Do you find yourself wanting to start a side business or achieve a dream, but always procrastinating? If that sounds familiar, today’s video might be just what you need.
Hi, I’m Lora, a notebook enthusiast and the founder of MeePlus. On this channel, I teach you how to use notebooks to reach your goals and build a focused mindset. I’ve been working as a Marketing Director at a multinational company for many years, and years ago, I had the idea to start a side business—but I never took action. My excuse? A busy day job. In reality, I’d waste time scrolling on my phone instead of pursuing my dreams.
That all changed when I started using a pocket-sized notebook to write down my dreams, break down my goals, track small wins, and reflect on my progress. Miraculously, my procrastination disappeared, and now, even with my main job, I’ve started my side business—and it feels effortless to stay consistent.
Today, I’ll share how I use my Everyday Carry notebook to help achieve goals and boost execution. My notebook mainly records four areas: Goals, Actions, Reflections, and Motivation.
1. Write Down Your Goals
Why write down your goals? It sounds simple, but it’s incredibly powerful.
In today’s world, endless distractions pull us in every direction, making it hard to focus on what truly matters. Writing down your goals helps clarify your thoughts and identify what’s most important.
Carrying a notebook with your dreams and reviewing it daily embeds them into your subconscious. When your dreams take root in your mind, you’ll naturally notice opportunities and resources that align with them.
Plus, clear goals keep you steady and focused. You’ll feel less swayed by external pressures and make better decisions. You’ll know exactly when to say “no” to things that don’t align with your purpose.
How to do it:
Imagine you only had one day to live—what would you regret not doing? Start there.
Be as specific as possible. Visualize your goals and use images or photos as inspiration. For example, I want to write a book about note-taking methods, so I printed a photo of Bullet Journal and stuck it in my notebook.
Make it a habit to review your goals every morning, even for just a few seconds. It’s surprisingly easy to forget your dreams amidst the chaos of life.
And remember, your goals should be something you love. Passion is what will help you push past fear and keep going. If you’re unsure how to find goals you love, let me know—I can make a dedicated video on that.
2. Create Action Plans
Big dreams can feel overwhelming, so break them into smaller, actionable steps.
Set deadlines for each step, but don’t obsess over perfection. Focus on the key tasks that truly matter, and avoid wasting time on unnecessary details.
I don’t like making monthly, weekly, or daily plans. On one hand, my main job is quite busy, and on the other hand, too detailed plans make me feel overwhelmed. I like to work in two-week sprints. I choose one priority goal and go all-in for two weeks to test its feasibility. Even if the results aren’t great, I’ll know whether it’s worth pursuing further.
This focused approach keeps me from juggling too many things at once and allows me to dive deep into one task.
On a weekly basis, I jot down specific tasks for each day. When I have free time, I open my notebook, check my list, and jump straight into action without wasting time figuring out what to do next. The clearer your plan, the stronger your execution.
3. Reflect and Record Lessons
Our brains are forgetful, often repeating the same mistakes. Writing down reflections and lessons helps improve future decisions and efficiency.
Whenever I learn something useful or notice a mistake, I record it immediately. For instance, I’ve noted which social media topics get high engagement or which products receive the best customer feedback—these insights guide my future efforts.
4. Motivate Yourself
Your confidence is the key to achieving your goals. If you don’t believe you can succeed, you won’t even start. Confidence isn’t innate—it’s built through practice.
In my notebook, I keep a section for successes. Every small win, every milestone achieved—it all goes here. This helps me focus on what I’m doing right instead of fixating on failures.
When challenges arise, I revisit this “success diary” to remind myself that I’ve overcome obstacles before and can do it again.
I also write down motivational quotes, like:
- “Take action first, then adjust later.”
- “Don’t wait to be 100% ready—just start.”
- “The only difference between people is courage and execution.”
These reminders give me a boost when my motivation dips.
Managing Your EDC Notebook
You might wonder how such a small notebook can hold so much. The key is regular upkeep. Every two weeks, I clean out completed tasks or irrelevant content. I either toss it or transfer it to a larger commonplace book for long-term storage.
I prefer using a compact ring-bound notebook because:
- With rings, I can freely add, remove, and reorder pages. I like to group related content together, which makes it clearer. Using labels like these, I can quickly locate related content.
- It’s lightweight and portable, fitting easily into my pocket or bag. Whenever I have a spare moment—whether it’s in the morning, during lunch, or on a flight—I can pull it out, flip through it, and stay on track.
- The limited page count forces me to focus on only the most important tasks, keeping my attention sharp. I can also put accessories like cardholders in this notebook, making it usable as a wallet.