Planning isn't about getting more done. It's about making time for what matters.
If you've ever looked at an overflowing to-do list and wondered how you're supposed to fit it all in, The Awesome Planner might offer a slightly different answer:
Maybe you don't need to fit it all in.
I'm not interested in helping you become more productive just for the sake of being productive. I don't believe a perfectly organized planner, a complicated morning routine, or the latest productivity system is going to magically give you more hours in the day.
Good planning starts with figuring out what actually matters, being realistic about the time and energy you have, and making intentional choices about what deserves a place in your life right now.
Sometimes that means making a better plan. And sometimes it means deciding what you're not going to do.
That's what The Awesome Planner is about.
The system matters more than the planner.
I love planners. I always have.
But after many years of using them, creating them, changing them, experimenting with different systems, and helping other people manage their time, I've learned something important: the planner itself is rarely the solution.
A planner is a tool. What matters is the thinking that happens before you start filling in those little boxes.
What are you trying to accomplish?
What actually needs your attention?
What's important right now—and what can wait?
How much can you realistically do?
What needs to come off the list?
The Awesome Planner exists to help you answer those questions and create a plan that works with your real life. Not someone else's morning routine. Not an imaginary week where nothing unexpected happens. Your actual life.
More than a planner shop.
The Awesome Planner is a collection of tools, resources, ideas, and products that can help you make more intentional decisions about your time.
Planning Tools
Interactive tools that help you think through overwhelm, priorities, routines, goals, and what to do next.
Explore the free tools →02Articles & Resources
A permanent reference library of tutorials, step-by-step guides, planning methods, and useful resources.
Browse the articles →03The Awesome Planner News
Fresh planning ideas, helpful resources, encouragement, and occasional updates delivered to your inbox.
Find the signup box →04The Substack Publication
The deeper essays and ongoing conversation about planning, priorities, experiments, changing my mind, and planner culture.
Read on Substack →05All Access
The growing member library for planners, workbooks, devotionals, challenges, mini courses, printables, and more.
Explore All Access →06The Shop
Complete planning products and systems for specific needs, from digital planners to guided resources for goals and projects.
Visit the shop →How it all works together
There are several parts to The Awesome Planner, but you don't have to use all of them.
Need help figuring something out?
Try one of the free planning tools.
Want to learn how to do something?
Explore the Articles & Resources library.
Want fresh ideas and an ongoing conversation?
Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter.
Want hands-on help, videos, and downloads?
Explore the All Access member library.
Need a complete planning system or product?
Visit the shop.
Start with what you need. Ignore what you don't. That's intentional, too.
Hi, I'm Michele.
I've been a planner for most of my life, long before “planner” became an entire corner of the internet.
My approach has also been shaped by years spent working in social services, where managing a large caseload meant constantly deciding what needed attention first, what could wait, what absolutely couldn't, and how to keep everything moving when there was always more work than time.
Later, that lifelong interest in planning grew into more than a decade of creating digital planners and exploring different approaches to planning and time management.
I've tried a lot of systems. I've changed planners. I've changed my mind. Somewhere along the way, I became much less interested in finding the perfect planner and much more interested in understanding why some plans actually work.
I'd rather do less—and be intentional about what I choose to do.
I want my plans to make room for the things that matter to me, not fill every available space with another task. The Awesome Planner isn't about creating a perfectly planned life. It's about knowing what matters, making a realistic plan for it, and giving yourself permission to let the rest wait—or let it go entirely.
It's to live your life.
Make every day count. ❤️
A few things you might be wondering
What is The Awesome Planner?
The Awesome Planner is a collection of planning tools, articles, ideas, and products designed to help you decide what matters, make a realistic plan, and stop treating every task like it deserves equal space in your life.
Where should I start?
Start with what you need right now. If everything feels like too much, try Plan What Matters. If you want to learn how to do something, browse the Articles library. If you want ongoing ideas, subscribe to the newsletter. You do not need to use every part of the site.
Are the planning tools free?
The site includes free interactive planning tools, including Plan What Matters. Paid products and membership resources are clearly labeled, so you will know before you choose them.
What is the difference between the newsletter and the membership?
The Awesome Planner News is the free email list for fresh ideas and useful resources. Substack is a separate publication for deeper essays and ongoing conversation. All Access is the paid member library for planners, workbooks, devotionals, challenges, mini courses, printables, and more.
Do I need an account to use the site or shop?
No. You can read the public articles and use the free tools without an Awesome Planner account. You also do not need to be a member to shop. Products are sold securely through Shopify by Everyday Awesome.
How do I play the Digital Zen audiobook?
Digital Zen is delivered as a ZIP file. Download it, extract or unzip the folder, and then open or import the audio files into your preferred audiobook or audio player. On iPhone or iPad, tap the ZIP file in the Files app. On Android, use Extract in Files by Google. On Windows, choose Extract All; on Mac, double-click the ZIP file. Keep the extracted chapter files together and do not try to import the ZIP file itself.
Is this another productivity system?
Not really. The goal is not to squeeze more tasks into your day. It is to help you make intentional choices about your time, energy, and attention—including deciding what can wait, be made easier, or come off the list entirely.
Still have a question? Send me a message.