I had a dear friend recently confide in me that although she has a planner, she can’t seem to stay consistent because planning stresses her out and makes her feel like a failure when she can’t accomplish all she set out to do.

While I feel like I have long overcome those feelings through 3 years of TIDBITS Planning methods – I can 100% relate to how she feels and my heart aches to help her and all of us all overcome those feelings for good!

I want to shed some light on how The TIDBITS Day Planner can be a stress management tool.

Stress effects soooooo many aspects of our life and health – which I think you are fully aware of. In this busy day and age, we need tools to help us manage our stress and planning can be a BIG one!

But like my friend alluded to, if we are unrealistic with our planning – stress wins. Every time.

SO – HOW DO WE BE REALISTIC WITH OUR TIME AND LIFE?

How do we set ourselves up for success every day?

I’ll show you briefly how I do it with the help of The TIDBITS Day Planner.​

WEEKLY PLANNING

It starts with planning the big things that need to happen that week. I like to use this section on the weekly spread for that, as I carefully divide up my main responsibilities. (hint . . . look at your year and month plans!)

DAILY PLANNING

Once I get a handle on some of my weekly tasks, and before each day begins (usually the night before for me) I’ll use this little color block area to figure what needs to happen that day to help me get those weekly things done. Other random things that come up last minute might land here too, but I have to be mindful continually on what I can reasonably fit in a day. I might even divide my responsibilities if the day calls for it.

I have found that this daily block is not too big and not too small – keeping your expectations for yourself limited to what is reasonable.

HOURLY PLANNING

The next step is what a lot of weekly planners miss! You’ve got to be able to take those weekly and daily tasks and figure out how they will actually fit in your day – especially among all the required appointments and activities.

You can time block, or just prompt yourself on the hours or half hours. For busy days – this is amazing at helping you be present for each busy hour and not feeling like you will run out of time before you can get something done.

Planning this way at first might still feel stressful as you try to figure out a new system. But if you keep at it, over a short period of time you’ll find you get to know yourself and your limitations REALLY well, and you manage to avoid days filled with more than you can handle.

Then planning wins. Every time.

REALITY CHECK

Sometimes, despite our best planning efforts – we don’t get everything done and tasks move from day to day and week to week. They then become a mindfulness game – where you need to consider why it isn’t getting done, and how you can build some support in your life to get them done. But I could go on for hours on this topic! (Should I make a video?)

I hope this helped you see how The TIDBITS Day Planner can be a stress management planner! Let’s make 2022 less stressful and even more productive! But productivity is a topic for another day.

If you really want to try this out RIGHT NOW – go print my free undated planning pages!

Let me know what you think about planning and stress management. Do they go hand in hand for you too? Are you ready to live with less stress?

*Pro tip: Try some yoga! Planning, yoga and a quick daily walk has transformed my stress levels which once upon a time landed me in therapy. (hello, internet vulnerability).

It can be overcome my friend! I’d love to help!

SHOP TIDBITS PLANNERS!

Check out the rest of this series below!

• Day 1: A Beautiful Planner​
• Day 2: A Customizable Planner​
• Day 3: A Complete Planner​
• Day 4: A Stress Management Tool​
• Day 5: A Digital, Physical and Printable Planner​
• Day 6: A Productive Planner​
• Day 7: A Keepsake Planner