These three habits will help you plan for a great day

It’s 2020 and WE’VE BEEN GIVEN THE GIFT OF TIME! Anyone get the FRIENDS reference? 😂

2020 is a leap year. There are 366 days this year. That’s a full 24 hours you don’t have every year and I want you to make them count. 

This is a reminder to open your planner and look ahead now. Plan for your extra 24 hours! Use the next few days to clear your schedule and leave room for magic to happen. Do what you need to do this week so you can fully enjoy your extra 24 hours this year.

Now, let’s talk about how to make the most of your extra 24 hours! Today I’m sharing my top three ways to plan for a great day. This isn’t about time management or getting more organized, this is my best advice for enjoying your day!

I am not an expert in having every day go as planned. Even as a planner person, things can go awry. These days, I’m instilling habits that help me be present in the moment. As I’ve mentioned before, routines have transformed our family life lately, giving us more time to enjoy together and keeping this mama sane. 

The following daily habits have helped me have more consistent days and consistent days mean happier days. These are three habits for a great day. This is how I plan for a great day!

Great Day Habit One — Don’t touch your phone until you have some YOU time.
I’ve always said, “touch your planner before you touch your phone.” Now I’m broadening the terms. If I can spend a few minutes in quiet — writing in a journal, reading a devotional or even sipping my coffee and reflecting — it helps set the tone for my day ahead. We all have the mornings where our feet hit the ground running and they are inevitable but for the days where you can control it, take an extra few minutes of YOU time. A quick note on this: honor the season you are in. If you are a mom of little littles then this might seem unrealistic and I am 100% there with you. Honor the season you’re in and know they will all look a little different.

Great Day Habit Two — Write down your to-dos.
There is science behind checking things off a list, it releases dopamine in your brain which is useful in keeping you motivated and excited about the tasks ahead. You don’t need one of my Week on One Page planners or Planning Notepads for this activity… though they make a great place for all your lists! Getting things out of your head and onto paper makes tasks doable.

Great Day Habit Three — Practice visualization with an abundance mindset!
Some days do not go as planned. Some days are just terrible. That doesn’t mean you can’t be optimistic about the future. What can you look forward to TODAY? Maybe it’s when the kids go to bed and you can have a quiet glass of wine with your partner. Or that moment the kids get home from school and greet you with big hugs. Or maybe it’s that TV show you’ve been waiting to binge or the last few pages of the book you’re reading. Visualize something in the day you are looking forward to. Visualization is a powerful tool and setting your mind to something you’re looking forward to is a great practice. 

I hope these three habits will help you plan for great days, not just your extra day this weekend. Life is so short. Take some time, an extra 24 hours this Saturday, to enjoy it.

Want more information on planning for a great day? Check out my posts on the best way to plan your day and how to reset your day when it goes off track! And here are my five tips for organizing your week!

I would love to hear what you’re going to do with your extra day this year. Share with me on Instagram or Facebook! And I’ll be sure to share how I’m using my extra time this weekend too!