Starting a new month feels like opening a fresh notebook—full of possibilities and opportunities to organize your life and accomplish your goals. But let’s be honest: without a solid plan, that blank page can quickly turn into chaos. The good news? You don’t have to let the month run you. You can take charge of your time with a little proactive planning. I will go through and share my process so you can learn how to plan your month effectively in 5 steps.
Whether you’re a productivity pro or a newbie with a fresh planner, this blog post will break down the monthly planning process into five simple, actionable steps. By the end, you’ll have a monthly schedule that keeps your tasks, important dates, and goals at the forefront. This ensures that you crush your to-do list and breeze through the month ahead.
*Some of the links included may be affiliate links which means that I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase. However, this does not affect the end price.
How To Plan Your Month In 5 Steps
Ready to plan your month effectively? Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Set a Focus for the Month
The first step in planning your month is setting a focus. Think of this as choosing your guiding star for the next four weeks. Ultimately, by picking one key area to prioritize, you’ll keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed by trying to tackle everything at once. Your focus can be something like work, health, family, or a personal project. Your focus helps you allocate your schedule time wisely and ensures you’re working toward meaningful goals instead of getting lost in the weeds of everyday tasks.
💡Pro Tip: Write your focus in bold letters on your calendar or planner inserts to keep it front and center! And while you’re at it, consider highlighting it with a fun color for added emphasis. Personally, I like to keep my focus on a monthly overview page in my planner.
Step 2: Map Out Your Month
Next, it’s time to map out your month. Start by jotting down all the important dates, events, and deadlines you need to remember. These could include work meetings, birthdays, bill due dates, or even quirky holidays (hello, National Donut Day 🍩!). Stay updated with monthly holidays with my Monthly Holidays Guide. Whether you prefer a digital calendar, planner inserts, or a trusty wall calendar, having a clear snapshot of your month ahead will help you see where your time is going. You can write down those dates in list form or on a calendar. I like to think of this step as a pre-planning step.
⭐Bonus: This step is also the perfect opportunity to schedule time for self-care, hobbies, or activities that bring you joy. Additionally, as you map out your dates, don’t forget to leave some blank spaces for flexibility—life happens, after all!
Step 3: Write Your To-Do List
With your important dates marked, it’s time to make a to-do list. This step is all about getting those tasks out of your head and onto paper (or your favorite app). List everything that needs to be done this month, from work deadlines to personal errands. A detailed to-do list not only keeps you organized but also gives you the satisfaction of crossing things off as you complete them. Honestly, you probably won’t accomplish all of your tasks but it helps ensure that you get important things completed.
✔️Remember: A brain dump now saves you from scrambling later! Moreover, group similar tasks together to streamline your workflow and make your life easier.
Step 4: Create Your Monthly Spread/Mark Your Calendar
Now for the fun part—designing your monthly spread! This is where your planning process becomes a creative outlet. Grab your planner inserts, stickers, and colorful pens, and start transferring the important dates and tasks from your list to your monthly calendar.
This step isn’t just about aesthetics (though a cute spread never hurts); it’s also about creating a functional tool that keeps your month on track. If decorating isn’t your thing, a clean and simple spread works just as well. To make your calendar even more effective, consider adding motivational quotes or weekly focus areas.
Step 5: Set Up Your Monthly Dashboards (Goal Planning)
Last but certainly not least, set up your monthly dashboards. This is where you connect your monthly goals with your day-to-day planning. Think of your dashboards as the bridge between dreaming and doing—they help you break down big goals into actionable steps.
For example, if your yearly goal is to get fit, your dashboard might include tracking workout sessions or meal planning. By incorporating these tasks into your monthly schedule, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success. And don’t forget to reflect on your progress at the end of each week to make adjustments if needed.
Recommended Planners for Every Style
- For Minimalists: The Focused Planner by Erin Condren is clean, uncluttered, and easy to use. Its focus on simplicity ensures you won’t feel overwhelmed.
- For Creative Souls: The Happy Planner offers customizable inserts, vibrant covers, and plenty of room for decoration. Perfect for those who want to add personality to their monthly spreads.
- For Highly Detailed Planners: The Erin Condren Life Planner offers customizable options for every planning style. Choose a ring agenda, coiled planner, or softbound planner. Perfect for those who want to personalize their planning style to fit their unique needs.
