Time, please slow down! I say this every day because time is a limited resource and it feels like I don’t have enough of it. Every passing day, I have less time with family, less time with friends, less time to fulfill my purpose, and less time to do the things that bring me pure joy. 

I recently learned a phrase to describe this feeling, and it’s called “time poor.” The feeling of having too much to do and not enough hours in the day to do it. But am I really time-poor, or do I manage my time poorly? What exactly am I doing with the time that I have? What can I do to feel less time-poor and more time-wealthy? These are questions that need answers. 

What I do know is that my to-do list is never-ending. I will always have “too much to do.” I will always be adding things to the list. I realize it’s not about how many items are on the list. It’s about the quality of the items on the list. Are the items aligned with my purpose and what’s important to me? Are the items aligned with the woman I want to become? Are the items meaningful, fulfilling, and worthwhile? 

If I want fulfillment and happiness, my decisions about where my time goes must align with my values and priorities. I created a digital vision board representing the person I want to become and the life I want to live five, ten, and twenty years from now. It is a way for me to consciously script my life. It includes lifestyle goals and intentions that are important to me. 

Big dreams require big commitment and big action. Therefore, I have to focus on what’s important. I have to make sure my ladder is climbing up the right wall. I have to keep the main thing the main thing. To do that, I need a system for planning, monitoring, and evaluating my time and actions toward building the life I want. So, I got a digital planner to help me out. I’m new to the community so I’m still learning what works and what doesn’t, but let me tell you, I am changed! Every time I sit down and deliberately plan my time, I get more of it. I get time wealthier. Check out my routine below!

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Monthly Planning 

Monthly To-do List – First, I make a laundry list of things I want to accomplish for the month. This list includes items I have to do and things I wish to do. I take every task, event, and goal out of my head and put it on the list. For example, the list can include hair appointments, school shopping, work trips, birthday dinners, doctor’s appointments, cleaning the garage, organizing the closet, taking a yoga class, running errands, or reading a new book. I intentionally only add things to my list that align with my values and priorities. For example, quite a few items on my list are related to my YouTube channel and newsletter.

Monthly Calendar Overview – I reference two monthly calendars for the monthly overview. Google Calendar and a digital calendar template. I like Google Calendar because I can get notifications on my phone about fixed items like meetings, doctor’s appointments, or events. I love the digital calendar template for a bird’s eye view of the entire month, and I can be creative with it. I reference my monthly to-do list to see my must-do items and then add them to both calendars. 

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Weekly Planning 

I plan weekly on Sunday using this template from my digital planner. First, I list my weekly priorities using my Google calendar and monthly planning template. Then, I look at my monthly to-do list and add anything else I want to do that week. After I list my weekly priorities, I complete the left column by assigning each priority a day. Some days might have multiple priorities, and some days might have none.

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Daily Planning 

I plan my day the night before as a part of my evening routine. First, I list my daily priorities using my weekly planning template. I add anything I still need to finish from the day before. I also add things that suddenly come up that I did not plan for. After I list my daily priorities, I complete the daily schedule by assigning each priority a time block. I may fill only some hours of the day, but each priority must have time to complete it.

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So that’s my planning routine, y’all. Can you relate to the feeling of being time-poor? It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and forget to take the time to do the things that are important to us. 

My digital planning routine helps me feel more in control of my time. It helps me be intentional about spending it on the things that matter most. Breaking down my planning into monthly, weekly, and daily steps allows me to have a big-picture view of my goals while staying focused on the day-to-day tasks that need to be done.

It’s also crucial for me to remember that it’s okay if things don’t go as planned. There will be days when I don’t stick to my plan or fall behind on my tasks. And that’s okay! It’s nothing for me to pick myself up, press reset, and begin again the next day.  

Do you have any purpose driven time management tips? Share them in the comments below!