Plans afoot for the Theme System Journal
see also Theme for 2026
I’ve created a version of the Journal itself as a Template for my Daily Notes within Obsidian, which looks a little something like this:
Theme
Overarching tool used to guide thinking over course of the year/season
Not a “goal”
Broad
Directional
Resonant
Better version of yourself
Trend line heading in the right direction is the important bit
Check out cortex instagram for “12 days of themes” so probs around Christmas ‘23 for more examples
Friendly robot to point at the right path to get more of whatever I decided I wanted more of/less of that I wanted less of
Broadness of a theme allows it to change if needed. I am where I am now. The them can change because so will I
Thinking about my thinking changes who I am
Daily Task Guidance
think about what needs to be improved/changed
Identifying vague feelings of dissatisfaction turn them into actionable checklistable items
Easy partial credit
main/daily Pages
(Two?) things I’m grateful for - be specific
Bottom box for one thing that went well today
OR for that one thing that must be done today
Big box in the middle for general thoughts/what’s on my mind. Less actionable, but good to review for recurring themes that might want more investigation, turning into daily tracking questions
Theme Part (first Pages in the book)
High level theme for the year/season
- ideal outcomes to aim for
- align journaling/questions towards this
CONTROL
like being more actively engaged/making decisions
ME
get back to doing the stuff that makes me me, though what even is that?
Bikes
Games
Music
Take better care of myself
Grooming
Exercise
Eye test
Dentist
Regular “to do” reviews
Save for intensive driving course, plan a week or two of leave in to complete it
INTEGRITY/FOLLOW UP/FOLLOW THROUGH
DO the things I say I want to do. Likewise I guess say “no” to things I know I’m not gonna WHEN THEY COME UP
COMMUNICATION
Notes from Insta Vids:
Incorporate a gratitude acknowledgement/practice
Daily Task Ideas
Pick from this list to begin with, add more as they become habitual
- walked dogs?
- 7+ hours of sleep?
- Rode actual bike, or exercise bike for 30 minutes
I reckon starting at the daily tasks bit, then kinda going backwards from there to get to the resonant theme name is the way to go. As of 2024-09-01 it’s leaning towards “me”, but I’m not a huge fan of that as a title.
- “Rediscovery” might be better.
- “Back to basics”.
- Something else I just forgot
- Reinforcement
2024-12-11
Chatty-G reckons:
Great! Here are some practical tools and strategies to support your “Year of Clarity”:
Home Clarity Tools:
- Digital Decluttering
- Use apps like Sortly or Clutter Free Home to inventory and track belongings
- Take before/after photos to motivate and track progress
- Create a shared digital “maybe donate/sell” folder for items you both agree might not be essential
- Decluttering Approach
- Try the “one in, one out” rule
- Use the “30-day challenge” method: if you haven’t used an item in 30 days, consider removing it
- Create a “decision-making framework” together that respects both of your needs
Work Clarity Tools:
- Documentation
- Use Notion or Trello to log work contributions
- Create a weekly 15-minute ritual of updating your “value log”
- Track metrics: time saved, projects completed, process improvements
- Professional Development
- Set up LinkedIn Learning or Coursera to develop analytical and tech skills
- This supports both your current role and potential future opportunities
Relationship Clarity Tools:
- Communication
- Use the “speaker-listener” technique for sensitive conversations
- Try the “I feel” statement format
- Consider a shared finance tracking app like Mint or YNAB
- Set a specific, recurring “money date” - perhaps the first Sunday of each month
Tech-Assisted Clarity:
- Use RescueTime to track how you spend digital time
- Try a habit-tracking app like Habitica to gamify your clarity goals
- Use Voice Memos or a journaling app to quickly capture insights or reflections