How to Plan Your Life Like a Pro: 10 Simple Planner Hacks That Stick

If you’ve ever bought a shiny new planner, filled it with dreams, and then left it untouched on your desk… you’re not alone. Most women love the idea of planning, but staying consistent can feel overwhelming. The truth? A planner is more than just pages—it’s your roadmap for creating a balanced, intentional life.

When you learn how to use your planner effectively, it becomes less about “getting more done” and more about feeling grounded, focused, and in flow with your daily life. It’s like creating a ritual for your week that blends productivity with self-care.

Here are 10 practical tips (that actually work in real life) to help you use your planner in a way that makes you feel more organized, calm, and in control.

Incase you missed my last post on planning, you can read that here. I still use my Louis Vuitton GM planner but I have turned that into an agenda and binder for my finances. I keep documents together, store passwords, keep track of my budgeting, etc. I am all about giving a strong energy towards keeping my financial life organized and elegant. As they say "where attention goes, energy flows". So I find that the more devoted time and organization I give my finances, the more growth and abundance I see in that area. 

Years ago I purchased this gorgeous python notebook cover from Gigi New York. It's an A5 size, comes with a gorgeous notebook with gold foil trim paper.

The TUL junior system fits perfectly inside my Gigi python notebook cover. 

Allow me to introduce to you, the best thing since sliced bread...TUL discbound system. (which is also similar to the Levenger Junior system and the Staples Arc system). These agenda systems are amazing. For one thing, they are clean and minimal, not a lot of frilly decoration or multi colored, which I tend to shy away from. I am a Capricorn, I like things clean looking. Also, the paper is a heavy weight paper, so ink doesn't bleed through the pages, something I can't stand about most planner pages. 

I currently write with my Pentel Energel pen in Gold. It writes beautifully on these thick pages. 

I also added on these Erin Condren black and gold monthly tabs to make it easy for me to flip around to the dates. I love them.

1. Start with a Sunday Setup

Think of Sunday as your “reset” button. Spend 20–30 minutes mapping out the week ahead. Begin by looking at your calendar—appointments, deadlines, and events. Next, add in household tasks, workouts, and self-care. The magic of this step isn’t just getting organized—it’s about reducing decision fatigue. When Monday morning comes, you won’t waste time wondering where to start. Instead, you’ll feel grounded, already knowing what’s on your plate.

✨ Pro Tip: Make this ritual special. Brew tea, light a candle, and treat your planner time like a date with yourself.

2. Use Time-Blocking

Instead of writing endless to-do lists that make you feel behind, try time-blocking. Assign specific hours for specific activities—like “9–11 AM: Deep Work,” “1–2 PM: Calls & Emails,” or “6–7 PM: Dinner + Cleanup.” By creating containers for your tasks, you protect your focus and avoid multitasking.

✨ Why it works: Time-blocking gives you a visual sense of control. It also helps you honor both your work and rest, making sure you’re not overcommitting.

3. Prioritize Your Top 3

Every day, write down your Top 3 non-negotiables—the tasks that absolutely must get done. These are usually the things that move your goals forward or give you peace of mind (like finishing a work project, paying bills, or scheduling a doctor’s appointment). If your day gets messy, finishing these three things ensures you still end the day with progress.

✨ Tip: Keep your Top 3 realistic. They should feel doable, not overwhelming.

4. Add Meal Planning & Fitness Tracking

Your planner can do double duty as a health tool. Use a section to jot down weekly meal plans, workouts, or even track habits like water intake or sleep. This way, your planner supports both your productivity and your wellness.

✨ Example: Write out dinners for the week on Sunday. Each night you’ll know exactly what’s for dinner—no last-minute stress.

5. Include Gratitude or Journaling Prompts

Planners aren’t just about managing time—they can also support your mindset. Add a line each day for gratitude, affirmations, or a quick journal reflection. For example, “One thing I’m proud of today” or “Today I’m grateful for…” This helps shift your energy from overwhelm to abundance.

