If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’m a Planner Girl! I have a 3-drawer set of planner supplies and put together weekly spreads pretty regularly. It helps me stay on track and, frankly, clears out the cobwebs.

Many years ago, I learned to do what I call a brain dump. If I pour everything out onto a To Do list (appointments, chores, projects, etc), then I no longer have to use a lot of brain power to keep track of those things. I’ve fine-tuned this to a monthly and weekly calendar setup so my To Dos don’t outdistance my time (mostly…).

And now I’ve become addicted to planning every week, usually on Sunday afternoons. Which means…an excuse to use stickers!  😊 Just kidding. Not!

For my fellow planner girls or those who want to get started, here’s a list of some of my favorite tools, along with some of my daughter’s also (because I managed to pass this one gene along!).

• Passion Planner is the actual planner I use (monthly and weekly spreads-I prefer undated-with monthly and yearly reflection questions), but there are a lot of different ones out there. Passion Planner also posts content on Instagram and YouTube. I enjoy watching their ideas for different ways to use their planners.
• Archer & Olive is really good for those who like to do bullet journals. This is my daughter’s preferred option (and you can see some of her spreads on her blog here-alittlebithappierblog.com). These journals have high quality bindings and paper that doesn’t bleed, which can be a big deal when you are creating your own spreads.
• The HB90 planner by Sarah Cannon is available on Etsy and is wonderful for all the authors out there! I bought the download and use some of the ideas to incorporate into my own planner. I also print word count charts and some decision-making tools she has to help me keep my planner useful for author needs. She has an awesome HB90 class and you can also watch planner videos on her Heart Breathings YouTube channel.
• My sister, author Ella Sheridan, and I are working through the Heal the Way You Work class (based on the Do Less book by Kate Northrup). This teaches you how to plan your schedule based on your energies of that day/week/month. A very different approach, but I’m finding it very interesting. Fingers crossed I can figure this out, but her checklists of questions for creating annual/quarterly/weekly schedules is super helpful for clarifying goals and focuses.
• Stickers!!! I love and use a lot of Happy Planner sticker books. I especially like all the quotes and encouraging sayings in them. I was gifted some gothic ones for Christmas from HoundsflyteDesigns on Etsy that I’m loving! My daughter and I immediately went to her store and bought more of them.

• Pens, pens, and more pens… I have a lot of these but not as many as some planners. I’m very picky about mine… My favorite black pens are uni-ball signo, whether I’m writing or planning. I also have a set of Pentel EnerGel colored pens that work well. My daughter likes Muji gel pens in 0.58 and Tombow duel brush pens.
• But planning is always a good excuse for a STAPLES TRIP! I collect all kinds of Post It notes, page tabs, and washi tape. Writers love all kinds of office supplies, but I mean, who wouldn’t?!?!

I’d love to hear about your favorite planner supplies or planner channels to watch!

Take care! I hope your year is off to a great start!

Dani

Experience Cadence, TN, with BENEATH THE SURFACE

BENEATH THE SURFACE, Small Town Secrets Book 1

Welcome to Cadence, TN–where secrets can be deadly.

Too many secrets…
Hidden in a quiet town along the Tennessee border, a secret society exists where the privileged fulfill their darkest desires. One of their members initiates a desperate act designed to bring home his lifelong obsession: Emma Hartwell.
A past not forgotten…
Drawn back to her hometown by the psychic connection with her twin, Emma must fight the stubborn silence of those around her in her quest to find her missing sister. Colin McIntyre hopes to make up for his past mistakes with Emma by helping her, but his own ties to the Gathering might be exposed along the way.
Time is running out…
Exposure could be dangerous for his family, along with himself and Emma. Can they fight the secrets and lies to rescue Emma’s sister… and their own chance at life-long love?

Other books in the Small Town Secrets series (can be read in any order):
BEHIND THE SCARS
SNOW BOUND

Amazon

B&N

Apple Books

Kobo