Imma be honest. I don’t get everything that I put into my planner done every week.

I know I’m all about the planner, all about being productive, but this is one of those throw back the curtains and see how I really live posts.

I spoke at the MN-Nice ACFW group last night, and we had a looooong talk about not just getting things done, but WHY you get them done.

What are your values, and how do they drive your daily choices?

But that’s another talk for another time, because afterwards, someone came up to me and asked…what if I leave stuff blank? I feel so guilty.

Oh. Honey. There’s soooo many more important things in life to feel guilty about.

But, I get it. White space feels like unproductive space. Oh, we are so programmed to fill up every hour that we have failed to enjoy white space in our lives! Just taking a walk or sitting on the porch watching the sun go down. Authors have to have room to THINK.

Here’s another bold statement: I don’t use every space in my planner as it’s intended. (sometimes I do, but not always…)

So, in the interested of full transparency and real life, here’s a picture of last week’s planning pages.

As you can see…A LOT of spaces are left blank. And not used how they are “supposed to.” But here the deal…

The planner works for me, not me for the planner! (sort of sounds like a Bible verse about the sabbath…the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath!)

I get to use the planner how I need to use the planner.

As a reference. As a notebook. As a brainstorming page. As a goal setter. As a list of appointments I need to keep.

I am in charge. Not my planner.

Now, that said, my planner helps me keep my goals for the week in one place. It helps me capture my thoughts somewhere where I won’t lose them, and it helps me stay on track with appointments and sudden information I might need.

It gets the clutter out of my head so I can think. IOW, it creates WHITE SPACE.

Clutter out, thoughts in…

Last week my planner helped me finish a rough draft of a book, negotiate a real estate contract, helped me show up at my doctors’ appointments, prepare dinner for my brother’s family, prep for a number of meetings, pay my bills on time and drink some water.

And in the end, it also helps me see my wins.

So, if you need a little permission to just…let a little white space into your planner, not use all the boxes and just scribble on it as you’d like…here it is.

Have a great writing week and let a little white space into your life.

Your story matters! Go! Write something brilliant!

P.S. Trying to get the clutter out of your head? Want a tool to help organize your days, your goals and your vision? The 2020 My Brilliant Writing Planner is on sale now, 30% off! It’s not too late to launch your brilliant year!