Creating a Monthly Task List

When you start working on a goal, you probably noticed feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with the big mountain ahead of you. Tackling even just one goal for the year is a huge task. We need all the help we can get with making progress and using our time wisely. In this post, I am going to help you work through the steps of creating a task list that will give you clarity and organization towards accomplishing your Big Dream Goal for this year! I will be walking you through how creating a Monthly Task List will help you achieve your goal. Included is a Free Template with encouraging quote and original watercolor peony painting.

I wrote out and shared my big dream goal with a few close friends and artist peers. My Big Dream Goal for this year is to acquire a contract with a licensing brand. I am interested in working on becoming a surface pattern designer. This area of art includes items such as paper products (journals, cards, wall paper), fabric and home goods (art, accessories).

Before reading any further, you will want to refer to the post, “Create and Accomplish Your Dream Goal this Year”. The second point in that post is called “Brainstorming” and this is the section that I will be expanding on in this post.

1. Brainstorming

Brainstorming or “brain dumping” is when you take a piece of paper and start writing all of your ideas that come to mind without being too organized or hindering your thought flow. Once you fill up a page (or more), you will start to notice themes and repeat thoughts. Hopefully this will excite you as well. Take as much time as you need with this exercise.

2. Themes

When I started “brain dumping” I noticed three categories. The first one involved “creating”, the second was “learning” and the third was ideas that were sparked for the “future”. Everything that I do this year towards my Big Dream goal has to fit into these themes or it belongs to an entirely different goal. So, ask yourself, does each of my points under each theme connect to my Big Dream goal?

a. Create

So under the theme “Create” I came up with continuing to produce regular blogging content (three types of blog posts), painting regularly in a particular theme (narrowing it down to two subject matters) and using my paintings to creating collections.

b. Learn

The second theme was “Learn”. These are areas that I need to become better acquainted with in order to accomplish the “Create” theme. This included courses, researching licensing processes and companies and eventually applying to a few companies.

3. Resources

To acquire the ability to achieve your goal, you will need time and money.

a. Budget

As you looks at the themes that you have created from the Brain Dump, you have to ask yourself three questions. First ask, what tools (physical and online) do I need within my work space to accomplish my goal? And second, what is my budget? How much do I need to invest in order to be successful in these areas. In the “Create” area, do I have all of the supplies and tools needed to paint the type of watercolour I would like? Do I need to invest in a better scanner? How much will the course work be in order to expand my skills in the “Learn” area?

b. Time

With any new goal, we have to be realistic about how much time we are able to dedicate to our craft each day. Like many of you, for me, achieving a new goal probably won’t bring in a steady (if any) income initially. So, each of us has to dedicate hours of our day possibly to another occupation. Do you have a few hours a day or a few hours a week?

4. Monthly Tasks

Once you have answered all of the questions above, you are ready to get started on your Task List. I have created the task list without putting the year on it so that you are able to use it again in the future. So, within the hours that you have set aside each day, what are you able to accomplish?

For myself I know that I want to write a minimum of three blog posts each month. I know my optimal days to send those out and the amount of prep work it takes to get a blog post ready. All of the prep work I put on my task list. After that is done, almost half of my month is filled up. I also want to be structured and in a rhythm with painting so I map out a collection that I want to work on and fill in days that I am not doing blog prep for painting. And lastly, I use the rest of my days for researching or taking an online course.

5. Setting Yourself Up For Success

In order set ourselves up for success we have to look at what worked in the past and what did not. For example, if part of your goal is to create income, take a look at last year, what brought you some income? What are you able to continue to do this year that will create continuous income? There will be areas that you will have to be honest with yourself and look the areas that did not create the income that you would have hoped and let them go.

Each one of my posts in this series builds on each other. It is best if you go to both previous posts that will give you all the tools and freebies to get you to this point. Check out the original post on GOALS called “How to Set Goals to Achieve Successful Outcomes” and the most recent post called “Create and Accomplish Your Dream Goal This Year“. Both of them contain VALUABLE FREE PRINTABLES.

You can find the Free Printable Monthly Task List in the Free Printables section.

Even though I share a lot of freebies and tutorials, I held back for years sharing my creations because I feared failure. As creatives, you and I can be held back due to negative thinking. It might look like comparing your ability to others or not having the confidence to pursue your creative talent or putting your creations out into the world.

But what if you could change that?

I have just the freebie for you –

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AND

I can help you ACHIEVE your goal and LAUNCH your business. I help take out the overwhelm.

The Freebie is called the Creative Clarity Workbook. This workbook will walk you through the key Preparing and Planning components of successfully launching:

Core Values
Changing negative beliefs into Affirmations
Creating a Vision Board
Vocalizing and Visualizing your Dream
Creating Community
How to take Action

Grab your FREE Workbook through the link below.

Are you ready to take the next step?

Are you ready to start something amazing?

Do you desire to take your hobby and start a creative online presence?

Do you want to build a creative business but are struggling to find the answer to “what do I do next?”

I can help you ACHIEVE your goal and LAUNCH your business. I can help take out the overwhelm.

So, go for it! Take that step and book your FREE 15 minute call (I will be so excited for you, it just may turn into 30 minutes) with myself, a Counsellor turned Coach with 17 years experience.

Watch this quick video below for more information.

Click HERE to get started.

Remember to pin image to read later or share to Pinterest. Thank you!

Here is a recap of Creating a Monthly Task List points:

Take your Dream Big Goal and begin a Brainstorming
Pick out Three Themes from the Brainstorming – Do they match your Goal?
Gather Your Resources – How much time can you commit and How much money will it take to invest?
Map out your Days on the MONTHLY TASK LIST
Create Repeat Success – Ask Yourself What has worked in the past?

You are ready! Now just go do it! And don’t forget to grab your Free Printable January Task List too.

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