How I Actually Use my Planner! After the Pen - Big Happy Planner - Week of Jan 13, 2025

[@PlanningInProgress]

I have been a Happy Planner since 2018 but never ever a vertical user. I just couldn't figure out a way to make all the boxes work for my lifestyle. This video has inspired me and I think I'll be giving the vertical a try this year!

[@PlanningwithBumble]

give it a go!

[@Youmayhavepeace]

I really really adore you. You are so easy to like. Not just as a content creator but as a person.

[@PlanningwithBumble]

You’re so sweet! What a nice comment. Thank you ☺️

[@EGFChandler]

Dear Mary Ellen, thank you for always being vulnerable with us in KZbin Land. I also have 'brainfog'. It has gotten so bad that like you, I also search for words to explain myself, and I forget things that are quite scary; one time a few months ago, I actually got up, got dressed, and then forgot to go to work. I just carried on with my day, even though I go to work every weekday. I just forgot. No one would believe that, so I just explained it as an 'illness'. My doctor told me something that really surprised me: that brainfog is a symptom of depression. I wouldn't be surprised if you had functioning depression. You might talk to your therapist and doctor about that as a possible source. I hope you can get some clarity and comfort about this issue.

[@crystald3655]

I live with depression and brain fog. Adding in a good multivitamin with iron, Magnesium, potassium and omega 3s helped alot. Antidepressants and other meds tend to make the brain fog worse for me and lower my cognitive fuction. A slow taper on or off is essential for me to maintain fuction.

[@DaisyReySeven]

Hi Mary Ellen! I've been watching you for many years and this is the first time I'm commenting! I love your videos so much and you make planning lots of fun! I also would be very interested in you doing a coloring book video. I have a few of those coloring books like the one you showed and I am very impressed with how you colored yours, I'd love to see how you do it! Keep on doing what you do, I just love you and love watching your videos! Thanks for being you! ❤

[@PlanningwithBumble]

Thanks for your comment! I’ll be doing one, I just need to get a little better first!

[@karisamarie4292]

I’m a long time subscriber who loves your videos! I love how it feels like we’re hanging out. I’ve also gone back and forth on if I should pay that fee for Function. Please follow up on whether it feels worth paying for after you’ve tried it longer. Hope you have a nice February 💕

[@happyplanner_jana]

I know they’re more work but I absolutely love these videos!! ❤

[@LittleJoSleep]

I love your After the Pen videos! Don't burn yourself out but I'll watch every second when you put them out! 🥳😅

[@sanibelbeach6368]

Yes! Color for us. So fun!

[@jeniferdelatorre5296]

Love your after the pen spreads! I’m in Los Angeles and it is so sad. I’ve been close to two of the fires but thankfully we’ve been ok. ❤ And yes the coloring would be fun!!

[@lovetoplanwithjess]

Hi! Love your videos 🥰 The same thing happened with our smoke detectors and we learned they only last about 10 years and we ended up having to replace all of ours. Not sure how old yours are but you may need to replace them 😒 Also Severance is a great show! I’m watching season 2!

[@PlanningwithBumble]

Yes I just bought a new one! Severance is so good

[@lovetoplanwithjess]

@@PlanningwithBumblelol I’m still watching your video 😂 Not sure if you watched Shrinking or not. It’s really good but could be triggering. Just a warning.

[@bethany.3.0]

Your planner this year is absolutely goals. I love how you are using it and filling it in.

[@erinj9642]

Empty nester here, and I'm moving the tv and sofa into one of the bedrooms to create a den, as well. I ordered an electric fireplace/tv stand and a rug. I'm painting and have new decor. I've always wanted a cozy dark room like that. Very excited!

[@PlanningwithBumble]

Sounds marvelous!

[@zammyb4535]

TY for this! Very helpful!! And I just always really appreciate your honesty and vulnerability.

[@MariaSolergibert]

Love your videos, I take out my happy planner and work on it while you chat and work in it.

[@SoKimistic]

Good idea!

[@Acissejg]

Love after the pen videos ❤ I watch it all the way through. I love our “chats” 😂 thanks for sharing your life with us!

