THE UNDERRATED MANIFESTATION TOOL THAT CAN BE FOUND IN YOUR PURSE

It’s neither the pictures of your loved ones, nor that amazing red lipstick you wear. It’s your planner! The overlooked assemblage of pages where you write all the mundane, the tasks, the obligations of your daily life.

What if that apparently innocent notebook could also become your #1 goodie to create a lifestyle that cares for you? Like the Magician in the Tarot, your planner encapsulates all the tools you need to turn a decision into a tangible, meaningful success.

The moment you make up your mind and take a decision is where your planner turns into an altar, a journal, a vision board, a spell book, and/or a reflection notebook.

But, hold on. Not all the planners are created equal. So, here are five targeted things to keep in mind when you’ll choose your next “magic wand”.

Read between the lines

You’re in search mode for nothing less than “Mr Right Planner”. You enter your favorite stationery shop/ browse online. Awww… look at all those cute covers. And these tiny stickers… Wait! What happened? You’re outside with a shopping bag.

Back home, you investigate your new planners. It hits you hard: you know you’ll NEVER use them. Why? Because you bought a planner that doesn’t align with your needs.

How is that possible? People who design planners have good intentions. They create a layout to solve THEIR urgent problems, not yours. Yet, it doesn’t mean you’re a good fit for them.

Or, their designs sell you on fad trends like “if you buy my planner, you’ll get $10k/month, a picture perfect life, and so much free time.”

Hygge Tip: Take your time when you shop. Open the planner, scroll through. Get over the cover glitter and the cute distractions. Do you see yourself using this planner? If yes, go for it. If not, keep searching.

Know what YOU need

Hit the pause button for a second and answer this: How do you use your planner?

Sure, you write your appointments, your job. Maybe you add kids extracurricular, BFF meetings, faith practice, meal planning, grocery list, and/or workouts. The sky's the limit.

If you’re creative, you may journal or scrapbook inside your planner. If you volunteer or have a side job, you may schedule those tasks too.

Whether you’re a minimalist or a visual user, chances are you don’t thrive in the same environment. The thrill of blank dotted pages may excite you or paralyze you. Same goes with highly structured and targeted layout where there’s no room for imagination.

Hygge Tip: Try to remember how you love to use your planner and what drives you crazy. Why? Because the more inclined and delighted you are to open your planner, the easier it is for your subconscious to materialize your decisions.

Mix and match

Let’s assume you know what you want to materialize and how you operate. Now comes the subtle art of pacing yourself.

With monthly, quarterly, and yearly planners, it’s tempting to grab the closest one and run with that. Not that fast, cutie pie.

If you want to run a 5k and you never run in your life, you may use a longer time frame (6 months) than another Human who regularly runs.

If you're already a vegan chef and you want to create a new dish, maybe you’ll need 3 months (where a total newbie would spend an entire year to master vegan cooking).

Hygge Tip: Don’t get tricked by your mind. What you want is legit, it’s time to make it real. You may need to tweak, adjust, change, and update but, every day, you’ll be closer to the finish line.

Reduce the learning curve

Not familiar with a new planner structure? Then, it's tricky to get the most of a layout without a learning curve. Inspect the beginning pages, they may include useful tips, ideas, hacks, or even how to’s.

Hygge Tip: Search for the most straightforward options. Why? Because “what is clearly conceived is clearly stated” (Nicolas Boilleau).

Don’t beat yourself up if you “waste” the first couple of weeks to find your pace. That’s ok. It’s the evidence that you make progress.

Speaking of the learning curve, be aware of the overall tone used inside your planner. Does it sound like a drill Sergeant? Or does it look compassionate and caring? What kind of support (quote/ ideas/ blank spaces) do you have throughout the planner?

Invest ethically

Every time it’s possible, do your research on the planner’s origins. Huge discounts, bells & whistles, or the famous “vegan leather cover” are easy to put on the front stage when your beloved planner comes from the other side of the world.

Sure, it looks good. But, are you ready to invest your energy, your time, and your trust in a company that contributes to global heating? Or would you rather invest in a planner that sponsors wild life, donate to dig wells, share profits with local shelters?

When you want to materialize your decisions with peace in mind and a sense of “I do something good to me and to the Planet”, it’s crucial to know what’s happening behind the scenes.

Hygge Tip: If you don’t have a clue about the company’s pay-it-forward program, you can still have a positive impact by either making a donation, raising funds, planting trees, sponsoring beehives, etc…

Turning your dreams into a reality takes courage, commitment, and dedication. When you have a tool that supports you along the journey, you’re halfway done. Show some love to your underrated manifestation tool. YOU deserve it.