i honestly only feel ready for the day after i plan my day. i usually use a piece of paper (so i have enough space to write) or the productivity planner. find a planner with a layout that really works for your preference. sometimes, we need to put our to-do list, goals and thoughts on paper, so that we can stay accountable versus telling ourselves this is what i’ll do today, this week. it’s so easy to lose track of time and difficult to stay on top of everything, which is why you should start daily planning. with a certain level of planning, you’re able to get some time back to avoid burnout, have freedom to do things outside of work, enjoyment of life, balance and fulfilment. if you guys have not gotten a planner yet, i would highly recommend it. it’s truly something that can enhance your life in so many ways and create a fulfilling life.

1. it can make your life a lot less stressful – stress usually comes from feeling overwhelmed but when you know what to expect from the day ahead of you, you can decrease your stress levels.

2. it allows you to evaluate yourself – you can see based on what you’re writing down, what you’re prioritizing. it’s incredible how much clarity you can get with sitting with yourself and asking what you need to get done and how you can make it a reality. 

3. it helps you be prepared – we can’t predict the obstacles that may occur but part of your planning routine can be having a contingency plan for unexpected situations. it’s not possible to plan everything and sometimes plans takes a back seat (reference 2020) but you still want to make sure you’re progressing in different areas of your life.

4. it’ll help avoid panicking/ ease anxious feelings – if you’re an anxious person, this is such a great health benefit for your mind. 

5. it’ll give you more time – you’re not spending time distracted and procrastinating. i like to write my daily plan early in the morning, so when i’m going through my day i can refer to my plan. i can say to myself: ‘oh, i have 5 minutes let me order the air filter.’ this way, i keep my day focused on what it is i want to do and i’m not drifting off.