Best Planners to Get 2020 Off to a Productive Start

Business

Dec 23

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December is a hectic time of year. Not only are you planning for the holidays, taking PTO to travel and see family, shop ’til we drop, and attend countless holiday parties, but you’re most likely also planning out your goals and milestones for 2020.

It’s overwhelming.

And you’re probably remembering February of 2019, when all those grand plans you made for the year went up in a ball of smoke.

Trust me. I was there. That was me too.

Lack of Planning or Too Much Going On?

My 2019 looked vastly different than I set out in December 2018). While part of it is due to shifting business models, honing in on my skill set, and truly understanding where the gaps are in the industry (but that’s all for a 2019 in review post), after careful analysis of how I tried to reach my goals I realized I was lacking something:

Consistent planning and accountability.

I had a lot going on in my life with my 9-5, Broken Glass Media, and my personal life. I thought I had it all under control until I would look at my to-do list and freak out about the volume of work that had to be done.

And let me tell you, when I have an enormous amount of work on my plate I’ll do the minimum and then completely shut down.

I knew I couldn’t let this happen anymore. I want Broken Glass to grow and flourish, to inspire women in the music industry and to help musicians take their career to the next level.

Implementing New Systems

By the fourth quarter of 2019, I figured out a system for myself that actually works.

I’m a huge fan of Asana, so I started there by adding in all my major projects, the subtasks that go along with each, and the due dates. I had a visual of everything that needed to get done for that one project.

I bought the Productivity Planner from Intelligent Change and installed Be Focused Pro on my Mac and iPhone. The Productivity Planner had me set out the most important tasks for my day, and since it works with the Pomodoro Method, I tracked each 25 minute increment with Be Focused.

Once I knew what needed to be done each day, I calendar blocked in my Google calendar. I set out non-negotiable (my 9-5, workouts, travel to and from places) and then added the blocks of time to spend on each task or project.

Productivity Achieved

Yes, I use several systems to remain productive and achieve my goals. No, you don’t have to either. What’s important is to find a system that works for you.

This is what works for me. I’m more focused. I know exactly what tasks I need to do in a week and in a day. I make the time to complete them.

And as I set my 2020 goals, I know that I’ll be able to achieve them. I’ll be able to take on more client work without overloading myself. I’ll be able to create new products and content to help you achieve your own career goals or get into the musicpreneur mindset.

And with the addition of a new planner for 2020, the Rock/Star Life Planner, I’ll be set to conquer the musicpreneur landscape.

My Top Planners:

These are the two planners I’m taking with me into 2020:

The Productivity Planner* helps me set out important tasks for each week and day, and how long it will take me to complete them. I’ll also be able to review how productive I was at the end of each week. The Productivity Planner is available on Amazon for just $24.99*.

2020 Rock/Star Life Planner* Suz from Rock/Star Advocate put an amazing planner together. I will admit, there is a lot to it, but don’t let it overwhelm you. As you go through it, you’ll see just how helpful it will be. There’s a social media planner for each week, sections for self-care, weekly planning and weekly reviews, and so much more good stuff! The 2020 Rock/Star Life Planner is also available on Amazon for $29.95.

Bonus Products:

The Five Minute Journal* I’m a huge fan of the makers of the Productivity Planner, actually starting with their gratitude journal The Five Minute Journal. While The Five Minute Journal isn’t a productivity journal by any means, it does help to shift your mindset and think about how you want your day to go. At the end of the day, you can review how your day went. It is an incredibly helpful mindset tool that gets my day started off on the right foot. The Five Minute Journal is available on Amazon for just $24.99*. Trust me, it’s worth every penny.

Be Focused Pro I’m going to be honest, I just started using this app but I’m already in love with it. There’s a free version if you’re not quite ready to commit to it, but it’s helping me focus and keep on track with all my tasks and projects. I can also download reports to see just how much time in a day or week I’ve spent on a particular tasks. It’s a handy app that works in conjunction with the Productivity Planner.

Panda Planner* While I personally haven’t used Panda Planner yet, I’ve heard many good things about it. These planners are available in a variety of options (and colors) and are focused on being productive and crushing your goals. There’s even comparison chart on their site so you can choose which planner is best for you. And honestly, with the price starting at $24.97 for the classic, I just may invest in one myself! Shop Panda Planner now* and take 15% off with the code GIMME15!

How to Take Back Your Day in 5 Easy Steps If you’re looking for more productivity hacks, I put together a guide with the 5 steps I take each week and day to knock out more tasks, spend more time working on my business (not in it!), and finding time for the things I love to do. Just fill out the form below and the guide will be immediately delivered to your email!