This month’s blog post is a fun one. I want to talk about some ways you can approach building your perfect planning session! From start to finish, your planning session can be a time of stress-relief, enlightenment, joy, productivity, or even peace.
ALL SHAPES AND SIZES
There is no one-size-fits-all planning session. It can be 5 minutes or an hour. It can be in your home office or during your daily commute. The purpose of this post is not to tell you how your planning session SHOULD look, but it’s to give you some ideas to make the most of the time you have for planning!
CONSIDER YOUR GOAL
Each planning session can look different depending on what you need from it! If you’re feeling super overwhelmed and have lots of new information to get out of your head, maybe you just need to braindump everything and come back to organize it later. If you’re prepping for your day, maybe you need to make some notes for a meeting later, make a reminder to call or message someone, or follow up about a project. Maybe you have a slow, relaxing day and want to check in with your long-term task list to see if you can cross any of those items off while you have some extra time! If you need stress-relief, make a to-do list or braindump. If you need motivation, cross off completed tasks or check in with your goals!
I have a checklist in my shop that can help guide you through the process to figure out what you need from your planning session. Check out the Method Planning Flow Chart!
START WITH A ROUTINE
Having a printed or written planning routine to reference is a great way to start! It will help guide you through the process without having to think too much about it and can help you make the most of the time you have. Your planning routine is like a roadmap that helps you move through your planner and accomplish what you need to without having to make those decisions on the spot. You can read over the routine, go through the items / tasks one-by-one, and make the most of your time. It just reduces the amount of decisions you need to make.
For example, a simple planning routine for the day could look like:
- Look over schedule for the day
- Write down top 3-5 priorities
- Review weekly task list
- Write in any filler / extra tasks
- Check them off as completed
- Transfer incomplete tasks to next day
This is a simple but effective routine you can start using on a daily basis that will help you keep your planner updated! If you like this routine, check out the Simple Planning Routine and Ultimate Planning Checklist Bundle (see below) from my shop! Keep this handy in your planner to reference at the start of your planning session!
An example weekly planning routine could look like:
- Sunday: Check off completed tasks from the previous week. Prep for the new week, fill in any tasks, dates, appointments for the upcoming week. Plan meals, plan exercise, block out time / tasks.
- Monday, Tuesday: look over schedule, top 3-5 priorities, make progress on goals and tasks, check off completed tasks, migrate unfinished tasks to next day.
- Wednesday: daily planning routine + check in on weekly tasks and goals. Evaluate what still needs to be completed before the end of the week. Check in with weekly goals.
- Thursday, Friday: look over schedule, top 3-5 priorities, make progress on goals and tasks, check off completed tasks, migrate unfinished tasks to next day.
- Saturday (or your day off during the week): Use this day to rest. OR you can use this day to brainstorm ideas, plan ahead for your goals, gratitude log or journal, visualize your future self.
Use these routines as a guideline for your planning sessions!
CONSIDER YOUR TOOLS
If you enjoy using highlighters, markers, stickers, etc., consider keeping these items in a pouch that you can carry with you to use anytime! Or just keep them together and contained in the area that you typically plan in! This will ensure your favorite items are easy to reach so you won’t have to spend time looking for them.
The new accessory pouches and iron-patches are now available! Check them out here!
CONSIDER YOUR SURROUNDINGS
If you like to plan in a specific area of your house or office, keep all your planning necessities close by! Think about your surroundings and make sure it’s a comfortable space to plan in. This could look like keeping the space clutter-free so that your mind is free and clear. It could also look like having a cozy sweater or blanket handy, prepping a hot beverage before you start, making sure to tidy up the space before bed, so it’s ready for you in the morning! I have started lighting the same cozy candle when I plan (available in the shop). It helps signal my brain and preps me mentally for planning.
PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WORKS
If you finish a planning session and feel like it was super productive and helpful, make note of what you did! Once you figure out what works for you, you can duplicate the same process! Also take note of how you approach planning for your week / day. This may be a good indication of how your planner needs to be organized! Make sure it’s working for you, not against you!
FINAL THOUGHTS
PLAN FOR SUCCESS, SHAPE YOUR LIFE.
While planning, here’s a key question to keep top of mind.
“What can I do today to ensure tomorrow will be successful?”
This may look like packing your work bag the night before, meal prepping, keeping your necessities stocked, reading 10 minutes every night before bed to learn about something new that can help you advance your career, etc. Typically, the steps we need to take to move the needle aren’t hard, the hard part is being conscious enough of it to actually execute. This is why planning is so important. Use it to help you shape your life, one day at a time. The smallest daily efforts will have a huge compounding effect on your life!
STAY IN TOUCH!
Follow me on instagram for more planning tips and inspiration.
Don’t forget about the monthly freebies! These are sent out monthly to email subscribers, so sign up for the newsletter and don’t miss out! Subscribers also receive exclusive offers, discount codes, and more!
Leave a Reply