Intention

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My planner template solution to keep track of life and leave room for chaos.

I offer a free neutral color themed version of my planner here!

In addition to each quarter being organized in color, I have also added some of my drawings to correspond with each month. If my template fits your needs and my style resonates with you, please consider visiting my shop to purchase this version of the planner template. 

All of my life, I have struggled trying to be one way or the other - either organized or spontaneous. Being only organized felt too rigid. Being only spontaneous felt out of control.

Back in 2015, I realized scribbling notes to myself on scrap paper or the palm of my hand was no longer serving me. If we're being real, it was never ideal. It was just the chaotic solution I ran with to keep myself together the best I could.

From 2015 through 2021, I tried lots of different planners and almost every layout and paper size. In 2022, I set out to create my own planner to print out and assemble in A5 size. It was difficult to get the alignment when printing on both sides to work well on US Letter sized paper in my printer. My intention had been to make planning easier for myself, and I had failed. It was so much work to print, trim paper to A5, punch holes, and lay down stickers ahead of time. If I remembered and had the energy to finally write my plans down after all this, it was truly a miracle. 

2023 was a mess. None of it was planned or expected. I was lost and in desperate need for direction again. I regressed to scribbling notes, but at least this time they were mostly contained on a desk pad. When my and my family's lives eventually reached a stabilizing point, I found myself wanting to get back to structure. I wanted to intentionally plan my future. I needed to focus on the parts of my life that bring me peace and joy. It was also necessary to separate work plans from my actual life plans. Life is too short to not enjoy it with the people you love. Lastly, I needed room for chaos.

During the 2023 holiday season, I re-made my entire template with this theme: Chaotically Intentional. With quarter year views, I am able to keep track of recent and upcoming important events without the clutter of daily tasks. My month at a glance pages are customizable trackers to help ensure the more routine tasks are regularly maintained. There was finally some room for me to embrace chaos. None of us know what the future has in store for us. Planning ahead always ended with me failing to accomplish what I thought I would when I thought I would. This system helps me plan the important, immovable events while giving me the flexibility and accountability to maintain the tasks and routines I value in between.