The Essentials of Functional Planning | 3 Roles of a Complete Planner System

GIVE THIS VIDEO A THUMBS UP IF YOU LEARNED A NEW PLANNING STRATEGY OR ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT FUNCTIONAL PLANNING!
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Functional Planning #1: • Intro to Functional Pl...
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[@felimekj]

This was great. I don't know why, but most planner vids r about decoration. Ok its great to be creative. I get it. I love stickers as much as anyone else, but a "PLANner's" main objective is to PLAN. It get's totally lost in the hours upon hours spent decorating the planner in these videos. So much so that there is no room to actually plan a darn thing. That is not what is about for me. Do want my planner to be nice and sometimes fun so that it is not a total chore to do or look at? Yes! But what I'm looking for in the end is functionality in my planner. And the videos I'm looking for are ones that help me learn practical steps to get things accomplished. How do I get my 4 page "to do list" done and not be stuck in chaos. So thank you for this series. It is so helpful!

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+felinekj AMEN!

[@felimekj]

Alexis aka MissTrenchcoat :-)

[@mistikalnawe]

loool this is so true!

[@aprilmunday1152]

I agree. It's not about pretty. It's about useful. Pretty is really an added extra.

[@DanniRox999]

I completely agree. It was so hard to find a video on functionality that I just gave up. This video is exactly what I was looking for. My rule is that if it doesn't serve a purpose, it doesn't go in the planner, and what serves a purpose, if it can be made aesthetically pleasing, why not? For me too much decoration is distracting and takes away from planning, so as I said, it's kept to a minimum. Thank you Alexis!

[@EvelineUK]

Great video. I am Dutch living in the UK and in Holland it's very common to have a perpetual birthday calendar hanging on your toilet door. You spend some time just sitting there, perfect moment to be reminded of upcoming birthdays. ;)

[@ShanInBurk]

So this video came to me at the right moment. Over the past two years I've become a planner "collector". I see different ways to use them, get my stuff together, create a beautiful planner, and don't use it. It doesn't function for me like it does someone else. I really wanted to like rings. So I went all out got a ring binder, inserts printed and dividers. But, I honestly didn't know what to do next. Here I am now knowing that I need to accept that I love my Erin condren, but I need to love it and use it functionally like you shared. I think I heard everything I've been needing to hear for quite some time. I have to quit trying to push my planning needs into misfit molds. Thank You!

[@ninaballenger588]

Thank you!! I retired from a very fast paced administrative job about two years ago. Since then I've been trying to make my planner do all the things it did for me while I was working with the same system I used then. WRONG!! You made me review what my daily life is now and showed me the tools to use to not only keep me on track schedule wise but to also get those many projects planned and done. Your advise has always been good as well as motivational. My fresh start will begin July so I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for all your effort.

[@Michellero84]

Thank goodness I found this video. It was so hard to find this type of video. I've literally been searching and searching and all I kept getting was decoration and sticker videos. Looking at a full page of stickers makes me want to break out in hives. Thank you for getting down to the basics and making sense to me!

[@35ATeacher]

I am SO impressed with your videos! I consider myself a very organized, task-oriented person but creating my planner has been a series of unfortunate events. As I'm setting up my brand new filofax system, I've stumbled across your videos. The biggest ah-ha for me was keeping a monthly master list, which connects to a weekly top 5 list. Brilliant!!! Thank you.

[@MissTrenchcoat]

Thank you so much Lisa!

[@narelleworks8448]

I've been looking for something to tie all this together. I need to make it productive. I see lots of pretty decorating planner videos, and some very inspirational work in it, but wasn't getting the sense of working towards goals or bringing together all three areas that you mentioned. Thank you for putting it together. I think I got it! "The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain." 😉

[@walkerbait610]

You are a lifesaver!!! Finally a planner video that isn't about decorating. Thank you so much for this. Too decoration distracts me and makes frustrated with all the colors and patterns on my actual planning pages.

