## intro [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=0s) - The idea that a planner should be messy, imperfect, and sometimes ugly is being discussed because a messy planner indicates that it is actually being used [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=0s). - There was initially a feeling of pressure to create a beautiful planner with nice handwriting and color-coded spreads, especially as a planning influencer, but this led to decreased productivity [(00:00:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=7s). - The attempt to make the planner perfect resulted in spending too much time on aesthetics, leaving little energy to accomplish the tasks written in the planner [(00:00:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=19s). - It was realized that the most productive periods were those with messy, crossed out, and scribbled in planners, which had signs of use such as coffee stains and dogeared pages [(00:00:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=31s). - The goal is to use the planner for making plans, not creating paintings, and to discuss how to stop being overly precise with the planner and how messy planning can increase productivity [(00:00:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=37s). - The discussion aims to help break free from planning perfectionism and explore why messy planning can be beneficial for productivity [(00:00:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=52s). ## the online planning ecosystem [(00:01:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=65s) - The online planning ecosystem often presents a distorted view of planning reality, with social media algorithms favoring beautiful and elaborate content that creates unrealistic standards for planning, making people feel like they are planning wrong if they don't meet those standards [(00:01:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=94s). - Many popular planners and planning influencers on social media are actual artists, such as Katherine from Sterling Inc., who have skill sets that enable them to create beautiful spreads, making it unrealistic for others to compare their own planning skills [(00:01:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=118s). - The online planning community also showcases ultra-neat and minimalist spreads that are branded as functional planning, but these spreads are often extremely beautiful and rise to the top of social media algorithms, influencing trends and planner purchases [(00:02:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=158s). - Social media has a significant influence on the types of planners people buy, with many discovering new brands and products through online platforms, such as Hobonichi, the [[Common Planner]], and Paper Test Designs [(00:03:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=192s). - The planner community has evolved over time, with a shift from simple, DIY spreads to high-end, beautifully designed products that are often used by creators and artists to showcase their work and sell products [(00:03:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=224s). - This can lead to people worshiping their planners instead of using them, treating them as precious and sacred objects that cannot be messed with or altered, rather than as tools for living their lives [(00:04:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=278s). - However, planners are meant to be used and should not be treated as museum pieces, and people should focus on using them to plan and live their lives, rather than trying to create perfect and beautiful spreads [(00:04:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=296s). - Messy planning and using planners in a practical and functional way can be more effective and reflective of real life, with messy spreads often being a sign of a planner being used to its full potential [(00:05:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=331s). - To break free from planner perfectionism, people need to stop worshiping their planners and focus on using them as tools for planning and living their lives, rather than trying to create perfect and beautiful spreads [(00:05:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=353s). ## strategy 1: make mistakes early [(00:05:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=355s) - To begin using a new planner, it is suggested to make a mistake in it, such as writing with intentionally messy handwriting, crossing out a task, or doodling something mediocre in the margins, which can be done in the notes pages section, and this approach helps to break the pressure of keeping the planner perfect [(00:06:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=365s). - The act of making a mistake in the planner can be liberating, as it allows the individual to overcome the fear of messing up the planner, and by doing so, the pressure to keep it perfect is gone, making it easier to use the planner without the fear of making mistakes [(00:06:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=406s). - Research supports the approach of making mistakes, as studies on learning show that making mistakes creates stronger neural connections and better performance later on, and by intentionally making mistakes, individuals can teach their brain that mistakes are a part of the process and not something to be feared [(00:07:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=428s). - The strategy of making mistakes early on can be applied by simply making a mark in the planner, such as writing something with a pen, and this mark does not have to be meaningful or significant, but rather just a way to break the seal and make the planner feel less intimidating [(00:06:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=400s). - The notes page section of the planner is often considered more intimidating than the dated planner section, which is why making a mistake in this section can be particularly helpful in overcoming the fear of messing up the planner [(00:06:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=382s). ## strategy 2: clean your algorithms [(00:07:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=445s) - To be intentional about the planning content consumed, it is essential to clean your algorithms by being mindful of the accounts you follow and engage with on social media, as these algorithms feed you more of what you engage with, allowing you to train them to show more realistic content [(00:07:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=445s). - If certain accounts make you feel jealous or inadequate, it is recommended to mute or unfollow them, at least temporarily, to avoid feelings of envy and focus on seeking out accounts that show the reality of planning, including messy pages and abandoned spreads [(00:07:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=479s). - A messy planner that is actually used is considered more valuable than a beautiful, pristine planner that is not used, and creative expression can help let go of the need for perfection, with platforms like [[Skillshare]] offering hands-on learning experiences to foster creativity [(00:08:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=532s). - Skillshare's classes, such as Jules Accre's Chaos to Calm Google Calendar workshop, can help individuals build creativity into their daily routines and set up schedules that accommodate their natural cycles, rather than forcing productivity at all times [(00:09:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=575s). - The first 500 people to click the link in the description can get a one-month free trial of Skillshare, allowing them to experiment and find what works for them, with the platform offering on-demand, bite-sized lessons designed by creatives for creatives [(00:10:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=616s). ## strategy 3: the rough draft mindset [(00:10:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=637s) - A planner can be viewed as the rough draft of one's life, where individuals figure out how to live, plan, and be inside their life, similar to how novelists and artists approach their first drafts and sketches [(00:10:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=637s). - The planner is a working document that allows individuals to organize their thoughts and plans, and it is not expected to be perfect, just like a novelist's first draft or an artist's initial sketches [(00:10:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=645s). - Having a rough draft mindset means that the planner is used to get everything out of one's brain and organize it into a coherent plan, with the understanding that the final result may differ from the initial plan, as seen in the example of draft one and draft two of a monthly plan [(00:11:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=660s). - The rough draft pages in a planner can be useful in the moment for organizing and planning, but they may not be important once the plans have been executed and the individual has moved on, serving only as a reference or explanatory tool [(00:11:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=689s). - The concept of a rough draft mindset emphasizes the importance of embracing imperfection and flexibility in planning, recognizing that the final outcome may not match the initial plan, but still valuing the process of planning and organization [(00:11:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=700s). ## strategy 4: the 80% rule [(00:11:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=702s) - The 80% rule for planning involves aiming for a system that works about 80% of the time, rather than striving for perfection, and this approach can be liberating as it acknowledges that no planning system will ever be perfect [(00:11:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=702s). - By implementing the 80% rule, individuals can create a planning system that is functional and effective, even if it is not completely filled out or perfectly organized, as seen in the example of weekly spreads that are filled out for the first half of the week but empty for the second half [(00:12:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=770s). - The 80% rule allows for flexibility and accounts for natural energy levels, as people may have more energy to plan at the beginning of the week but less energy towards the end, and it is okay if things get missed or not everything is perfectly crossed out [(00:14:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=869s). - Embracing the 80% rule can help individuals avoid feeling like they have failed if their planning system is not perfect, and instead, they can focus on getting the most out of their planner, even if it is not completely filled out, as an 80% success rate is better than a 0% success rate [(00:14:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=893s). - The 80% rule can be beneficial for productivity, as it allows individuals to get started with planning, even if they cannot fill out everything perfectly, and it can help them navigate the ups and downs of life, rather than being constrained by an idealized version of their week [(00:15:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=907s). ## messy planning: a thesis statement [(00:15:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=915s) - The benefits of messy planning include actually using the planner, as it eliminates the fear of ruining it, and consistency is a key predictor of planning effectiveness, which is supported by studies on student studying habits [(00:15:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=915s). - Messy planning allows for adaptability, as it enables individuals to easily adjust to life's changes, and a good example of this is the use of a manager's notebook, where simplicity and flexibility are prioritized over elaborate systems [(00:15:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=950s). - When planning is not approached with a perfectionist mindset, it becomes a living document that can be crossed out, moved around, and adapted as needed, without feeling like a failure, and it's okay if the rough draft is not perfect [(00:16:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=1019s). - Focusing on results rather than appearances is crucial, and messy planning helps to achieve this by prioritizing the completion of goals and tasks over the appearance of the planner, as seen in the comparison of weekly spreads from 2023 and the present [(00:17:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=1037s). - The purpose of planning is to help individuals live a meaningful and intentional life, and when the focus is too much on the appearance of the planner, the true purpose of planning is lost, and it's essential to start focusing on results and less on presentation [(00:18:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=1093s). - The planner is a workbook for life, meant to be messy, scribbled in, and used up completely, and individuals should give themselves permission to mess up their planner and focus on living their life rather than just documenting it beautifully [(00:18:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=1111s). - Overcoming planner perfectionism is essential, and individuals can do this by using their planner imperfectly and focusing on the results, and tips for achieving this can be shared and discussed, such as using a simple system and prioritizing consistency [(00:18:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA&t=1123s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt00pf2bwhA?si=Y2B2Ujegant8STje)