Throughout my life, I have always created new systems for planning + organizing my day based on new goals + responsibilities. With the quarantine, I felt like having long running to-dos in different areas + using an agenda just wasn’t working for me anymore.
In fact, it was making me so overwhelmed I didn’t want to do any of it. Do you know what I mean?
Reflecting now, I realize I have always been one to jump around with how I plan my days/weeks to reach my goals. I have used planners, journals, lengthy to-do lists, charts, lots of post-its, etc. I don’t think it makes me indecisive. But, instead, I believe I do this to adapt as my life + responsibilities/circumstances shift.
I also don’t think there is just one correct or efficient way for everyone to plan. Really, you have to find what works for you + what can actually stick + become a weekly/daily habit so you actually tackle your goals.
That’s why I wanted to share my current planning routine today! I have found that this makes planning quick, simple, + focused so I can actually get things done + feel accomplished during this busy season of life for me.
Scroll to see my exact planning routine + process:
WHERE I STORE IT + WHAT I FOCUS ON
To keep it simple + accessible, I store all of my planning digitally in the iNotes section of my phone since it syncs with my computer + phone. After a few weeks of feeling very overwhelmed during quarantine [trying to balance working, watching my daughter, + housework] I needed a seamless system that focused on a few key things at a time so I could actually get them done + be productive. I was tired of having long lists of tasks I would never get to.
I felt like I had 10,000 house chores a day + that my eating/fitness habits were falling off track. So, I decided to focus on those 3 sections: workouts, chores, + eating. I like to keep my work tasks on a separate list on my computer, especially since many of them repeat week after week.
Related: HOW I MEAL PLAN EVERY WEEK
HOW I PLAN EACH WEEK + DAY
I organize my one iNote with my daily to-dos at the top [workout, chores, + eating] + 2 running weekly lists below [workouts + dinners]. I keep my running list of chores in a separate list because many things repeat + the list is just too long to add here [see how I plan my chore list HERE].
HOW I PLAN FOR THE WEEK:
On Sundays, I sit down + figure out which body part/type of workout I want to do each day during the week. I even plan my off days. Then, I decide on the dinners I am going to make [as you can see, I batch cook at least 2 meals so I cook less! See how I batch cook HERE]. I also add to my chores list outside of this iNote if I have random, unique tasks that need to be done for the week that should be on my radar [appointments, things to buy, etc].
HOW I PLAN DAILY:
Either every night before bed or right when I wake up I edit the daily planning section pulling from the weekly lists I created on Sunday. I jot down the workout I am doing, ONLY 3 chores [that take maybe 5-20 minutes], + my meals for the day. I pull my dinner from the weekly chart + can easily figure out breakfast/lunch because I repeat what I have during those meals a lot. So, for me I don’t need a list for those.
Related: WANT TO WORKOUT OFTEN? DO THIS.
Why I Love This Planning Routine
As I go throughout the day, I check off each task that’s done! I have seriously been so committed to this list wayyyyyyyy more than any daily planning system I have used in the past. I think it’s because it’s so simple + makes it easy to feel little bursts of success + productivity.
Related: HOW TO CREATE A MORNING ROUTINE
Your turn!
I highly recommend at least trying this type of easy + focused planning routine for yourself. But, definitely don’t just copy my exact categories unless you have similar areas you need to focus on!
Success with any habit comes down to focusing on little tasks + behaviors you can repeat over + over to reach your goals moving forward. So, decide where you need some focus in your life + see if a weekly/daily digital planner like this can help move the needle in your life a bit.
Happy planning! Let me know if you try this + what works for you.
xx Kaitlyn
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