The planning shift that helped me quit falling behind.
I’ve spent the entire last year feeling behind.
Very behind.
See, I reeeeeally thought that with the kids back in school (instead of homeschooling), I’d have a lot more time to get things done.
In actuality, I had approximately the same amount of time because all that “free time” was spent driving my kids all over the greater Las Vegas area.
Joke’s on me!
I think I switched up my planner layout no less than 7 times, trying out new routines and systems, and still I found myself feeling so. incredibly. behind.
Behind on housework. Behind on work deadlines. Behind on texts and emails and appointments and meal plans.
Behind on life.
Every week, it felt like I was starting from scratch – re-writing the same tasks in my planner, trying to remember what I had already done and what still needed attention, and feeling like I could never quite catch up.
Far too much to do, far too little time.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t trying. I absolutely was!
It was that in this new season of life, I needed a system that was automated, so I didn’t have to keep trying to figure out what I should be doing – I could just DO IT.
So I took the plunge into digital planning – creating a system that could actually do some of the automating and decision making FOR ME.
And for the first time in a VERY long time, I’m starting to feel like I actually have a handle on all those things I’ve always fallen behind on.
I stopped re-writing my to-do list every day and started using recurring tasks inside Asana (you can do the same in Trello!). Now, instead of copying things over week after week, I check a box, and the task resets automatically!!! (This is a game changer, honestly.)
I added due dates to each task, organized everything into categories that make sense for my brain, and started building out a space where everything, from meal planning to work projects to family to-dos, lives in one place.
I even found a home for all of those one-off tasks and ideas that pop up at the most inconvenient times – and stopped having to remember them all!
And slowly, I’ve started catching my breath.
Not because I’m doing less, but because I finally have a prioritized-for-me list of what needs to be done, which frees up my mental space to focus on what actually matters each day.
I don’t know if it’s being in my 40’s, or just my own slow-to-transition personality, but the ability to use a planning system that does a lot of work on my behalf is just plain freeing.
Do I still use my paper planner? You bet I do. But it’s more of my overarching goals + daily action plan and less the one place where everything lives. (I’ll share more about how I’m using both together next week!)
Using a planning system that’s available wherever I am is seriously helping me feel caught up on life, and THAT allows me to chill out and be a more present wife, mom, and friend.
So, my friend, if you, too, have ever felt like you can’t stay on top of things, no matter how hard you try…
Or if you’ve ever re-written the same list 12 times…
Or if you’re craving a system that just plain makes planning feel peaceful again…
…I cannot wait to share the S.O.S. Digital Planning System with you!
I’m not trying to be dramatic, but it really has changed both my work AND home life. And I think you’re going to love it, too!!
Want to get a sneak peek at the whole system? RSVP to our Digital Planning Party here!!
In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you. Have you tried digital planning before? Comment below and let me know!
Kayse Pratt serves Christian women as a writer + designer, creating home + life management resources that help those women plan their days around what matters most. She’s created the most unique planner on the market, helped over 400 women create custom home management plans, and works with hundreds of women each month inside her membership, teaching them how to plan their days around what matters most. When she’s not designing printables or writing essays, you’ll find Kayse homeschooling her kids, reading a cheesy novel with a giant cup of tea in hand, or watching an old show from the 90’s with her husband, who is her very best friend.
I have tried several and they were really more than what I needed, so I would go back to a simple paper one or use the SimplCal app to keep up with things.
Love that you found what works for you!!
SO EXCITING!!! WOW 🙂
I can’t wait to share it with you!
I’ve been using Cozi for our family. Since I am the designated driver, I need to know who needs to be where and when. That being said, it doesn’t help with all the other things I want/need to do and keep track of. Looking forward to checking this out.
I’ve heard lots of good things about Cozi as a calendar, for sure! This is a bit more robust with the ability to track all kinds of areas of our life. I can’t wait to show you!!
I would like to know if digital planning would work if I don’t have a smartphone & just have a laptop…
Absolutely! I’m mainly using my computer to do my planning, anyways. It does sync on mobile, but that’s not a required piece by any means!
I love digital planning! I started using Google Calendar more diligently after my first son was born – 14 years ago. I needed a way to balance his activities, appts, preschool/school dates/times, etc, with my personal activities and my work schedule. We now have 4 kids and organizing their schedules and mine — Google Calendar has been imperative! (And I love how I can color code everything!!) I slowly added in using Google Tasks over the years for quick reminders of things I needed to do that day, sometimes organizing them in the order I needed to do them. (Including recurring household tasks, etc.) Then, I discovered Plan to Eat, a website that helps you meal plan and organize your shopping list. AND they have a calendar feed that I can add to my calendar system to see what is coming up without having to open their app every single time. Game changer for me. I have tried other systems and find that I keep coming back to my current setup. I’m curious to see how your system compares and if I can integrate and parts with what I’m already using.
I love that you’ve found something that works well for you! I’ve used Plan To Eat in the past and really liked it too. I’ll be sharing more about our system in Tuesday’s call – hope you can come!
I have tried utilizing a digital calendar that syncs with everyone in the family, but I am the only one who looks at it. 🙁 A digital planner seems overwhelming to me. Part of me wants to try it, but the other part of me is nervous I won’t be able to figure it out, or I’ll lose all my color coding and “prettiness” of a planner.
Currently, I am using some of the layouts. But for next year, and for the first time ever, I’m building a disc-bound planner that has everything I want included in it.
You know I love my paper planner, too!! If that’s what works best for your brain, stick with it! I totally get that.