[@JunkJournalTreasures]

Great video! Love watching you pull the spread together! I’ve recently started with coloring..I have one of those ‘bold and easy’ coloring books and the ohuhu markers. Fun and relaxing. I tried the adult coloring books in the past but they are so intricate, not very relaxing, lol. Yes, would love to see you coloring! tfs❤

[@suzawilo]

I looooove colouring❤. Also I'm visually impaired and cannot do very intricate colourings so sadly I'm kinda limited in what I can use 😢

[@JunkJournalTreasures]

@ those big bold books are great!😊

[@nbmcla2]

I love after the pen videos. So thanks for doing this one.

[@MediocreArtsandCrafts]

I have a history of dealing with brain fog. The worst was because my ferritin level was almost zero. My iron levels would look fine so it wasn’t checked until I finally went to see a hematologist. I hope you get relief soon. ♥️

[@karenvalsler1755]

Loved this video thankyou. Oh and love to see colouring videos. You are part of my meditation lol.x

[@AmyZavs]

That coloring page was so impressive! i would love to see a coloring video one day

[@laurafromme4103]

Yes love these videos! Would love to see a coloring video!

[@sheriduke5843]

I hope you keep doing these videos because I really like watching them they help me figure out what to do in my plane

[@leighburton8717]

You are such an inspiration! I LOVE this page. ❤

[@SteveI48]

I love watching your videos!

[@amandataylor9212]

Loved everything about this video! Love the hybrid of planning ahead and memory planning, the mix of stickers and handwritten elements, the colors, the style. The way it all came together in the end!❤ So inspiring!❤ New subscriber here!

[@PlanningwithBumble]

Welcome! Thanks for subscribing!

[@becks_99]

I love love love this spread! I'm with you on brain fog. I also have ADHD but at least I had strategies that worked before. My doctor thinks it's perimenopause because hormones are so erratic causing forgetfulness. I hope you can find some answers. Thank you for sharing so much with us. ❤

[@CarolLansky0226]

I've started the same coloring books! Would love to see those videos!

[@pennyg.4068]

I am always a big fan of your after the pen videos!! I love all the different fonts and pens you use. I taught myself how to write in a specific font and that is pretty much what I do...I am scared to branch out and try different styles of writing all over the page 😂 but I have been feeling stuck lately, so I might just give it a try. 😉 Sorry you are sad about tik tock....I am not on there, but it wouldn't bother me if it goes away... my daughter struggles with her mental health and is almost 16... she is not allowed to have any social media, and she is okay with that. Her real life is a struggle sometimes, especially with kids at school, so not having social media is a must for her. ❤ Off topic... There is going to be a 3rd season of Tell Me Lies!!!😍

[@pitterpatti1958]

Perimenopause and now menopause definitely left me with brain fog and insomnia. I hope the thyroid meds make a difference for you. Shrinking and Severance are both awesome. Shrinking reminds me of Schitt’s Creek. Love the characters.

[@marylynmiller5158]

I would love to see a coloring video as it is something I have thought about trying. Love the red/pink combo in this spread! ❤

[@cinsl3y914]

Love this! I really enjoy your after the pen videos. I have a bad habit of decorating my pages then worry I’ll mess them up and end up not using them. These inspire me to just go for it. Also, I will miss TikTok so much. After that message I don’t think it’ll ever be the same though.

[@jenniferevelynhayes]

Hi, Mary Ellen! I just paused this video in the middle of it to share some thoughts about my own experience with horrible brain fog lately during menopause and after being diagnosed with ADHD just this past October. You might remember that I was one of your Patreon patrons for a while (and I'll be back ASAP!) but this past year found me becoming more and more nonfunctional. I got to the point where I could barely get out of bed and kept telling my loved ones, "My brain is broken. My brain is broken!" I couldn't focus, couldn't problem-solve, couldn't remember things, couldn't work, and could not motivate myself no matter what I tried! Turns out my personal experience with menopausal hormone imbalances made my symptoms of ADHD much worse. Through a wonderful psychiatric nurse practitioner, I managed to get on ADHD-focused medication that has turned my life around in the past few months, thank goodness. My brain is working again! I'M working again! It's not a perfect solution, as I still struggle with executive function in various ways, but I'm getting so much better now and hope you will soon too. ❤❤❤❤

[@PlanningwithBumble]

I'm happy you figured it out! My ADHD definitely doesn't help. But I am on ADHD meds. This is something pretty new, that just suddenly got worse. I do think it's related to my thyroid, but it's probably a combination of the other things too!!

