MY 2019 PLANNER SETUP VIDEO IS LIVE FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE!
This year actually marks my 5th anniversary of sharing my planner setup with you all, so I decided it would be fun to do a little walk down planner memory lane together and talk about the different setups I’ve used over the years and what I’ve learned from them. Many of us within the planner community go through a bit of a planner evolution through the years, and I think it’s important before choosing your new planner for 2019, to take some time to look at the patterns that keep coming up with your planners year over year to see what you really like, what you actually use in your planner and what issues you struggle with. Hopefully, this video should give you some inspiration for how to review and analyze the planners you’ve used in the past to see what might work best for the future.
→ P.S. I didn’t mention this in the video, however, there are just a few days left to sign up for my New Year Goal Setting Workshop, here is the link: http://bit.ly/2PI7pH1
→ Or, if you want my full Goal Setting Process to help you map short term to longer term goals, definitely purchase my YOU GOT THIS Workbook + Video Intro Course because it teaches you all the practical aspects of goal setting as well as provides tons of activities and worksheets to help you get clear on your goals and how to achieve them: http://bit.ly/YOUGOTTHISBOOK
This Printable Planner is a comprehensive solution that includes of a number of beautiful and well designed layouts that will help you maximize your planning in a streamlined way! As an all-in-one planner solution, this printable planner integrates Month on Two Pages Spreads within the Week On Two Pages Spreads in a continuous calendar cycle and bundles in project planning, brainstorming, note taking and more!
Included in this planner are the following:
Creating Your Master Plan (How to Use the Planner)
5 Functional Planning Worksheets
Month on 2 Pages Calendars
Monthly Master Task Lists
Monthly Tracker
Vertical Week on Two Page Planning Pages
Yearly Project Tracker
40 Project Planning Spreads
20 Braindump Spreads
20 Brainstorm Spreads
30 Notes Pages
8 Index Sheets
Let’s take a look at the spreads!
Month on 2 Pages
Monthly Tasks & Tracker
Week on Two Pages
Yearly Project Tracker
Project Plans with Notes
Braindump + Organize & Act
Brainstorm + Plan & Prep
Notes
Index Sheets
When you purchase now you will have access to 2 files:
#1. 2019 Charmed Life Master Planner PDF optimized for Personal planner systems
#2. 2018 Charmed Life Master Planner October-December PDF to begin using your planner asap!
These inserts are all print-on-demand PDF files for use at home or feel free to bring them to your favorite office supply store to have them professionally printed! Although these inserts will print on standard printer/copier paper, for best printing results, I highly recommend using 98 bright 24-32lb paper!
Want to learn more about how I plan and organize my life?
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Join the premier online community for ambitious, high vibe, planner lovers who are ready to design a balanced, successful life through practical, research backed strategy, tools & accountability!
I beautiful, fulfilling life doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s the result of strategy, hard work and belief.
If your life right now feels out of control, overwhelming and isn’t your ideal of how you want to live, work and experience the world, it’s time to learn exactly how to plan for your balanced and successful life!
Forget whatever you think you know about designing your best life because this is where we throw out old stereotypes of what it means to be successful so that we may become the embodiment of our own greatness.
This isn’t about gender politics, this isn’t about family, this isn’t about society or religion- this is about you, and whether you desire to be a woman of greatness who makes things happen for herself and the ones she loves.
We all know that life is filled with its up and downs.
No one’s life is perfect, and no one has it all no matter how great things may seem on social media.
But the one thing we all need to have- the single most important skill any woman can acquire and utilize for her own personal success and happiness- is the ability to mobilize and motivate herself to achieve any goal or outcome she desires. That is the only way to guarantee yourself consistent and repeatable happiness and success in your life.
That is what it means to live a Charmed Life!
The woman who leads a Charmed Life knows, believes and trusts in her own abilities. She knows her own mind, she prioritizes the care of herself so that she may better care for the needs of others. She sees great possibility in her life and isn’t afraid to show up to do the work necessary to have the life of her dreams.
She is smart, she is strong, she is capable, she is confident, and she is inside of you!
You are the only one responsible for your ultimate happiness in life and if you are ready to learn what it takes to birth your dreams into reality, now is the time for you to expand into the reality of your Charmed Life.
The path isn’t always easy- that’s why precious few ever dare to tread upon it.
But the journey and the destinations you will reach with the knowledge and effort you put into showing up for the work is going to be fulfilling beyond your wildest dreams.
The path to your Charmed Life is waiting for you.
Introducing
the charmed life Master mind
An Accountability & Personal Development Coaching Membership Community for Ambitious Women Designing their Best Lives!
Here's what you'll get
THREE LIVE CALLS EACH MONTH: Each month, members of the Master Mind meet live for a new Masterclass, an Office Hours Q+A Call, and a monthly planning CEO Power Hour. All calls are scheduled ahead of time, and recorded, so if you can't attend live you can enjoy the replay.
WORKBOOKS + ACTIVITIES: To accompany each Masterclass, you will also get access to downloadable class workbooks and materials with additional homework and activities to put the principles you learn into immediate action in your life and planning.
