If you’re anything like me, picking the right planner for the next year is a big deal! I’m still all about putting pen to paper, and choosing the right planner is key to helping me stay organized and on track! 

Half way through this year I knew I would be using the Simplified planner in 2020. I’d been keeping an eye on their Instagram account and I was just waiting for them to release their new covers and launch the 2020 planners. As soon as they were live, I ordered one!

You see, this was my first year working full time as a photographer. Previously, I worked 9-5 at a radio station, and then I would come home and build up my photography business during the evenings and on weekends. It was hard! But if I’m being honest, I think I put in even more hours and energy this year as a full time business owner! 

This year I realized I needed to be more intentional about setting boundaries, protecting my schedule, and sticking to office hours. I love my job, but that can also lead me to overworking and neglecting people and other aspects of my life that I care a lot about! At the end of the day, it’s just a planner… but the reason I was so set on buying The Simplified Planner is because of what it represents. 

Simplified is all about prioritizing, simplifying, and being intentional with your time. I found myself feeling burned out because I was really not doing a great job of prioritizing, simplifying, and living intentionally. When I noticed how quickly my battery was draining, I had to change some of my patterns. 

Saying No

I started turning down invitations to go out for coffee (Seriously, it’s not you- it’s me!). I thought twice before committing to an event or project. I started finding myself saying “no” more often. It wasn’t easy and I felt guilty at times, but the saying is true… When you say “yes” to one thing, you’re saying “no” to something else. And that something else might just be better for you! 

 

Abundance Mindset

I also caught myself operating from a place of scarcity instead of with an abundance mindset. If you’re hustling and not doing a great job of resting, I would encourage you to dig into the idea of abundance vs. scarcity. When you operate from a place of believing that you will succeed and you will get to where you want to go, you won’t feel that pressure to work work work all the time!    

 

Setting Boundaries

I truly believe boundaries are the key to finding balance. It can be as simple as blocking off 1 day a week where you won’t turn on your computer or check your email, or maybe it’s limiting the amount of time you scroll through social media. I slowly started with 1 boundary at time. Boundaries will help you learn new habits and develop better patterns that can lead to more balance in your life. 

 

If you can sense burn out creeping in, I encourage you to stop and actually pay attention to what’s going on. With the new year just around the corner, right now is the perfect time to plan what you will prioritize and what changes you will implement. I ended up with The Simplified Planner because it can serve as my daily reminder to create more margin for the things that matter most.