Achieve All Your Goals by Creating a 5 Year Plan in 4 Simple Steps (with free download!)

Think back to 5 years ago.

What did you think you would be doing now? What kind of life did you imagine for yourself?

And are you living that life you imagined?

If so, GO YOU! But if you are like most of us, you probably still have some things you want to improve or add to your life. I know that I was hoping that by now, I would be a bit more in shape and able to run a 5K. I’m still working on that one (sorta).

Without concrete goals, it can be easy for every day life to cloud your vision of the future and make it easier to become complacent with where you are. Of course, we should find the beauty in any stage of our lives. But we can always improve!

A 5 Year Plan can be a great way to create goals for yourself, but they play a role in your current life more than you might think.

Benefits of Creating a 5 Year Plan

• Setting goals of any kind means you are more likely to achieve what you want to achieve!
• It will help you spend time deciding what areas of your life you are happy with and which you want to improve.
• It helps you break down your long-term goals into shorter-term goals.
• It provides motivation and reminders of your goals.
• It can provide a yearly reminder or check-in to decide if you are going in the right direction.

So how do I make one??

Step 1: Decide which areas of your life to focus on

If you want to start simple, find just one area of life you want to work on, like fitness or finances.

If you want to create goals in all areas, I suggest using the categories of:
Health
Career
Family
Finances
Skills
and Travel

Really think about what aspects of each of these areas you are currently happy with, and what you might want to change or improve.

Step 2: Where do you want to be in 5 years?

Now set those goals!

Use your categories from Step 1 and imagine your dream life in each area. In 5 years, do you want a higher paying job? Do you want to have travelled internationally? Take some time and really consider what you want out of life.

Then, write your goals in an “I WILL…” statement. This uses psychology to “trick” your brain into believing these statements are not negotiable, that they WILL happen! Instead of “I want to run a marathon”, say “I will run a marathon.” Really believing you will meet your goals puts you one step closer to actually doing so!

Step 3: Break it down into yearly goals.

Now that we have our 5 year plan, let’s break down every goal into one or 2 goals that we can achieve in the next year.

If you want to run a marathon in 5 years, you wouldn’t want to set a goal for running a half marathon in the next year. We don’t want to set goals that are too difficult to reach in a year. Instead, maybe decide that by next year, you will be able to run 5 miles comfortably. Even if you can already run 3 miles easily and meet your goal early, you will have achieved your goal for the year and will feel accomplished and proud!

For each goal in your 5 year plan, create a goal or two that you KNOW you can reach by this time next year.

Step 4: Create new habits

We are going to break it down one more time.

Take each yearly goal you made in step 3 and decide on simple daily or weekly tasks that will help you work towards that yearly goal.

If you want to be able to run 5 miles by next year, plan to do a challenging cardio workout 3-4 times a week.
Or if you want to have $2,000 in savings by next year, make it a habit to make coffee at home instead of stopping by Starbucks on the way to work.

Put these new habits in your planner or as reminders in your phone so you can’t forget about them. It takes 21 days of consistently doing a behavior or task to make it a habit, so stay consistent!

Building new habits by changing behaviors one day at a time is the easiest way to make big changes in your life.

You’re done! You made your 5 Year Plan! Now what?

Print it! Share it! Post it!

Do anything you can to make sure you see your plan often. Tell friends and family about your plan so you have people to support you and hold you accountable. I printed my plan and taped it up at my desk so that I see it every day and I am reminded of why I am making changes and what I am working towards.

Review your plan every year and change your yearly goals to reflect your progress toward that big 5 year goal.

How great will it feel to erase your yearly goal, knowing you met it or exceeded it, and make a new goal that is one step closer to your ideal life!!

You can get my free downloadable 5 Year Plan template by clicking the download button here, or you can make your own using a table in Word or Google Docs.

Download

I know all of you have what it takes to reach those goals and live your best life!

Share your 5 Year Plans on Instagram and tag @pinetreesandpaperclips for the chance to be featured on our Instagram!

How to Set a Budget For Gift-Giving

Christmas is coming faster than any of us realized a week ago. We are all virtually swiping our cards at Amazon and a million other online stores, and probably some in brick and mortar stores (in a safe way). I’m also sure that we are all feeling that dull ache coming from our wallets as money keeps being spent.