MASTERCLASS TRAINING LIBRARY: As a member of the Master Mind you will get access to the complete library of classes and calls on-demand. That's dozens of trainings and 100+ hours of content to learn from on a variety of topics.
RESOURCE LIBRARY: In addition to the Masterclass Library, you will also get full access to the resource library filled with dozens of additional insert designs, guided meditations, planner organization tools and more.
A PRIVATE MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY: Not only does the Master Mind have its own dedicated membership website where all our downloads and resources are housed, but we also have our own Private Slack Channel where I post accountability prompts and do additional coaching outside of class. I share extra content on the Slack channel and you can use it to share content as well, chat with your fellow Master Mind members and ask me additional Q+A!
unlock unlimited access to premium on-demand tools
When you join the membership, you get instant access to my 12 week productivity + planning course that will help you learn the essential strategies I teach for functional planning and achieving success. This course is packed with 12 video classes, printable worksheets and class materials to help you set goals, make plans, master habits and much more!
Productivity book club
For years my community has been asking me to start a book club and I am pleased to announce I will be hosting one from within the Master Mind. I'll be sharing all my favorite books, plus choosing a title each month to read together and share key lessons from so we are continuing our education on productivity and success together! For those of you interested in Metaphysics + Alchemy topics, don't you worry- I've got you covered too!
Wellness support group
I don't know about you, but I have certainly packed on the Quarantine 15 since the pandemic began and I am on a mission to restore my health and wellness to a place that feels good to me. Many of you know, I lost nearly 100lbs back in 2017 using the Keto diet and I would love to share more details of my wellness journey, recipes and meal prep hacks with you inside the Master Mind.
annual pay in full bonus
2023 Master plan system
When you enroll with the annual pay in full option, you will get a full year membership to the master mind PLUS the complete 2023 Master Plan System, a $75 value, FREE! This is the best value to ensure you have the right tools and ongoing support you need to keep accountable to your goals!
Join the master mind today
for just $33 a month!*
It’s the BEST INVESTMENT you can make for your successful and fulfilling life!
You love my content and products and have gotten a significant amount of value from following me on my platforms and using my strategies
You are a Functional Planner who is comfortable with using printable or digital planning tools (I'll be sharing a LOT of those in this Master Mind)
You are curious and open minded and love learning new and out of the box philosophies to help you improve your mindset and your life
This is not for you if...
You're not the biggest fan of me or my philosophies... it's okay, I'm not offended, to each their own
You are focused on pretty planning and scrapbooking with your planner, you wouldn't call yourself a Functional Planner per se
You're not someone who is comfortable interacting and sharing online, this is first and foremost a community experience which isn't for everyone
LET'S HEAR FROM MY MASTER MIND SISTERS
A big thank you goes out to each of my master mind sisters who was gracious enough to share their stories with us! Your support and belief in our group means the world to me!
Alexis is Your Virtual Coach & Charmed Life Guru
Imagine that smart, funny and super successful friend who is always sharing the most life-changing tips and time management hacks. The one everyone goes to for advice because she just makes life look so effortless. Yea, that’s Alexis, and she’s your new on-demand coach ready to help you bring your Charmed Life to fruition!
Alexis is a successful online entrepreneur who designs strategic tools to help ambitious women plan for a balanced life and business. She is a blogger, YouTuber and productivity thought leader with a following of over 150,000 and annual views into the millions.
Alexis is the creator of the Functional Planning Methodology, the Master Plan and CEO Strategy systems, and her work is designed around proven productivity, time management and neuroscience research to help you organize and motivate yourself to achieve your goals and objectives with ease.
JOIN THE MASTER MIND TODAY FOR JUST $33 a month!*
That’s the equivalent of one week of to-go lattes, but the impact on your life will last far longer than the jolt of caffeine.
You will have access to the master class replays, class materials, resources, inserts etc for as long as you are a member of the Master Mind. You will have unlimited access to the complete library of content and resources shared and produced ongoing as a member.
The Master Classes each month will be held via Zoom. If you have ever been to one of my live workshops on YouTube you know what to expect in terms of my style and the way I structure my classes!
Currently, the monthly Master Classes are held on the first Saturday of the month at 2pm ET/11am PT.
Our monthly Office Hours call is scheduled for the 20th of the month, and if that date lands on a weekday (Mon-Fri) it is held at 7pm ET/4pm PT. If the 20th is a weekend (Sat-Sun), the call is held at 11am ET/8am PT!
Finally, our CEO Power Hour call is scheduled for the last Saturday of the month @ 11am ET/8am PT!
The Charmed Life Master Mind costs $396 for 12 continuous months if you enroll at the Annual membership price, which equates to $33 per month. Or $44 a month if you sign up for month to month. You have the option to sign up on a month to month basis OR sign up for the annual pay in full which includes a special bonus of the complete Master Plan System, a $75 value!
After you join the Master Mind, if you don’t enjoy the content, you are more than welcome to cancel your subscription at any time, no questions asked.
Due to the nature of this experience, no refunds will be given once a payment has been made. It is up to you to cancel your membership to prevent a new payment from processing.
