Have you ever had the feeling of excitedly buying a planner and using it with great enthusiasm in the beginning but after a few days, weeks, or maybe even months, it starts to collect dust and end up in the back of the closet?
Or, maybe it’s led to paralyzing planning guilt, and you’ve abandoned the exercise entirely and sworn off buying planners.
In this week’s episode, I talk about what it looks like to use a planner in different seasons of motherhood. Spoiler alert: sometimes there are a lot of blank pages, and that’s okay!
Your planner is meant to support you, not give you anxiety or guilt! Depending on where you are in your life and your motherhood journey, there are so many ways to approach planning that make your life better.
I’ve found there are four phases when it comes to planning. These work best when you’re using the Thriving in Motherhood Planner, but you can also implement them into your planning system.
4 Phases of Planning in Motherhood
When you have to pause and set your planner aside, don’t panic! You will be able to pick it back up and jump right back in when it’s time.
The goal is to have the support and resources you need in your planning. The Thriving in Motherhood Planner is designed to scale up and down to support you in every season of motherhood.
Are you surviving or so busy you just wake up and take things as they come? Perfect! Use the planner to Reality Check once a month and celebrate all that happened.
Are you ready to think one step ahead and know where you will be or what everyone will eat for dinner? Adding in Management will help you take care of that.
Do you have projects or goals you want to work toward? Then, you’re ready for Momentum and giving monthly planning and a weekly Big 3 a try.
Are you ready to intentionally align your time and energy with the things that matter most to you? In Alignment, it’s time to add quarterly reviews, daily big 3s, a weekly focus, and habit tracking.
You might switch from week to week or month to month with how you use your planner. That’s completely normal! The important thing is to know it’s normal and that your planner is a TOOL that is here to support you, not rule over you.
If you’re ready to start, it’s not too late to get your 2023 Thriving in Motherhood Planner today! Click here to learn more.
Why Doing a Monthly Review is So Important for Moms [Episode 318]
How I Decided Our Learning Priorities For the Summer [Episode 317]
I used the Thriving in Motherhood Journal for 30 Days - What I Discovered [Episode 316]
Goals vs Projects vs Habits in the Thriving in Motherhood Planner [Episode 315]
My Number 1 Priority For Cleaning My Home [Episode 314]
Homeschooling in Hard Seasons | Library System for the Best Books [Episode 313]
Embracing the Struggle and Adventure of International Travel with Kids with Synthia Simonsen [Episode 312]
Discover Your True Priorities with 3 Questions [Episode 311]
Figure Out What to Do Next When You Have A Lot to Do | After the Brain Dump [Episode 310]
Reflection and Travel Tips From a Family Road Trip + 5 Day Hotel Stay [Episode 309]
Overwhelmed? Write a "Yes" List [Episode 308]
The Power of a Do Something List with Monica Packer [Episode 307]
3 Thriving Thoughts For Hard Days [Episode 306]
Creating Rooms You Love with Myquillyn Smith [Episode 305]
7 Steps To Plan Your Meals for the Week | Meal Planning [Episode 304]
6 Great Books I Read In January [Episode 303]
11 Ways To Prepare for a Difficult Pregnancy [Episode 302]
A Guide to Getting Started With Children's Audiobooks [Episode 301]
My Vision for 2024 [Episode 300]
Goal Planning Guide for Different Seasons of Motherhood [Episode 299]
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Dr. Laura Call of the Day
Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
Calm Parenting Podcast
Anne of Green Gables
The Turn of the Screw
Good Inside with Dr. Becky
The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast