Top FAQs About Planning: What I’m Always Asked at @smplans
Starting around 2018, I started sharing my planner(s) on - what was once - my personal Instagram. At some point, my husband brought up how I should really make it a ‘planner’ account and that’s how @smplans began. Over the years, I’ve fielded so many questions. I thought I’d put together some common ones in case it would be helpful to others! Whether you’re just getting started with planning or you’ve been in the community for years, there are a few questions that always come up. From choosing the right planner to managing #attorney #mom life, work tasks, and self-care—all in one (or sometimes 3) planners—it can feel overwhelming.
I’ve rounded up the most frequently asked questions I get on Instagram… read on:
1. What planner do you use?
Answer:
I rotate depending on the season and my needs, but I usually stick to a bound planner(s). For years, I gravitated and loved ring planners. But, that is just not the case any longer. Right now, the past two years I’ve used a Common Planner in the N1 Standard TN size from Sterling Ink along with an A5 Hobonichi - either the Cousin or Day-Free. I always look for clean layouts, enough space for daily priorities, and the ability to customize (because let’s be real—life changes weekly).
2. What are your favorite pens and planning tools?
Answer:
Pen: My Fav Pens + Primer on Pens (with my favs listed) + Fav Pens for Hobonichi
Highlighters: Mr. Pen makes some lovely aesthetically pleasing highlighters. I’ve ordered these twice now!
Stickers: I love decorative ones with a soft, neutral palette (Sterling Ink); along with some cutesy, kitschy ones thrown in (Papershire).
Bonus: Sticky notes = game changers for flexible lists. I love lined Post-it brand sticky notes (they’re actually sticky!) and Noted by Post-it (can be found at Target).
3. How do you plan your week?
Answer:
I start every Sunday with a weekly reset:
Brain dump everything
Time block must-dos
Add in meals, self-care, and flex time
Use stickers or color coding to keep it visual
Sometimes I’ll find myself doing my weekly reset on Thursday night, or Saturday! Its when I feel the need to get the next week figured out.
Example of ‘mini’ mind mapping
4. How do you handle the mental load using your planner?
Answer:
In 2024-2025, we bought and renovated a home for my MIL, designed our dream home, moved my MIL into the home, listed & sold our home, moved into a rental, demolished my husband’s childhood home, and broke ground on our dream home! It’s been wild. Mixed in with that, I continue to practice labor & employment law, am a mom to two kiddos, and run our finances. To manage all of this (and try to have fun doing it), I rely on my planner to make sure my brain can sort it all out.
I break my page(s) into sections to manage what I call “open tabs”—family logistics, reminders, work, travel, the home build, self-maintenance, self-care, finances, etc. Offloading it all onto paper gives me peace. I also rely on ‘mind mapping’ where I map out the different aspects of my life to organize my thoughts and planner. I first shared mind mapping in a YouTube video years ago. In future videos, you’ll find me mind mapping here and there, too.
Start with broad mind mapping - Steps:
You start with using a big piece of paper.
Scatter the large categories/sections/open tabs out across the page. Leave space between each one. The categories tended to match what tabs I had in my ring planners!
Draw lines out from each category and put tasks or items to keep tabs on that are related to it.
Example of categories: KIDS, WELLNESS, CAREER, HOME, FINANCES, TRAVEL, PROJECTS
This can also be done with goals. For example: “SAVE MONEY” Then the offshoots could be: “track expenses, no starbucks, budget weekly, envelope method, take financial literacy course.” Or: “GAIN MUSCLE MASS” Then the offshoots: “find strength training program, buy weights, track progress, increase protein intake.”
5. How do you stay consistent with your planner?
Pro tip: use a monthly overview - like the Monthly Plan insert!! You can use an insert or replicate it in a boundbook/notebook. I’ll print out the “hobonichi weeks” size and use it as a bookmark throughout the month!
Answer:
The secret: I don’t aim for perfection. I treat my planner as a tool, not a test. I keep it visible, update it during my coffee, and celebrate progress—not productivity. It is not a chore. It’s fun! For those who don’t naturally gravitate towards their planner, it will be important to set up a habit of opening your planner and updating it each day (or at the very least every few days). Don’t create unnecessary tasks or things to keep track of to avoid it turning into feeling like a burden. Start with what would be the bare minimum for you: doctor appointments, kids’ games/practices, travel dates. Make it work for you.
6. What should I do if I fall off the planning wagon?
“fell off the planner wagon? ...use one sticky note a day until you’re ready to dive back into your planner.””
Answer:
Start small. Just one day at a time. No back-planning or guilt allowed. I will say that I LOVE back-planning though so no shame in that! I would recommend starting to use one sticky note a day until you’re ready to dive back into a full layout or planner. Falling off the wagon isn’t the end of the world. It becomes an issue if you are missing appointments and feel frazzled.
7. How do you plan as a mom?
Answer:
I blend family, work and personal planning. One planner, different sections (or colors) for each. I prep for the unpredictable by keeping buffer space and planning lightly - sometimes even relying on pencil for those entries that are bound to change. One of the BEST things of using a ring planner (or disc bound) is the ability to have different sections for these parts of your life so there is no need to blend. Sometimes, depending on how crazy things are, I have used different planners for the different areas of life. In some seasons, one area may be heavy and require more attention/space for years - e.g., mom life with littles, and then suddenly it switches when they’re older and more self-sufficient!
8. How do you make your planner pretty and functional?
Answer:
I did a YouTube video collab with The Planner Spot on “Incorporating Personality” into your planner (my video is here). I start with function—then add beauty. Depending on my mood or season of life, what is “pretty” changes. For example, right now I’m in a moody, neutral era. I’m using a neutral color palette, minimal stickers, and highlight what brings me joy. You can see that in the past, I was all about COLOR (see: youtube videos). Pretty doesn’t mean perfect—it means you like using it. Make it yours.
Final Thoughts
Your planner should serve you—not stress you out. It’s okay to adapt, pause, or even switch systems. Hell, I think its fun to try out new planners and switch when I want to! What matters is that your planning practice brings you peace, clarity, and confidence.