No problem! If you miss a class, you will have access to the replay plus all the class materials as soon as it has been uploaded to the course website. If you have questions after viewing the replay- that’s what the Slack community is for, to ask me questions and get answers and resources as necessary to learn and integrate the information.
thoughts from my master mind sisters!
“I have signed up with Alexis’ Master Mind for a whole year! I rediscovered her a few months back – and found that she was doing a monthly coaching pack. I did not want to sign up for the whole year at that time as I was in such a mess. Covid has been a destructive force on both my little shop – and on my personal and mental health. I could not see past the next few days – and had no idea of how to sort the jumble out.
6 months on – I am loving the coaching. I am much better organized – my head is clearer – I can concentrate and plan. Hey, I am not perfect – I still mess up – and that’s allowed – but I can get back on track and start over with the tools that I have now.
We get 3 group sessions a month – plus workbook downloads – and class replays – plus each class goes into a resource library so that you have access to all the past classes and workbooks to work through.
Alexis is so generous with her time – and puts so much work into the classes and workbooks. I also love the range of topics that we cover – it is so varied – there are all sorts of new ideas that you take further if you want to.
I am loving my planner and organizing stuff. And – I am so looking forward to the coming year – The class titles look amazing.”
Pandy Grenville-Evans Owner of The Posh Dog Clothing Company
“I joined the Master Mind family as a gift to myself for my 50th birthday and I will continue it because the classes and the community have been a life saver for me.”
Dorothy R.
“I’ve been following Alexis for a while now. I’ve watcher her growth. It hit me the other day. She’s doing it- sleek and skillfully. This is who I want around me now onward. Those who are doing it, making the vision a reality. Here’s to 2022 and beyond!”
Natacha B.
“I just wanted to let you know how much the Master Mind has helped me. I started out 2020 with basically no real goals and no plans except to make it through the day, the week, the month. I rarely woke up excited about the day. I wanted to get that excitement back again. I joined Empire Building and found that I could get excited about my work again! Then Alexis introduced the Master Mind. I jumped on it right away. It was a chance to stay connected to a group of like-minded women who wanted to get things done. I have used Alexis’ products before (The Master Planner and the Project Planner) and I knew how much they helped me in the past. We just finished setting up our goals for 2021 and I am excited about the new year. Alexis gives 110% to everything she does. I would not hesitate to join ANYTHING Alexis puts together. You will get so much more than you expect.”
Carol L.
“I have been searching for eons for the tools and information to get my ADD brain organized and working productively. I stumbled upon Alexis’ YouTube channel last spring and it changed my life. Her planner pages, her videos and most recently her Empire Building Course and her Master Mind group have gotten me to slow down and think about how I am thinking. I stray from the path because that’s what my brain does, but I always come back to her channel and shop, and ask myself why I wasted more time, energy and money looking for “it”, I am a 25+ year trial attorney running my own firm, with 5 grandkids to spoil, and Maltese show dogs to raise and train. But it has been Alexis’ products, courses and instructional videos that have done more to get me focused and productive than all the planners, self-help articles, videos and books in the past 10 years. Life is still a rollercoaster and non-stop “do this now”, but I have stopped searching for that “miracle” because all I need is right here. I learned her method and the madness ended. Now, if I could just get her to call me everyday and remind me to prioritize my to-do list, I would be in heaven. Thanks a million Alexis. You change lives.”
Katherine K.
READY TO START?
LET’S GO!
MONTHLY PLAN
$44 / month
billed monthly
No questions asked cancelation policy
Instant access to the complete Master Class + Resource Library
New live Master Class + Replay each month
Live Office Hours Q&A Call + Replay each month
Live Business Planning Coaching Call + Replay each month
The Productivity Assessment Resource Guide- learn exactly how to improve your productivity
Access to our private Slack group for daily accountability, coaching and extra content
New digital workbooks, tools and resources created and added each month
Price locked in and will never increase
Exclusive member benefits and discounts to other products and courses I offer
Plus all of the additional benefits listed on this page above
It’s back and better than ever and I want to spend just a few moments giving you some important details about this year’s launch! First of all in case you didn’t know, the Charmed Life Planner is available in A5/Half Letter, Filofax Personal AND A4/US Letter sizes!
2018 Charmed Life Printable Planner A5/Half Letter
The A5 version, pictured above, has a vertical week on two pages layout for your daily planning, along with month on two pages layouts, a master monthly task list and an expense sheet for every month! It’s a complete printable planner solution but this year I’ve made it even better. Printing inserts at home isn’t always the easiest, printers are not all created equal and there are different paper sizing standards around the globe that make designing a single usable file difficult to manage. After talking to many customers who use and love the Charmed Life Planner, this year I’m adding 2 additional files to your A5 Charmed Life Planner purchase to give you options when printing your planner at home.
The three (3) files you will now get for this size are:
US Standard Half Letter File (same as last year’s design)
US Bordered Printing Option (so those with printers that cannot print borderless don’t have to guess on how to scale the file)
True A5 File designed to print on A4 paper (for those of you who use A4 as your standard).