[@macfrenzyfrost]

Hi Alexis, I add pay days because in the past pay hasn't posted on schedule so if I didn't check that i could have assumed money was there when it wasn't. Also with more than one persons checks need to be checked I list them. Pay days for me prompt activity. Balance and verify. And budgeting. Transferring funds and determining what "extra" needs or can be tackled.

[@stampedinhisimage1]

I could listen to you for hours on end! I think you have such great info and a pleasant and enthusiastic delivery voice. I think you could motivate someone who has very little energy or inclination to get up and plan a LIFE! I am so glad I am subscribed!!!

[@bags_books_and_bowwows]

Thanks for the great video. I'm definitely a timetable girl ... I first tried a weekly hourly last summer, and it clicked for me like "where have you been all my life?" I have a lot of time-constrained obligations and activities, so I think in terms of working from most time constrained (mostly my extreme mom taxi life) to next most time constrained (such as exercise classes), then fit the priorities for my business in around those. When people ask me, I always tell new planner people not to overinvest in a system until they've lived in it for a while, because you may need to try more than one layout before you get that big giant clicking feeling. It would be too bad to invest $60 in a fancy daily planner, only to find that system doesn't work for you. Many of the planner companies offer free printable sample pages, so you can make sure you buy the one that feels like "home."

[@EdieBrown]

The first is still the best. I learn something new every time. After all, I can never be too productive!

[@beatacrochets]

In tweaking my planner system, this video helped me pinpoint a couple of places that I felt weren't working but couldn't put my finger on. Thank you!

[@chantel5644]

As an up and coming KZbinr and entrepreneur, I find this VERY useful for being a functional planner. Thank you!

[@lisbetsoda4874]

This was truly useful. The prioritizing of daily tasks was such a good point

[@AnneSamoilovgplus]

Great video for someone who wants to use their planners better Or someone just starting out. Love the concept of putting things in the planner that require you to take action...rather than just things that happen without you lifting a finger!

[@whitetigess]

oh my gosh im so very very glad ur having these videos ive been lost in the land of planner madness. this series are helping me find peace of mind and more functionality. thanks a mill

[@AlysiasArtStudio]

I just simply love you! I actually have 2 planners now! OMG! I have a large 3 ring binder, main life and biz project planner (just basic store bought folders, notebook paper, sticky notes etc). I also have a smaller day "brain dump"/notebook type calendar. I can carry both or individually, to my studio or leave at home!!! I truly thank you so much! You turned me into a type A lolol!!! (there's actually a reason that's so funny to me)

[@kelsearambin3308]

This is helping me so much Alexis!! I'm somewhat new to 'functional planning.' I kept a spiral planner in high school for jobs and school work, but stopped once I got married. I'm now figuring out that functional planning is so helpful for any every day life now that I'm a mom and am so busy with misc. things! Definitely taking notes!!

[@LoRainPolishedatAllTimesDrais]

This was extremely helpful! Very clear and concise way for me to approach the process of planning for my blog posts & KZbin vids. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@elizabethgrosvenor153]

I've just watched this again and I have a completely different comment: You make an excellent point about only keeping actionable items on your (main) calendar, but I think there is a lot of date-based information that people need, that they don't directly need to action anything for -- bills due and paydays just scratch the surface of that, there's also if someone in your household is away/has exams etc. Or when the cleaner is coming or the bathroom is being refitted (if you don't have to actively do anything for those things), planned maintenance for a website you visit frequently, maybe community events that you're not sure if you're going to go to (or that you know will make parking difficult in your neighbourhood!) etc, the list could go on. I've started keeping a reference calendar for exactly that reason.

[@dvhanson1962]

Excellent content in this video! Thank your for this series and most of all, for focusing on the functionality of planners. I'm looking forward to your next video.

[@karenrobertson890]

"Brilliant! Thank-you so much for doing this video! I love my planners but did feel "scattered" still.Your tips are fantastic to reducing the amount of lists. I feel a bit stressed if I have too many things on the list. Your prioritization and allocation makes perfect sense. I will probably watch this video a few more times and make sure I did not miss anything. :-)

[@Tinahgirl83]

I'm loving this series! I'm just starting to try to get more organized. I will be using all these tips (I totally took notes!).