✨ Why it matters: Gratitude journaling is proven to increase happiness and reduce stress.

6. Color Code for Clarity

Assign different colors to different areas of life: blue for work, pink for family, green for finances, purple for self-care. When you open your planner, you’ll instantly see where your energy is going. Bonus? A colorful layout makes planning feel more inspiring, not like a chore.

✨ Hack: Use highlighters, washi tape, or gel pens—whatever makes it fun.

7. Keep a Running To-Do List

Instead of scribbling random tasks all over your daily pages, create a “master list” section. Anytime something pops up (like “buy birthday card” or “research new skincare”), add it there. Then, during your Sunday setup, choose the most important items to schedule into your week.

✨ Benefit: This keeps your mind clear and prevents those “I know I’m forgetting something” moments.

There is a science behind list making. In fact, it helps the brain to keep up with your goals, desires, etc. Writing to do lists actually assists the brain whether or not you ever accomplish the tasks. I can tell you this, most of the things I write down, naturally happen when they are meant to. My favorite lists to make are my monthly intentions lists. Even when I'm not focused on them, when I look back, 9 times out of 10, they happened. 

8. Schedule Self-Care

So many women use planners to manage work and family but forget to schedule themselves. Block out time for a bubble bath, a yoga class, or simply 20 minutes of quiet reading. When self-care is in your planner, it becomes non-negotiable.

✨ Reframe: Self-care is not a luxury—it’s maintenance. Treat it like any other important appointment.

9. Do a Monthly Review

At the end of each month, take a page to reflect. Ask yourself:

• What went well this month?

• What drained my energy?

• What do I want more of next month?

This practice turns your planner into a growth tool instead of just a task manager. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns—and that awareness will help you design a life you actually love.

✨ Bonus: Add a vision board page for the next month.

10. Make It Pretty (and Personal)

The more you enjoy your planner, the more you’ll use it. Add stickers, doodles, inspiring quotes, or even tape in photos. Choose pens and markers that make writing fun. Your planner should feel like a reflection of you—a mix of structure and beauty that makes you excited to open it every day.

✨ Remember: A planner doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to inspire you.

Using a planner isn’t about becoming a productivity robot—it’s about creating a rhythm in your life that feels intentional and balanced. When you treat planning as a ritual, you not only get more organized, but you also create more space for joy, creativity, and self-care.

So grab your planner, light a candle, and start small. Even one or two of these tips can completely change the way you move through your days. Before long, your planner won’t just be another notebook—it will become your secret weapon for a calmer, more focused life.

You may also like:

🎀 My go-to green smoothie recipe for health + weight loss

🎀 How to do a love bath ritual

Please feel free to email me at ashlina@thedecorista.com if you have any questions!  I’m always happy to help with decorating, life advice or even picking out a specific perfume!  Have an amazing day!!

Also, check out my Amazon shop HERE to shop all my favorite things, tips and tricks.

You can also download the free LIKETOKNOW.IT app and follow me HERE.

STAY IN THE KNOW:  Don’t forget to sign up for my exclusive Love Letters for STYLE TIPS, LIFE ADVICE, COSMIC TEA, AND MUCH MORE!

As always, thank you so much for stopping by today, I truly appreciate all of you! xo, Ashlina

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THE ULTIMATE 6-step Work from home morning routine...

One of the things that was a non-negotiable for me when I was looking for a new home, was space for a home office. I need ample space working from home, I spent way too much time working at the dining room table to know that a designated work space is ESSENTIAL to anyone who works from home. I personally will get caught up if I spot a dirty dish, undone laundry, a book out of place and honestly anything that catches my eye. So, making sure that my office space is filled with ONLY work things is extremely helpful.

WORKING FROM HOME REQUIRES A DESIGNATED WORK SPACE

Anyway, my workspace is actually what you would consider a breakfast nook. And what makes it perfect for my office is the beautiful and bright natural light pouring into the space. So, I adjusted the shelves and had the back wall painted black because you know I believe black walls are just superior. My favorite office space of all time was black and honestly, it was my most successful year in business. On top of that, the color black in Feng Shui represents water and supports the vibration around your career path. So, if you have been wondering if a black office would work…it actually is an incredibly supportive color for your career/business.

