Goal setting doesn’t work without a plan. In fact, a goal without a plan isn’t a goal at all. It is only hopes and wishes. In theory, that means a goal planner is great, right? Find out with this honest Recollections Goal Getter planner review.

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[bctt tweet=”Goal setting doesn’t work without a plan but does a goal-setting planner really work? Find out with this honest Recollections Goal Getter planner review.” username=”diyadulation”]

I am a serious planner addict. I loved planners even back in high school when they were mandatory. Even then I covered them in stickers and pictures. They weren’t just a way to organize my life, they were an expression of creativity.

For the past 5 years or so, I have been a loyal Happy Planner user. I love the customization, the accessories, and the fact that I can create my own printables that cater to my lifestyle and planning needs.

I still love the Happy Planner but being on the go more has made me realize how rough I am on my planners. Those little discs simply don’t hold the pages together well for me anymore. Now, I’m trying out new planners to see if I can find one I like that holds up to my busy lifestyle. If you’re looking for the perfect planner for you, I hope my search and honest reviews save you time and money.

Planner Look

It may be shallow, but a planner has to look good for me to even give it a try. I firmly believe that when something is pretty, you are more likely to use it. So how does this one measure up?

Cover

Although I usually go for something more colorful, this one is still pretty. The gold foiled title is a beautiful reminder of what you’re working for. Also, although not probably not the intention, the map background makes you feel like you can take over the world when you reach your goals.

Stickers

Of course, no planner is complete without stickers and these do not disappoint. They are not only useful but in matching shades to the pages.

Planner Functionality

This planner took some adjusting for me because I am used to creating my own page when there isn’t one to fit my needs. With a bound planner such as this, that isn’t an option.

Monthly Layout

The monthly layout is pretty standard as far as planners go. You do number it yourself which makes it easy to pick up at any point of the year.

Weekly Layout

The weekly layout is much different than I have used before. I usually go for a 2-page vertical layout that lets me plan by the time of day. This is the first time I have used a horizontal layout.

Pros:

It automatically limits your to-do list because you space is limited. That helps a chronic over-scheduler like me.
You can see your entire week on one page which makes it easy to plan and to execute your week.

Cons:

Limited space for making it pretty. While not important to some, I like to add stickers and fun stuff. Every sticker you add takes away from the already limited planning space.
I am more visual so I like to see tasks laid out according to the time of day the get completed. That isn’t an easy option with this planner.

Goal Layouts

I really love the goal setting pages. They let you collect your goals and whittle them down into smaller tasks. It also gives you pages to track what you’re thankful for as well as what you have achieved thus far.

Cons:

The goals by month pages seem redundant because you are also given monthly goal pages at the beginning of each month. Instead, I use those pages to track monthly stats. Since they are blank, you could also use them to track birthdays and anniversaries or other important information.

Vision Board

This is so smart. Keep your vision board close at all times by putting it your planner! These pages are perfect for creating a visual representation of what you’re working towards with your monthly goals.

Extras

The Recollections Goal Getter planner also has some additional pages that are fantastic. The staying motivated page is great for remembering the reasons behind these goals.
My favorite is the bucket list because it has space for tons of items. Use it to list everything you want to do, try, and see in this lifetime (or this year if you’re ambitious).
Lastly, there is a tracker for each month to help you make sure that you are working towards those goals and new habits every day.
These is also a double-sided folder and pen pouch in the back of the planner. The fold is a must for me but I didn’t use the pen pouch in the back. If you have a ton of planner supplies like I do, it simply isn’t practical.

Does It Help You Reach Your Goals

Out of the 12 goals I set for the month of July, I reached 8.5 of them. That’s pretty spectacular in my opinion. (The .5 is my weight loss goal which I knew going into the month would not be my top priority. I set a goal of 10 pounds and only lost 6.)

The planner does help you reach your goals but like anything, it doesn’t work unless you do. One thing it doesn’t do is give you a strategy for reaching your goals. It gives you a fantastic way to organize all of your goals but no real guidance. Once you organize your goals, my Monthly Goal Setting Planner will help you navigate your way to those goals.

Note:

I also wish this planner had a monthly reflection page because that is key to achieving your goals. You cannot improve and push farther if you don’t know what worked for you, what didn’t, and why. You can use the single “Notes” page at the end of each month for this. Of course, if you do, then you cannot use it for notes throughout the month. That is the trade off.

Overall, my Recollections Goal Getter planner review is positive. If you already have an idea of how to break down your goals into bite-sized chunks to complete, it is excellent for organizing them. Again, my favorite addition is the vision board right there in your planner. It makes it easy to reference and reinvigorate yourself when the goal getting gets tough.

Next month I’m trying out the new Living Well Spending Less planner (it doesn’t get released until the end of this month). It also promises some big goal motivation and planning so I look forward to sharing that with you!

See where I’m linking up!

