Reclaim Your Time (& Sanity!): An Intentionally Evolve Guide to Planning as Self-Care 🧘🏽‍♀️

Let’s be real: as busy women, we’re no strangers to lists, calendars, & planners that promise productivity but often feel like just another weight. I used to buy a new planner every year, doing my best to customize it & make it motivating…only to waste money on not staying consistent & the pretty lil book ends up buried in some corner. But what if planning wasn’t just about doing more—what if it was about feeling better?

I believe planning is more than organizing tasks—it’s an act of self-care. It’s about making space for what matters, protecting your energy, & giving yourself permission to breathe between the “shoulds” & “musts.”

I’ve always been overly organized, but once adulting set in & I became a mother, my use of planners increased big time. Being able to add important tasks into my electronics is great, but I’m still old school with the pen & planner. If technology shuts down, ya girl still has everything on paperrrrrrr (in my Shawty Lo voice). 😂

Somehow planning my day is less negative  & is an essential part of my wind-down routine each night. Being proactive lessens my anxiety & challenges me to go hard when necessary. Plus, it’s such the opposite of being stressful. Here’s how to shift your mindset & make planning feel like a joy—not just another job.

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🌿 5 Ways to Make Planning Feel Nourishing

1. Romanticize Your Planning Ritual 💞

Make it feel good. Light a candle. Pour your favorite drink. Put on calming music. This isn’t a work meeting—it’s quality time with you. Turn your planning time into a ritual that grounds you & feels sacred, not rushed.

I know when I start planning each evening, it’s my brain’s & body’s way of saying “aiiiite now; it’s time to chill out & shut it all down.” Between journaling & planning, most of the thoughts that fly through my mind at the speed of light are spilled onto the paper.

2. Use Tools That Inspire You 🧰

Ditch the plain planner & use something that reflects you. The Intentional Journal & the Intentionally Evolve Planner are designed to nurture your well-being while keeping you organized. The emotions that I feel when I’m most stressed out are erased when I pull those items out.

Staying motivated, especially with planning, was one of my reasons to birth Intentionally Evolve. When you’re overwhelmed, burnt out, & feel like the world is against you, you need uplifting tools. This is why all Intentionally Evolve products include affirmations, self-care prompts, & space to reflect.

3. Focus on How You Want to Feel 🤔

Instead of starting your day with tasks, ask: How do I want to feel today? Let that guide your priorities. Maybe it’s “peaceful,” “focused,” or “energized.” Planning with emotions in mind creates flow, not friction.

My physical, mental, emotional, & social feelings dictate the way I move each morning. I already prefer silence the first hour or 2 after waking up, but if more than one of those categories is thrown off, it shows across the board. My night-before planning sessions help motivate me when I glance at my planner & the dry erase board on my dresser. A little goes a long way!

4. Don’t Overplan—Create Margin 🗓️

Planning every hour of your day? That’s a fast track to burnout. Leave space between appointments. Build in buffer time. Add in some dance breaks. Planning should protect your peace, not steal it.

I’m notorious for blocking off time in between appointments. Running late gives me anxiety & carrying the weight of the world puts my attitude on rude, so I have a 3 task limit per day. If I check them off my list, fine. And if I don’t, it’s not the end of the world either!

5. Reflect Often 🪞

At the end of the week, check in: What worked? What drained me? Celebrate the wins—even the small ones. Reflection turns your planner from a to-do tracker into a growth companion.

Intentionally Evolve Planners have goal planning sections at the beginning & end of each month; space to jot down important tasks per day, week, & month; & a budgeting tool. Making my planner into more than just a calendar is a win-win situation.

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🪞Planning Isn’t Just Productivity—It’s Permission

Planning with intention reminds you that you are in control of your time. It gives you permission to slow down, say no, & choose rest without guilt. It’s not about squeezing in more—it’s about making space for you.

So the next time you pick up your planner, don’t just plan to get things done—plan like you love yourself.

A glance into the Intentionally Evolve Planner & how it’s essential for self-care