We all know the purpose of having a planner. You write down your appointments, throw in some due dates, and add some sort of running to do list. This is an excellent way to keep track of the essential reminders in our lives. And if that is all your planner ever need to be, EXCELLENT!
But if you are doing all of that and still feel like you don't have a real grip on your life, then you might be ready to look at things a little differently. It might be time to really clarify not just the different pieces of your planning “system,” but also to really understand how they relate to one another.
The power of The Happy Planner is that you can pull out pages, lay them all in front of you on a big table, and create an entire picture of your life. You can really get a feel for every individual piece, see how it's all connected, and then layer it together again and put it back into one cohesive book. Taking advantage of this tool can help you turn your Happy Planner into your true “external brain,” and vastly reduce the weight on your shoulders.
But if you are doing all of that and still feel like you don't have a real grip on your life, then you might be ready to look at things a little differently. It might be time to really clarify not just the different pieces of your planning “system,” but also to really understand how they relate to one another.
The power of The Happy Planner is that you can pull out pages, lay them all in front of you on a big table, and create an entire picture of your life. You can really get a feel for every individual piece, see how it's all connected, and then layer it together again and put it back into one cohesive book. Taking advantage of this tool can help you turn your Happy Planner into your true “external brain,” and vastly reduce the weight on your shoulders.
A Planning System. I call my planner a system because that's what it is. It's not just some different pages in a notebook together. Every piece has a function, and is related to some other piece.
There are two basic elements to any planning system: a calendar and a to-do list. For many people, these two pieces are enough structure to operate just fine.
For me, it’s a different story. There is no way my brain can manage the gazillion little details it needs to without a structure that is dynamic enough to contain not just the information, but the way it relates to other pieces, and how it changes over time.
So after a few years of working with my mind, studying different methods and trying new techniques, I’ve sketched out a cohesive methodology specifically for The Happy Planner because that is the line that has inspired me deeply and allowed me to get myself set up in a truly complete and effective way.
So let's get started on the different pieces that your system may contain, depending on what YOU need:
There are two basic elements to any planning system: a calendar and a to-do list. For many people, these two pieces are enough structure to operate just fine.
For me, it’s a different story. There is no way my brain can manage the gazillion little details it needs to without a structure that is dynamic enough to contain not just the information, but the way it relates to other pieces, and how it changes over time.
So after a few years of working with my mind, studying different methods and trying new techniques, I’ve sketched out a cohesive methodology specifically for The Happy Planner because that is the line that has inspired me deeply and allowed me to get myself set up in a truly complete and effective way.
So let's get started on the different pieces that your system may contain, depending on what YOU need:
Goals. I start with Goals because it is the big-picture thinking. When getting a planner organized, this can be the last piece that actually needs our attention. But it can also be the most fun to put together. It is essential to know what our large life priorities are, and what direction we would like to be moving in as we go forward.
This is where we can dream freely without having to get too worried about all of the little details. This is where we let out souls speak to us about why we are here, and what we need most out of this life.
This is also where we need to allow ourselves to get messy, and let anything come out the first time around. We can make it pretty after we know what's truly going to the top of our lists.
This is where we can dream freely without having to get too worried about all of the little details. This is where we let out souls speak to us about why we are here, and what we need most out of this life.
This is also where we need to allow ourselves to get messy, and let anything come out the first time around. We can make it pretty after we know what's truly going to the top of our lists.
Calendar. The most obvious piece, I know. Fortunately, we learn from a young age what a calendar is and how we use it. We need to know what is scheduled into our lives, when, and where.
Whether you use a monthly view or just input it directly into your weekly or daily view is entirely up to your preference. And for many, this piece of the planning puzzle makes more sense stored electronically, so it can be updated on-the-go or shared with others.
Whether you use a monthly view or just input it directly into your weekly or daily view is entirely up to your preference. And for many, this piece of the planning puzzle makes more sense stored electronically, so it can be updated on-the-go or shared with others.
Lists. Here is where we store that mass of life-data that follows us around wherever we go. It is also where we break down those beautiful big picture goals into actionable items.
Here, the heart of our "thinking work" occurs. This is where we determine what needs to happen and how. We add item after item until our mind is finally empty, and then arrange it all in a way that makes sense for us.
Here the Happy Planner system can really shine, allowing us to utilize a variety of papers and sticky notes until we reach that "click" that tells us that our brain is getting a grip on things.
Here, the heart of our "thinking work" occurs. This is where we determine what needs to happen and how. We add item after item until our mind is finally empty, and then arrange it all in a way that makes sense for us.
Here the Happy Planner system can really shine, allowing us to utilize a variety of papers and sticky notes until we reach that "click" that tells us that our brain is getting a grip on things.
Day-to-Day. The workhorse of our planner. Here is the place where we chicken scratch our way through our days, or dress them up to be an inspiration for each new week. Whether you use a vertical spread, horizontal, hourly or even daily inserts, this is where you really need to know what works for you while you are in the thick of each day.
I personally love the functionality of the dashboard layout, with the days on one side and tasks on the other. I can see everything I need to each day.
And of course, if you know what you need but you can’t find it, you can pick up a Happy Notes and start customizing it just for you and your unique mind.
And of course, if you know what you need but you can’t find it, you can pick up a Happy Notes and start customizing it just for you and your unique mind.
Checklists. Checklists are the secret workhorses of a planner. They can take a planning system from good to outstanding. It can be a wonderfully helpful practice to write down all of the tasks that you do on a weekly or monthly basis. When you have a list that you can refer to as needed, it relieves a burden from your mind that you didn’t even know you were carrying.
You can also sketch out the routine of a typical day, and look for the places that are working well for you, as well as the ones that need some tweaking. We are constantly refining our daily flow to best suit our current situation and personal needs, or to adjust to the myriad of changes that inevitably arise.
You can also sketch out the routine of a typical day, and look for the places that are working well for you, as well as the ones that need some tweaking. We are constantly refining our daily flow to best suit our current situation and personal needs, or to adjust to the myriad of changes that inevitably arise.
Review. One thing that should be added to each checklist is our regular review process. We need to know not only what is on our lists, but how we will remember to get to the right things at the right time.
At least once a day, we look over our daily schedule, our most pressing tasks, and any special considerations.
Once a week is often recommended for looking over all of our to-do lists and active projects, to update them with any progress made, and move the next action steps onto our day-to-day plan.
And it's a good idea to sit down about once a month and look over our big picture goals to see how we are doing. And this is where we must remember that gradual progress is much more transformative than big changes.
And then, arguably the most fun one, once a year we can sit down and create a fresh vision for the year ahead and sketch out some new, or continued, goals.
Et violà! A basic planner set-up, ready to apply to your Happy Planner today to help you feel even more on top of your life. Because once you unlock the true potential of your Happy Planner, the possibilities are truly endless.
Much love,
Whitney Till, a.k.a. The Freckled Planner
At least once a day, we look over our daily schedule, our most pressing tasks, and any special considerations.
Once a week is often recommended for looking over all of our to-do lists and active projects, to update them with any progress made, and move the next action steps onto our day-to-day plan.
And it's a good idea to sit down about once a month and look over our big picture goals to see how we are doing. And this is where we must remember that gradual progress is much more transformative than big changes.
And then, arguably the most fun one, once a year we can sit down and create a fresh vision for the year ahead and sketch out some new, or continued, goals.
Et violà! A basic planner set-up, ready to apply to your Happy Planner today to help you feel even more on top of your life. Because once you unlock the true potential of your Happy Planner, the possibilities are truly endless.
Much love,
Whitney Till, a.k.a. The Freckled Planner
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