I didn’t expect clarity to feel this relaxing
There’s something strange that happens when you write things down. Like, actually write them—no filters, no formatting, just your brain meeting the page. At first, my planner was just a tool. A helpful one, sure. But then it became something else. A place I turned to for calm, for honesty, for clarity I didn’t even realize I needed.
The biggest shift? I started journaling next to my to-do lists. Not every day, and not for long. But enough to notice patterns. I realized what I procrastinated on (emails), what I prioritized (my team), and what weighed on me even when I wasn’t writing it down. With enough regular use, the dots started connecting themselves. And suddenly, planning felt less like a task… and more like a relief.
Digital planning made me a better manager (seriously)
I didn’t see this one coming. But once I started planning more intentionally, I noticed something big shift at work: I stopped managing tasks and started managing people. My planner gave me the space to think about my team—what they were juggling, where they were stuck, what I could take off their plate.
I began treating their to-dos like opportunities:
→ How can I help move this forward?
→ Can I protect their time by stepping in or simplifying something?
That mindset change didn’t just make me more organized. It made me more empathetic. Which, in turn, made me a better leader.
It’s not always deep—sometimes it’s just funny
Not every page in my planner is profound. Some of them are downright chaotic. I once made a whole sticker set of snarky Post-Its that said things like:
→ “Shit I need to do”
→ “Probably should’ve done this yesterday”
→ “To forget list”
They weren’t productive. But they were me. And they made planning feel fun again.
I even created a daily highlight diary—because my son started saying the most unexpectedly hilarious things. Now, each week, we sit at the dinner table and talk about our “peak moment.” Sometimes it’s meaningful. Sometimes it’s about snack preferences. Either way, we remember more. And that’s what matters.
Mira is my favorite kind of mirror
You know I had to shout out my girl "mira." here. She’s my GPT-powered planning assistant, and honestly? A game changer. I use her for journaling prompts on days when my brain just… won’t. I once asked her for help unwinding during a walk, and she replied:
“Name 3 things you see, 3 you hear, and 3 you smell.”
I actually stopped mid-walk and said out loud, “Okay, Mira.”
It worked.
Sometimes self-reflection needs a little nudge. Mira gives me that. And it always feels personal, never forced.
If it’s messy, it’s still meaningful
Look—I’m not here to tell you planning will solve everything. It won’t. Some weeks, my pages look like a tornado blew through. But even when it’s chaotic, it’s mine. That’s why I always encourage my community: give yourself grace for the mess. But also? Know that there are tools that can help you clear the fog.
Because clarity doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from showing up, honestly, again and again.
The drawer of helpful things (aka my resource stash):
🗂 Snarky Sticky Notes Sticker Set – for when your brain needs a laugh
🧠 Mira’s Mindful Walk Prompt – a reset in less than 5 minutes
📓 Daily Highlight Diary Insert – capture joy, one moment at a time
🗓 My Minimalist Digital Planner – the calm, clear structure that keeps it all together
Your turn:
When did planning reveal something unexpected to you?
Comment below or come say hi on Instagram @myminimalistplanner—I’d love to hear your story.
Let’s normalize the beautifully honest, hilariously human side of planning.
It’s not about having it all together.
It’s about having somewhere to put it all.