[@Oh_Cecilia]

Alexis, this is excellent information! I can't wait for the next installment on this series. I always look forward to your videos - you're inspiring and make me want to be more productive in my life!

[@mmwins3900]

New Subbie here! Thank, although is video/comments are old. I am grateful to be able to review it. I have been feeling very unorganized and although I have always carried a small planner from staples or Wal-Mart for years. It was used to track my appts and my menses.. I am not really a digital girl, I like pen and paper. I found plum paper planners, ordered one and then said to myself, I am not going to use this as a scrapbook, because I have scrapbooks and smash book. I need to organized my life, home, and hobbies. Would love to see more like these.

[@dianeleblanc2286]

Hi Alexis! I absolutely love your videos because they always provide the Planner Peace that I seek. I work at a high school as the WIOA Program Coordinator and I have a number of interruptions everyday that sometimes call me to drop what I am doing to attend to an immediate need from a student or administrator. Thanks for being in my cheering section...you ARE a blessing!

[@tracysykes8394]

THANK YOU !!!!! I am a so very happy you have taken the time for this !!!!!

[@PresidentFortune]

i know the video os quite old but i would still like to say i track my pay day so that i can see what bills fall between the two dates. that way im making the best decisions as far as money IN BETWEEN the days.

[@PresidentFortune]

no shade. love your thoughts.

[@loveboobies89]

thank you for the video. i am not a decorator and i am always on the lookout for another tip on using my planner more effectively. i like the weekly top 5. great tip.

[@connectwithyourdeck]

This is really good can’t wait to watch the series! I have been watching decorative planning videos and they just do not grab me! So I think I’m going to be following you really closely I need help!!

[@cynthiamallia7360]

Hi Alexis This Video has been so helpful. Everyday for me is overwhelming with all the things I have to do. This video has made it easier. Thank you

[@EdieBrown]

This stands the test of time. Thank you 🙂❤👌🏿

[@Rek1215]

This is very informative. The only thing I would disagree is, I would mark the paydays down even if there is no action. If I want to plan a vacation or do something I can see when I will be getting paid for the months and help me budget even more and if I need to change my monthly budgeting. Knowing what days will be payday in future months especially when I travel for work so often is extremely helpful. Other than that, thanks so much!

[@rhondachancehollingsworth7350]

I'm so glad I found your channel. For many years I've used some sort of planner, but this is the first year I'm using 2 full size planners. This series is invaluable in showing me the best way to organize both.

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+Rhonda Hollingsworth I'm so glad!

[@Evergreenforest33]

I am glad to be on the process to happy medium of functional and decorative

[@whitemageFFXI]

Oh my goodness, this was so helpful. Ive found peace with my home planner, but I've been struggling to come up with a work planner that works for me and this video shone a new light on what I might need to focus on and why as I build a work planner system. Thank you so much!

[@xoxlyss]

These tips are fabulous! Thank you! I did want to add, though, that many people track pay days because it determines what plans you can make (if you won't have disposable income, you can't plan to go out with friends if money will be spent).

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+xoxlyss I agree! I was trying to make a point that you shouldn't track things unless you have an action item associated with it and for me paydays don't have action items, but I agree, if you track them with an action, you should continue to do so!

[@charlottebarnes5052]

Master Task list for a month!!! OH I love this!!!

[@leraer5394]

Thanks for this video! I am taking on a new volunteer position on top of my full time job. Great tips here!

[@reneemills1089]

WoW! I am so glad i came across your channel! I finally feel like I have a roadmap to stabilize my lifestyle! Thanks for the clarity of purpose!

[@tamathamavraides5532]

Alexis, I've been watching your videos for a long while. I guess I needed to have a more clear picture of what I wanted and how I wanted it to work before I could really make use of your wonderful content. Thank you for sharing, it's much appreciated.