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There is an important part of prepping for back to school that moms overlook. You are so focused on getting the kids ready that you forget about getting you ready. Find out how to plan your day when kids start school so you don’t make the same mistake this year.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Don’t forget this important part of prepping for back to school. Find out how to plan you day when kids start school as a SAHM for the best school year yet!” username=”diyadulation”]

This is hitting me especially hard this year. I have been a stay-at-home mom for so long that I forget what it’s like to have any semblance of free time during the day. That’s all changing because my daughter starts kindergarten this year and my baby starts next year. That is quite a precipice.

On the one hand, I’m super excited to get to shower daily without interruption. Of course, on the flip side of that, it is scary. I’ve been a mom most of my adult life. It has defined me more than I care to admit. How do you move forward?

It starts with a plan. You and I can’t wait until school starts and hope it works out. Instead, we have to make a plan now to move forward in this next stage of life. Let’s make it as easy as possible with these steps for how to plan your day when kids start school.

Step 1: List Your Tasks

The first thing you need to do is list your tasks. This goes beyond a regular to-do list. Think about the stuff that you already do on a daily basis and add in things that you want (or need) to start doing as well. These should be things that you want to do in addition to the tasks that you have to do.

No matter how big or small the task, list it. Here is an example of a list of tasks to give you some inspiration:

Put Away Dishes
Workout
Meditate
Get Shower
Help Kids to the Bus
Do Laundry
Write/Journal
Vaccuum
Craft
Help Kids with Homework
Make Dinner
Load Dishwasher
Family Time
Read
Get Kids Ready for Bed

Step 2: Design Your Ideal Day

Once your list of tasks is complete it is time to design your ideal day. This is what your day looks like in a perfect world where everything always goes to plan and you accomplish every task on your list easily. Here are a few questions to help you plan:

What time do you wake up on your perfect day?
How much time to you spend cleaning your house and what does it look like?
Will you spend any time outside of the house or does your day primarily take place within the home?
When do you fall asleep on your perfect day?

Use these questions and your list of tasks to plot out your ideal day. This is easiest if you write down the times of day hourly on a sheet of paper, starting with when you want to wake up and ending with when you go to sleep. Then arrange your tasks along those hours accordingly.

Step 3: Evaluate Your Ideal Day

This is the hardest step of the entire process. Look at your ideal day and evaluate it with the eye of a skeptic. Are you trying to fit in too much? Is there any room for relaxing or is every hour filled to capacity?

On the flip side of that, are you slacking? Do you have 2 hours allotted in the morning for putting away dishes? If so, chances are, you are not challenging yourself to truly be your best.

Take a hard look at your what your day looks like and think of adjustments you can make for your day-to-day life. Maybe instead of breaking up cleaning into individual tasks throughout the day it is better to designate a cleaning hour and call it done. Perhaps you gave yourself 4 hours of reading time at the expense of balance to work/homemaking. These are the things you need to think about and evaluate.

Step 4: Create Your Basic Daily Plan

The last step in this process for how to plan your day when kids start school is to create your basic daily plan. Think of it like the skeleton of your day, supporting any supplemental tasks and errands. Ideally, there will be room for a bit of everything while creating the flexibility to change day to day without completely throwing you off track.

Example Basic Daily Plan

Don’t feel like your basic daily plan needs to be hourly and rigid. I typically break mine down by times of day. It also allows me the freedom to make changes as necessary (such as for field trips, grocery shopping, or doctor’s appointments) without totally ruining my flow or important tasks I need to complete. Here is a quick example for you:

Mornings:

Mornings are for me because I kind of totally hate them. Aside from getting the kids ready for school and on the bus, I focus on me. This is when I start my coffee, workout while it brews, then meditate and shower. When all is said and done this only takes about an hour of my morning, leaving me free to handle small tasks such as putting away dishes and starting laundry before I start writing.

Afternoons:

I get a ton of great light in the afternoon so that is when I do any crafting that needs photographed. It is also the perfect time to finish up any additional cleaning tasks I need to before the kids get home from school. Once they are home, it is time to help with homework and start thinking about dinner.

Evenings:

The evenings are the time of my day that revolves around my family. I usually make dinner while the kiddos play.
Sometimes I read, watch TV, or hop on social media while I do it. Then we eat dinner and spend some time together. This can be playing a game, which we love, or sometimes reading together or watching a movie. Whatever it is, I try to focus on them during this time.

Nights:

After the kiddos go to bed but before I crawl into my own, I tie up loose ends from my day or work on my blog some more. I like to finish off my day reading a book in bed before finally closing my eyes.

The key for how to plan your day when kids start school is to focus on key points and tasks instead of rigidity. If you try to start with too specific and tight of a schedule, you will be more tempted to give up when you falter or fail. Instead, adjust your schedule as your practice it more in a way that pushes you to try harder and rediscover yourself. Don’t use this new schedule in a way that leads to burnout. That doesn’t help anyone at the end of the day.

Also keep in mind that this basic schedule should be for during the week and not weekends. If you still want a schedule for the weekends create one that is different from your Monday through Friday. Weekends are inherently different from weekdays and your time will reflect that.

See where I’m linking up!