3 Powerful Ways Planners Elevate Your Self-Care Journey
What's the link between planning and self-care? Planners elevate your self-care journey.
At first, you might say that the act of planning, whether you're laying down stickers from Planner Kate or using a new insert from Cloth & Paper, is a form of self-care because it's fun and relaxing. I agree! I'm at my calmest when I sit down to plan. I block distractions and focus on myself and my planner. But there's another link. Planners are usually the missing link between your self-care routines and habits and the best version of yourself (whatever that means to you)! Basically, planners are the tools to hold yourself accountable and accomplish your self-care goals.
This month, I'm focusing on pruning. I want to get rid of the old habits and routines to replace them with new ones to really push myself and grow. Of course, I'm using my planner to help me out! Here are three ways your planner elevates your self-care journey.
Tracking
Of course your planner can help you track your self-care goals! Whether you're using habit trackers, notes section on a daily insert, or even a checkbox on your monthly calendar, there are so many ways to incorporate a planner — whether paper or electronic — in your self-care journey. Want to spend more time with your family, friends, or kids? Use your planner to track the days you put your phone on do not disturb to spend time with your loved ones. Are you hoping to increase the amount of vegetables you eat in a day? Perfect! Use the monthly calendar to note your daily servings of vegetables.
Tracking your habits is so much more than just using a habit tracker! You can use a monthly layout as well. For example, your monthly calendar is a great place to track your daily financial spend totals, the number of times you meditated, or your steps. There are endless ways you can use tracking in your planner to elevate your self-care journey.
Reminders
Your planner can be more than just your schedule and tasks.
I love opening my planner to see Bible verses, affirmations, and reminders about what I'm manifesting at the moment. Here's are a few things I typically write down as reminders:
Encouragement. I love to write encouraging messages and reminders throughout my planner! Whether you choose to write affirmations, manifestations, or verses from a religious text, don't be afraid to add a quote here and there.
Reminders. We set these goals and resolutions in the beginning of the year or month. How often do we revisit them? Are we reminding ourselves of the daily actions to take to achieve our goals for the year? This year I want to be intentional about controlling my energy. I write reminders in my planner (and my phone too) to meditate for 10 minutes throughout the work day. What reminders can you write or type in your planner today to help you with your goals?
This method is one of the easiest ways to use your planner to elevate your self-care journey!
Offense
Odd title, right? Let me explain!
We use our planners to plan our workdays, meals, workout routines, finances, and plenty of areas of our lives. Why not use this knowledge of our schedule to get on the "offense" with our self-care journey? Now that you see your schedule and know what you have to do, plan your self-care accordingly. Whether you are planning time to take yourself on a financial date or to schedule a phone call with a loved one, let this knowledge of your time and schedule empower you to take care of yourself NOW rather than when you are struggling due to a lack of proper self-care.
I like to schedule self-care using a one hour/twenty-four hour method. I schedule one hour of self-care every day and at least twenty-four hours each week.
Try this method if you’re in need of a new self-care routine! The daily self-care hour does not need to be continuous. Set aside time in 10 or 15 minute increments to practice small acts of self-care, like practicing mindfulness, journaling, drinking tea, or a quick yoga routine. Your full day of self-care can include many activities. I typically focus on staying present, hanging with loved ones, and taking a break from technology/social media.
Interested in reading more about self-care and planning? Check out this post or this podcast episode where I share more about self-care and planning!
How do you use planning in your self-care routine?