[@amandaolmstead9903]

Where have you been my whole life!?! You really break everything down so well and make everything make sense. Thank you so much for this series. I look forward to binge watching all of your videos!

[@ptfirstrehab]

So I am new to all of this planning/organization. I am glad to see I was not alone in my struggles. This video really helped get me started. My question is how does a online calendar come into play or is an online calendar a planner? Great job Alexis!

[@donnaerickson3059]

This has to be some of the best tips that I've heard on functional planning. Thank you so much, Alexis!

[@MissTrenchcoat]

You are very welcome Donna!

[@maxsmum1000]

Thank you for this, it made total sense and I agreed with everything you said. I was nodding all the way through it. I am new to the gtd method and absolutely love it!

[@imaginativecreativeyou8890]

Love this video very helpful in what tasks to put in my planner

[@mignonfuchs469]

Just reviewed your video again. It is awesome. I actually use it to setup my own planning system because I have the problem to find a fitting one. Thank you so much Alexis! Love your videos!

[@eshana3457]

Excellent video! I felt like you were talking to me. Just keep the great videos coming. I am really going to try and follow this. It has been hard for me to stay on top of my planning.

[@ElaniaG]

Very helpful video. Although, I'd have to disagree about not scheduling pay days due to direct deposit. It's still helpful for budgeting, planning, and general money management to know pay dates, especially if you're paid every other Friday, or something like that where the date changes.

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+ElaniaG I agree! I was trying to make a point that you shouldn't track things unless you have an action item associated with it and for me paydays don't have action items, but I agree, if you track them with an action, you should continue to do so!

[@Mysticdama]

Thank you so much for this it really helps looking forward to more thank you again have a wonderful and blessed day.

[@christinebrown3994]

Great information. Keep the series coming. I love your videos.

[@dorotheemackenbach4808]

You always have good advice and tips. But this one was extra great (for me). Thank you!

[@anjixi]

Maybe it's due to the time that has lapsed and the priorities that I need to see. I've enjoyed several of your other videos as this helps see how to train my children.

[@Salsa7Chik]

Loved this thank you. Needed to get my brain back to planner basics. ♡

[@elianahebrew5683]

What an awesome video, with just these simple tips you have helped me feel more confident with using my planner and created a functional planner that works for me! Thanks.

[@WonderCle]

Very useful! I look forward for more videos of this serie!

[@AndreaJCline]

Amazing video! However, I would like to point out that if anyone is like my Fiance and I who are living paycheck to paycheck it is very important to know what days we get paid on because certain events such as vet appointments, and knowing which paycheck we have to use to pay which bills is very important. Obviously if you're not living paycheck to paycheck then it isn't a big deal, but just thought I would throw that out there.

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+Reading with Kitten I agree! I was trying to make a point that you shouldn't track things unless you have an action item associated with it and for me paydays don't have action items, but I agree, if you track them with an action, you should continue to do so!

[@c67997]

Totally amazing woman👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼I hit like button even before I finish watching coz I'm sure this will be brilliant ideas!and of course I quickly took my planner to take down notes for great tips on planning! ✅✅it never fails,I keep on coming back to listen to your videos as my free learning channel😊😊😊thank you @Misstrenchcoat! Keep the videos coming👍👍

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+Cristina LV Thanks so much!

[@bougreahala9357]

I recently found your channel and I liked most of your videos but in this one the content is excellent ! I love this thank youuuuuu this will help me a lot much love from Algeria

[@robynkahle7240]

Thank you for this, I so agree on why people don't find that planner peace.

[@AvidAbstractions]

Really great advice! This is a great series! Thank you!

[@melcard2903]

omg you are amazing!! this video is perfect an definitely what i needed to see! thank you :-)

[@Kpoipon]

Thank you so much for this!!!! This was super helpful

[@jeanneschmidt491]

Alexis, I really enjoyed this video. I learned so much and it helped me to put so much together in my head that had previously been floating around! You are very, very good at explaining how things work, or should work. I am glad I am a subscriber. Keep up the good work! Jeanne

[@MissTrenchcoat]

Thank you so much! xx

[@StephanieSimplified]

This is one of your best videos yet. I thought that I already knew a lot about planning and was fairly close to planner peace, but this video taught me way more than I expected!

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+Stephanie Simplified Thank you!

[@Jessie-fl1rr]

Thank you, great vid, great information.

[@TALK2TOSHA]

I would love to see video with how you edit in the key points. Thank you for great info.

[@diverstalent]

Thank you, very useful for me! ❤️

[@astari87]

Thank you, this video is great!

[@customMadebyACLD]

Hi Alexis, I just found your channel and I looove it! 😍 I'm slightly OCD and need to be able to stay organized and track things. I watched a lot of planner video and also they were useful with prettying things up and tracking myself a little none of them gave me what I was looking for. Making my planner functional like I used to way way waaayyy back in high school. Lol. Thank you so much for putting together this series. And I'll definitely check your blog and social media sites.

[@pinkcharms]

This is very helpful. Thank you.

[@CanyonHolgate]

Thank you for this video! I loved where you explained about the daily top 3! Could you do a separate video on how you put together your Weekly Top 5 projects? That would be a tremendous help!

[@silvijap7]

dear Lexy :D you make me love and appreciate my leather friend even more. this is so helpful! THANK YOU, GORGEOUS!!

[@christinecortese9973]

I keep a separate notebook just for making lists of things that come to mind that can't yet be scheduled - also a list of things I want to have achieved by end of year - then pull from those two for my monthly lists. I totally agree that nothing is actionable unless you assign a time to it, but still need a place to grab every idea before it fritters off again. Thank you so much for making this video!

[@danahserrano-baez9643]

This is extremely helpful!

[@missemmajackson8199]

OMG this was the best video, I have learnt so much. im finding it really hard to work in my at the movement im losing all my appointments and tasks I just feel overwhelmed and dont know how to break it all down. thank you so much for you help Alexis

[@andreajohnsMyPotteryBliss]

I learned a lot. Thank you. Subscribed.

[@mrsfpm5554]

Have only just watched (and found your videos) the first two parts but already planning is starting to make so much more sense. I, like you, am not a decorator and really want to use my planner for planning my life (maybe with a little decoration eventually though because who doesn't need a little brightness in their life haha), Anyway, really just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for the clarification. I feel I now can start to work out how to plan/use my planner appropriately - and even more importantly, regularly. I have abandoned planning before because I just didn't get it and all the advice/videos I found seemed to be about decorating. Not helpful. Anyway, I have subscribed but am old (in years) and new to this so not sure what that means. I am off now to watch the rest of your series so might be in contact if (likely I will) I have any questions. Thank you so much for taking the time to give us all the advice.

[@barbarageller7535]

Mrs M e

[@danigonzalez2768]

So glad I found you :) great video!

[@strongandvibrant]

I had to pause just to say you are amazing .... thank you sooo much very informative and helpful ... thank you , thank you :) you have one new subscriber :)

[@NGTire]

I've only been subscribed a short time (somewhere close to your 50000th subscriber... go me) I've been watching and rewatching your videos. love them.. keep them coming 😀

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+Sarah O'Hara Yes Ma'am!

[@Craftysusanita]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@differentresults2279]

Thank you so much this was very helpful

[@connectwithyourdeck]

So helpful thank you so much!!

[@robbien.3964]

I am curious to hear more about your monthly task lists. Do you have a video where you expand on that you can point me to? For example, it’s December currently. If something occurs to you that you must/should/want to do would you put it on December’s list even if it’s something that doesn’t HAVE to be done this month or do you have a separate Someday/Maybe list for those items? Also, do you transfer incomplete tasks from month to month? Thank you.

[@blufaerie]

Very helpful.

[@LifeHerWayLMM]

I love you and your channel.

[@celestebuckway5436]

Will be referencing functional planner videos a lot I'm sure.

