This is how I am using my planner to manifest my dreams, by keeping my goals top of mind and working hard to make them happen!
90% of the battle is the willingness to try. Once you take the first step, the rest gets so much easier.
KAITLYN
Let me Explain
I used to think manifestation was all a hoax. I couldn’t believe people actually thought they could just wish their dream life into existence. But I discovered a new definition of manifestation that actually stuck with me.
When I say “manifest your dream life,” I don’t mean making things appear like magic. There’s no wishing a healthy daily routine or a six-figure business into existence overnight. For me, manifesting means keeping your goals front and center, so that each decision, no matter how small, pushes you closer toward your dreams.
My Manifesting Routine
Each day, I add whatever goal I’m reaching for into my planner, even if I don’t get to it that day. It’s more than a thought; it’s a written intention.
The physical act of writing these action items keeps them top-of-mind. It helps remind you daily of what you need to accomplish to get closer to your goals. Even if I don’t work on that particular task that day, writing it keeps it fresh in my mind, so I am less likely to fall off the wagon and just forget about it.
For example, one of my recent goals was to redesign my website. This is no easy feat, especially when juggling two jobs and building a business. So of course I didn’t get to work on this every single day. But, you bet I wrote this into my planner. Because this was something that I knew would move the needle with my brand. It was important to me and I knew if it was going to get done, I had to keep it fresh in my mind. I ended up completing the redesign in about three weeks. It was a goal I had set for the month of July and I met the goal! Because I was persistent and didn’t let lack of time, a roadblock, or procrastination get in the way.
Here’s what the practice of keeping my goals fresh in my mind has helped me build over time:
- Launched a brand from scratch
- Grew a social media following
- Opened an Etsy shop
- Built a website
- Took on clients for Social Media Management
- Launched YOUR LIFESTYLE REBRAND
The secret? Consistently showing up, even when all I could manage was a baby step. Literally the only thing preventing you from reaching your goals is not trying. That’s so cheesy and I hate to be that person, but it’s true. 90% of the battle is the willingness to try. Once you take the first step, the rest gets so much easier.
Why PLANNING + MANIFESTATION WORKS
Here’s some of the science to help you understand why this method works so well.
1. Writing it down makes it real
Studies show people who write down goals are up to 42% more likely to achieve them (Glamour+7The School Planner Company+7SELF+7). Nearly 83% of people don’t even set written goals—but those who do are far more likely to succeed (LinkedIn).
2. Writing engages your brain
Handwriting activates memory, focus, and cognitive processing in ways that typing doesn’t. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that writing by hand stimulates stronger connectivity across multiple brain regions—especially those involved in sensory processing, motor control, and memory formation. Researchers suggest that this enhanced brain integration supports deeper encoding of information and better retention than typing alone. (Oxford Learning+8Psychology Today+8Science News+8) (Reddit+10Hire a Writer+10Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain+10)
3. “If–then” planning builds habits
Psychology research shows people who make concrete plans (“If X happens, then I’ll do Y”) are far more consistent with goal‑directed action (reddit.com).
How I use my Planner to Manifest
Step 1: Write Your Big Dream
Start with your vision (e.g. “Launch a personal brand by end-of-year”) as a monthly focal point, or even your vision statement. For the year of 2023, my goal was to launch my website for my brand. I kept this at the forefront of my mind by keeping this in my planner. I did launch my site at the end of 2023 because I took consistent steps toward this goal!
Step 2: Block It Weekly
Each week, schedule mini-actions that support your goal. Track them in your planner, even if you move them later. With building a website, some of my mini-actions were to create the video for the header at the top of my website, write the copy for the about page, lay out the different sections of the homepage, etc. Get specific, because if I had just written “work on website,” I wouldn’t have been nearly as productive when I sat down to work.
Step 3: Use Daily If–Then Prompts
Turn tasks into habits: “If it’s Monday morning, I’ll spend 15 minutes mapping my week.” I personally like to use this as more of a monthly routine. I have different tasks for my Social Media clients and also my brand that I do each week of the month. So for example, the last week of the month: I am creating stats reports for my clients, and writing / formatting the blog post for my brand. Having set tasks I do different weeks of each month helps me stay on track.
Step 4: Reflect Monthly
Check in with what’s working, what’s draining, and where your energy is going. Adjust your blocks next week accordingly. I like to add in one hour block each day as a “flex” block. This is for anything I decide to use it for. Maybe I use it for client work, maybe it’s finishing up a blog post or taking an online course. Whatever I need the extra time for, that’s how I use it.
Step 5: Celebrate Small Wins
Every time you fill a tracker box, complete a prompt, or move forward, celebrate it. These small wins build momentum and belief. Each time you complete an action step, you are proving to yourself that you will do what you say you will. This helps you build confidence in yourself.
Manifestation ≠ Overnight Success
You don’t need a guru or magic. You just need consistency. Most dreams aren’t launched overnight, but they are launched when you write them down, plan for them, and follow through weekly. I am a living testament to this. I am in the middle stages of building a business to sustain myself. I am still working full-time while working toward my dreams, but I am so much closer now than I was a year ago. All because I have taken daily action towards my goals.
Yes, some days it felt pointless. Some days I wanted to just give up because it felt like too much. But I have hit some milestones that have kept me pushing forward. So when you hit one of those milestones that makes it feel like all your effort is paying off, celebrate it. Because those are the moments that help propel you forward!
Sneak Peek Inside YOUR LIFESTYLE REBRAND
Inside this self-paced program, we don’t just plan, we manifest:
- Deep awareness exercises to clarify your dreams
- Weekly routines built with intention, not obligation
- Trackers + reflections to monitor progress (and pause when you need)
- Vision-aligned mini-actions to structure small wins
Plus, the new free e-book, 5 Planning Tips That Changed My Life, helps you get started now, grab it HERE.
YOUR TAKEAWAY
If you only take one thing away from this post, make sure it’s to WRITE YOUR GOALS. The only way to reach your goals is to work for them. To work for them, you need to plan for them. Start by writing. Start today.
Your Next Step
- Download the 5 Planning Tips That Changed My Life, it’s free and perfect for your next planning session. (sign up for the email list HERE)
- Want to take it deeper? Join YOUR LIFESTYLE REBRAND to build a system that supports your dream life, one intentional step at a time. (explore the program HERE)
- Leave a comment and tell me: What’s one dream you want to intentionally manifest this year?
STAY IN TOUCH!
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