[@jenniferevelynhayes]

@ Yikes, thyroid challenges are no fun. I hope you can get some great support and that the brain fog improves soon!

[@PlanningwithBumble]

Thank you!

[@reginah4387]

I’m about a season into Shrinking and it’s such a great light hearted watch!

[@katrinacole6741]

Thanks for confirming that the way I use my planner is okay. I write in mine every evening.

[@lindsaybitterman9667]

Totally want to see coloring videos!

[@kaylasullivan3929]

I loved everything about this video! Yes, I would love to watch you color! Ironically, your videos are how I relax. 😅❤

[@monica.d67]

I really liked the After Pen videos especially since I’m new and jumping into this. I am also into coloring and would love to see some videos once in a while on that as well.😊

[@MayaCanada23]

Thank you! I loved this video. We just need confidence that we will find something to write!

[@kenzielogic9405]

So funny, I was coloring while watching this and I'm actually coloring in the exact same book. It's also my new addiction. I enjoy using alcohol markers in the Comfy Cozy types of books, but I use pencils in the more detailed ones.

[@maureendavidson8264]

Love this video. It is so helpful to see how you use your decorated pages.

[@cathywright4133]

I love coloring. I have several books and just about every color pencil out there. I’ve been coloring since I retired in 2016.

[@letsplan2gether]

I loved watching this video Mary Ellen! 😘

[@PlanningwithBumble]

Thanks!!

[@andreabrown2888]

Loved the After the Pen video

[@wendybecker4223]

Mary Ellen, great video! Just thought you might want to try paint with water, too. There is a Bob Ross paint with water book that you might enjoy. Super easy. Comes with a paint brush. Good self care if you don't have enough time to color a whole page in your book. Actually, it does have some coloring pages in the book, as well. I am proud of you for working on yourself. I hope Bumbley-Boo is well. Could you feature her soon in a video if she is up for it? Thanks!

[@PlanningwithBumble]

Ooh that reminds me of painting with water when I was a kid. You just unlocked a memory!

[@b.smithchobette]

Awww

[@maureenpalardy4912]

That was fun! Sounds like you had a busy week. Hugs❤

[@dazzlingcreativevibesandpl6774]

Love your after the pens.. Love how fun & the pages are so full... We are all so over-stimulated, I started noticing that my attention span has decreased over the past year as I started listening to audiobooks more last year.

[@dedestaggs5093]

Fun and beautiful spread ❤

[@b.smithchobette]

I have the same coloring book - so adorable!

[@Acissejg]

Good luck on getting results from bloodwork! Do you have video of how you do your nails? The coloring is so cute!!

[@queenbeekathy]

I loveeeeeee the coloring book!

[@semicharmedlife4]

Love these videos! Thank you for sharing!

[@robin3liza]

This was such a great video! ❤💕🌸

[@annetteswanson8461]

I have an obsession with coloring too. Been doing it for years. Now I’m picky about my books. I only get spiral books. Amazon has a lot of good books! I call it my therapy.

[@teej2757]

Yes please on coloring videos. That's creative to add little things to make the picture your own.

[@IdaliaReyna-u3v]

Love ATP videos! Also, just wanted to say if your smoke alarm is 10 years old or older, you probably need to replace it. Thanks for sharing your struggles, it makes me feel relieved that I am not the only one with those types of things.

[@PlanningwithBumble]

Hmm idk how old it is. I’ve only lived here 1 1/2 years. Now the upstairs one is doing it!

[@proudladybug]

@@PlanningwithBumble yes, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms expire. They probably got replaced at the same time, which is why they're both going off.

[@Notable2Nikki]

I have that coloring book! I love coloring too and I use my Ohuhu markers. :)

[@conniereeves9936]

Yay! I love coloring books ❤

[@Notable2Nikki]

I have heard a lot about Still Beating because it is a fave of one of the book tubers I follow!

