Example of Intuitive Planning
By MK Emerson
You’re here because you are:
The A-type trying to escape the overwhelm and teeter to a more relaxed approach to getting things done.
The newbie to planning who wants to add a little more structure to their schedule.
You’re in luck because I’m about to lay out an example of how a week and day would look using intuitive planning that fits for over-planners seeking freedom or beginners craving direction.
What You Need
Refer to the blog Key Tools for Intuitive Planning to learn more, but to sum it up, you’ll need:
Your favorite every day planner, if you have one already. I call this the “Storage Planner”.Yes, you don’t need to get rid of it! If you don’t have one, try to get a hold of some type of planner or calendar that allows you to store all tasks, appointments, events, and important dates. Can be a digital calendar.
A daily sheet, whether it’s in the form of a sticky pad, journal, or note-style app. Just some type of single note-taking tool.
Why We Use These Tools
We keep your storage planner around because it’s a risk to rely solely on your memory for important dates and tasks.
For intuitive planning to work, we need to have some structure still. There is no point to having goals and meeting them if we don’t allow some form of strategy or lists of steps to exist. Why even plan if we don’t seek fulfillment in our obligations and desires?
We use a daily sheet because intuition works best when we see only a blank slate to our day. When we use our storage planner alone, we end up seeing an entire day already written out as well as the whole week ahead. We have quick access to the entire months ahead, too. That’s too much for our brains to handle if we’re trying to achieve more intuition in our schedule and reduce overwhelm.
I prefer to use a journal so I can later assess my energy levels prior to gaining a better understanding of how to work with the days ahead. But, the act of recycling a sheet and letting it go is liberating, too.
An Example of Intuitive Planning
Daily Example
In the morning, you’ll open up your storage planner where you stored all of your important items.
Look at today and hone in on the energy you feel, a vibe check of the day. Even if our moods and energy levels change as the day goes on, you can pretty much sum up if you’re in the mood for hustling, maintenance, or giving the least amount of effort possible.
Write down each task on your daily sheet in order of energetic levels. What does your intuition tell you about each task and when it can get done? There is no need for timing these tasks. Just write them in. Use the image above as an example to set up your daily sheet, which has a section for pending tasks/notes and task blocks. These are for:
Pending Tasks
Any new important task, appointment, or fresh idea on a new project. Anything you want to take note on.
Task Blocks:
Must-Do
Absolute obligations you can’t escape.
Intuitive Tasks
What you crave to have or do today.
No Worries
If it doesn’t get done, it’s fine. It can wait.
Close your storage planner and tuck it away.
At the end of the day, return to your storage planner and write in any of those pending tasks where you think they fit best.
Next, look at any missed tasks from your daily sheet.
Do you still need to do them? Write them into your planner.
Were they considered “No Worries”? Let them go or defer them for a later date.
Also note how it felt to do or not do any of your “Intuitive Tasks”.
To me, those are the most important to get done, just as much as “Must-Do”. Why? Because you were called to do them. That’s a message and when fulfilled, increases your momentum toward reaching a more fulfilling life.
Weekly Example
If you don’t have a Plan Day, I recommend you get one.
This is the day you look back on your week in your storage planner, assess what worked and what didn’t, what still needs to get done and what can be tossed.
I recommend your Plan Day be on Friday when all work is done and tasks are still fresh, or Sunday, after some time off and a clear mind. Either of those days work well. Make it a ritual and always show up.
You’ll then rearrange your tasks for the next week, of course, with more knowledge on how your intuition, mood, and energy works best.
Once your storage planner is set, close it up, and enjoy your time off.
The most important step and tool is to have a daily sheet. To look at only one day at a time, a day that was set up with your present energy and mood, is what intuitive planning is all about.
We may think we’re expert planners by getting it all logged in ahead of time, but the stress comes from our inability to predict our own energy levels once the day comes.
Tips to Avoid Overwhelm
Don’t ever plan self-care activities unless you absolutely need to prepare for an event or cleanse out anxiety.
For instance, getting your nails done before a wedding, or meditating before giving a major speech.
Don’t ever plan chores unless you’re about to have company over for a big dinner and have a list of errands and cleaning tasks to do.
Every day chores will nag your mind to get done, whether you write it down or not. Save yourself the burden of adding to your daily sheet. You’ll know what needs cleaning.
Don’t ever plan your leisure time unless you have a set date and time, like a movie or vacation, or desperate need to get seeds in your soil’s garden before the season is over.
With the daily sheet, you will have plenty of white space available to rest and rejuvenate.
That’s the reward of intuitive planning. It’s automatic, so there’s no need to plan out how you’ll spend this gift you’ve received. Leisure time is the outcome of intuitive planning and therefore, should be used solely for intuitive activities.
If you get an urgent task thrown your way and it needs to be done today, you’re in luck. Add it to your Must-Do.
Because you have a No Worries block, you technically have an opening. And because you’re not planning every single thing under the sun, you have flexibility. Intuitive planning helps us keep up even when curveballs get thrown.
Be careful of the No Worries. Sometimes these tasks are either:
So irrelevant and something that does not actually need to get done ever. If you’re a recovering A-type planner, you’ll probably still add things in here that don’t require planning and can truly be let go of.
Or their not important right now, but if ignored too long can become a high priority Must-Do, eventually. Keep an eye out for this type and don’t wait until the last minute.
Be sure to check out other blogs on the topic of intuitive planning to learn more and really take a dive into this sweet spot of productivity and freedom.
The example above is the method I use which has taken my A-type booty out of burnout, over-planning, bedridden overwhelm, and a well made up of my tears.
It has removed my feelings of guilt, insecurity, and failures. Now I coach others on how to achieve more peace without throwing in the towel.
Contact me for any guidance.
Here to help!
MK
This blog was written to inform readers of an example of how to practice intuitive planning. It is not to be consider as professional advice, it is merely an opinion and experience practiced by the author. Take what you want from it and grow, or toss it away and move forward. We’re here for fun!