When I did my mid-year check in post last week, I left out two very important things! One: I was at Barnes and Noble, and right on schedule for “halfway day,” they were putting out the 2025 planners.
Just for fun, I looked through them but couldn’t find anything I like as much as the planner I have. This is a planner I picked up randomly at Tj Maxx because I liked the cover:
…and found out that I absolutely love it! It has everything I need- plenty of space for every day of the week (equal space for weekend days), a “priorities” box, and I also like the “this week” and “next week” spaces. The back has a ton of blank notes pages, which I’ve been using to track my reading, my TBR list, and various other details.
Since this was a random find at TJ Maxx, I’m worried I won’t be able to find something similar for 2025. On the back it says “Punch Studios”- is that the brand name??? I guess I’ll be going back to Tj Maxx soon and frantically rifling through the shelves to find “my” planner again.
The other thing I neglected to talk about was my phrase of the year- “Every Day Counts.” This phrase comes in especially handy in difficult times. Because of an ongoing calf issue, I’ve decided to take this week off running, which of course means the week is going to suck… right?
But wait! This week counts too! These seven unique and precious days, precious because the days are finite for all of us, count just as much as the most fun days ever. In order to make this week special, I’ve dubbed it the “week of strength.” Every day, in addition to whatever cardio cross-training I’m doing, I’ll also do a strength workout.
Instead of “the week with no running” it will be “the week of strength.” It puts me in a much more positive frame of mind, and I figure- getting stronger can only help (right???)
Do you have a way of reframing difficult situations?
Do you use a paper planner? Do you buy the same one every year?
Top photo by Crystal Y on Unsplash
34 Responses
Love the cover!!! I want one too! cat obsessed people are alike! 🙂
yes, framing is super important, I can totally see why a no run week could be a suck week, but you’ve done it! strength week that is! life is short and we should enjoy it every day!
Yes, that’s the way I feel! Life is short, and the older I get, the more I realize that.
Every day counts— such an excellent phrase for a year. I have tried a million planners and keep coming back to a plain old lined moleskine notebook for to-do lists
Well- that obviously works for you! But wait- you have so much going on with all the kids, I can’t believe you don’t use a planner. Once again, what you’re doing works though.
Sarah – inquiring nosy minds want to know – how do you track the kids’ activities? How do you let everyone at home know the plans? I’m thinking google calendar + giant whiteboard? But that’s just a random guess! Please share if you can! It’s not very summer themed but would be an awesome blog post! Or BLP guest episode, if you are game . . .
Ha! BLP guest- that would be awesome! I’m pretty sure most people would be fascinated to know how Sarah keeps it all together.
I love that cover! I have used the wonderland 222 planner for over 3 years but this summer I decided not to order one for 2025. I find I am only using the notes pages at the end. I live and die by my outlook calendar at work. That is where I keep all my and the boys’ appts and such and where I mark the days off for daycare and the school year. If I could access Google calendar from work I would probably use that but all Google applications are blocked at work. 🙁 So at the end of 2024 I will probably get a notebook from this same company or I will get a different bullet journal or something. I want to be a paper planner person but I need electronic reminders in this stage of life. And then I can forward stuff to Phil’s work email so it’s on both of our calendars.
I think about the phase ‘there will be a time after this’ quite a bit which I learned from Nicole who learned it from someone else. I am using that phrase currently to get through this hand pain situation. I am really hoping to hear from my doctor today. She’s usually so responsive but she was on vacation for most of last week. I know she is slammed so am being patient but my mom is ready to track her down on my behalf. Ha. My mom might be more worked up over this flare than I am.
Yes, that is VERY helpful. Whenever I have a running injury I remind myself- I have a 100% success rate in recovering from injuries, and the same with your RA flares. You’ve recovered from all of them and you’ll recover from this one as well. It would be nice if it were sooner rather than later, though.
Yesssss – the week of strength. That sounds amazing and like something to do purposefully rather than as a plan B!
This is the first year I’ve tried using a planner, and my experience has been a big flop. Not the fault of the planner, though! I am just not used to making it a habit in my life, so I forget about it. In fact, I forgot about it for several weeks until I read your post. Whoops!
It took me a while to get in the habit of using it. I just got tired of being astonished at calls from the dentist, reminding me that my appointment is “tomorrow.” WHAT??? Now that I use my planner regularly, those things don’t happen (as much.) I also use it to record my workouts, so I have a good reason for opening it every single day.
Yes on the reframe, you know I love it! I am glad you didn’t write off a whole week because yes, while not being able to run sucks for you, that doesn’t mean the week has to suck. I love reframing things, I think of the saying “what you focus on is what you see more of” and I try to do that. I mean, it doesn’t always work. Sometimes things suck. But also sometimes that opens the door to other things.
I like that Lisa thinks of “there will be a time after this” because it’s what I always think of at difficult times.
What you focus on is what you see more of- it really is true. And- “there will be a time after this.” So, SO true! When I think back on my sprained ankle- I couldn’t even walk, and now that ankle is 100% normal. I try to remind myself that a time will come where I can’t even remember which calf was the one that hurt.
