Season 8, Episode 7: Planning, part 1

We were somewhat astonished to realise we’d reached season 8 without digging into our actual planning systems and approaches, so this episode is all about planning, reviewing, plotting, and how these processes come together–even (especially) for creatives.

Planning: love it or hate it?

We’ve noticed that planning is very Marmite. Some people love it, some people avoid it at all costs. But as the end of the year approaches, even the most reluctant planners start thinking ahead. Whether you’re a die-hard Filofax fan like Carla, or have a combination of paper and digital like Sarah, everyone ends up confronting planning in their own way.

The idea for this episode came up after Sarah remembered Carla ‘s epic (and slightly traumatic) annual planning system. (That would be the one where Sarah and our mutual friend were so horrified by my initial brain dump document they were sending each other supportive texts 😂 – C) There was a moment of mutual horror, but also curiosity: could intensive planning actually work for our different neurotypes, and what does an effective planning process really look like?

For both of us, planning and reviewing are intertwined. You can’t make a plan for the future without looking back at what worked, what didn’t, and what you actually enjoyed or hated in the previous year (or month, or week – we plan for all timescales!).

Carla starts her annual process with a giant brain dump document, reviewing and planning simultaneously. Neurodivergent tendencies definitely influence this (if it isn’t written down, it might be lost forever).

Her master plan involves big checklists which she revisits every month, not with the intention of doing every single thing every month, but to keep all of it visible and remembered as the year passes.

Sarah came to planning later, but has always been a natural reviewer, with diaries going back to childhood and endless reflection. The forward-planning part has taken years to build, and the categorisation and visual element has only clicked recently, especially after working with an ADHD coach.

Why do we plan?

Carla’s planned in detail since she was a teen due to her life circumstances, from managing distant friendships through epic hobbies & events to juggling businesses, day jobs and family. For Sarah, reviewing always came more naturally, and proactive planning is a newer skill.

Sarah tends to see what happens, thriving more in the present moment. Carla is all about squeezing as much as possible into the time available, sometimes needing reminders to actually live in the moment.

Major life changes like moving abroad have forced more rigid planning for Sarah in recent years, especially for travel and family visits. Carla has loosened things up over time as circumstances changed, but there’s still a real need to balance work, family commitments, joy and rest.

Planning that works for you

Both of us have abandoned the January “New Year” for something more seasonal and cyclical. For Sarah, the Pagan wheel and rituals now guide her planning cycle, bringing restfulness and a gentler approach. Carla uses Imbolc (February) as a fresh start, and follows the wheel of the year but more loosely, choosing when goals and plans feel right instead of strictly following the calendar.

A surprising discovery this year is that “do as you please” planning actually results in more tasks accomplished, more joy, and less stress. By creating a list and then choosing tasks based on energy and interest, we get more done, than when we force work into rigid calendar slots. The caveat: it doesn’t work during pinch points where everything’s needed at once to a deadline.

Creating our own systems for our calendars and schedules is a big part of our planning – making sure that the freedom of self employment that we work so hard for is actually flexible at least some of the time!

Links we loved:

The Freelancers Teabreak podcast with Emma Cossey

• Podcast home
• “What to do with all the ideas in your head” episode
• “Freelancing through seasons of life” episode

Clever Fox Planners

• Clever Fox shop on Amazon (affiliate link)
• The planner we both use, the Clever Fox Planner Pro 2nd Edition (affiliate link)
• If you’d prefer not to use affiliate link you can search “Clever Fox” on Amazon

Disobedient Business Co

• Get Shit Done Hub (affiliate link)
• Get Shit Done Hub (non-affiliate link)

Filofax

We’d love to hear how you approach planning – is it rigid, flexible, seasonal, solidly ignored, or somewhere in between? Tell us everything!