I’ve had a few emails from peeps asking my advice on how to best put the workbook together so I thought I’d show you what I’ve done, with a couple of extra ideas, too.
Like last year I wanted to put the workbook into my A5 Filofax (a 3-year-old acqua Finsbury), so I printed out the sheets onto A4 paper, printing two pages to one sheet of paper (had to fiddle around with the settings to get that to work *ahem*). I cut the printed pages in half and punched holes using a Filofax hole punch (have never regretted buying this) — and that’s it. Didn’t take more than 20 minutes and now the pages are safefy stored in my Creative Dream Journal (you can read more about the CDJ over here — it’s one of my favourite things).
If A5 binders are short on the ground you could also print the workbook pages at actual size and put them in a regular binder. Or even sandwich the printed sheets between two pieces of clear plastic (or card) and have them professionally bound with wire binding (the sort of stuff you’d use for college projects, like this). Doing this gives the workbook more heft making it easier to write in. If you plan to come back to your workbook again and again I’d suggest adding in some extra blank pages, too — turn it into a full-on journal!
Obviously all of these ideas are dependent on you having ink in your printer (or a printer, for that matter) so I’d also suggest reading through the PDF on your computer and journalling straight into a notebook. I’m going to do this for some of the questions, the ones that are asking for lots more thought and planning…
But in all honesty, it doesn’t matter whether your print it out or not — what matters is sitting down and thinking about the questions. I often feel like i’m careening through the days and months completely out of control and at the mercy of the winds so doing this journalling work helps me feel like I have a say in the direction I travel. If nothing else it’s fascinating reading back what I wrote last year.
It’s been fun getting glimpses on Instagram and Facebook of how you guys are rocking the workbook — the photos above show how Jillian, Tammy, Briana, Lisa, Trina, Esme and Kaz are using theirs. I especially love how Jillian and Briana lit candles to accompany their journalling — this does feel like quite sacred work, the sort that deserves a bit of ritual around it. Or you could just go the coffee and cake route, obviously ;)
Have you dug into the workbook yet or are you saving it for New Year? Maybe waiting for a quiet moment to yourself? I’m planning to block out a whole evening to dig deeply… there will definitely be candles involved.
Thank you so much for this workbook, Susannah. I loved the last one and can’t wait to get started on this one. Love the candles above – that’s the way I’ll be going (probably with coffee and cake too….). In case anyone wants a printed version and doesn’t have access to a printer, there’s a company called fileprint who you can upload your pdf to and they’ll print it up and ring bind it nicely and send it to you. I’ve used them before and found them quick and efficient. That said, last time I just journaled straight from my computer and that worked a treat too. :)
awesome – thanks for the tip, love! x
Great suggestion, Susannah! I love to write with a candle, and I will certainly put my intention to action. ;)
Hi Susannah
Love the workbook – thank you and would like to share it on my blog (hey I now have three blogs as a result of blogging from the heart). How can I get a thumbnail and link?
thanks Jackee — feel free to use the image that’s illustrating the post (right click/ ctrl-click to download it to your computer) and link to the post – https://susannahconway.ffm-01.clickwphosting.com/2012/12/2013-workbook/
x
My workbook and planner is a little dog-eared now from living in my bag.
Thank you so much for this lovely workbook.
I am waiting for a quiet day to myself (with my puppy) to devote to my workbook.
Again, many thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Susannah,
What kind of Filofax diary refill do you use in the rest of your CDJ? Do you replace the pages every year and archive the previous years pages? <3
Thanks for this wonderful tool and for adding my photo. I’m now very excited about 2013 and all the dreams and scheming that will happen! <3
i don’t have a diary in the CDJ – just blank paper
however, in my biz filofax i use these diary pages – http://www.filofax.co.uk/store/diaryrefillsdetails.asp?productId=2398
i archive the old diaries in a spare filo, though i never refer back to them so i think i might just throw them away :)
x
Thank you for this! I am looking forward to the course. I was just thinking in the shower this morning how I would like to print this out smaller and this post hit the nail on head for me!
I’m excited to start this…still waiting to find a quiet peaceful evening to myself ;)
I see my last client on Thursday 20 December. Friday 21st I have a pedicure booked for the morning and the afternoon is dedicated to the workbook. Midwinter’s day is always an auspicious one for me :)
Haven’t been able to sit down and spend time on this yet but I am SO looking forward to it! Rest assured coffee will be involved and I might possibly journal from a bubble bath. Hoping for a quiet slab of time today or tomorrow.
Catherine Denton
I’ve been flitting around with dozens of ideas, goals, and dreams fighting for a place on my list of priorities. This workbook really helped me find some clarity among the chaos and I’m looking forward to returning to it again and again in the new year. Thank you, again, for sharing this with all of us and for sharing my photo here. :-) I can’t wait to discover what 2013 holds for us!
SO glad to be a part of this “unravelling revolution” of sorts! Now I just have to stick to it!
I’m seriously thinking of getting it bound at the printers as i’ve just got the pages in a binder clip at the moment. Great idea’s as usual Susannah! :-)
Hey Susannah! I also print in A5 but actually more for ecological reasons! :)
Still planning on a quiet night to dive into the book but so looking forwad!
I thought you would like to know that last year I gave the workbook to my boyfriend and he loved it. He is also doing it this year too!
Thanks a lot for sharing your magic!
Printed mine today. Found a folder for it and I am now waiting to start filling it out. I think Sunday will be my quiet day. Thank you for sharing, really looking forward to working through it.
just downloaded it and I think of spending the night of my birthday on December 10, working on this one. It will be my first time to review my year wholeheartedly and of course the very first time of planning the coming year. I know they will come to full surprise.
Thank you for this one Susannah!
Hello! I have been trying for a couple of days to download the workbook through the link to no avail. Would someone be able to download it and forward it on to me via. email?
smpyndus@gmail.com
PLEASE AND THANK YOU!!!
I’ll email it to you x
I love your listening music. Nice to play and just move around your space doing whatever…Thanks for being YOU!
An amazing gift of understanding.
Thank you Susan.
I spent a couple of hours on the workbook today. There are things written down in it that I hadn’t even consciously thought before. I love it when that happens! I’ve experienced a shift in the way I look forward to the upcoming year. Thank you for sharing it, and yourself, with us!
i’ve been working little bits at a time over the last few mornings…in dim light {enough so that i can read/write} and the lights of the christmas tree…up early before anyone else is up…quietude.
Thank you so much for your free workbook! So generous! Thanks for the thoughtfulness that went into it too… I look forward to taking some time to do it! :)
Dear Susannah,
First of all – thanks for sharing this amazing tool for self reflection – much appreciated!
I was just sitting and working my way through this workbook, when I came across a section about achievements in 2012. I really struggled to recall any significant ones. Felt super weak, useless and upset with myself. I just let this year slip through my fingers… oh well. This realization sucks.
Although I think I printed this book because I was unconsciously aware of me being stuck in a swamp. Let’s plan how to get my ass out of it in the next year, so I don’t cry writing in my book at the end of 2013 :)
P.S. Printed two more books for my girlfriends as an end of the year present – they loved it! Great job!
J.