- For Goal-Setters: The Goal Setting Weekly Planner by MakseLife is specifically designed for breaking down big goals into manageable monthly tasks.
- For Professionals: The Panda Planner combines productivity science with practical layouts, helping you stay on top of work and life.
- For Tech Lovers: If paper isn’t your thing, try a digital planner like GoodNotes or Notion for ultimate flexibility and accessibility. My favorite digital planner that combines aesthetic planning with the convenience of software is the Artful Agenda.
Furthermore, if you are not sure about your own unique planning style, take the Planner Style Quiz.
✨However, if you would like to just get a glimpse of all the planners available in the market there is a place for that! Check out The Planner Directory for a comprehensive list of planners divided by planner type.
Must-Have Accessories for Your Planner
What’s a planner without a few fun and functional accessories? Here are some must-haves to enhance your monthly planning process:
- Pens and Markers: Invest in high-quality pens like Pilot G2 or Zebra Gel Pens for smooth writing. For color-coding, try Mildliner Highlighters. Additionally, using erasable pens and highlighters like Frixion can save you from mistakes!
- Stickers and Washi Tape: These are perfect for adding flair to your planner. Check out Etsy for unique designs or brands like The Happy Planner for themed sticker books. Lastly, Erin Condren has a wide range of stickers and washi tape to add to your planner. Don’t be afraid to mix and match for a personalized look.
- Sticky Notes: Great for jotting down temporary tasks or reminders without cluttering your spread. They’re also handy for brainstorming on the go. Don’t forget to check out the Erin Condren website for innovative and practical sticky notes.
- Page Markers: Magnetic bookmarks or clip-in tabs help you quickly flip to your current week or month. Keep them stylish and functional! These simple yet stylish magnetic bookmarks from Amazon will add flair to your planner.
- Planner Inserts: Whether you’re tracking finances, fitness, or meal planning, there’s an insert for everything. Customize your planner to fit your life! Plus, having specialized inserts ensures nothing important slips through the cracks. This is especially helpful for ring planners. Take a look at Erin Condren’s A5 Ring Agenda system and their many inserts.
Benefits of Monthly Planning
If you’re still on the fence about diving into the monthly planning process, here’s why it’s a game-changer:
- Improved Productivity: Knowing what needs to be done and when eliminates decision fatigue and helps you focus on your priorities.
- Stress Reduction: A clear schedule reduces the mental load of remembering tasks, events, and deadlines.
- Goal Achievement: By incorporating goal-setting into your monthly dashboards, you’re more likely to follow through on your plans.
- Time Management: Mapping out your month ahead ensures you’re using your time effectively and not overcommitting.
- Creative Outlet: Designing your planner spreads can be a therapeutic and enjoyable way to unwind.
Tips for Staying Consistent with Monthly Planning
Ultimately, even the best-laid plans won’t work if you don’t stick to them. So here are a few tips to stay consistent with your monthly planning routine:
- Set a Planning Day: Choose a specific day at the end of each month to plan for the month ahead. Make it a ritual with your favorite drink and some relaxing music. Plus, turning it into a self-care moment makes it something to look forward to. I like to designate my planning day one week before the new month begins. Particularly, on a Friday night (if I don’t have plans that night of course).
- Review Weekly: Revisit your monthly spread every week to ensure you’re on track and adjust as needed. This habit ensures your plan stays relevant.
- Keep It Visible: Place your planner somewhere you’ll see it daily, like your desk or bedside table. This visibility makes it easier to stay engaged.
- Celebrate Wins: Did you check off all your goals or finish a big project? Celebrate those wins to keep yourself motivated! Rewarding yourself creates a positive cycle of planning and achieving.
Final Thoughts
By following these five steps, you’re creating a planning process that blends organization with purpose. Truly, setting a focus, mapping out your month, writing a to-do list, creating a monthly spread, and setting up dashboards are all important steps in the process. With each new month, you’ll feel more in control of your time, more aligned with your goals, and more productive overall.
This has been my process for the last 5 years and I don’t think I am ever going back to “just winging it”. Additionally,
So grab your planner, set aside an hour, and let’s plan your way to a better month ahead. You’ve got this! 🌟
