Simple Weekly Planning Routine
How I’m Using a Simple, Pen-Only Planner for a Calmer Week
If you’ve ever felt that Sunday evening wave of anxiety, that feeling of a busy week looming before you’ve even had a chance to prepare, you know how overwhelming it can be. For so long, I tried to kickstart my week with a planning session on Monday morning, but I found it just wasn’t working for me. Instead of feeling prepared, I felt rushed.
That’s why I’ve shifted my weekly planning reset to Friday. It’s a simple change that has made a world of difference, allowing me to enter the weekend with peace of mind and start Monday with intention.
It also helps me finish up any remaining tasks over the weekend before heading into a new week and bringing them with me! Here’s a closer look at my simple process and how you can adapt it to find more calm in your own schedule.
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My Simple Toolkit
The best system is one you’ll actually use, which is why I’m keeping my planning incredibly simple and functional.
- Erin Condren Dashboard Layout LifePlanner: The dashboard layout is perfect for seeing the week at a glance.
- A Good Pen: That’s it. No complicated color-coding or sticker sets this week. I love the Pilot Frixion because it’s erasable and I always make mistakes!
- A Stencil: I’m trying a new method using a simple stencil and highlighter to block out timed events. My stencil comes with my Erin Condren LifePlanner, but they have a similar set available to purchase separately.
My Step-by-Step Functional Planning Process
- 1. The Weekly Overview: I start by mapping out the week using the left side of the layout with the days of the week. This gives me a high-level view of what’s coming up.
- 2. Mapping Out Priorities & To-Dos: With back-to-school season upon us, my main priority is getting my son ready. This week, that means scheduling his physical and planning a day for school clothes shopping. I’ve learned to wait on school supplies until after school starts, since teacher lists can be so specific!
- 3. The Weekly Reset: I always build in time for my non-negotiable weekly reset tasks, which fall into three categories: cleaning, food prep, and self-care. This is about more than just a tidy home; it’s about creating a peaceful environment that calms the chaos. On the self-care front, I’m making sure to schedule a lash lift and tint and a little self-tanning session. It’s important to plan for the things that make you feel good.
- 4. Planning the Weekend: Finally, I pencil in our weekend plans, including church on Sunday morning and a party for my son. Knowing these fun events are on the horizon helps me power through the week.
Want to Go Deeper?
As you may have heard me mention, I recently launched channel memberships as a way to connect more deeply with this amazing community. For my members, I’ll be posting an exclusive video soon on how I organize all my stickers, turning chaos into a functional system.
If you’re looking for more ways to simplify your life, the best place to start is my newsletter. By signing up, you’ll get access to my entire library of free printables designed to help you create a more calm and organized life through functional planning.
Click here to join the newsletter and access the free printables library!
I truly believe that a simple, functional plan is the foundation for a calm and intentional week. It allows us to reduce our mental load and be more present for our families and ourselves.
In my latest video, I walk through exactly what this process looks like. It’s a return to a simple, functional, pen-only planning style that’s less about decoration and more about creating a calm, manageable week.
You can watch the full video here: