Playing with Leaves, Flowers, and Shapes to Plan for the Month of May
May Brings the Flowers
April showers bring May flowers.
As I sat down to plan the coming month, this little phrase kept repeating in my mind. I am hoping it is true. Because April seemed like “showers” was the theme. It almost feels like April didn’t happen. I experienced the move to distance learning, got my items from my classroom, and digested that this academic school year was officially over in terms of going into a school building. The learning isn’t over, but it definitely does not feel the same. I sometimes feel that the season we are in right now is all too appropriate. Spring is in the middle. An in-between. It is not hot and not cold. Quarantine is not productive and not lazy. Social-distancing is hard for some and easier for an introvert like me. We are all trying to figure out the middle. I took this picture while I was outside this past week walking around the yard. It captures the moment before the leaves on this little bush are fully sprouting out to say hello to the world. My goal and theme for May is to honor the middle ground that is spring and look for the moments of growth that are about to happen. This post outlines my bullet journal plan with me for the month of May, as well as some new materials I am using to keep things full of color.
Welcome to May
The theme for May is leaf shapes and flowers. I also have the colors green, yellow, white, and light gray. I love the idea of the six-sided hexagons being the leaves. I found myself playing around with the lines and colors of the green. The little flowers scream spring all the way through. I love the hexagon shape because it can be more than honeybees. There are so many six-sided shapes in nature: turtle backs, dragonfly eyes, bubbles, snowflakes, the everyday pencil, and even the element of carbon.
Materials & Pens
BE BRIGHT. BE HAPPY. BE YOU.
I am back to adding new stickers this month. Here is a new sticker to start off the collection on my journal cover from a local headband company, The Happy Headband Co. I have also officially migrated over to a new black Leuchtturm 1917 Medium A5 dotted notebook. I always splurge and get the matching pen loop. I love having my little pencils ready to go.
I also wanted to include my new pen case from Amazon. (Listing information: Large Pencil Case,VASCHY Art Color Pencils Pouch with 3 Detachable Layers Multiple Zip Pockets for School Office Stationery Organization Black) My goal was to also keep my journal at the bottom of the case, but I got a little carried away with the markers and pens I am storing. So far, I love having all of my materials in one location-especially because my desk is mobile. I am working on distance learning from my little writer’s desk in the living room.
Current pens/marker favorites:
Crayola Sharpie Brush Markers (12-Count)
Flair pens for writing and accent work
BIC mechanical pencils (These are always my favorite)
Zebra Pen Mildliner Double-Ended Brush and Fine Tip Pen, Assorted Colors (15-Count)
Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens, .3mm, Metal Clad Tip (20 pack)
Timely - Geometric Designer Template - 49T (Green thing in the pocket with shapes)
Washi tape
Monthly Layouts and Spreads
MONTH-AT-A-GLANCE
APRIL REFLECTION
MAY HABIT TRACKER
I want to focus on moving my body, especially because I am finding I am sitting behind a desk more and more with the move to online learning. I always like to give myself options, as long as it is for 30 minutes a day. I also want to focus on adding more water to my routine this month. If you set your habit tracker up this way with a color system, you don’t put a negative reaction of “not logging” into your habit tracker routine. The same concept applies to grading. If a kid got 3/10, I always put +3. They got three right, now, let’s focus on learning how to get the rest. We need to give ourselves the same credit we give kids.
YARD WORK PLANS
Some of you are sitting out there with your green thumbs and your love for all things yard work. I am not a huge fan. I love making things inside the house, but I find that yard work can be discouraging. For a planner like me, it helps to have a setup of what I want to get done. Mulch in the front flower beds? Let’s plan it. Little flower pots outside the front door? Write it down. Little herb garden on the deck? Maybe, so. I find that if we embrace the things that don’t come naturally to us, we push ourselves outside of our comfort zones.
FIRST WEEKLY LAYOUT
My schedule each day is pretty set. Mondays and Wednesdays I am teaching online, and the other days I am planning, writing, and creating. For that reason, I am moving to more of a task-focused weekly spread in my journal.
FUTURE LOG
I made a future log in my April Plan With Me post, but I just realized I never posted it online. I loved the simplicity of that future log. It had simple months with book releases and events. However, I wanted more detail for the next 6 months. May feels like starting fresh. With that, I wanted to really get specific about what I want to accomplish and do in the next six months. I am still keeping the other log for book releases coming out this year. (Can we talk about the number of awesome books coming out May 5?!) One of the things I love about journaling is the ability to start new on a page whenever you feel like it.
BONUS PAGE: VISION BOARD
I also wanted to include my vision board for this new quarter. I am proud of this weekly spread because it is the first one that I have made a journaling mini-video for! I think I am going to start working my ideas into journaling videos and tutorials. I love this vision board because it was easy, but it also speaks to what I want to accomplish. I did an easy Google Search of images that are important to me. I hit print, and then taped away. I am adding more specifics along the sides with steps on how I want to reach my goals.