This is a sponsored blog post in partnership with BIC. All opinions expressed are, as always, my own.
A new school year is upon us (hooray!) and with it comes the transition back to routine and focus. While January 1st is traditionally the time many start a new regimen or focus on a new goal, the beauty of living your own (best!) life is that you can create a new goal or focus any time of the year. The fall season, when the back to school routine kicks in, is a great time to do just that. It’s one thing to ask your kids what they’d like to focus on or achieve this year, but quite another to ensure they’re taking the steps to make it happen, especially when the whole family is busy.
Consider creating a Goal Flow Chart to help your family focus on a goal for the 2018/2019 school year. It’s a simple, fun and educational way to help your family stimulate their imagination, achieve their goals and reach their full potential. Place it in a prominent spot in the household so that everyone can see it and refer to it as the days and weeks go by. Instead of using a computer, encourage your family to handwrite their Goal Flow Chart and bring it to life with colourful creativity.
It’s easy to do, and all you need is some bright white paper, a ruler, and some colourful pens. We used BIC® Gel-ocity® Quick Dry gel pens because of the fun, vibrant colours and fast drying ink with less smearing!
There are no set rules on how to create a Goal Flow Chart, but some basic principles apply. First, you should have a clearly defined title – in this case a goal – at the top of the page. Below, add some subtitles. These would be the categories and basic steps required to achieve that goal. Below your subtitles, incorporate some helpful tips or areas of focus.
In my case, our ultimate goal is a Fit Family! To achieve that, we need to have a smart 80%/20% balance. That means that 80% of the time we’re on task achieving each of those goals: Diet, Exercise or Sleep, but that 20% of the time we may not be absolutely perfect, and that’s OK.
Diet and Exercise each have 3 areas of focus, and Sleep has 2. By breaking these down into simple, easily identifiable and achievable steps, we’re more likely to succeed.
A Goal Flow Chart should also have a mid-point where you can step back and evaluate progress. How are things going? Are you where you should be? Are you experiencing any setbacks or areas where you’re not reaching your goals? You then have easy steps laid out on what to do next. I love this part! It’s always great taking stock of how things are going and getting a little help and redirection when needed.
Keep your Goal Flow Chart up all school year and refer to it as needed. Since our goal is a fit family, there isn’t really an end game and is something we can always improve on. I love how bright and colourful it is, and that we’ve lent our own imaginative touch to our creation. Hopefully, this is exactly what we need to keep the whole family focused on our goal digging this fall!
I think having goals are a important part of life and keeping track of your goals can help you achieve them
Sounds fun and a great idea to visual goals! I need a lot of these LOL
I love the Bic Gel-ocity pens they write smooth and have a nice grip, I have not tried the coloured ones yet, I’m going to have to get me some!! Flow charts are a cool way to stay on track of your goals!
I am a great lover of lists but have never used a flow chart, perhaps I should 🙂
I have never actually made a chart like this. I do make large goals and then divide them into workable units but have not put pen to paper in such a creative manner.
charts are a great way to organize life and keep track of things
I like the 80/20% balance which seems more achieveable.
I try to always get my kids to set goals but then I don’t do it myself. I need to listen to my own advice and set myself some goals.
It’s important to have goals to work towards.
This is FABULOUS! what a great idea to get the whole family involved and on the same page to a healthier life.
The Goal Flow Chart is such a great idea! I will have to look for these Bic pens! They sound great!
great idea!
Setting realistic goals is good. Definitely taking action and writing them down is a huge step
I need to do this. I have so many things that I want to do. Great idea.
Charts, lists and coloured pens are all right up my alley. I’ve always been the most organized of my friends and family!
Goals and charts really help organize and lend to a feeling of success, mastery, and accomplishment. Plus these pens are phenomenal!
I’ve never been that great at goal setting. Well, not good at writing them down. I do love the colours in this set though!
It’s a lot easier to achieve a goal if you know what you need to do to get there. Planning out the steps makes it easier to achieve. I love how colourful the pens are! 🙂
Goals are so good to have. What keeps me going for them is lists that I make using colourful pens like you did. LOVE gel pens!
Setting down goals on paper is a powerful motivation tool.
I am SUCH a goal oriented person. I love this idea!
Ive never used a flow chart but love the idea .
I’ve never made, or thought of making, a flow chart like this. I like the idea. I write up to-do lists all the time and it really motivates me to get things done. Great idea!
What a great idea. I think a good family goal for us will be to declutter!
It has been a while since I used a flow chart to help organize our family’s life. I should get back into it as it does help a lot.
these work well for kids. they like structure and to what what is expected of them. that would then get us as adults committed too.
I like the idea of this. Just like I like the idea of bullet journals :0 But I think in reality I’d do one half-a$$ed chart, fail to follow it, and then go back to making obsessive to-do lists on my laptop. But I’d have fun colouring with the pens!
That is a wonderful idea! I think you are much more likely to achieve a goal if it is written down and visible to you on a daily basis to keep it in mind and you on track!
This looks like a good idea. I think ours would have more book reading on it.
Such a good idea! I’m constantly setting goals for myself. I use an app and check in on it nightly. It helps keep me focused.
I am getting my teen to write down some goals this year. He got a little lost in the middle of last year and needed to work extra hard to bring his focus back around to school work. Writing things down helped him a lot so it’s a technique we will be using from now on. Nice pens make it that much more fun!
This is a cute visual!
Great idea! Love the different colours, too.
I like the 80/20% balance.
I love this idea and involving my daughter in it!