## Hobby vs. Functional Planning - There is a divide in the planning community between using planning as a hobby and using planning as a functional tool, with hobby planners focusing on creativity and functional planners prioritizing efficiency [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=0s). - Functional planners can be elitist in their approach, viewing decoration or art in planners as a waste of time, but it is possible to balance creativity and functionality in planning [(00:00:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=19s). ## Adopting a Planning System - To transition from treating planners as a hobby to making it a functional daily habit, it is essential to adopt an actual planning system, such as [[Getting Things Done]] or the 12-week year, which provides structure and guidance [(00:01:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=62s). - Having a consistent system helps prevent getting lost in decorative details and provides a clear structure for organizing information, with examples including David Allen's Getting Things Done system, which includes spaces for an inbox, next actions list, and project list [(00:01:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=68s). - Implementing a planning system can help reduce decision fatigue and make planning more automatic, which is a key characteristic of a habit, and it is acceptable to adopt a system created by someone else and tweak it to suit individual needs [(00:01:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=102s). - Using guides, such as sticky notes or a small notebook, can help remember the core principles of the planning system and provide a flowchart for sorting items into different sections, making planning less overwhelming and more efficient [(00:02:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=169s). - A well-structured planning system enables individuals to know exactly where different types of information belong, allowing them to focus on planning their life without sacrificing creativity [(00:03:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=189s). - Adopting a consistent planning framework, whether invented or adopted from someone else, is essential to transform planning practice from spontaneous to organized, and this can be achieved by using systems like David Allen's Getting Things Done [(00:03:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=221s). ## Balancing Creativity and Functionality - Having a strict planning system allows for the addition of creative elements like stickers and decorations, but they should be secondary to the planning process, with the primary focus on putting plans down and then adding stickers as a bonus [(00:04:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=243s). - Creating a separate space for creative expression, such as a dedicated messy notebook, is recommended to differentiate it from the structured planning system, and this notebook can be used for brainstorming, doodling, and testing out new planning ideas [(00:04:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=264s). - Using a highly functional planner, like a dated planner, can help stay focused on actual planning needs, and it's possible to use minimal creative elements like stickers and highlighting in a functional way [(00:04:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=278s). - Having a separate creative book or blank journal, like an undated common planner, provides the freedom to engage in creative activities like plotting out story ideas, doodling, and brainstorming without disrupting the structured planning system [(00:05:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=348s). - This approach allows for the best of both worlds, providing creativity, freedom, and fun in one space, while maintaining a clean and functional planning system in another, and it eliminates the need for every page in the planner to be beautiful and Instagram-worthy [(00:07:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=420s). - Having a separate planner for creative expression can be beneficial, as it allows individuals to make beautiful spreads without interfering with their functional planner, which is used for daily planning and organization [(00:07:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=440s). ## Career Growth and Strawberry.me - Career growth requires a systematic approach, and opportunities are often created by people, not just appearing by chance, which is why having a platform like Strawberry.me can be helpful in achieving professional goals [(00:07:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=465s). - Strawberry.me is a platform that matches individuals with certified career coaches to create a strategic roadmap for career growth, develop skills to stand out in the job market, and stay accountable to make real progress [(00:08:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=486s). ## Building Planning Habits with Routines - Incorporating planning into existing routines is essential to turning planning into a habit, and the most important step is making planning a part of the daily routine, which can be achieved through habit stacking [(00:08:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=531s). - Habit stacking involves taking an existing habit and adding a new habit on top of it, such as opening a planner when sitting down at a desk, which serves as a trigger to start daily planning [(00:09:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=549s). - Research shows that habits form most effectively when tied to existing routines, and stacking planner practice with a consistent daily activity, like having morning coffee, can make individuals more consistent and productive [(00:09:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=586s). - Planning can be done at any time of the day, such as during a lunchtime check-in or in the evening, and it's essential to find a routine that works for each individual to make planning a functional tool rather than just a creative outlet [(00:10:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=602s). - Daily routines can become automatic, but weekly routines may still require referencing a list, and using a planner with sticky notes can help to quickly access the weekly reset routine [(00:10:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=650s). - Having a daily routine is recommended, and if one is stuck, starting with a daily routine can help, as it can lead to developing a weekly routine over time through iteration and figuring out what works best [(00:11:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=676s). - It is possible to have different routines for functional and creative planners, and these do not have to happen at the same time, allowing for flexibility in planning and decorating [(00:11:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=688s). ## The One Pen Exercise - The one pen exercise involves committing to using only one pen in a planner for a set period, which helps to focus on the content of planning rather than aesthetics and can reduce decision fatigue [(00:11:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=711s). - Using only one pen eliminates decisions about colors, stickers, and highlighting systems, freeing up mental energy for the actual planning process and preserving energy for execution [(00:12:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=753s). - Reducing planning tools to the minimum, such as one pen and a blank page, can be a simple and effective way to evaluate how much fun and functionality is added by additional planning elements [(00:13:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=790s). - The one pen exercise can help to realize what is actually necessary for functional planning and what is just for fun, allowing for a more streamlined and efficient planning process [(00:13:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=817s). - Planning can be a creative process, and constraints can actually breed creativity, as seen in poetic forms like Shakespeare's sonnets, which have specific structures and rhyme schemes, and this concept can be applied to planning with a "one pen exercise" to create a new form of expression [(00:14:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=853s). ## Focus on Implementation, Not Perfection - Focusing on implementation rather than perfection is crucial for turning planning into a habit, as prioritizing the use of a planner over making it perfect can help avoid the "perfection trap" and make the planner a valuable tool [(00:15:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=901s). - Setting up routines, such as weekly and daily routines, and writing them down on sticky notes can help make planning a habit and reduce decision fatigue, even if it means making mistakes or having an "ugly" planner [(00:16:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=960s). - Adopting a "rough draft mindset" can help give permission to make mistakes and use the planner in a messy way if needed, and this mindset can be developed by trying out different methods and crossing off what doesn't work [(00:16:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=994s). - Consistency is important, but it's not necessary to have everything perfect from the start, and trying out different methods and being open to making mistakes can help reduce decision fatigue and make planning a more effective habit [(00:17:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=1043s). - The most successful planning system is not necessarily the prettiest one, but rather the one that is used every single day, regardless of its aesthetic appeal [(00:17:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=1060s). - Individuals who are artistically talented or enjoy using stickers can create functional and fun planner spreads, but those who feel overwhelmed or underproductive may need to approach planning with a rough draft mindset [(00:17:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=1070s). - The goal of planning is to make it a habit that helps individuals live a more intentional life, rather than a hobby that is only done when time allows, and it should be a transformative part of daily experience [(00:18:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=1094s). ## Conclusion and Further Resources - Planning can be categorized into two types: hobby planning and functional planning, and finding a balance between the two is ideal, with viewers encouraged to share their experiences and strategies in the comments [(00:18:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=1111s). - Additional resources are available for those who want to improve their planning skills, including a video with five more functional planning tips to help individuals excel in their endeavors [(00:18:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg&t=1121s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVMx7MaLgg?si=XkRrZX2peliQUVmz)