Moniqua’s Must Haves for January

Are you as curious as I am about how other successful creatives get $h!t done? 

I’m always on the lookout for what tools they are relying on, what products are must-haves and what life hacks I might be missing. Because let’s face it, after the last two years, we could all use a few SKIP THREE SPACES cards in the game of life! 😉

So every month, I’m going to spotlight some creative resources that I think will help you be even more badass than you already are. These resources/tips/tricks will always serve your physical and mental health and wellness… and be a bit fun to boot!

So this month, while our brains are still buzzing with all the dreams we have for our lives and careers in 2022, I want to share some awesome journals and planners to help guide your way, provide a place for introspection and hopefully give you the extra motivation you need to crush your goals this year.

Journaling Is A Power Self-Care Tool

It may seem simple to commit our thoughts, dreams and goals to paper, but journaling is more than that. It can help you heal from trauma, feel happier and stronger, and crystalize a true vision for your life.

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt sees the benefits to journaling, “I like to write. I’ve gone through different phases in my life of writing in a journal more or less frequently, but it’s something I turn to, especially when I’m trying to work through something that’s vexing me.”

If you’re not a big planner, but you always end up frantically running around trying to remember things at the last minute, maybe it’s time for a change. Taking time to reflect and plan your day before it starts is a habit of highly successful, creative people. You’re able to better make use of your time and handle unexpected changes because you know what your day already looks like. 

There are so many moving parts to a creative life, from meetings, surprise auditions, marketing materials, self tape equipment, wardrobe, travel planning, it goes on and on. When you develop the habit of starting each day from a point of clarity, the rest of the actions you take fall into place, and it’s obvious what’s essential and what is a distraction.  

Even the ultra in-demand Lady Gaga uses a journal to keep track of inspiration, project ideas and experiences when she’s on the road. 

So, here are a few fun and fab journals / planners to check out:

Ink+Volt Gratitude Journal 

This chic 60-page journal isn’t just for you to record your daily observations and reflections. It also includes 10 weekly challenges to help enhance your gratitude practice. It’s a perfect early Galentines gift (even for yourself!). 

If you want to get a head start on creating a consistent habit of journaling, click here to download a few of the exercise worksheets now. 

Savor Beauty Planner

Self-care never looked so structured! This jam-packed planner helps you break your year into manageable quarters. There are spots to do a brain dump, places to prioritize your values and goals for each 90 day period, and the essential space for your weekly and monthly calendar. 

The best part is the vision worksheets to help you plan your focus and weekly and quarterly closing rituals to ensure you stay on track. So, if creating routines that make an impact is on your mind this New Year, this may be the resource for you!

The High Performance Planner

If you prefer your planner to be no nonsense, this one might be a great fit. Brendon Burchard is a 3-time New York Times bestselling author and coaches high performance individuals like busy CEOs, professional athletes and driven entertainers. So this journal will help you assess your habits and actions each week, to see how you’re measuring up to your intentions.

What’s really nice about it, aside from being rather large so you don’t feel like having to edit yourself to save space, is that there are built-in morning and evening rituals to help you get grounded in what you really need to do each day.

The Morning Magic 5-Minute Journal

If you’re looking for something simpler, this paperback journal is designed for you to take just 5-minutes each morning to “organize your thoughts, cultivate gratitude, and set intentions around how you’d like to think, feel, and act each day”. No muss, no fuss!

Let That Sh*t Go: A Journal for Leaving Your Bullsh*t Behind and Creating a Happy Life

This journal is a best-seller for a reason! If you’ve got something you need to get off your chest, or are just looking for clever prompts to release some stress, this fits the bill. While this is not a substitute for taking care of your mental health, it can help break negative thought patterns and shift you into a lighter mood. 

If you need more help with your inner talk, consider doing a Judgment Detox this January.  

Now it’s your turn! I want to hear from you. What planner are you using? Are you trying one out this year for the first time? Let me know in the comments below. 

LOVE + perfect planning!