5 Tips To Plan Your Day ✨ (And *Actually* Follow Through)

If you struggle with actually following through on your plans, this video is for you!

We all know and have heard a million times that the key to success is in daily habits, but what if your life doesn't lend itself well to consistent schedules, energy, and action? That's what we're talking about today!

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Want to send me some Happy Mail? I have a new address!

Sarra Cannon
445 E FM 1382
Suite 3 - 419
Cedar Hill, TX 75104

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Heart Breathings, Episode 505

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#writers #authortube

Chapters
00:00 Struggling To Follow Through
02:44 Check In With Your Energy
07:29 Eagle Eye View
11:02 Plan The Night Before
13:22 Make It A Game
17:35 Make Your Work Visible
20:02 My Planning System

[HeartBreathings]

I'm back! Thank you all so much for 73k subscribers. So excited for all the wonderful things coming up the rest of 2024. How have you been?

[LP-ckqx]

I am a paper planner person. In order to make that more visible, I bought an Ikea cookbook holder/book stand on which I can prop my open planner to keep the day in front of me all the time. This frees up my desk space to actually work on the project planned for a particular time slot.

[JimmieHammel]

My ADHD is pretty severe, and I struggle with habits a lot, but I keep it doable by only having 3 habits. They're all really easy, and the first 2 increase my energy for the rest of the day.

1- I get dressed everyday. Even if I don't leave the house, I HAVE to put on clothes that I would be willing to wear to the grocery store.

2- high calorie, high protein, highly nutritious breakfast is mandatory.

3- I write for at least 15 minutes. Hopefully more, but if I haven't written yet at 11pm, then I have to sit down and do it before midnight.

[evelynmariagonzalez]

Hi Sarra, I am an HB90 Alum -- thank you so much for all you do for us! HB90 has been life-changing for me and I used all the materials. Two years later, I have another approach and a confession: I have two favorite Sarra Cannon videos I play in the background and they serve to motivate me! Usually, within 8-12 minutes, I start working on my own chapters, or my school lectures! Then, I mute you and look up periodically -- to watch you as you visit cafes, or sort out your scene cards. On other days, I review your outlining novel video and listen to key parts! Good Luck with the DOVS and thanks again!

[allysue]

Early last year or late the year before, I watched whichever video it was where you mentioned the Sweetie Store and it clicked something in my brain to start adding points to my task list, it was a huge factor in what made my 2023 so successful and how I met almost all my goals. 2024 unfortunately took me down from grief, and I’ve only just started to get back into a place to start trying planning again (just started setting up a new planner this weekend!). I was just wondering if I should add the points too. You mentioning the Sweetie Store again in today’s video feels like a sign. So thank you for that!

[carrieksnider]

I feel so SEEN by tip #1. My energy varies wildly, and I always feel guilty even though I know it's not my fault. I love your perspective on energy levels and your approach. Genius! <3

[JDawnKing]

Life is too challenging to plan more than a day at a time in my world so this is exactly what I need. Thank you!

[kvnxojv]

Yay, great tips Sarra! When you pointed out that some of these are contradictory, it gave me an idea -- I think I'll put these ideas (and maybe a couple of others I've had floating around in the back of my head) on some index cards and then pick one for the day/week/etc. to try! Maybe a random draw, or maybe I'll intentionally pick one that feels promising. In a way that's kind of adding fun/gamification to the (somewhat tedious) process of trying to figure out how to improve my productivity/workflow! (My HB90 goals for Q3 already involve designing a "Weekly Experiment" along these lines, so this will spice up my last few weeks!)

[TheSilverG]

I cannot tell you how much the HB90 planner has helped me! I actually finished writing, editing, and getting it uploaded to KPD 3 weeks early! I can't wait to share next quarters planner with everyone!❤🍒

[glukkan]

This gave me such an aha moment! I have been having trouble managing my to do list but I think categorizing the tasks as low, med or high energy would be so helpful!

[jklivin]

Thank you so much for this. This is an issue I have always struggled with. Even with older kids, who don't need me as much, we still have inconsistent daily schedules with homeschool, a part time job, outside classes, etc. My days all look different.

[vanessaprestoncreative]

Thanks for the encouragement and strategies ... variable energy health-wise, interruptions from family members, everyone else's needs, boundaries that don't stick with someone I care for, and no 'room of my own' to settle in and focus ... some days I thrive pursuing my dreams as an artist and writer, some days like today I curl up in a teary ball. It's reassuring to hear how you handle low energy days. I do similar things ... reading, watching online classes, etc. and will try to feel less guilty about it. One thing I do know is that low days are not the days when decisions should be made.

[Juntaine]

Updating my HB90 planner while watching this video. I cannot express how important it is for me to have structured checkins at the end of every week. I always think I have a good handle on my projects, but that's always a lie. I haven't found any other planner that has a good weekly checkin. Seriously my #1 reason I use your planner.

[roshanrahealer]

Sara,

Thanks so much! As always, I love how much care you put into the information you present! I love your inspiration and honesty when it comes to keeping track of goals. I have dissociative disorders, so some parts of me love keeping track of what I do on paper, others like the data on digital trackers, and other parts just like seeing all the art and books in my office. I take pictures to integrate what I've done into my mind, as well. At least weekly, I have to go back into "plan" mode, as I am retraining my brain to not behave in the ways I had to for almost three decades. Your channel is one that has inpsired me to keep going on my series and not worry about how long it takes or how many times I decide to write a different book that will help me remember plot points along the way.

I love the organization of your office. It's not how I work but it's lovely to see. :)

[michellec]

Perfect timing! I'm great at helping others come up with new processes, but for myself, the negative voices seem too loud and don't let me think. I tend to make lots of lists, but then get overwhelmed and have a hard time deciding what to address first. You've given me some ideas to ponder. Thank you!!!

[isirlasplace]

I love the Kanban board idea!!! I'm going to go turn my whiteboard into one right now!!🫶

[TMReese]

Love Kanban, Love planning & planners… but I have not yet set my daily expectations based on my energy/ how I’m
feeling - I can see this being a HUGE help; especially with us ladies as we have hugely different changes to our hormones throughout the month and there’s just days we feel awful. It’s like preemptively erasing the guilt we feel “not accomplishing as much” on those days- but on the flip side we’d never expect our friends or partner to go 100% on days they don’t have the energy. LOVE this 💕

[staceyshillingburg]

I finally found a visual system that works for me using your, Your Path Forward course and tailored it to what works best for me which is one of my most favorite things about your courses ☺️

[lashaunkinard]

Love all your tips! I want to work on checking in with my energy, an Eagle eye view and making my work visible. Thank you!

[t.a.creech]

I'm practically vibrating with anticipation for Q3 planning! I've got six scene left to write on the book I'm working on and I'm done with the rough draft. After that, all Q3 is dedicated to re-editing my Expedition 63 trilogy for my first go at self-publishing. I wouldn't have gotten to this point without your amazing guidance, the Hearties community, or HB90. THANK YOU. You've changed my whole life. (And holy hell, I'm tearing up writing this comment. LOL.)