I have a confession to make…

I’m obsessed with planning. Some people are very good at planning, some people are bad at it, and there are some who are compulsive. I belong to the third category.

It started when I got my first planner back in elementary  school. As a kid, I liked the idea of being organized. I loved the process of planning, the boxes for each class, the sections for homework, notes, passwords sections. The whole enchilada! I’ve always been someone who likes to write down my schedule, goals, and ideas!

There are two types of planning. Long term planning involves planning for the future, things that will take a long time. Short term planning is something that you need to do immediately. My planning has gone way past writing down every assignment and project due date. I plan for both long term or short term events, planning out everyday activities. Such as what to eat for lunch next day or what to wear to work tomorrow or when to make a phone call or send an email and so on. Every little thing in my life doesn’t go without planning or some deep thought. There’s never a moment where I don’t have my planner on me. It’s a way for me to set goals and be excited about them, and a place to keep my mind straight.

My planner is always packed with something to do at every given moment, I have a lot of goals and things that need to be done. One thing I have learned about plans is that they don’t always go as planned. I like that I take care of the details and make sure that I have a plan B. The calendar filled up with colors and patterns, each one has a meaning, symbolizing a commitment of time. It’s not that I don’t trust myself to go a day without planning, but updating my planner helps me spend time on each thing that I want to accomplish, its like a safety blanket in the craziness of life.

Everyone has their own fun style in the planner community, and it’s exciting to see other people’s creative ideas in their own planners. I’m always fascinated by super organized people; some people are just better at organizing than others. This is something I’ve had to really learn and work on over the years. It’s hard to stay organized, motivated, and interested in life. You just have to find what works for you and gets you motivated and excited!

I’m an obsessive planner. I have to figure all the details out and quench my insatiable need to know how it’s gonna happen, when it’s gonna happen, who it’s gonna happen with, etc. Believe it or not there are many obsessive planners like me. We need all the details so we can be in control (at least somewhat). Planning allows us to get all the pieces of the puzzle together, organize them and fit them together so that everything gets done when it needs to.

Oh man, I do love my planner. I plotted out the next few weeks for my cousins Sweet Sixteen; every time there’s  a new task, it goes down. There have been times when I spent hours staring at my Happy Planner as if God was going to create an extra day just for me and sync it with my color coded planner.

Alas He didn’t.

I know, I spend way too much time planning what will happen next, but I do remember enjoying what is happening currently….Because of my planner, I remember to go. I just cant imagine going through life, from one day to the next, without a plan. I believe planning is essential. As an adult now, I think my life would be chaotic  if I didn’t have a place to look and remind me of what I need to get done everyday. Different methods work for everyone, but my planner is my fun place! Planning has become my therapy.