Embrace Your Monthly Reset: A Guide to Refreshing Your Planner
Welcome to the world of organized living and personal efficiency! It’s that time again – the beginning of a new month, and with it, the perfect opportunity for a Monthly Planner Reset. This isn't just about flipping a page; it's a ritual to help you clear your mind, reevaluate goals, and step into the new month with clarity and purpose. Here's your comprehensive guide to refreshing your planner, tailored for our unique discbound system.
Don't forget your free checklist at the bottom of this blog post!
Step 1: Clear the Old Month
Reflect Before You Reject: Before removing the past month's pages, take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments and setbacks. What worked? What didn’t? Jot down these reflections in a separate section of your planner or a digital document for future reference.
Remove and Archive: Carefully remove the old month's pages. Our discbound system makes this a breeze. Now, what to do with these pages? This is where our "Creating an Archival Planner" blog post comes in handy. Here are some key steps:
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Choose What to Keep: Not every page needs to be archived. Select pages that contain important milestones, achievements, lessons learned, or any data you might refer back to.
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Organize into an Archival Planner: Transfer the selected pages to an archival planner. This could be a separate discbound planner designated specifically for archiving, or any other system you prefer. Label the sections by month or category for easy reference.
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Store or Display: Decide whether you want to store your archival planner in a safe place or keep it accessible for regular reflection and reference. Some people enjoy having their past planners displayed on a shelf, turning them into a collection of personal history.
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Digital Archiving (Optional): For those who prefer a digital backup, scan your pages and store them in a digital format. This way, you have a backup and can access your past planners from anywhere.
By archiving your old planner pages, you’re not just decluttering your current planner, but also creating a valuable resource for future reflection and growth. For more detailed tips and ideas on creating an archival planner, make sure to check out our detailed blog post on the subject (insert link to the archival planner blog post).
Step 2: Migrate Important Information
Migrating information from the past month is a critical step in ensuring that nothing valuable gets lost in the transition. It’s about carrying forward the lessons, tasks, and ideas that will continue to serve you in the new month. Here’s how to do it effectively:
1. Review and Identify: Begin by thoroughly reviewing the past month’s pages. Look for:
- Unfinished Tasks: Identify tasks that were not completed but are still relevant.
- Ongoing Projects: Note any projects that are spanning multiple months.
- Important Notes: Highlight any notes, ideas, or observations that you want to keep.
- Events and Appointments: Check for any events or appointments that were postponed or need to be remembered.
2. Categorize the Information: Group the information you’ve identified into categories such as tasks, notes, and appointments. This makes the migration process more organized and less overwhelming.
3. Decide on Placement: Determine where each piece of information will be transferred in your new monthly setup. Options might include:
- Moving Tasks to a New To-Do List: Transfer unfinished tasks to the upcoming month’s to-do list or a designated section for ongoing tasks.
- Creating a Continuation Page for Projects: If you have ongoing projects, dedicate a page or section in your new month for continuing these projects, noting where you left off and what next steps are planned.
- Transferring Notes to a Reference Collection or Journal Section: Migrate important notes or ideas to a dedicated collection or journal section. Consider using tabs or color-coding for easy access.
- Adding Events and Appointments to the New Calendar: Place any upcoming or rescheduled events and appointments in your new monthly calendar or future log.
- For events that happen again that same month next year: If you have the next year's calendar, go ahead and write them in. If you don't have the next year's calendar, this is where we suggest putting a sticky note on the inside of your tabbed divider for that month and writing down any dates you'll need for next year. We put birthdays and anniversaries here as a holding spot so we have them next year when we need them.
4. Use Tools for Efficiency: Utilize tools like sticky notes, flags, or highlighters to mark pages that contain information to migrate. This can help streamline the process and ensure you don’t miss anything important.
5. Reflect and Refine: As you migrate, take the opportunity to reflect on the relevance of each item. Ask yourself if each task, note, or appointment is still important or if your priorities have shifted. This is a chance to refine your focus and commitments for the new month.
6. Update as Needed: Remember, your planner is a living tool. Feel free to revisit and update the migrated information as circumstances change throughout the month.
Step 3: Setting Up the New Month
The heart of your monthly reset lies in setting up for the new month. This step is all about laying a foundation for success, clarity, and productivity. Here's how to do it with precision and creativity:
1. Insert Your New Monthly Pages (if they aren't already inserted):
- Choose Your Design: Select from our range of monthly designs, which cater to different lifestyles and preferences. Consider what vibe or inspiration you want for the month ahead.
- Securely Place the Pages: Insert your chosen pages into the discbound system, ensuring they are secure and turn easily.
2. Create a Monthly Overview:
- Mark Key Dates: Input significant dates like birthdays, anniversaries, due dates, deadlines, and appointments. You can use color codes or stickers for easy identification.
- Review your projects, someday/maybe inserts, and your inbox. If you keep dated information somewhere else in your planner, now is the time to give it a look over.
- Set a Monthly Focus or Intention: Write down your focus for the month. This could be a personal goal, a professional objective, or a mindset you wish to cultivate.
- Include a Habit Tracker: If you track habits, set up your tracker for the new month. This could include habits like reading, exercising, or mindful spending. We have a great blog post on how to set up a habit tracker here.
3. Define Your Goals:
- Review Last Month’s Goals: Reflect on the previous month's goals – what was achieved, what wasn’t, and why.
- Set Realistic and Measurable Goals: Write down your goals for the new month. Ensure they are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
- Break Down into Actionable Steps: For each goal, list the steps needed to achieve it. Assign these steps to weeks or days for a structured approach.
- If you are already creating goals the Jane's Agenda way, now is the time to ensure your micro goals with related projects and tasks are written on your monthly pages.
4. Plan Your Weeks and Days:
- Weekly Layouts: Set up your weekly layouts. Migrate any information you need at hand from your Month to your Week. Decide if you want a detailed daily breakdown or a more open, flexible layout.
- Daily Priorities: For each day, identify top priorities or tasks. This helps maintain focus and manage your daily workload. While you can certainly do this the day of, I find it works best to put any big items in your daily spreads ahead of time.
- Include Time for Self-Care and Relaxation: Ensure your planner reflects a balanced lifestyle by scheduling time for self-care, hobbies, and relaxation. I think we often forget to schedule ourselves in our planners.
5. Personalize with Customization:
- Use Add-Ons and Accessories: Enhance your planner with our range of add-ons like pocket folders, sticky notes, and dashboards for quick access.
- Use highlighters to signify importance or categories: I highlight headers and important details on my pages so I can find the information quickly, with a glance.
- Decorate and Inspire: Personalize your planner with stickers, inspirational quotes, or personal photos. This makes your planner not just a tool, but a reflection of you. If you enjoy your planner, you'll be more likely to use it.
- Replace anything damaged or out of date.
6. Final Checks and Balancing:
- Review for Completeness and Practicality: Go through the new setup to ensure you haven’t missed anything important and that your plan is practical.
- Adjust as Needed: Remember, flexibility is key. Be open to adjusting your planner as the month progresses and as your needs evolve.
7. Setting Up Additional Sections:
- Notes/Brainstorming Area: Allocate space for jotting down ideas, brainstorming sessions, or random thoughts that might need more exploration.
- Monthly Reflection or Journaling Space: Set aside a section for end-of-the-month reflections or regular journaling to track your emotional and mental wellbeing.
Setting up your planner for the new month is not just about organization; it’s a ritual that prepares you mentally and emotionally for the days ahead. By following these detailed steps, you create a tailored, functional, and inspiring space that aligns with your goals and aspirations, ensuring that each month you’re not just planning, but also evolving.
Step 4: Review and Adjust
Look Ahead with a Clear Mind: With your planner set for the new month, take a moment to review everything. Ensure that your goals are realistic and aligned with your long-term plans.
Make Adjustments as Needed: The beauty of our discbound planner is its flexibility. Don't be afraid to remove, add, or rearrange pages as your month progresses and your needs change.
Schedule your next monthly reset in your planner.
Quick Recap: Your Monthly Planner Reset Steps
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Clear the Old Month:
- Reflect on the past month’s achievements and challenges.
- Remove old pages and decide what to keep for archiving.
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Migrate Important Information:
- Review the past month for key tasks, notes, and events.
- Categorize and decide where to transfer each piece of information.
- Use tools like sticky notes and highlighters for efficiency.
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Setting Up the New Month:
- Insert new monthly pages with your chosen design.
- Create a comprehensive monthly overview with key dates and goals.
- Plan your weeks and days, focusing on priorities and balance.
- Customize with add-ons, decorations, and personal touches.
- Review and adjust for completeness and practicality.
- Include additional sections for notes, brainstorming, or journaling.
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Review and Adjust:
- Regularly revisit your planner to update or modify as needed.
- Reflect on your ongoing progress and adapt your plan to stay aligned with your goals.
Conclusion: Ready for a Fresh Start
Your planner is now reset, and so is your mindset. This monthly ritual is more than just an organizational task; it's a commitment to your personal growth and productivity. As you embark on this new month, remember that your planner is a tool to help you live a more organized, purposeful, and joyful life.
Whether you’re a part of our Monthly Cover Club, a subscriber to our Planner Lifestyle Subscription Box, or a connoisseur of our Deluxe Planner Lifestyle Subscription Box, remember that each month is a new chapter. Embrace it with a beautifully organized planner by your side. Not a subscriber? Find out more here.
Ready to learn more? Read How to Create a Perpetual Task List here.