My recent planning realization and why it works for me so much better than January goal setting.
I attended public school as a student, then went to college for a teaching degree, and then became a public school teacher. Most of my formative life I spent thinking of each year in terms of what grade I was in from fall to spring. Summer was my downtime and reset. A time when I would get a new planner and think ahead at what changes my life would hold.
When I moved into being a stay-at-home mom I was no longer tied to the school calendar but because my oldest was born in August I often continued my late summer annual planning routine.
Each year I have been in a rhythm of planning and resetting our schedule in the fall. The realization hit me that I have not fully invested in this natural rhythm.
When January comes around the energy I have is not yearly planning mode. While everyone online is talking about revamping routines, eating healthy, and yearly goals, I am happy and settled in my hobbit-style home.
My mood after Christmas often looks more like:
- getting extra sleep in the mornings
- quiet reflection and journaling
- some relaxed decluttering
- slowly getting back into the school routine
- baking homemade bread and trying new casserole recipies
- reading fiction books snuggled up in a blanket with a purring cat
- reorganizing spaces around my home that are bothering me
- long hikes and walks in the Arizona desert 🌵
- deep cleaning after I put the Christmas decor away
- enjoying tactile hobbies like junk journaling or knitting
- having slow evenings & family movie nights
For years I gave myself grief over this. I felt less-than because I love goal setting and planning but my heart is just not into it in January.
But this summer I had a realization.
I can approach yearly planning when it works for me and not specifically when the calendar “says I should”.
This August & September my life has looked more like:
- getting up early to go for walks (with Gunnar🐕🦺)
- morning journaling and habit tracking
- planning out the school year details & organizing our calendar
- lots of time school planning
- planned activities starting back up (driving kids places & being productive on the go)
- writing work and reassesing what to focus on
- research, reading and gathering ideas
- teaching the kids new skills (cleaning, cooking, & around the house)
- conversations about productivity with friends
- evenings spent reading (usually non-fiction)
When I am in this mode I naturally move into planning, goal setting, and evaluating. It feels like a logical progression.
So this year I embraced it. I have switched all my planning (not just school related stuff) to an academic year rhythm. I evaluate all areas of my layered life and set goals, plan milestones, and look ahead at the next 12 months.
I set up my Notion Digital Planning System to give me some structure and a path ahead. [more about that in this post = Digital Planning ]
I also started a new routine with a daily log/reflection journal.
The combo of these planners is helping me stay on track and they fit seemlessly into my lifestyle. I don’t feel overwhelmed.
I am a sucker for paper planning and having something posted in our kitchen to communicate to my family. So every year I make some printables to use in my planning routine.
Here are is the free PDF from this year 😁
and this is a Printable Academic Calendar with space for notes
Apparently I am not alone in this idea.
A few days after I had written this post, I went on a morning walk and listened to this Mel Robbins podcast: How to Get Ahead of 99% of People (In 4 Months)
I loved her perspective and it further confirmed my suspicions! Check it out!
I hope that by sharing my recent planning shift that you can give yourself permission to tackle planning in a way that works for you.
I am excited about the year ahead and I feel hopeful about the plans made. We shall see what the year holds, but I feel good about moving into fall with fresh goals and planning.
Reflection Questions:
When do you tackle yearly planning?
What times of the year do your natural rhythms create a logical progression into planning?
I would love to hear from you. Please share in the comments! ⬇️
📒Happy Planning – April
Cover Photo by Renáta-Adrienn on Unsplash