What if I told you there was a way to know EXACTLY how much you need to set aside for gifts?

And not just for Christmas, but for the whole year! It is a super easy system to follow, and, as always, I have provided you a printable to use for your own gift budget! It feels AWESOME not to worry about spending too much on gifts, and knowing exactly what I need to buy way ahead of time!

Step 1: Decide what gifts, and for whom, you will need in the coming year

Start with a list of birthdays, anniversaries, teacher appreciation, and whatever else you usually buy gifts for. Then think through all the people you will need to buy Christmas gifts for. For example, I know every year I will need to buy Christmas gifts for my immediate family, birthday gifts for my friends, and an anniversary gift for my husband. Then, list out each person by name and for what occasion the gift is for. You can even plan ahead and make a spot for baby shower or wedding gifts without listing a name, even if you don’t know that you will be attending them, as many of us end up going to at least one of each every year! This first step can be time consuming, but it will save you so much time later!

Step 2: Set amounts you want to spend on each gift

If you are struggling to decide how much to budget for certain gifts, think back to the last gift you got that person, or for that occasion. How much did you spend? Did you feel like you overspent or that you could have splurged a bit more? This step is all about your budget and what you feel comfortable with. I’m sure all of our lists will look very different in this column.

Step 3: Start buying gifts ahead of time

If you already know of a good idea for your best friend’s birthday gift, go ahead and write it down, then buy it the next time you are in that store or shopping online. I also like to add in ideas for gifts, even if I’m not sure exactly what to get someone for a certain occasion. Then I have some ideas when it comes closer to time. This step is a great way to spread out your spending throughout the year instead of dumping loads of money in November and December!

Step 4: Keep up with your list and make adjustments when needed

No one’s life is entirely predictable, so more gift-giving occasions may pop up throughout the year. Or you may realize you don’t have the $300 to spend on Aunt Jackie’s Birthday gift, or you want to spend more than $20 for your child’s teacher’s end of the year gift. This is why your free download is able to be edited straight from your computer, so its easy to add and change information. You can also print it and put it on the fridge so you will see it often and remember to stay on track.

Download your own copy here! —–>Download

This system of gift planning and budgeting has saved me so much time and money over the past year. It has also made me a better and more thoughtful gift-giver, as I can spend time all year thinking of the perfect gift for someone, and I have an easy place to take note of it so I don’t forget. Don’t let Christmas drain your wallet, and get a head start on next year’s gifts while we are all in the giving spirit! Happy Holidays!

Time Blocking: Throw out your to-do list!

What is it?

It’s magic! Time Blocking is a way to breakdown your day into blocks of time (just like it sounds!). Each “block” is dedicated to a different set of tasks. This allows you to throw out your mile long to-do list and start your day with a schedule of exactly what needs to be done and when. During each block, you can forget about all the other little things and focus on just what you need to do during that block.

How will it work for you?

Do you work full time? Are you a stay-at-home mom? Are you a student? This method can work for ANYONE! You can break up your time blocks in any way that works for you, and tackle the tasks that matter most to you. Using the alarm app on your phone can also help you know when to switch between blocks. Bonus: it also allows you to block in time to relax! All you need is a way to write/type out your schedule and a few minutes to plan your day. (And I got one of those covered for you at the end of this post!)

How to set it up

Here is an example of one way you could use this method. Basically, you want to break your day down into manageable time chunks, 2 or 3 hours at a time. If you work full time, your day may look a little like mine. If you are at home most of the day, you might swap out one of my blocks for an “Errands” block or a “Housework” block.

You can make your own with this editable version that you can download for FREE! Just click the black “Download” button here!

Download

I like to sit down on a Saturday or Sunday when I get a few minutes and work out my schedules for every day of the upcoming week. They stay mostly the same, but I can easily add in tasks or take some out. I also like to set timers for the ends of each block so I know to switch to my next block.

My favorite part about this kind of schedule is that if I finish my tasks for that block before the block is over, I can just chill out! I can scroll through Instagram or go play with my dog Mabel! And if you can’t quite finish all your tasks in the time of one block, you can always find ways to squeeze them into another block. Just keep that in mind and adjust your blocks accordingly next time that task comes around.

If this sounds like something that could change how you do to-do’s, let me know! Comment below or come on over to @pinetreesandpaperclips on Instagram and show me how you block out your time! I’m so excited to see the unique schedules and methods you all use!

Make Time For Yourself: Scheduling Self-Care

We all need self-care. Self-care is a way for us to reset and relax. When we don’t take time for ourselves, we can start to become overwhelmed, overworked, and stressed.

Self-care is such a broad term. Some people consider simple things like taking a bath to be adequate self-care, where others may consider that only a daily task that doesn’t benefit their mental health.

Whatever you consider self-care, you probably know that it can be hard to make time for yourself. You may want to spend some time on yourself, but just can’t find time between work schedules, housework, and other obligations. So how are you supposed to de-stress and unwind?

SCHEDULE IT!

We all have a schedule of one kind or another, whether its written down in a fancy planner or just stored in the back of our minds. Rearrange that schedule to make time for yourself. Write it down if you have to, to have a visual reminder. You can also plan ahead and decide what you want to do for self-care for the rest of the week!

Especially with the stressors we have in 2020, it is important to make self-care a priority! Find other tasks in your day that may not need to get done right away, and replace them with self-care. Instead of vacuuming as soon as you get home from work, spend some time reading a book you love or taking a walk and listening to your favorite songs. Replace 30, or even just 10 minutes of the time you usually spend cleaning up to do something for yourself. You can even use your daily commute for self-care and listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks that make you happy.

Use my bright and happy Self-Care Planner to plan your own self-care for the week!

Self-Care ScheduleDownload

Ideas for Quick Self-care

There are so many things that can be self-care and can help you feel less stressed and more energized that you may not even consider to be self care.

Things like going to bed on time, trying new hair or skin care products, or eating a good, healthy breakfast can all help you change up your daily schedule and add a little more energy back into your day.

Some other ideas for self-care that can take 10 minutes or less are:

1. Calling a friend or planning an outing with friends
2. Reading a chapter in a book
3. Journaling about your day
4. Playing with a pet
5. Meditating or just focusing on taking deep breaths
6. Look through old pictures on Facebook or in a photo album
7. Change into sweats or pajamas
8. Painting your nails
9. Drinking more water
10. Read an article on Goodnewsnetwork.org

Let me know in the comments what you are planning to do for yourself this week!

Never Eat “I Don’t Care” For Dinner Again!

“What do you want for dinner?”

“I don’t care. Whatever you want.”

This was a common conversation in my household until recently. And this conversation could go back and forth forever and usually ends up in grabbing something unhealthy or not very tasty for the sake of time.

Then we started planning our meals ahead of time!

Every weekend, my husband and I sit down and spend a few minutes thinking about what we might want to eat during the next week, and what we can cook that might last more than one meal. Gotta save that money!

Now, to be fair, we only plan out our evening meals, since my husband and I both eat basically the same things every day for breakfast and the same things for lunch. We already know we need to buy those same things every week.

But just planning out that one meal a day for the week saves us so much time and money! We only need one grocery trip a week to buy all the ingredients we will need, and we spend ZERO time on deciding what to eat every evening! It also helps to see our meals laid out in front of us so we can see if we are eating too many unhealthy meals in a row, or too much pasta (guilty!).

I recommend writing your meal plans out on something physical, whether its a chalkboard or dry erase board or just on paper. It has been proven that writing things out causes your brain to process and analyze the information more fully than typing, so that you can more easily notice patterns in your meals.

And as always, here is your free download! Get your own blank weekly meal planner to help you save your own precious time and money!

Click download to get your own!Download

Let me know over on Instagram at @pinetreesandpaperclips what your meal plans for the week are!

Avoid Expensive Home Repairs With This Free Yearly Home Maintenance Calendar

We all know how it feels when it seems like everything is going wrong all at once. Maybe your microwave stopped working, and before you even got to replace it, your washing machine broke too! (This really happened to us. Its the worst!)

The Good News?

There is a way to avoid that awful feeling and forking over hundreds or thousands of dollars to make repairs!

All parts of a house require maintenance to prolong their usability. Anything from roofs to refrigerators need to be maintained and checked regularly to avoid those big, expensive repairs that you have to make when you realize there has been a big leak for a year that you didn’t know about. Because there are just SO MANY parts of a house that need to be checked and cleaned and repaired, it can become overwhelming if you don’t have a system or schedule in place.

