Planning with Purpose: Aligning Your Goals and Planner for a Fulfilling Year

Can you believe that the first month of 2024 is already over? If you are anything like me, a new year brought a sense of excitement and anticipation for what’s to come.

Ask yourself: Do you feel a sense of accomplishment now that January has come to a close? Or do you feel that you need to make adjustments to your schedule and life so that another month doesn’t pass you by?

To make the most of the coming months, it’s important to have a well-thought-out plan in place.

Let’s talk about how you can align your goals by using a planner. I know, I know, you might not be a “planner person” – but read on and let the information here work for you. We’ll delve into five steps to planning with purpose and I’ll introduce you to some great planner options that cater to different planning styles.

5 Steps to Planning with Purpose:

1. Set a Weekly Goal Reflection Time:

If you want to have a fulfilling year, setting aside a specific time each week for goal reflection is incredibly helpful. This dedicated time allows you to look into the progress you’ve made, providing space for acknowledging accomplishments (no matter how big or small) and understanding challenges you may have faced that week that didn’t allow you to accomplish what you wanted. Utilizing a planner during this time helps you visualize what worked well and what didn’t, making it easier to continue breaking down overarching goals into manageable steps.

2. Prioritize Self-Care to Avoid Burnout:

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, an intentional focus on self-care is a great habit to start. Schedule regular breaks, whether it’s a brief walk or simply a moment of quiet reflection, which ensures that you recharge both mentally and physically. What are some activities that bring you life? What do you do to connect with God every day? All of these bring about a healthier version of you.

3. Set Dedicated Time for Goal Work and Tracking Progress:

Purposeful planning extends beyond setting goals; it involves carving out dedicated time for focused work. Integrate specific time blocks into your schedule dedicated solely to advancing your goals. Your planner can act as a roadmap, helping you track completed tasks and measure progress. By making your goals a non-negotiable priority within your daily or weekly routine, you establish a rhythm that reinforces commitment and propels you towards success.

Make the time blocks work for you. You don’t need to set aside several hours in the day if you have a full time job, unrelated to your personal goals. Even 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or an hour dedicated to a specific goal can make all the difference in pushing forward and completing it.

4. Regularly Re-Evaluate and Adjust:

The time it takes to reach your goals are not always linear, and that’s perfectly okay. Regularly re-evaluating your goals and strategies is a practice in adaptability. Your planner can be a tool during this step. Use it to identify areas that may need adjustment based on evolving priorities and life circumstances. Embrace the flexibility to refine your plans, ensuring they align with your current reality.

For example: Our Mondays are always incredibly busy (see Part One and Part Two Day in the Life videos I’ve posted) and I know that there are certain priorities that I cannot possibly fit on a Monday. It will have to wait until later in the week. However, Mondays is when I definitely CAN carve out time for self-care and making sure that I take the time to be out in nature. It makes for a great start to the week and motivates me for the week ahead.

5. Celebrate Small Victories:

While fully completing a goal is exciting, celebrating small victories is a powerful motivator. You can use your planner to mark achievements, noting milestones that can often go unnoticed. Take time to acknowledge and appreciate these small wins, using your planner as a tool for reflection and gratitude. Setting aside moments for small celebrations boosts motivation and reinforces what you’re able to accomplish, creating a positive cycle of progress. With each win, your planner isn’t just a tool, but a source of encouragement that you’re making incredible strides.

Need a Planner?

I have to admit, I haven’t been able to stick to one planner year after year. I am always exploring different options and I get excited to try new planners. Here are some of the ones I recommend that cater to different needs:

1. The Happy Planner:

If creativity and customization are your jam, then The Happy Planner might be the perfect fit for you. Known for its vibrant and artistic designs, this planner allows you to personalize your layout with a variety of stickers, inserts, and accessories. With monthly and weekly spreads, you can break down your goals into manageable tasks and they have various layout options as well.

You can find The Happy Planner online and retail stores like Walmart and Michaels.

2. Passion Planner:

For individuals who thrive on structure and goal-oriented planning, the Passion Planner is a game-changer. It features an hourly layout that encourages you to map out your long and short-term goals, reflect on your priorities, and create actionable steps to achieve them. With sections dedicated to personal and work-related goals, the Passion Planner is an excellent choice for those looking to balance various aspects of their lives seamlessly.

They even provide digital printables like free full planner PDFs, planner inserts, worksheets, reflections, and challenges.

*Please note that at the publication of this post, orders on physical items are on pause due to a needed change in fulfillment centers. They are hoping to resume February 2nd. Check their website for more information.

3. Cultivate What Matters PowerSheets:

If you’re seeking a planner that goes beyond mere scheduling and dives deep into intentional goal setting, the Cultivate What Matters PowerSheets is worth exploring. This goal planner is designed to help you uncover what truly matters to you and provides a roadmap for achieving those priorities.

With guided prompts, reflective exercises, and monthly check-ins, PowerSheets encourage a thoughtful and intentional approach to goal setting, making it an ideal choice for those committed to personal growth.

Use code: HELLOSWEETHOPEFAITH for 10% off a minimum $25 purchase.

4. Biz Mom Planner Co. Work & Life Planner:

For the multitasking moms who are juggling family life and entrepreneurial endeavors, the Work & Life Planner is a lifeline. This planner is designed with the unique challenges and aspirations of mompreneurs in mind. The Biz Mom Planner Company planners help you maintain a delicate balance between your family and professional responsibilities. It’s a practical tool for moms aiming to achieve success in their ventures while nurturing their family life.

All products from this company are hand made in small batches. The interior of the planner has an open ended planning section each week to let you change up your planning style when you need as your life changes! With mom life and business being unpredictable, this is needed! The covers are reversible and the disc binding system allows you to change out covers and move the interior pages any way you want/need. It’s unique that even the packing is meant to be reused, including the wrapping and gift tag. we are a woman, mama, minority owned company

I encourage you to support a woman/mama/minority-owned small business (Use promo code: HopeFaith20 for 20% off!). If you want a peek, be sure to follow me on IG where I’ll be sharing an unboxing of this planner this weekend or you can also watch the Biz Mom Planner Co’s official YouTube channel to see a planner flip through.

5. Erin Condren LifePlanner:

This brand was my first planner when I first started getting into planners. It has evolved throughout the years and includes so many options from their LifePlanner collection to their weekly and daily LifePlanners, to a Teacher Lesson Planner, Monthly Planner, and Academic Planner.

They also have various accessories to choose from including organizers, calendars, notepads, notebooks, and so much more.

Check it all out here!

6. Notion (Digital Option):

There’s no way I can have a blog post on goals without mentioning Notion! If you really can’t see yourself using a physical planner, this is the BEST digital option for you. You can track everything in your life on one platform and I can help you!

It’s an all-in-one digital workspace that is customizable to your life. You can keep it simple or work on creating an aesthetically pleasing digital planning space. From to do lists, content planning, schedules, project management, travel plans, and everything in between – Notion has it all.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can book a free 30 minute call with me where we can dive deep into Notion and how it can help you get organized!

Happy Goal Setting and Planning!