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.

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

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Money Matters: How to Have a Money Date and Why It’s an Essential Wellness Practice {podcast ep.349}

Money touches every corner of our lives — yet so many of us avoid truly looking at it. We feel shame about debt, guilt about spending, or fear about not having enough. But what if tending to your finances could actually be a loving, gentle ritual — a wellness practice just like meditation, journaling, or yoga?

This is exactly what financial therapist Bari Tessler teaches with her idea of the money date. In this post, we’re going to break down exactly how to have one, and why building financial intimacy with yourself might be the most overlooked form of self-care you can practice.

And I even recorded a podcast episode for you all about the topic.

💔 Money Stress: The Silent Relationship Killer

Money isn’t just math — it’s deeply emotional. And when it’s neglected or avoided, it becomes a silent stressor that impacts our mental health, relationships, and even our physical well-being.

Consider this:

• Money is the #1 cause of relationship stress. According to Ramsey Solutions, money fights are the second leading cause of divorce, just behind infidelity.

• A study by the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts found that 22% of divorces cite money issues as the primary cause.

• The American Psychological Association’s Stress in America survey consistently shows that money is a top source of stress for 72% of adults.

• Financial strain is strongly linked to depression and anxiety. Research published in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues found a clear correlation between financial stress and depressive symptoms.

In short: our relationship with money can deeply affect our quality of life — for better or for worse.

This isn’t just about budgeting your money, it’s about creating a brand new relationship with money and your wealth. Inside my course, Soul Aligned Wealth, I guide you to reprogramming your brain for a more positive & healthy relationship with finances. Every morning for 21 mornings, you will re-wire your brain & body to align with the type of relationship to wealth that you really want. Check it out here.

✨ What Is a Money Date?

A money date is exactly what it sounds like: a date with your money. Instead of avoiding your finances or facing them only when problems arise, you set aside dedicated time — ideally each month — to gently and lovingly check in.

During a money date, you might:

• Review your bank accounts

• Look at your spending without judgment

• Pay bills

• Adjust your budget

• Set goals for the coming month

• Celebrate any wins, no matter how small

It’s a chance to reconnect with where you are financially, where you want to go, and how to get there — with curiosity instead of criticism.

💆‍♀️ Why a Money Date Is Self-Care

Too often, we think of self-care as bubble baths and spa days. But true self-care includes caring for your future self.

A money date helps you:
✔️ Feel more in control and less overwhelmed
✔️ Reduce financial anxiety and avoidance
✔️ Communicate better with your partner about money
✔️ Make aligned choices with your values and goals
✔️ Cultivate a sense of peace, security, and empowerment

When you know where your money is going and have a plan, you free up mental and emotional energy for other areas of your life — relationships, health, creativity, and rest.

🗝️ How to Have Your Own Money Date

Ready to try it? Here’s how to make your first money date enjoyable, not intimidating:

1️⃣ Schedule It
Put it on your calendar like you would a coffee date with a friend. Choose a time you’re relaxed and unlikely to be interrupted.

2️⃣ Set the Mood
Light a candle, pour your favorite drink, play calming music. Make it feel safe and pleasant.

Or you can visit a local coffee shop, hotel restaurant, make it an actual date.

3️⃣ Reflect with Gratitude
Start by acknowledging what your money has provided for you recently — groceries, a roof over your head, maybe a treat for yourself, etc.

4️⃣ Check In, Gently
Open your accounts. Look at your spending, income, and bills. Be curious, not critical.

5️⃣ Make Adjustments
Update your budget if needed, pay upcoming bills, and plan for next month’s priorities.

6️⃣ Dream Ahead
Set one small, doable financial goal for the month — like saving $50, paying off a little debt, or cutting back on a subscription you don’t use.

7️⃣ Celebrate!
End on a positive note: do something relaxing or fun afterward to reward yourself for showing up.

@thedealtrader on X

❤️ A Love Note to Your Future Self

A money date is more than a budgeting session — it’s a commitment to care for your future self. It says: I love myself enough to be present with my finances today, so I can feel safe, empowered, and at peace tomorrow.

Try scheduling your first money date this week. You might be surprised how much lighter you feel afterward.

📌 Have you ever had a money date? Would you try one now? Share your thoughts in the comments — I’d love to hear how you’re bringing financial intimacy into your self-care routine.