10 Lists Every Goal-Getter Should Keep in Her Planner
Let me guess. You’ve got goals, you’ve got a planner, and somehow you’re still feeling like your brain is a browser with 37 tabs open.
That’s not because you need a different planner. Believe me, I tried that route. I used to buy a planner, use it for a few days or weeks, and then decide it didn’t work for me. I’d buy another one, and the pattern would repeat itself over and over. Some years, I bought more than 10 planners!
Then I figured out what I was doing wrong. So, if this sounds like you, here’s how to address the issue and love your planner.
The reason your planner isn’t working is that you need the right lists inside the one you already have.
Lists are how your planner stops being “a pretty place to write appointments” and starts being a real-life support system. They hold the things you keep forgetting, calm the mental clutter, and give your goals somewhere to land.
And no, this is not a bullet journal situation. We’re not drawing tiny doodles or tracking the moon cycle unless you want to. This is simple planning for real progress.
Here are the ten lists I think every goal-getter needs, plus what to put on them and why they matter.
Why lists work so well for goals
Goals are big-picture. Lists are the bridge to real life.
A goal says, “I want to feel healthier.”
A list says, “Here are the exact things I can do this week to make that happen.”
When you keep the right lists, you stop relying on your brain to remember everything. Your brain is for ideas and decisions, not for being a storage unit.
Now let’s build your planner into the calm, organized sidekick it’s supposed to be.
1. The Year-at-a-Glance Goals List
This is your “don’t forget what matters” list, the one that keeps your whole year from turning into a blur of busy weeks.
Think of it like your planner’s home screen. If you only looked at one page all year, it should be this one.
What goes on it
You’re not writing every goal you’ve ever had since middle school. You’re writing your three focus areas and one goal for each.
That’s it.
Why so short? Because this list works only if you actually use it. If it’s a wall of text, your brain will ignore it like terms and conditions.
Here’s an example:
Focus Area 1: Health and Energy
Goal: Walk three times a week + strength train twice a week.
Focus Area 2: Home and Daily Life
Goal: Weekly reset every Sunday + keep kitchen counters clear nightly.
Focus Area 3: Work or Creative Projects
Goal: Publish two YouTube videos a month.
Simple. Clear. Specific enough that you know what you’re aiming for, flexible enough to survive real life.
Why it helps
Think of this list as your “alignment check.”
When you’re deciding what to do with your time, energy, or attention, you can look at this page and ask:
“Does this support what I said matters most this year?”
If yes, great, do it.
If no, you either say no to it or stop pretending it’s a priority.
Without this list, goals drift quietly. You get busy, you react to what’s urgent, and suddenly it’s June, and you’re thinking, “Wait…what was I even trying to do this year?”
This list prevents that.
How to use it in real life
You don’t stare at it daily. You use it in small moments.
At your weekly reset, glance at it and choose your Top 3 for the week based on these goals.
At your monthly reset, ask if your priorities are still aligned.
When life throws extra stuff at you, use it to decide what gets your “yes.”
It keeps you from doing a thousand things that don’t add up to the life you actually want.
Where to put it
Somewhere you’ll see without hunting for it.
The very first page of your planner.
Inside the cover.
The first page of your Yearly Reset section.
A one-page printable taped inside your planner if you want it extra obvious.
The whole point is that it stays visible. Because goals that aren’t visible don’t stand a chance.
2. The Monthly Priorities List
This is your “what matters this month” list. It’s where your big-picture goals get translated into real-life focus, without you trying to tackle all twelve months of the year at once.
Think of it like zooming in on the map. Your Year-at-a-Glance list is the whole trip. Your Monthly Priorities list is, “Okay, what lane am I in right now?”
What goes on it
You’re choosing one to three priorities for the month. That’s it. Not seven. Not a wish list. Priorities.
A priority can be:
A chunk of a yearly goal you want to push forward this month.
A seasonal life thing that genuinely needs attention right now.
A personal “this month matters because…” focus.
Here’s an example that shows the shape:
Yearly Goal: Strength train twice a week.
Monthly Priority: Schedule workouts on my calendar for the next four weeks and keep them simple.
Yearly Goal: Publish two YouTube videos a month.
Monthly Priority: Outline both videos by the second week of the month.
Seasonal Life Priority: December is busy.
Monthly Priority: Protect one real rest block every week.
Notice how these are not huge. They’re the next right things. Monthly priorities should feel like stepping stones, not a mountain.
Why it helps
Because most women fall off goals for one of two reasons:
They try to do the whole year in January.
They get so busy mid-year that goals become background noise.
Monthly priorities fix both.
They do three powerful things:
They keep your goals relevant.
You’re asking, “What matters now?” instead of dragging last month’s plan into a new month like an old casserole.
They reduce overwhelm.
When you pick three priorities, your brain stops treating everything like an emergency.
They create momentum you can feel.
Monthly focus is long enough to make progress, and short enough to adjust when life changes.
This list is how your year stays aligned without feeling like a pressure cooker.
How to choose your monthly priorities in five minutes
Here’s the easiest way to pick them without overthinking:
Look at your Year-at-a-Glance Goals list.