This is where my Yearly Maintenance Calendar comes in handy! I’ve already done the work for you of listing out all the areas that need to be regularly maintained or cleaned, and scheduled them into manageable chunks for each month. (Download this calendar for yourself at the bottom of this post!)

Most of these tasks you can easily do on your own, regardless of how handy you are, but its totally fine to call in the professionals on tasks you aren’t comfortable completing yourself. I often use YouTube to teach me how to do some of these tasks that I have never done before.

You may also remember that in my Weekly Cleaning Schedule that I shared last week (Click here if you missed it) that I list “Monthly Task” on certain days, which is when I would complete these. Some tasks that take more time would be moved to the weekend to ensure they get done.

Download your own Yearly Maintenance Calender here for free!

Download

Come find Pine Trees & Paper Clips over on Instagram at @pinetreesandpaperclips for extra resources and information!

What is one area of your home that you often forget to check on and maintain? For me, its the gutters! Let me know yours in the comments!

Weekly Cleaning Schedule: Save time and stay tidy

Do you ever come home from work already dreading all the cleaning and tidying that you know is waiting for you? I know I used to feel this way. So many areas of my house used to be neglected because I dreaded even getting started. Cleaning every room every day can really burn you out on wanting to keep your home clean.

What if you knew when you got home that you just had one or two quick things to clean or tidy? And, on top of that, you would have more time to spend doing things you enjoy! Well, creating a weekly cleaning schedule has given me a new outlook on keeping my house clean. It allows me to know exactly what needs to be done, not just today, but for the rest of the week. It also breaks up each room into small manageable tasks that you can even delegate to husbands or kids!

This is an example of what one of my first weekly cleaning schedules looked like. You can find a download of a blank version of this template at the end of this post.

To break it down, start by assigning each room to a day of the week. Smaller or less used areas like hallways and sun-rooms can share a day if you like. Then, decide what tasks you want done at least once a week in those rooms. (The “Monthly task” you might notice on some days of mine will be the focus of next week’s post!) Feel free to list tasks that might not be in the assigned room for the day, but that you still want done, like I did with washing the dishes. I also have a very hairy dog, so we sweep a lot!

This method of planning out my weekly cleaning has saved me SO much time. It takes only about 30 minutes of my afternoon to do most, if not all, of the tasks for the day. Then I can spend the rest of my evening doing whatever I please! It also leaves my weekends free of having to do these tasks, so I can focus on other tasks to organize and improve my home. This schedule would also be easy for a child to understand, so the whole family can work together and get tasks done even faster!

Click the button below to download your own free weekly cleaning schedule! It is a PDF, so you can either print it and write on it, or type on it from your computer.

Download your free Weekly Cleaning Schedule here!Download

Disclaimer: I made this schedule in Canva. It is a great website for making schedules, flyers, really any type of graphic. Play around with it and try making your own schedule with your own flair!

Hello, and welcome!

Hi! I’m Bailey and you have found Pine Trees & Paper Clips!

This blog is all about organization, time management, de-clutter, home improvement, and other similar topics. I offer modern solutions for centuries-old problems using schedules, lists, and other free resources. Plus, I have the inside scoop on products that will change the way you do your daily routines!

I have created other blogs in the past, mostly just as a journal for myself to remember what was going on in my life at the time. This is my first time offering my knowledge in an area that I feel like I excel in. I combine the Southern perspective, as we have always done housework a little differently down here, and a technology-based core to help you find new ways to have more time for yourself, your family, and your hobbies.

During the week, I am a full-time speech therapist at one of two nursing homes in central Mississippi. I adore my sweet patients, and I’ve honestly learned so much from them about ways to keeping a happy and fun home. My husband is in medical school, so I take a lot of pride in “holding down the fort” and supporting him while he studies and works hard. I am a bit embarrassed to admit, though, that he does almost all of the cooking. He enjoys it and is much better than I am at cooking. Hence, why this is not a recipe blog, although I may steal a few from him to share here and there!

I plan to post once or twice a week, and most topics will include free printable resources to allow you to try my techniques in your own home! I hope you all enjoy getting to know me and learning how to have a happy home with lots of time for family!