My Tools For a Kick-Ass 2018!

While there were definitely some less than desirable (and that’s putting it lightly) moments in 2017, looking back I’ve realised that overall it was a pretty great year: I graduated with a First Class Honours Degree, attended YALC, made some great new friends, got to meet lots of lovely bookish people and authors, got a new car thanks to my family, started saving for a deposit for a house, celebrated my six year anniversary with my boyfriend George, had my blog featured in Blogosphere magazine and worked with some pretty awesome publishers, brands and companies to create content for amyjanealice which meant I also got my hands on some pretty cool books to name just a few things.

So I really do have some good feelings about 2018; I just know it’s going to be full of love and happiness and I can’t wait to see where it takes me! I always enjoy reading other people’s posts about how they’re going to tackle a new year, and so I’ve put together a list of everything I’ll be using and doing to try and make next year the best one yet.

1. Organisation

I love all things organisation and stationery, so that had to be top of the list right? For the past couple of months I’ve been using the Dot Creates “I Can Do This” Blog Planner (which I’ve posted about here) and as it’s undated I can keep using it throughout 2018! It’s perfect for planning out my blog content, keeping track of stats, noting important emails I need to reply to and has pages for me to actually write draft posts!

Something that I don’t post often about on here but that I’m definitely going to write more about in the new year is my interest in the Law of Attraction. Put simply, the Law of Attraction is the theory that what you think becomes reality: “Ask, Believe, Receive”. I understand that it’s not for everybody but it’s an idea I’d definitely like to learn more about. One of my favourite YouTube-rs to watch on this is Emma Mumford, who has recently launched her own merchandise. I had to get my hands on her Law of Attraction calendar which comes with lots of motivating quotes and beautiful designs for each month and her Desk Planner too!

Of course I’m also using a regular weekly planner to keep on top of any appointments and plans (one that I don’t mind scribbling in a little), and even have a couple of planners relating to horoscopes and moon cycles too which I can’t wait to get stuck into.

2. Books

Of course I couldn’t write a post on tools for 2018 on my book blog without mentioning books could I? One of my bookish resolutions is to read more non fiction, and I’ve got a huge pile that I want to work my way through. While I do love a good fiction, I also learn and benefit a lot from self improvement books too. I want to learn new things and gain more knowledge in the new year and so here are just a few of my upcoming reads: Raise Your Vibration by Kyle Gray, Basic Witches by Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman, Moonology by Yasmine Boland, Get Your Sh*t Together and You Do You by Sarah Knight, Body Positive Power by Megan Jayne Crabbe and The Secret Law of Attraction by Katherine Hurst. Phew, that’s not even half of them!

3. Writing Tools

As I mentioned in my bookish goals and resolutions for 2018 posts, I have plans to work on my first book next year. I’ve been flooded with ideas over the past couple of years and really need to start documenting these, which is where Ready Set Novel! steps in; the book is full of tips and tricks to help you plot and plan your book, including helpful lists, space to plot maps and Q&As to help get to you know your characters.

A few months ago, whilst discussing my love for writing, I was recommended the book Everybody Writes by Ann Handley. It comes with glowing reviews and so I’m looking forward to using it to improve my writing skills and try and tidy up my bad habits.

4. Vision Board

Something I want to do at the start of the new year is to really think about what it is that I actually want, to get specific. I know that a lot of people love to create vision boards to do this, displaying images of what they desire and want to achieve in the coming months and I’m going to attempt it this year in the hopes that it brings me one step closer to my goals.

5. Positive Thinking and Gratitude

Not so much a tangible thing, but something I aim to do in 2018 and going forwards. I have always been a very emotional person, whether that be quick to anger, full of joy and happiness that cannot be contained, struggling to breathe through laughter or empathising with someone so much that I feel like crying. Since trying to look at life in a more positive view, I try not to let myself dwell on the annoyances in life or stay angry at things beyond my control, but that’s much easier said than done. So, this is something I hope to improve over coming months.

Going back to Emma Mumford, her Gratitude and Manifestation Journals are also going to be staples in my daily routine in the new year. Writing down what you’re grateful for each day can be so powerful, and even if you don’t believe in the Law of Attraction, thinking about all the amazing things you have in your life is still an awesome practice to take part in.

So, there are some of my tools for 2018 as I attempt to make it my best year yet! Is there anything you’re planning on using or doing next year?

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