I’m so glad you’re reframing your no run week as something more positive! Our mindset really does matter and I think a week of focusing on strength will really help as you heal your calf issue. And hopefully taking a week off now means you won’t have to take more time off later!
I bought my 2025 planner a few weeks ago at Target, I think it’s the same brand as last year but it has a different cover. Hopefully you can find one you like just as much for next year!
Yes, I realized I can’t keep messing around with this- I have a race in November, which means I need to start ramping up my distance NEXT MONTH. I have to get this fixed now!
Love the reframe! And love your slogan. My now teen gave me a handmade card that said “Make today count” a long time ago, and I still have it on my altar. It’s a nice reminder that a day is a fresh start. Also *gulp* on your “days are finite”–it’s true though.
I’ve been using the same kind of (basic) planner with the same method for about 15 years now… https://www.pocobrat.net/2021/03/days-are-short.html
Ooh, I looked at that post- I love the color coding. I should start doing that. Right now I just draw a box around any “kid” stuff to make it stand out. Color coding would be better.
And yes- “make today count!” I love it.
I don’t have a daily planner. I do use a journal to keep track of my goals. I’ve never really found one that is PERFECT. When I was in high school and college, I was very loyal to a Mead planner that could only be purchased at OfficeMax or Office Depot (I can’t remember which one now). I should see if I can find that planner again.
Yes, I can see how a journal might work better for you, because you have a LOT of monthly and quarterly goals.
I love the cover of your planner so much.
I did a lot of biking this weekend, so yesterday I was pretty sluggish for my workout. This morning I still felt sluggish and was in that inbetween area of not wanting to do my normal workout but also not wanting to skip it. I immediately thought of you and took a power walk outside! It was delightful. So because of your blog this morning really counted for me!
WOOHOO! That makes me happy. And yes- never underestimate a great power walk.
Love your reframe! And hopefully this rest week will do wonders for your calf.
I do LOVE using a paper planner. I find it soothing. I used a Sprouted Planner and really like it, but honestly feel like I could make just about any planner “my own” if I used it long enough. For YEARS I used (and loved) a DollarStore planner that was less than $5! I agree that cover is just too cute and perfect for you!
That’s funny that you went from a $5 planner to Sprouted, because those are pricey. It does seem like the Sprouted planners work well for you- but I agree, I could probably make just about any planner work.
Well, I obviously love planners 🙂 And I continue to find paper the easiest/simplest solution for integrating work and life — however, 100% agree there are so many awesome different ways to do things! (I feel I need to know what Sarah above does to track her kids’ activities!!!! Guessing google calendar but I kind of want specifics!)
We’ll have to get Sarah to give us a glimpse of her planning life- she MUST have an amazing system.
Kitties on a planner!!!! Love.
Do you have a way of reframing difficult situations? Not a phrase but, sort f a reminder to self, that many situations will not matter in a year. Heck, they will not matter in a month. So, really there should be any stress.
I do use a paper planner and no, I use different ones every year. I don’t really have a preference for a layout: horizontal, vertical, who cares. But I do like the planner boxes to be of nice size, since I am very much near sighted and live in my contact lenses and glasses. So I usually go on Amazon, see what they have and pick one with a reasonable price. I think the most I ever spent was $30?
Hmmm! Maybe I’ll check Amazon this year. I’ve never tried a vertical layout. But yes- I need the boxes to be a good size.
What a great reframe, Jenny! I want to be a paper planner person but I am so bad at committing. I end up keeping lists and ideas on my phone’s Notes app. My guy and I use a shared online calendar, but then we also have a family calendar in our kitchen where we list events, activities, etc. I just got a seasonal calendar for that room (and some fun color coding supplies) after listening to a podcast which may win me over to being more consistent with a paper planner next year, though…
Hmm, I’m wondering what podcast that was! Obviously whatever you’re doing is working for you, because I don’t hear you complaining about being confused and missing events and appointments.
Looks like you’ll be able to find your planner online…
https://www.punchstudio.com/
Love the reframe- I have a reframe for hard things that are bad “This too shall pass” or like Daria “I’ll look back on this in a year and it will be a vague memory”. And for hard things that will be rewarding “FFT” from Brene Brown. The reminder that all first times are F*** hard, and the only way past them is through. And reframing anxiety as excitement!
Yes- I did hear that one on a running podcast. If you’re anxious or worried about a race, reframe it as excitement. Great tip. AND- Sophie to the rescue! I guess I should have thought to check online- thank you!!!
I do love that planner.
No I do have 2 paper calendars but mostly use my digital ones for work and personal. And the blog.
I like the way you think.
This is the week where I get to avoid the weather and run if possible.
That planner is so cute! I hope you find something similar! I use a digital one 🙂
Oh I LOVE that planner. Not just for the cats, but I love the way things are laid out. It looks perfect! I need to make sure I go to TJ Maxx to search for a paper planner. I always want to use one but I’ve yet to find one that meets my criteria. Although, I am gobsmacked that we’re already thinking about 2025 planners. WHAT!
Check out their site https://www.punchstudio.com/
Maybe they have one for next year!