedding anniversary. 

I intentionally put in empty circles because one of my goals for the year is to try new things, which since they are new, I don’t know what they are. Along with my business goals, and my health goals and activities I want to do more of this year. 

Themes, Cycles, and White Space

I put in my theme, the Year of the Horse, and reminders to pay attention to the seasons, the sun and cycles of the moon. I do that anyway but I like seeing it on my map as a reminder. I have reminders of my spiritual pursuits as well as all the books I want to read. I have a lot of white space left, and I’m already thinking of things I want to add to my map. At some point, I might even make a key. 

If you decide to play with this idea, which I hope you will, because it’s playful and fun and lets you see your goals unfold over time rather than holding all at once as if time is not a parameter. It also lets you see them as a journey, not an end point, interwoven with your life. Leaving white space gives you permission to add as you go. After all, it’s your map, and you are the mapmaker. 

You don’t have to map the journey alone. Private coaching provides one on one support to help you clarify direction, stay accountable, and make intentional progress as your goals unfold.