Meet: Dr. Shannon Thomison

Welcome to a new series on this blog: All Things Planner & Self-Care Related!

I started this new series as a way to introduce myself and you as a reader to people within the self-care and planning community. There is power in story-telling; this series gives a platform to different creators so that we can catch a glimpse of their lives while also learning from their journey.

First up is a creator and brilliant mind who always inspires me: Shannon Thomison.

1. Tell readers about yourself!

I'm Dr. Shannon Thomison, doctoral academic advisor, career self-efficacy advocate, planning & leadership coach, and CEO of A Journey In Becoming Co. I took a break from my business two years ago to comple my doctorate degree. I recently graduated from Adler University in October with my Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership!!! I am also a doctoral academic advisor for Adler University. Here, I help our doctoral students with planning their doctoral journeys

Before A Journey In Becoming Co. was a business, this page was created as my outlet to show my love for planners and planning systems and what I used for my doctoral classes (at the time) and my university position. But after being diagnosed with severe anxiety and postpartum depression, in 2020, my planner became a way for me to express my thoughts, journal, map, and self-manage my life. I started therapy, connecting more with GOD, and pouring into myself after discovering my way of planning. As I started to heal and pour into myself, I knew I would want to share with others what helped me reorganize my life. So, in 2019, I turned my outlet into a business! This A Journey In Becoming Co. was born. I found a way to connect with others like me and help them create a planning system that matches their lifestyle. Outside of my planning and professional life, I am a mom of two beautiful boys and my best friend, my hubby and I have been married for over 13 years, but we've been together for almost 20 years. 

Meet Dr. Shannon Thomison!

2. How were you introduced to the planner community?

My mom! She introduced me to all things stationery and planning when I was a kid. It started with notebooks and old planners she would bring home from work. I would then revamp them into my own style. However, in 2015, my planning adventure took off when a co worker and I took a trip to Michael's for the new Happy Planners for work. Connecting with someone who loves planners as much as I did was a game changer. It was down here from there!

3. How many planners are currently in your rotation?

I have three: one for personal and family planning (hp mini), one for work, business, and professional development (A5), the other for finances(A5) (and any A5 journal).

See Dr. Thomison’s planner stack. We love a diverse stack!

4. What is your EDC (every day carry)? Tell us all about your go-to planner.

I work from home, so I don't have an EDC anymore, BUT my mini hp use to be my EDC it has plenty of note pages and monthly inserts from Cloth & Paper. My go-to is my A5 planner for all things work and professional development. 

5. What's your current favorite spread in your planner? What do you like about it?

I'm heavy into notes in my planner. So all my planners have a notes section. I've rediscovered my love for note inserts and incorporating a notes section in each of my planners for 2025. I have come to love a very simplified planning system.

6. If you could change one thing about the online planner community, what would it be and why?

I love our planner community. We are so close and really care for one another. That I would not change. However, I miss when ppl shared more of their layouts and spreads in their stories and photos. I mean so many ppl still do it, but not as much as they use to. There has been a shift where we are sharing more aesthetically pleasing photos (which i love for decor ideas) but I'm a very functional planner user, so I always go back to older spreads from 2019-2021 for inspiration. 

7. Did you choose a word or phrase of the year for 2025? If so, what did you choose and why?

I haven't picked my words for 2025 yet. Its a process for me. I reflect on the current year and pray for guidance on the direction I am going in. Once the words come to me, I look up the definition and look for scriptures that align with each word!

8. Tell us about your self-care journey! When did you start practicing intentional self-care and why? 

I started a year ago after a long therapy journey. My amazing therapist asked me to define three things that made me happy that I see as self care for myself: planning, journaling, and walking. I walk at least 5X a week. I'm revamping my journal set up and my planner for 2025, but the month of December in my planners are filled with my bare minimum inserts.

9. What's your go-to self-care activity right now?

Ohhhh my walking Pad! It brings so much joy to the start of my day. My hubby purchased my pad for me two years ago. It allowed me to save money from gym memberships and build my own in home gym. It's great exercise! I do a mile to a miles and a half 5 days a week minimum. 

10. What are your self-care goals for 2025?

To do more scripture and prayer journaling and work on my two miles per day goal.

11. Have you ever experienced planner burnout? If so, how did you manage it? If not, how do you avoid it?

YES! I experienced this at the start of my dissertation journey in 2022 (YES two years!) It was hard because I love all things planning, but I had a lot going on. So during that time, I kept the bare minimum inserts in my planner. But now that I have completed my Ph.D. program and discovered my new self-care routine, I have the time to rediscover my planning style. Its hard to avoid it and when yoi get to this point, if you ever get to this point, its OK! I had to go back and remember why I love planning in the first place and the joy it brings me. So, I created an IG collection of planner inspiration and found accountability partners. I have two friends who are basically family who held/hold me accountable in creating the planner that works for my current lifestyle. They reminded me that so much has changed and that I have to create a planner set-up and vibe that alignes with Dr. Thomison now.

Where can readers find you? (Please share your social media handles!)

I haven't been on social much, but ppl can follow my Ph.D. IG page at ajourneyinbecoming and my planning/business IG page at ajourneyinbecoming_co.

Thank you so much to Dr. Thomison for sharing your story! Be sure to follow Dr. Thomison for inspiration.

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