The 2018 Charmed Life Printable Planner in personal size is the same great day on one page design as last year with the muted time table for scheduling a full day of events and tasks! Due to its more compact size that prints well on US Letter or A4 , this planner was easier to print without issue and so there is no major design changes or additional files necessary. This size, as well, includes the month on two pages layout, a master monthly task list and an expense sheet for each month of the year.
The 2018 Charmed Life Printable Planner in A4/US Letter size is a unique design introduced last year and comes with two design files, one week on two pages and one week on one page. When you purchase the A4/US Letter size you get BOTH styles so you can choose which layout works best for you. Not only does the A4/US Letter design excel in providing amazing space and dedicated planning elements for multiple areas of your life, but it’s also very easy to print in the full size design.
This year I am continuing to offer the Functional Planning Bundle for all three Charmed Life Printable Planners. The bundles will include the Charmed Life Planner in your choice of size, the Yearly Project Tracker, Project Planning Sheet and an additional Task List.
For a limited time, when you purchase ANY 2018 Charmed Life Planner or Functional Planning Bundle, you will receive two (2) great freebies!
#CharmedGTD Quick Start Guide: Inspiration and instruction for working smarter, not harder
Exclusive Downloadable Graphic “I’m a List Lover with a Planner Problem!”
◦ Both Freebies are included in the downloads for your purchase automatically!
Make sure to check out my recent planner set up video for my full announcement and my updated planner set up video and I can’t wait to see how you set up your 2018 Charmed Life Planner, so make sure to take a picture and share it on Twitter or Instagram, tag me @MissTrenchcoat and use #CharmedGTD so everyone in the community can get inspiration from you as well!
I hope you are having a wonderful week and close to your August.
I’m just popping in today to invite you to join me for my #Fall4Productivity Challenge that begins on September 1st!
#Fall4Productivity is going to be an interactive Instagram Photo-a-Day challenge mixed with giveaways, live streaming events and fun freebies!
After a long summer of fun in the sun, I’m ready to hustle hard for the last four months of the year and I designed this challenge for some personal and community accountability and motivation. Nothing gets me more motivated to work than YOU in my community, so if you are looking for some inspiration to get back to work and start working smarter, not harder this September, THIS IS THE PERFECT CHALLENGE FOR YOU!
Of course, it’s completely FREE and a sure-fire way to get you fired up for Fall Productivity, so…
Discbound Planners 101: How to Get Started Using a Discbound System
For quite some time now, my planner binding method of choice has been the discbound system. If you are not familiar with the disc binding concept, it is similar to the idea of a spiral notebook, but instead of a solid metal spiral holding the notebook together, you have metal or plastic discs that can pop in and out of a cover. These discs being removable means that you can add and remove paper to your disc bound system as you like, so long as the paper has been punched with a disc binding punch. I love the custom planner I created with the help of the discbound systems, so today I would like to share some key information and resources with you to help you get started creating your own custom planner system using discbound notebooks and binding accessories.
The BEST Features of a Discbound System
1. Customization: The main reason I love using a discbound system as my planner is because it is completely customizable. I can create my own custom planner inside the binding and add and remove items on a whim. I find the disc binding to be very secure, but also easy for you to add and remove elements at the same time.
2. Interchangeability: The next feature I love about discbound system is that they are interchangeable for the most part. Below I will outline some of the most popular discbound planner systems to give you an idea of the options available, but with each system the discs, refills, accessories are interchangeable so you can pick and choose what you want to use from one collection or another to build your perfect system.
3. Flexibility: The final feature I love about discbound systems is that they fold over onto themselves like a spiral bound notebook. I love this flexibility because I am someone who does like to fold a notebook over to write. Although my personal discbound planner is kept inside a notebook cover, I frequently remove my planner portion from the cover to write in it, and of course I fold the system over like a notebook when I do!
The Most Popular Disc Bound Systems
As I mentioned earlier, there are a number of discbound planner systems out on the market currently. Here is a list below with clickable links to help you browse some of the most popular systems to find the right elements to help you build your perfect system.
3. Punch: Of course, if you are interested in creating a customizable system like me, you are going to need to get a discbound punch. I recommend getting one from the system you use most. I personally use the Arc version and love it because although it is a bit larger, it has wonderful guides to help you punch a variety of sizes of paper.
4. Inserts/Refills: Another very necessary element of a discbound system are the inserts or refills you use. Now, as you may already know, I use the Functional Planning Bundle of inserts from my own shop to create my planner system, but most of the major brands also sell calendar, project planning and note taking pages and refills, so if you are not into creating a custom planner with printable inserts like I do, you do have some options. More and more, however, I see that sellers on Etsy are also giving the option to purchase pre-printed and pre-punched discbound compatible inserts, so you have that option as well. You could also use another set of inserts and punch them with your discbound punch as well, if you are looking for something very specific that might not yet be available. I’d recommend checking on size compatibility for your inserts with the system you are using before proceeding with this option.