Ask, “Which one goal needs attention this month to stay alive?”
Look at your calendar and your season.
Ask, “What’s realistically possible this month?”
A priority that ignores your life is not a priority; it’s a setup.
Ask one honest question:
“If I only moved three things forward this month, what would make me feel proud on the last day?”
Those become your Monthly Priorities.
How to use it in real life
This list isn’t just for writing and forgetting. It’s a working tool.
At the start of the month, you write it.
At your weekly reset, you glance at it and choose your Weekly Top 3 based on it.
Mid-month, you check in and adjust if needed.
At the end of the month, you circle what you finished and note what rolls over.
Monthly priorities give you structure without turning your month into a rigid plan you resent.
Where to put it
Put it at the start of every month, somewhere you naturally land when you flip the page.
Top of your monthly spread.
A dedicated “Monthly Reset” page right before your calendar.
The first page of your Monthly Goals section.
Some women like to keep it on a sticky note inside the month tab, too. Whatever makes you actually look at it.
Tiny reminder
A Monthly Priorities list is not a test. It’s a compass.
If you pick three priorities and only nail two, that’s not failure. That’s a realistic month. You’re still moving forward.
3. The Weekly Top 3 List
This is your “keep me on track” list, the one that stops your week from turning into a frantic game of whack-a-mole.
Because let’s be real. Most weeks don’t go off the rails because you didn’t do enough. They go off the rails because you tried to do too many things that weren’t actually the point.
The Weekly Top 3 is how you choose the point.
What goes on it
You pick three priorities for the week. Not your whole to-do list. Not every task you can think of. Three things that matter.
These can be:
One goal-moving priority (something tied to your yearly or monthly goals).
One life-moving priority (something that makes your actual life easier or calmer).
One “future me will thank me” priority (something you keep putting off).
Here’s what that might look like:
Week Top 3 example:
Outline next week’s YouTube video.
Do two strength workouts.
Book the dentist appointment I keep ignoring.
Simple. Clear. Doable.
If you look at your Top 3 and feel instantly exhausted, that’s your cue to shrink them. These should feel like progress, not punishment.
Why it helps
Because a week without priorities becomes a week ruled by urgency.
Your brain defaults to whatever is loudest. Emails, other people’s needs, random errands that suddenly feel critical. And then Friday shows up, and you’re like, “I was busy all week… what did I actually do?”
The Top 3 prevents that drift.
It gives you:
A definition of success for the week.
A filter for what deserves your energy.
A way to feel proud even if the week isn’t perfect.
It’s the smallest list that creates the biggest clarity.
How to choose your Top 3 in five minutes
Do this during your Weekly Reset.
Look at your Monthly Priorities list.
Ask, “What’s one thing from there I can move forward this week?”
Look at your calendar.
Ask, “What week am I actually having?”
If it’s packed, your Top 3 should be lighter. If it’s open, you can choose something a little beefier.
Ask the magic question:
“If I finish only three things this week, what would make me feel good on Friday?”
That’s your Top 3.
How to use it in real life
This list is not decoration. It’s your weekly steering wheel.
Write your Top 3 somewhere you’ll see every day.
Put at least one of them on your calendar.
Otherwise, it becomes a “hope list.”
Each morning, glance at it and pick which one you’re touching that day.
You don’t have to do all three by Wednesday. You just need to keep them in view.
At the end of the week, check them off and note what rolls over.
No guilt. Just information.
Even if you complete two out of three, that’s a successful week. You’re building momentum, not chasing perfection.
Where to put it
Put it where it’s unavoidable.
Top of your weekly spread.
A sticky note on the week tab.
The first line of your planner page for the week.
Notes app if you’re more digital.
Some women even write the Top 3 on a small card and move it week to week. Whatever makes it visible.
Tiny reminder
Your Weekly Top 3 is not meant to squeeze more into your life. It’s meant to protect what matters inside your life.
Three priorities. One week. Steady progress.
That’s how goals actually get done.
4. The Habit Anchor List
This is your “tiny habits that move big goals” list, and it’s one of the most important pages in your whole planner.
Because goals are cute, but habits are what actually happen on a random Wednesday when nobody is clapping for you.
The Habit Anchor List is where you decide, “What am I repeating right now that will quietly change my life?”
What goes on it
You’re choosing two to four habits you’re focusing on in this season.
Not forever. Not for your fantasy self. For right now.
These should be:
Small enough to repeat easily.
Clear enough to know if you did them.
Connected to your goals or your baseline well-being.
Habit Anchors for a month might look like:
Walk Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Weekly reset every Sunday evening.
Protein at breakfast.
10 minutes on my creative project three days a week.
That’s it. Simple. Repeatable. Realistic.
If your list starts creeping past four habits, you’re not building anchors anymore, you’re building a to-do list in a trench coat.
Why it helps
Because habits are the part we think we’ll remember and then absolutely don’t.
You tell yourself, “I’m going to start walking again,” and then Tuesday rolls around, your day gets weird, and suddenly it’s three weeks later, and your sneakers are judging you from the closet.
The Habit Anchor List fixes that by doing three things:
It keeps your habits visible.
