My Digital + Paper Planning Workflow
In a digital world, there is so much power in ‘taking it offline’.
Too much time on my screen, and the mental fog creeps in. I find myself starting to feel restless + even a little bit anxious the more I sit screen-side. Any chance to unplug and pick up a pen, I’m there for it. And the same goes for how I set up my planning system on a weekly + daily basis. Just enough time ‘online’ to create a system and workflow that works for me (without 248 sticky notes posted throughout my house), and enough time logged off to create margin in my days.
Today, I’m here to break it down!
……
DIGITAL:
……
I use ClickUp, a productivity program, to organize and pull together tasks across my personal and business ‘worlds’. ClickUp allows me to create folders, lists, and tasks to map out projects and keep my eyes on the big picture. I can view all of these areas in a list, board, or calendar view! I set a ‘due date’ to time-sensitive tasks and ClickUp displays daily reminders as to what’s due, as well as upcoming tasks.
It’s here where I map out EVERYTHING, I mean everything, from upcoming product launches to my weekly meal planning and shopping list. Helloooo organization!
I also use HoneyBook to track photography projects and these events are sent to my Google Calendar – more on this later!
……
……
PAPER:
……
If ClickUp keeps my head above water for the long term outlook, it’s my paper planner that grounds me in the now. My planner is an accountability partner that I literally carry with me *alllll* day long. Tangibly crossing off my to-do list + writing down my ‘white space’ intention for the day is important to me and keeps me from popping my laptop open or phone-scrolling unintentionally.
……
……
MY WORKFLOW:
……
So how do they work together – without adding more to my plate each day?
- As needed, I actively update ClickUp to reflect any project changes or changes to my personal lists (e.g. tweak my marketing calendar, shopping list, or shift my meal planning).
- Each Sunday, I open ClickUp + Google Calendar. I transfer any upcoming weekly events into my planner.
- Each evening, I open ClickUp and see what tasks are due for the next day (remember you can set due dates to each to-do within this tool!) and transfer to my planner.
- Each morning, I open my paper planner and ‘pen in’ my daily white space. Remember, this is the time I set aside each day (depending on much time I can allot) to ‘filling my cup’. It may look like a walk around the block, an intentional cup of morning coffee, PM journaling, or unplugged dinner with your husband! Whatever you’re needing in that day and season.
…..
So there it is from start to finish – the Cliff Notes version. Down the blogging road, I’ll be sure to dig deeper into how I use ClickUp to organize my weekly + long term projects!
…..
So now tell me! What’s your planning style – team paper, team digital, or team both? Let me know in the comments below!
