The PLAN

Key Takeaways

1. The System is Rigged: Productivity Isn't Designed for Women

The problem isn’t you.

Patriarchal systems. The current productivity paradigm is rooted in a male-dominated system that prioritizes optimization, efficiency, and success, often ignoring the unique challenges and rhythms of women's lives. This system was built during the Industrial Revolution and has been reinforced by the digital age, creating a productivity-industrial complex that benefits from our constant striving.

Exclusion of women's experiences. Most time-management advice comes from men who don't have to deal with bosses, homes to run, or menstrual cycles. This exclusion leads to incomplete and often unhelpful strategies for women, who are expected to make male-centric systems work for their complex lives. The system is not designed for women, and it's not your fault that it doesn't work for you.

Cultural expectations. Women are often expected to manage everything while also dealing with hormonal fluctuations, societal pressures, and implicit biases. This creates an exhausting cycle of trying to fit into a system that was never designed for them, leading to feelings of inadequacy and burnout.

2. Integration, Not Greatness: A New Goal for Time Management

The goal is not greatness. The goal is integration.

Shifting focus. Instead of striving for an unattainable ideal of perfection and constant productivity, the goal should be to integrate all parts of ourselves—desires, emotions, bodily cues—into a cohesive whole. This approach prioritizes wholeness and well-being over external achievements.

Wholehearted living. Integration involves letting go of things like perfectionism, comparison, and the need for control, and embracing compassion, gentleness, and self-care. It's about living in the center of who you know yourself to be, rather than chasing an external ideal.

Rejecting the hustle. The traditional productivity paradigm often promotes a culture of constant striving and exhaustion, which is not sustainable or fulfilling. Integration encourages us to prioritize our well-being and to live in a way that honors our true selves, not a manufactured ideal.

3. Start Where You Are: The Power of the Present Moment

We don’t start with where we want to go. We start where we already are.

Present-focused approach. Instead of focusing on an imagined future, we should start by tending to our present needs and circumstances. This approach acknowledges the complexities and variability of life and prioritizes the here and now.

Tending to the present. This involves paying attention to our current season of life, our physical and emotional needs, and the specific challenges we are facing. It's about being present with our bodies, our families, and our current situations, rather than constantly striving for an invisible future.

Embracing the taco floatie. When overwhelmed, it's helpful to visualize yourself in the ocean, slowly finding your way to a floatie (like a taco) to catch your breath. This metaphor emphasizes the importance of being present and kind to yourself, no matter where you are in the water.

4. Name What Matters: The Foundation of Effective Planning

Naming what matters is aligning your needs with your season, no matter what is happening.

Prioritizing needs. Naming what matters involves aligning your needs with your current season of life, whether it's a new job, a pregnancy, or an unexpected crisis. This practice helps you focus on what is truly important and make decisions that support your well-being.

Proactive vs. reactive. Naming what matters can be done proactively, when you know a new season is coming, or reactively, when you're faced with an unexpected challenge. In both cases, the key is to identify what is most important in the moment.

Singular and small. When naming what matters, make it as singular as possible and then break it down into smaller, more manageable choices. This approach helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed and allows you to focus on what truly matters most.

5. The PLAN Framework: Prepare, Live, Adjust, Notice

The PLAN is intended to be your time-management companion from this day forward.

Interconnected elements. The PLAN framework consists of four interconnected elements: prepare, live, adjust, and notice. These elements work together to support a balanced and integrated approach to time management.

Not a linear process. The PLAN is not a sequential process; instead, these four elements are intertwined and work in reciprocity. They are a team, not a checklist. The goal is to live well in the present moment, supported by these four elements.

The PLAN Pyramid. The PLAN is visualized as a pyramid, with "what matters most" as its base and the three faces of prepare, adjust, and notice supporting the apex of living. This structure emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach to time management.

6. Hormones Matter: Align Your Life with Your Cycle

We can’t talk about time management without talking about periods.

Hormonal influence. A woman's menstrual cycle significantly affects her energy levels and moods, and these fluctuations should be taken into account when managing time. Ignoring these hormonal rhythms leads to an incomplete and often ineffective approach to productivity.

Four phases of the cycle. The menstrual cycle can be aligned with the seasons of the year: the menstrual phase (winter) is a time for rest and noticing; the follicular phase (spring) is a time for preparation; the ovulation phase (summer) is a time for living; and the luteal phase (fall) is a time for adjusting.

Leveraging your cycle. By understanding and aligning your activities with your hormonal cycle, you can optimize your energy and productivity. This approach honors the unique rhythms of a woman's body and promotes a more sustainable and fulfilling way of living.

7. Bring Your Whole Self: Embrace Your Unique Needs

You are always living from a shifting spectrum of energy and resources, and I want you to kindly and wisely account for that shift.

Individual differences. Each person is unique, with their own personality, upbringing, mental health, and faith practices, all of which influence how they manage their time. A one-size-fits-all approach to time management is not effective.

Embracing fluidity. Instead of trying to create a static, predictable life, we should embrace the fluidity and variability of our experiences. This involves being flexible with our expectations and honoring the shifting spectrum of energy and resources we bring to each day.

Self-awareness. Understanding your personality, neurodiversity, mental health, and spiritual beliefs is crucial for creating a time-management system that works for you. This involves being kind to yourself and honoring your unique needs and limitations.

8. Manage the Right Thing: Energy, Expectations, and Connection

Time isn’t the only thing to manage.

Beyond time management. Instead of focusing solely on managing time, we should also focus on managing our energy, expectations, and connections with others. These elements are crucial for living a balanced and fulfilling life.

Four key areas. We should notice our energy, adjust our expectations, prepare to pivot, and live together. These four areas provide a more comprehensive approach to time management that goes beyond simply getting things done.

Prioritizing relationships. The importance of relationships cannot be overstated. We need to synchronize our time with others and prioritize communal time, as relationships are the key to happiness and well-being.

9. Lighten the Load: A Better Way to Make To-Do Lists

Lists are useful because they document what we ordinarily forget.

Brain dumps. Start by making a brain dump of everything that's on your mind, focusing on what's overwhelming, what you don't have a plan for, and what you really want to do. This helps you get everything out so you can figure it out.

Assigning significance. Once you have your brain dump, assign significance to each item by labeling it as either "lazy" or "genius," or using a similar system. This helps you prioritize what matters most and allocate your energy accordingly.

Making it smaller. Break down large projects and chaotic situations into smaller, more manageable decisions and actions. This approach makes tasks feel less daunting and increases the likelihood of completion.

Putting it in place. Organize your tasks using categories like "Now, Soon, Later, Never Mind," "What's in the Tank," "All Together Now," or "Pick One." This helps you prioritize and manage your time more effectively.

10. The Lazy Genius Method: A Framework for Weekly Planning

To prepare like a Lazy Genius, you go in the right order.

Five steps. The Lazy Genius Method consists of five steps: prioritize, essentialize, organize, personalize, and systemize. This method provides a fluid and versatile approach to planning your week.

Prioritize and essentialize. Start by naming what matters most this week and then get rid of what's in the way. This approach helps you focus on what's truly important and avoid getting bogged down by unnecessary tasks.

Organize and personalize. Put everything in its place and then make sure you feel like yourself. This involves creating a schedule that supports your needs and preferences, rather than trying to fit into a rigid structure.

Systemize. Keep things in a flow by asking the magic question: "What can I do now to make something easier later?" This approach helps you create systems that support your goals and make your life easier.

11. The Someday List: Reimagining Goals and Dreams

The Someday List is exactly what it sounds like. It’s full of things you’d like to do someday.

A different approach to goals. Instead of setting rigid goals, create a Someday List of things you'd like to do in the future. This approach allows you to dream and plan without feeling pressured to achieve everything at once.

Trips and skills. Categorize your Someday List into trips and skills, and then use a specific process to move them from the list to a project. This approach helps you break down large dreams into smaller, more manageable steps.

Following your dreams. Treat your dreams like anything else on your Someday List. When you're ready, turn them into projects and follow the process to make them happen. Remember, you don't have to have big dreams to live a fulfilling life.

Last updated: January 24, 2025

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