How to Create a Custom Planner with the Disc Bound System
If you are interested in a creating your own custom planner using the discbound system, here is a video tutorial I created that walks you through the very simple process. Definitely check out this video and the links I’ve left in this article to help you find the different elements of your ideal planner system so that you can build a planner that is all your own and custom to your needs!
I hope this information has been helpful to you as you evaluate the discbound planner system for yourself. If you have any other questions about the system, feel free to leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to help you get the information you need to create your perfect planner system!
How to Break Down a Goal into a Project With Your Planner!
Since we are now in the very beginning of January and I know many of you are probably pondering resolutions for the year as well as any projects and other goals you want to accomplish throughout 2017, I thought now would be the perfect time to share with you all my project planning and goal tracking process. As you may already know, I currently use my A5/Half Letter Charmed Life Planner inserts in a disc bound system to house and organize all my plans, projects and goals for the year. You may even be familiar already with my printable project planning bundle that I sell in my shop and designed specifically to help myself (and others!) outline and monitor their projects in a productive way. If you haven’t seen my project planning bundle yet, feel free to check it out for yourself.
Now, when it comes to projects and goals, I think people tend to approach each of these items differently because they do tend to be different in nature. When it comes to projects, I view them as a collection or series of tasks necessary to complete in order to come to a desired outcome. In my opinion, projects usually arise as a result of external factors in our lives that prompt us to undertake these tasks. For example, you may find that the majority of your projects come from places like work, your household or even community needs. Since projects are often externally driven, I believe that we often feel a lot of pressure or stress to complete these tasks because usually someone other than ourselves is counting on the completion of the project. Goals on the other hand are things we as individuals work towards with the hopes of accomplishing. I find that goals are usually internally driven and very personal in nature and because of this, I believe we often put our own goals aside or on the back burner to other projects because the completion of our goals only affect us on a personal level. Therefore, I find that goals are usually the first thing to fall to the wayside when life gets busy because they can sometimes feel like something of a selfish pursuit. The truth of the matter is, that both projects and goals should be approached with the same system of organization in order to identify, plan and execute them to completion. No matter whether you are working on a project for work or trying to reach the goal of running a marathon, the same basic planning structure applies and neither a project nor a goal is any less valid no matter the factors surrounding it’s existence!
Okay, so let’s move on to the nuts & bolts of my project planning system. This isn’t any sort of revolutionary system by any means, and I certainly can’t take credit for doing anything other than developing it to fit my own needs, but it does work very well for me, and I thought if it works for me, it could work for you!
The Process
Step 1: Brainstorming
The first part of my project planning system is brainstorming. This shouldn’t be confused with brain dumping, because in a brain dump you are simply moving information stored in your mind onto paper (or another trusted input system) in order to store the information, reflect and review later. Brainstorming is like the opposite of a brain dump, because with a brainstorm you start with an empty mind and actively populate ideas. In order to do so, it can often help to first complete a brain dump so that your mind isn’t focused on holding on to any other ideas or plans already stored there, and you can focus simply on the act of creating ideas.
Tip 1: Define your problem
When you begin a brainstorm it is important to ask yourself what you are trying to achieve or what problem you are trying to solve. You need to be specific here and think about the who, what, where, when, why and how of your problem so that you can approach it from every direction.
Tip 2: Envision the ideal outcome
When brainstorming, it is important to know what the ideal outcome is for your problem. We are talking best case scenarios only! Don’t negotiate your ideal down to something diluted, but focus on exactly what it is that you want to happen. Don’t be afraid to dream big. As one of my favorite quotes says “Reach for the Stars, for even if you fail, you’ll land amongst the Heavens.” When you are brainstorming it’s a great idea to think like an overachiever! I follow this rule of thumb myself and I never fail to produce great things even if I don’t quite make it as far as I dared.
Tip 3: Track all thoughts
Start writing down any idea that comes to mind, no matter how small, how right or how wrong it sounds. I suggest doing this with sticky notes or index cards, because these will help you to organize all your thoughts later.
Tip 4: Brainstorm early & often
It’s never too early to brainstorm solutions to a problem that may have just arisen or even to brainstorm solutions to problems that you are anticipating. The more time you spend brainstorming and the more sessions you undertake, the better your ideas will get and the more prepared you will be to undertake the project!
Step 2: Organizing plans and ideas
Once you have spent a sufficient time brainstorming, it’s time to organize your ideas! If you used sticky notes or note cards as I suggested, this process will be easier for you, but make sure to keep a few extra supplies around because you may still have some more though processing to do!
Tip 1: Lay it all out in front of you
Literally, lay all your cards with ideas and plans and information in front of you and take a good hard look at everything.
Tip 2: Discover the Hierarchy of Ideas
Once you have spent time reviewing your ideas, you will start to notice a natural hierarchy of ideas emerge from your notes. You will see ideas you like, ideas you don’t like and you can begin the organization process by grouping these items into a logical order. Ask yourself as you do this if you see any gaps in information, if so, pull out another sticky note or index card and fill in the blank!