[@mollyjones7737]

I love this type of video

[@johnandkathykeener7720]

I go through spurts of coloring and it’s so relaxing. Yes I want to see a coloring video. Btw I like you talking and not a voice over.

[@chantalproulx7302]

Loved this video and I would love to see your coloring book video so you must do one please? I have alcohol markers and don't know what to do with them. They go through the paper when I journal. Does it bleed or ghost in the coloring book? Please let me know! (And if it doesn't bleed, link it and it will buy it! I hate having markers and they're not used!)

[@PlanningwithBumble]

Yes, all alcohol markers bleed! You need to put something under it

[@queenbeekathy]

Adding the cat was great !

[@rachelbernard]

Would love to see colouring videos 😍

[@suekay1852]

Love ATP Videos!!!!!

[@Greg55bona]

What a fun video on a day I’m so depressed. Thank you

[@MediocreArtsandCrafts]

❤

[@shannonwilhelm5031]

The show Silo is soooo good too

[@mayahanssens5398]

Where do you add notes, or other todo's for your work? Or do you have a separate work planner?

[@PlanningwithBumble]

I use a separate work planner. Sometimes my work creeps into this one a little for some overlap if I really need to remember something

[@mayahanssens5398]

I watched your line up video after I put this question. I think I'll go get a daily work planner also. That was a good video to see.

[@eponine318]

100% want to see coloring videos!

[@katieflood2390]

I highly recommend looking into The Pause Life and Dr. Mary Clare Haver re the brain fog - very normal for peri menopause

[@PlanningwithBumble]

I’m way post menopausal and it has been normal for me for years. But this is something suddenly much worse than my usual brain fog

[@Winslowsonlyhope]

Do you ever have periods of time where your adhd seems worse? I'm the last two weeks I sprained my ankle pretty badly..I put in a mug of water for tea into the microwave and reached in grabbed only to find I didn't remember to put water in it and burned the tips of my fingers..I spilled red crystal light on my brand new yarn.. ugh, I'm just over it.. lol See, we all go thru this sometimes... it'll be okay soon! Love you!

[@eponine318]

I think you should change out the fire alarm. They actually don't last forever, even when the batteries are changed. I don't know how old yours is, but that's what I would do. I'm with Bumble, I hate that chirping noise!

[@PlanningwithBumble]

I think I will. And yeah, the chirping noise is horrendous

[@fielder1906]

ME.. ur perfect just the way u r.. love ur after the pen videos.. here's a thought.. if ur on medication, maybe that's a side effect for some of the symptoms ur noticing.. ❤

[@robinhays4466]

Try changing the battery, battery might just be defective

[@LalahYahze]

I would like to follow you. I love TikTok as well. It helped me during the pandemic and when my died in 2022. I interacted with more people on TikTok as well.

[@kristineparisi5842]

I’m curious if your cats bother your supplies. I can’t even let them in my craft room!

[@PlanningwithBumble]

Not too much but they used to more. They are older now and much more sleepy

[@galitart916]

what is trash night?

[@PlanningwithBumble]

The night I put out the trash cans. I guess you’re not from the U.S.?

[@galitart916]

@ no i’m from israel and we pot the trash every morning ☺️ i thought it’s pizza dinner or something like that 😕

[@PlanningwithBumble]

@@galitart916 haha nope, in my area we only have trash pickup one morning per week! I put it out at night

[@tabathagonzales9911]

Check out some Johanna Basford's work - gorgeous coloring pages, and she has quite a few books out!

[@rosepeddels]

Thyroid and ADHD. My brain fog is worse around my monthly.

[@PlanningwithBumble]

I definitely don’t have that anymore lol

[@kcthehermit]

Your chirping detector is almost definitely faulty and needs to be replaced. Your local fire department might be willing to check it for you if you aren't sure. Please call the non-emergent number. Not 911.

[@PlanningwithBumble]

I just ordered new ones!

[@rebeccacorey8149]

If you are doing a low/no carb diet, it can affect your brain fog and make it worse. I'm not sure about your diet, just throwing it out there

[@PlanningwithBumble]

Nope I eat a pretty balanced diet

[@dillonrebeccabowles1431]

I would love coloring videos but only if it still gives you peace when you do it. 🕊️🫶🏻😊

[@PlanningwithBumble]

It definitely does