[@andreagreen571]

Great video! This has made functional planning manageable. I enjoyed the method is which you used to hit the topics and give details of the topic for clarification. In your opinion is there a difference in a To Do list and a Task list? If so can you explain the difference. Last question how often do you plan on posting the series on Functional Planning? I love them so please keep them coming. Thank you very much for sharing.

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+Andrea Green No difference! And I'm posting as often as I can, I don't have a schedule!

[@iselabelevan3357]

bravoooo!!!!

[@msjoyfulinjesus]

Loved this video. I have an A5 binder planner and love my current system. But I'm starting college next year and wanted to make it not only my life planner, but also school planner (I currently have a separate simple planner for school). Do you have any tips on creating the perfect school planner? Or better yet, making a life and college planner? I would love a video on that.

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+Emma Jones try to think of your planner as a way to organize your entire life because that is what it really is for. You don't necessarily need to create a whole planner just for school because school is just part of your life. If you want to keep a lot of information organized in a binder system, however, I can see the value in keeping all your school information separate, but your planning time for being in class and studying should be in the same planner with the rest of your life!

[@blairmirth6328]

Chasingplannerpeace on Etsy has some fantastic Study specific inserts that I am excited about using as a Uni student.

[@blairmirth6328]

Chasingplannerpeace on Etsy has some fantastic Study specific inserts that I am excited about using as a Uni student.

[@sheplanseverything4227]

Great video. I had a quick question on the master task list. Should this list include the projects and all the activities needed to complete it? Is there a structure to follow for the master task list?

[@EuniceGodinez]

10:18

[@miyu93]

what about those events that are not recourring but neither routine? like going to the gym, or going to the library for studying etc?

[@amyhackbarth2074]

Very helpful video! I do disagree about one part in that as a stay at home mom, I do need to track my husbands payday and his somewhat irregular schedule in order for me to schedule my and the family's tasks. Yes, it is direct deposited but I need that tracked. Maybe I'm just a loner in that but things can get quite tight so I have to know how long til we have funds at times.

[@tiffanyharris8781]

I track my pay days, too. Part of my planning system involves a financial side. I mark all of my pay days, block off pay periods, mark down bill due dates, and any misc expenses, like dr appts (for co pays). I can see how many pays I have in a month. If I have 3 in one month, they don't deduct health insurance from the 3rd. I then sit down with my monthly master bill list, calendar, and pay check list for each pay and go through things.

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+Amy Hackbarth I agree and I probably should have explained it more, but for those who do need to take action on an event, like a payday, its important to track. The point I was trying to make (poorly) is that tracking events with no action item is unnecessary!

[@thegee3show683]

thank U can u do one on wedding and event planning please

[@lizpeck3905]

Hi Alexis, how hard is it to print your planner and then take it to a store to put on a binder? and do you have any financial year calendars for non USA clients? or financial year is July to June (im in Australia). I love the content of your videos and you have put a lot of thought into your planner and it looks great and would definitely help me with my business! 😍

[@elizabethgrosvenor153]

Very helpful, thanks, and I have bookmarked the video. My question is, though, why those numbers? Like, why 5 weekly projects? Why 3 top actions for the day? I know that to some extent it doesn't matter because it's better to just jump in, and the figures seem reasonable enough, but i think I'd understand a lot more about the building blocks of functional planning if I knew why you chose those figures :)

[@MissTrenchcoat]

I think it's mostly arbitrary! For the most part these are numbers I see repeated over and over in different productivity resources. Some people do daily top 5, which if it works for you, thats great! I like a weekly 5 because their are five days in a traditional work week and I think executing on one project a day seems reasonable. Usually, I complete way more than three tasks a week and finish more than 5 projects, but this is a good baseline for me and I think its also reasonable for many people.

[@angelapanis]

do you use Quora?

[@karenleroy499]

Do you use the same planner system for your business and personal life?

[@MissTrenchcoat]

+Karen LeRoy Yes! My business and my personal are both part of the one life I get so it goes into one planner!