It’s January, which means social norms say it’s time to create new goals and a new me. But I’m not a January goals type of person, I haven’t been for years. But it has started me thinking about habits. Not that I’m creating new habits – just habits in general.

I am a creature of habit and that works equally for me and against me.

I eat the same thing for breakfast every single day. I don’t need options when it comes to food.

I find shoes I like and I buy multiple colors.

Since I bought my first car in college, and Steve bought his first car after his mission (before we had even met) collectively we’ve only owned three makes and models of cars – and that includes our “kid” car. (We’ve owned two Toyota Camrys, three Toyota Sequoias and three Honda Accords. We’re as vanilla as it comes!)

I’m not even going to dive into my habits that work against me – there’s just too many to count and this is not the month I’m focusing on my bad habits. 🙂

But one habit that has worked for me…a printed calendar. For years, Steve has begged me to convert to Google calendar. “Who still keeps a paper calendar?” It’s a valid question. But being a creature of habit, I like my paper calendar. I like writing things down. I like making lists in my calendars. I like using fun colored pens/markers. I use my apple calendar to track work hours and the benefit of having the boys’ soccer game schedule automatically synced. But even with the benefits and convenience of digital – I’m drawn to paper.

I was at a meeting in early December and we were looking ahead to March. So I thumbed through to March and started making notes. The woman next me closed the cover of my planner and stared at the front. She was confused as to how my calendar included March – she hadn’t seen an “academic” planner – it follows more of a school year which is July to June. (The Simplified Planner comes in both academic and a standard calendar year, January to December.)

The beginning of a school year is far more “fresh start” than the new year is for me. I take a break for the summer and my calendar sits untouched and then by the time we start thinking about school I pull out a fresh planner for new dreams and goals – ready to get back on a schedule after a free and unstructured summer. That’s the time I’m motivated to make changes. That’s when I’m gung-ho to make new goals and actually have the energy to work at them.

For now, I’m just turning the page in my already well-loved calendar to January and we’re rolling with it.