Tip 3: Do not discard any ideas
It is very important that during this process you do not discard any ideas, no matter how bad they may seem. Why? Sometimes good ideas can spring forth from bad ideas. Often time I find that by looking at the wrong answer, your mind naturally comes to understand what the right answer is, almost like a process of elimination. When you know what doesn’t work, you have eliminated a possibility and can therefore focus on what does work! Another reason to keep around those seemingly bad ideas is because although an idea may be bad for one project, it may actually work for another or give you a great idea for a totally different project. While you’re brainstorming, you seriously have no clue what is going to pop up but your brain gave you the idea for a reason, so give it some time before you decide that it’s not worth pursuing.
Tip 4: Give your ideas time to process
Project planning and organizing ideas isn’t something that should be rushed. I say to brainstorm early and often for a reason, because thoughts need time to process and stew in your mind. Even after your ideas have been organized into their proper hierarchy and gaps have been filled, you still never know what inspiration is going to pop up once you give your ideas time to grow. So, how do you know when you have given enough time to your ideas so you can begin to project plan? Well, I find that there are two things that happen to me when I am ready to move on to the next phase in this process. First off, I find that I begin to feel confidence in my ideas. It’s like a gut check with me, if I feel uneasy with my ideas, they need more time, but if I start feeling confident and excited, I know it’s time to move forward. Finally, when I begin to see that my ideas are following a very logical order, I know it’s time to move on because my ideas make sense, and that is really what you want from this process.
Step 3: Planning
Once your ideas are in order, you can proceed with the actually planning portion of the project planning system. Novel, ain’t it?
Tip 1: Process your ideas into actions
Once you have all your good ideas in front of you, you need to process them into actual actionable items. After all, a project plan is nothing if you don’t have actions associated with your ideas.
Tip 2: Fill out a project planning page
I like to keep track of my projects with a project planning page because it provides a nice overview of your project at a glance. The project planning pages I use come from a set on my shop that are sized for a Filofax, either personal or A5! The project planning page houses all the important information regarding the project.
Tip 3: Note deadlines and timeframes
On the action list of the project planning page, I make sure to note deadlines for tasks as well as provide a general time frame for their completion. This helps me when it comes time to undertake a task to understand the time commitment required.
Tip 4: Keep track of resources
When it comes to project planning, we often need outside resources or other materials to reference in order to complete tasks. The project planning pages I use have a special section for this so I can list out everything I need to reference or anyone I need to contact or work with to complete tasks.
Tip 5: Move projects to the Yearly tracker
My project planning bundle also includes a yearly tracker broken down by month of the year as well as spaces for short-term, mid-term and long-term goals. I consider a short-term goal to be something that can be completed in 1 month, a mid-term goal to be something I can complete in 1-3 months and a long-term goal to be something I need 6 months or more to complete. Once my projects are outlined in the project planning pages, I move them into my yearly tracker in their appropriate time frame so I can see everything I have going on in my life, project wise, throughout the course of the year.
Step 4: Implementation
Once your project or goal is planned out and organized, the most important part is still ahead of you and that is actually getting things done!
Tip 1: Schedule action steps into your calendar
I use a specific month at a glance insert to track my project tasks. This page (which is available alone in my shop or as part of the project planning bundle) is broken down into two parts. On one side of the page are the days of the month listed out one per line, and on the alternate side is a column of task boxes. I use the dated side to track tasks that have a specific due date or deadline and the side with the check boxes to list out all other tasks that belong to that month. That way when it is time for me to work on a project, I have a list of my next actions ready to go and I don’t have to spend any extra time looking up what I have to do! When an item is completed from this list, I check it off on the monthly page as well as on the project planning page.
Tip 2: Transfer tasks to a weekly or daily spread as needed
Sometimes tasks are very important and I need to make sure I don’t miss them, so I will move them onto my weekly pages to ensure completion. This is just an additional step I take that helps me to plan my workload for the week. Normally I will either add these items to a specific day that they need to be done on or leave them as a general task to be completed at some point during the week. Either way, having it front in center on my weekly view keeps it on the top of my list!
So that is my project planning and goal tracking system in a nutshell. This is quite a long post, so I won’t keep you any longer. If you didn’t happen to make it through the whole post, don’t worry, I did make a YouTube video on the subject as well to go along with this post in case you preferred to watch me in action instead of read a long form article!
With a new year ahead of us I have been giving a lot of thought to creating a clean slate for 2017. Although January 1st is an arbitrary day, dates of significance like these can be powerful markers to help us find a fresh start and progress with the goals we have for our lives. Here are ten things I am going to do before the new year to ensure I start 2017 off with my life and mind in the right place.
1. Unsubscribe from email lists that you no longer want to receive.
I frequently sign up for newsletters from my favorite shops and influencers but from time to time I find that instead of reading the emails I receive, I end up hitting delete automatically. Once I reach that critical turning point, I know it’s time to remove myself from the list. Email is a significant form of clutter in our lives, and even though it’s not something we see per se, it’s definitely an element of disorganization that we feel. Remove that weight from your shoulders and take some time to go ahead and remove yourself from any email subscription that no longer serves you!
2. Set up your planner.
It shouldn’t surprise you that this is my favorite way to start a clean slate! I’ve already set up my planner and organization systems for 2017, so if you are looking for inspiration head on over to this video and take a look at the tools I’m using and how I plan to stay organized in the new year.
3. Define your goals.
Goal setting is an important part of my productivity process and it’s a practice that I like to engage in whenever I am starting a new chapter in my life. I am such a fan of goal setting, in fact, that I wrote a whole workbook on the topic called You Got This! If you need help setting your goals for the new year, I’d highly suggest purchasing it in my shop. Of course it’s a digital PDF so you can buy it and start reading asap. I’ve already had so many positive reviews of the book from people who wanted to get their goals organized, so make sure to let me know how your process goes if you use my method!
4. Review reoccurring subscriptions.
Netflix, Hulu, magazines, mail order monthly lifestyle boxes. There are so many different reoccurring subscriptions that I’m sure many of us are subscribed to and the new year is a great time to review those subscriptions and cancel any that you aren’t enjoying or have completely forgotten about. If you aren’t sure what subscriptions you’re part of, take a close look at your credit card bill and you might find a few you can get rid of.
5. Remove old contacts from your cell phone and replace with new information.
True story, up until just a few weeks ago, I had contacts in my cell phone from co-workers at my previous job that I quit over a year and a half earlier. Take a scroll through your phone contacts and see if you have some names that can be removed, and of course, make sure to also take this time to update any information like doctors, emergency contacts or school related numbers that may have changed.
6. Put your new insurance cards in your wallet.
At the end of the year I tend to have two sets of insurance cards in my wallet, one set from the current year and one from the new year. Make sure to identify the proper cards and discard or file the old ones so you have accurate information on you as soon as the new year begins!
7. Update your profile picture on social media accounts.
Has your hair colored changed this year? Perhaps you got glasses or lost some weight recently? If your appearance has changed significantly in the last year, spend a few moments changing your profile pictures to something more recent- that is, if you want to be recognized of course!
8. Send thank you cards to customers, clients or colleagues who have been helpful to you this year.
None of us could fully do what we do without the help of others. If you had support this year from key individuals, make sure to show them your appreciation by sending them a note or card. It will go a long way to helping you build great lasting relationships and will ensure that their support continues in the new year! If you run your own business and need to do some key business planning for the new year, check out this free webinar I hosted.
9. Review your budget from the past year.
If you had a budget or financial plan for the past year, spend some time reviewing it to see what worked and what didn’t. If you need that budget to continue into the new year you will want to have a good understanding of how you can do better to achieve your financial goals and stay on track in the future.
10. Consciously let go of any and all tensions from the past year to move on to the new year with a clean slate.
Like most things in life, the perception of a clean slate is all in your head. Take some time to reflect on the past year, identify issues that may have caused you stress or tension that is still lingering and consciously let go of it. It may help if you write down these tensions on pieces of paper and then burn or tear them into pieces to symbolize that you are not going to carry this energy into the new year. Whatever you need to do to release that tension, make it happen so you can feel light and free going forward.
I hope this list helps you make the most of the new year! In addition, I also have another free planner printable to help you stay on track for the new year. My Magnificent Seven DIY Dashboard, that will help you identify 7 habits you want to establish in 2017!
How to Turn a Filofax Binder into a Desktop Filing System
Let’s be honest, how many of us have an extra Filofax planner sitting around that we’d love to put to productive use? I know I do, and that’s why I am always thinking of new ways to use them. The great thing about Filofax planners is that they are more than just planners. They are high quality ring binders that can be used to store anything from your calendar and to do list, to your paperwork and mail. One of my favorite ways to use a spare binder, specifically a spare A5 (although you can also manage this with a personal size) is to create a desktop filing system. That’s right, a simple, easy to use file system that sits on your desk and is portable enough to keep your essential documents and reference information safe while on the go. Since I am a productivity junkie, I like to use the 43 Folders System to file papers, mail and information I know I need for later, but don’t want to go through the hassle of filing away in “deep storage”. We all have documents that relate to in-process projects, or emails we have printed out and stuffed into our calendars to keep for a project or event months down the road, and the rotating ticker file or 43 Folders System is a great way to manage those types of physical documents. So, let me walk you through what you will need to undertake this project and give you some simple steps to building your own 43 Folders Tickler File in a spare Filofax A5 Binder.
Step 1: Remove any old inserts or papers from your Filofax.
Step 2: Using a piece of 5 paper as a guide, take a file folder and using a piece of A5 paper as a guide, line up your paper with the top corner of your file folder where the edge and the fold meet and mark the dimensions of the paper onto the folder. Repeat this for all file folders.
Step 3: Using a paper trimmer or scissors, cut the excess file folder where you have marked the A5 dimensions so that you have an A5 sized folder. Repeat this for all file folders.
Step 4: On the front side of the file folder, make a diagonal cut from the top corner of the folder (where the edge and fold meet) down to about 2/3rd of the page. Also, remove any tab on the folder if applicable. Make sure to only cut through one side of the folder and leave the other side intact. Repeat this for all file folders.
Step 5: Using clear tape, tape the bottom opening and 1/3rd side opening of the folder shut, making a pocket that can hold papers. Repeat this for all file folders.
Step 6: Punch holes down the long edge of the file folder on the side of the original fold with the A5 punch. Repeat this for all file folders.
Step 7: Name 12 of your file tabs January-December, creating one tab for each month of the year.
Step 8: Add one monthly tab to each of the 12 folders. Distribute tabs as evenly as you can.
Step 9: Using your A5 paper guide, mark the dimensions onto your paper or card stock. Repeat this for all 31 pieces of paper or card stock.
Step 10: Using a paper trimmer or scissors, cut the paper or card stock along the A5 guide. Repeat this for all 31 pieces of paper or card stock.
Step 11: Punch each A5 piece of paper or card stock with your A5 punch.
Step 12: Number the remaining 31 file tabs 1-31 and apply one to each of the 31 pieces of paper or card stock cut into A5 dimensions. Distribute tabs as evenly as you can.
Step 13: Open the rings of your Filofax binder and put in the folder labeled with your current month.
Step 14: Behind your current month folder, put in the paper or card stock numbered 1-31 in numerical order.
Step 15: Behind the 31st page, put the remainder of the monthly folders, in calendar order.
How to Use Your Filofax 43 Folder Binder
Your Filofax tickler file has 12 folders, one for each month of the year and 31 individual pages, 1 for each of the maximum 31 days in a month. To use your binder, place notes, to do’s, documents or papers (fold A4 or US letter pages in half first) into the folder for the month they belong to. For your current month, place papers in front of the numbered of the specific day of the month you want to be reminded or will need a specific document. I like to use sticky notes with reminders on them as a placeholder for any large multipage documents that don’t fit comfortably inside the system, and I leave documents/lists in the current monthly file if they don’t pertain to a specific day but I want to work on them that month. This file is great for storing all those straggling papers sitting in piles on your desk and perfect for forward planning, even if you don’t have any documents related to a specific idea or event. Using list pads or sticky notes with a concept or idea and sticking it to a specific daily page or inside a specific month’s folder is a great way to job your memory for a project or idea you have now that you don’t want to act on until later. As the months progress, make sure that the current monthly folder is on top, followed by the 31 daily pages and then the rest of the monthly folders in order behind those. This keeps the folder up to date and because nothing is specifically dated you can use the system over a span a years without needing to change a thing!
If you would like to replicate this DIY for yourself, here is a video I made outlining the process and providing additional details that may interest you. If you do use this method, I would love to see it, so please make sure to take a picture, share it on Twitter or Instagram and tag me @MissTrenchcoat. Don’t forget to pick up my latest free planner printables over at http://www.TheCharmedShop.com!
It’s back and better than ever and I want to spend just a few moments giving you some important details about this year’s launch! First of all in case you didn’t know, the Charmed Life Planner is available in both A5 and Personal size Filofax equivalents.
2017 Charmed Life Printable Planner A5/Half Letter
The A5 version, pictured above, has a vertical week on two pages layout for your daily planning, along with month on two pages layouts, a master monthly task list and an expense sheet for every month! It’s a complete printable planner solution but this year I’ve made it even better. Printing inserts at home isn’t always the easiest, printers are not all created equal and there are different paper sizing standards around the globe that make designing a single usable file difficult to manage. After talking to many customers who use and love the Charmed Life Planner, this year I’m adding 2 additional files to your A5 Charmed Life Planner purchase to give you options when printing your planner at home.
The three (3) files you will now get for this size are:
US Standard Half Letter File (same as last year’s design)
US Bordered Printing Option (so those with printers that cannot print borderless don’t have to guess on how to scale the file)
True A5 File designed to print on A4 paper (for those of you who use A4 as your standard).
The 2017 Charmed Life Printable Planner in personal size is the same great day on one page design as last year with the muted time table for scheduling a full day of events and tasks! Due to its more compact size that prints well on US Letter or A4 , this planner was easier to print without issue and so there is no major design changes or additional files necessary. This size, as well, includes the month on two pages layout, a master monthly task list and an expense sheet for each month of the year.
This year I have decided to swap the Business Planning Bundle with a Functional Planning Bundle for both the A5/Half Letter and Personal size planners. The bundles will include the Charmed Life Planner in your choice of size, the Yearly Project Tracker, Project Planning Sheet and an additional Task List.
For a limited time, when you purchase ANY 2017 Charmed Life Planner or Bundle, you will receive two (2) great freebies!
#CharmedGTD Quick Start Guide: Inspiration and instruction for working smarter, not harder
Exclusive Downloadable Graphic “I’m a List Lover with a Planner Problem!”
Both Freebies are included in the downloads for your purchase automatically!
Make sure to check out my recent planner set up video for my full announcement and my updated planner set up video and I can’t wait to see how you set up your 2017 Charmed Life Planner, so make sure to take a picture and share it on Twitter or Instagram, tag me @MissTrenchcoat and use #CharmedGTD so everyone in the community can get inspiration from you as well!