Feng Shui facts, tips & tricks:

FENG SHUI TIP #1: YOU MUST SIT IN THE COMMAND POSITION

I started by working at the counter top on the back wall, but honestly, I found myself never being able to sit down and focus for long periods of time. I would take my computer to the dining room, sofa or even my patio. And I knew pretty quickly what was going on. Having your back to the door of any room position in Feng Shui is not supportive to your work energy. You always want your desk/ workspace placed in the POWER position, which means that your back should never be facing the entry of the room. You want to be facing a window or the front door so that you can always be facing new opportunities coming your way.

Anyway, so I decided to put a round table, this white Saarinen inspired table was the perfect fit for the space, in the middle of the space for my desk and ever since I did that I find that I just love being in my office and I have been ten times more productive.

Speaking of productivity. . .

Something I recently learned that has completely helped me transform how I work is what they call 4 QUARTER DAYS. It’s a daily breakdown of times where I like to designate my rituals and routines.

Let me breakdown the daily schedule for you:

Morning: 5-9 AM **Here I do everything that is needed from me first thing, movement, getting ready, breakfast, school drop off, etc. I usually go on my morning walks around 9am.

Late Morning: 10AM -1PM **These are my power work hours, the times when I feel I preform my best and have the most energy. Recording podcasts, creating content, writing out plans, etc. I usually have my lunch around 1 and then my coffee at 2.

Afternoon: 2-7PM **Just post coffee, I do the things I couldn’t get to during my power hours but I allow myself to do them at a slower pace. I will also change up the scenery, maybe go work at a coffee shop or do something that inspires me. This is also the time, I pack orders + make jewelry.

Evening: 7PM+** Here, there is NO WORK. It’s all about my personal time and prepping myself for my night routine. I will do a post on that soon.

FENG SHUI TIP #2: SNAKE PLANTS ARE HELPFUL

They are said to attract prosperity, fortune and growing success. In addition to that, they are extremely helpful in absorbing the harmful radiation that technology emits. I like to keep my snake plants near my computer or anything that uses wifi.

Plants also represent and promote the energy of vitality and growth. So, keep your office filled with your favorite plants to help surround you with the energy of growth and you will align with growth in your work, business and personal growth, too.

read this post for more feng shui home office tips

WORK FROM HOME MORNING ROUTINE:

Here’s the thing, I have been a work from home entrepreneur since 2010 ish. I’ve been working out of my home for as long as I can remember, I love the work from home life. Ever since 2020, so many more people in my world work from home as well. So, I know how important it is to cultivate a really strong work from home routine because it can be distracting, difficult and lonely at times, too. I am obsessed with routines and rituals, especially my tried and true morning rituals. Here are a few things I do specific to getting myself prepped and ready for working from home:

1. MAKE MY BED. I shouldn’t have to explain this but making the bed helps so much, especially when you work from home because it helps you not get distracted when you just really want to crawl right back into bed.

2. GETTING DRESSED: It might sound slightly obvious but this step of my morning work routine is probably the most impactful step of all. Before I go down to my office, I will dress in a cute but comfortable outfit, make sure my hair looks nice, makeup on my face and beautiful smelling perfume, too, this is my signature scent! There is a night and day difference in my work day when I come into my office fully made up versus when I sort of pop in a lazy outfit, hair a mess. My attitude, personality, productivity and entire experience is different when I am dressed up and feeling myself. You will see that the energy behind what you are working on is completely up-leveled and you will even feel more confident and powerful when you feel good about yourself. For me, I will always start my day feeling my absolute best. This is one of those ‘secrets of a millionaire mindset’ that just works!

