If you want to live intentionally, you need a plan.

Tried every planner in the universe and nothing is quite perfect? Me too. I’ve been working on a system that works for my personal life AND my business, and I tried DOZENS of planners. I thought it would be cool to share some behind-the-scenes of my FAVORITE to share with you!

Friend, no matter what planner you choose, you need one that you can stick to. Here’s mine.

And who am I to tell you how to plan your day, eh? I’m Sarah K, the owner of Modern Maker Stamps. I’ve been on Etsy for almost a decade. I’ve had over 20,000 clients on Etsy alone & over half a million $$$ in sales — which means I’ve got a lot of juggling of tasks to do! I’ve also spent years and years in search of the perfect planner system. I think I’ve found “The One.” ;)

To start, here’s what I love most about my Monk Manual*:

• I choose 3 things every day to make a priority. I’m a big fan of this system ever since I read Elise Blaha Cripe’s book, Big Dreams, Daily Joys.

• Each day I get to focus on what matters most: planning ahead, pausing for gratitude, recording “wins” and learning from what’s not working.

• Monthly + Weekly pages (not shown) help me see the bigger picture.

(*This isn’t an affiliate post and I’m not associated with them in any way. I just really really love this planner and wanted to share it. If I can help support another small biz in the meantime, even better!)

Here’s how I use my Planner:

1. I schedule a phone alert each night to finish today’s page + plan tomorrow. This practice alone has helped me make HUGE strides in my business and personal growth.

2. I record that day’s reflections + write down one idea for improving tomorrow. For example, today I wrote down “I’m trying to read too many books at once and it’s overwhelming! Tomorrow I’ll choose one to FINISH before I move on.”

3. I write down tomorrow’s date + one habit to work on. Right now, I’m trying to make a habit of doing yoga each morning.

4. I write out tomorrow’s “3 things.” If all I get done the next day is the 3 things, it’s a good day!

Have a question about planning your own day? Just shoot me an email - I am a total planner geek and would love to chat about yours!

I hope it’s been helpful + fun to get a peek inside my planner.

I’d love it if you’d leave a comment with your own favorite planner below + what you love most about it.

With love from your creative biz friend,
Sarah K

Have a question? Leave a comment or email me. I’m all ears.