3. HYDRATION: I am absolutely one of those that needs liquids all around me. I live for making coffee in the mornings. It’s just one of those things that signals my brain that I am ready to start the day. However, staying hydrated while getting caffeinated is top tier. It helps you from getting too crazed. I swear by my electrolyte water, it’s got potassium, zinc, magnesium and sodium which is what you need for optimal hydration (plain water alone doesn’t cut it) . And right now I drink it in this mug. In order to be really effective at work and energized for a good day of working, I need to be hydrated. You’d be surprised how easy it is to forget to hydrate. I think having a fun cup to drink out of makes it easier to remember.

4. MORNING PAGES: Before I do anything for the day, I will write out everything that comes to my mind. You can read more about morning pages here. For me, my work is all about creating and I can’t get into a creative head space if my mind is full of buzzing thoughts. I need to get my thoughts out onto the paper so that I can free up space in my mind to create. I will make lists of what to do, write out feelings or emotions, jot down any reminders I need and sometimes I will even write out intentions + affirmations. Those help me get clear on where I am going and what I want to create for the day.

MY HOME OFFICE DECOR PICKS :

5. SUPPLY SET UP: Another thing that is a must for me when I am working from home, is constantly keeping my office tidy and organized. Sure, I will allow things to pile up here and there. but if my desk space isn’t fully open for me to work on…I can’t complete anything. I have to have room for my drinks (always water + coffee) my writing tools ( usually a few colored pens and highlighters ) and my computer, phone and charger. I also need my pink scissors, proper ink levels in my printer and a fully charged computer. Here’s a list of all things need to feel set and ready to go for me to be ready to take on the day.

6. AFFIRMATIONS: I do not do an-eeee-thing without getting my mental state in check. Here are a few affirmations I like to start my work day with….

♥️ I woke up feeling worthy + empowered today. It’s going to be an amazing day full of new opportunities.

♥️ I am forever grateful for all that I am and all that I have. The life I have created is beautiful and it just keeps getting better and better.

♥️ I inhale positive energy. I exhale all doubts, fears, worries or attachments to things holding me back. I will not worry about anything that is outside of my personal control.

♥️ I am honoring the space between where I am and where I am headed. Everything is working out in my favor and for my highest good. I am living the life of my dreams.

I’d like to take a short break here in this blog post to share a podcast episode that I think you might enjoy.

One of the most common questions I get asked is…what do you do for work?

And honestly, it’s not a simple answer, so I thought I would break down the things I do for work so that you can see what I technically do during a work day.

1. This blog. I have a personal blog and I write about all of the things I am passionate about

2. I’ve got 3 self-published books on Amazon. Blissful Living, Blissful Living Journal and The Daily Bliss.

3. I have a monthly coaching membership, Manifest Bliss membership where I have bi-monthly live community calls, hours and hours of video workshops, trainings and dozens of downloadable workbooks.

4. I have several online courses inside of The House of Bliss.

5. I have created various Ebooks/workbooks on topics like manifesting, spirituality and feng shui.

6. I have a podcast called Blissfully Ambitious.

7. I have a spiritual crystal jewelry line and home goods e-commerce shop called Love Ashlina.

8. I also do sessions where I work one on one with clients on their homes, guiding them to ensure their home is supporting the life they really want.

   Needless to say, I am a full time digital entrepreneur, online coach and content creator, my work plate is absolutely full and I am absolutely in love with what I do for work. The only way that I can stay on track with all of the things is by scheduling myself by days of the week. It changes from month to month, as I put more focus on certain things during certain seasons. My point is strategy is key.

   If you would like to learn more about how to grow your own online business + brand as I have, join me in my program, ONLINE BOSS UNIVERSITY. This is a one-stop-shop to learn all about what building an online business looks like. You’ll learn the ins and outs of blogging, branding, social media, course creation, e-commerce, video, email marketing, etc. PLUS, join a supportive community so you can feel less alone in building your business. Check out the details here.

If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up to receive my weekly love letters here. I share a lot of personal tips and tricks on the behind these scenes of my work life.

Here is a peek at 2 of my books you can grab on Amazon, the colors are so on brand, no?