If you can’t see the habit, it won’t survive the week.
It keeps your habits realistic.
Seeing them together helps you notice if you’re trying to do too much at once.
It turns goals into action.
Your Yearly Reset and Monthly Priorities tell you what matters.
This list tells you how it happens.
How to choose your habit anchors in five minutes
Do this at the start of the month or during your Monthly Reset.
Look at your Monthly Priorities.
Ask, “What habit would make this priority easier to finish?”
Protect your baseline first.
Ask, “What habit keeps me functioning well?”
Sleep, movement, hydration, planning, whatever keeps you steady.
Shrink it until it fits real life.
If your first instinct is “work out every day,” your second instinct should be, “Okay, Nancy, calm down.”
Make it doable enough that you can keep it even on your messiest week.
Stick with 2–4. That’s the sweet spot.
How to use it in real life
This list is a weekly companion, not a monthly decoration.
During your Weekly Reset, glance at it and choose where those habits fit in the week.
Put the habits on your calendar like appointments.
Because habits that aren’t scheduled are just vibes.
Use it to decide what not to add.
If your anchors are already full, you don’t toss a new habit on top like a Jenga block and hope for the best.
And here’s the key.
If a habit isn’t working after a couple of weeks, you don’t quit; you adjust the size.
Less time, fewer days, smaller version.
Consistency beats intensity every time.
Where to put it
Put it where it naturally shows up in your planning rhythm.
Right beside your Weekly Top 3 list.
At the top of your weekly spread.
On a dedicated Habit Planning page at the start of the month.
You want to see it often enough that it stays alive, but not so cluttered that you ignore it.
Tiny reminder
Habit anchors are not a personality overhaul. They’re a support system.
You’re choosing a few small things to repeat so your goals stop feeling like “extra” and start feeling like your normal life.
And that is how real progress happens.
5. The “When I Have Time” List
This is your “stop trying to remember everything at 9 p.m.” list.
You know those tasks that are not urgent, but they do matter? The ones that hover in the back of your brain like a low-grade hum, making you feel behind even when you’re doing a lot?
That’s what this list is for.
It’s basically a safe parking lot for all the good intentions that don’t need to live in your head.
What goes on it
Anything that:
Isn’t time-sensitive this week.
Doesn’t belong on your Top 3.
Still needs to get done eventually.
Examples:
Return that thing sitting in your trunk.
Make a dentist appointment.
Organize one kitchen drawer.
Update your website bio.
Clean out photos on your phone.
Research new walking shoes.
Finish a book you started.
Send a birthday card you keep forgetting.
It’s the “would be nice to handle” list, not the “if I don’t do this today, everything explodes” list.
Why it helps
Because your brain has terrible timing.
It loves to remind you of random tasks when:
You’re trying to fall asleep.
You’re finally relaxing.
You’re already stressed.
You have zero ability to act on it.
So you either:
Panic-add it to tomorrow (and overload yourself), or
Feel guilty and try to remember it (which is exhausting).
This list breaks that cycle.
It gives tasks a home, so your brain stops carrying them around like groceries with no bags.
How to use it in real life
This list is not meant to pressure you. It’s meant to protect you.
Here’s the simple way to use it:
During your Weekly Reset, glance at it.
If you have an open pocket of time that week, pull one item onto your plan.
If your week is packed, leave it alone.
The list will still be there next week, I promise.
You don’t “catch up” on this list. You chip away at it.
And when you do an item, cross it off with a little flourish. Not because you’re dramatic, but because finishing small things builds momentum.
How to keep it from becoming a guilt list
Important. This list should feel like relief, not shame. So:
Keep it realistic.
If it grows past a page, it’s no longer helpful.
Delete anything you don’t actually care about anymore.
If you haven’t wanted to do it for six months, you probably don’t want to do it.
Move items that suddenly become urgent.
If something needs to happen this week, it graduates to your Weekly Top 3 or calendar.
This list is not a graveyard for obligations. It’s a gentle queue for things you truly want to handle.
Where to put it
Somewhere easy to find, but not in your face every day.
A running list page in the back of your planner.
A “Later” section in your Weekly Reset tab.
Notes app, if you’re digital, then copy one item into your planner weekly.
The point is that it’s accessible when you need it, not staring at you like a disappointed teacher.
Tiny reminder
This list is proof you’re organized, not behind.
You’re giving your brain a break, your week a little breathing room, and your goals a better chance of surviving real life.
That’s what good planning does.
6. The Future Ideas List
This is your “creative brain parking lot” list. And if you’re the kind of woman who gets ideas while you’re driving, showering, or trying to fall asleep, you need this list like you need coffee.
Because ideas are wonderful…until they start living in your head rent-free and making you feel scattered.
This list gives your inspiration a home, so you can be creative without being chaotic.
What goes on it
Anything that’s an idea, not an assignment.
Examples:
Content ideas (blog posts, YouTube videos, pins, emails).
Projects you want to do someday.
Things you want to learn or try.
Fun plans or trips.
Home or life upgrades you’re thinking about.
Quotes, prompts, or themes you want to explore later.
Random sparks that feel exciting but don’t need action right now.
Think: “I don’t want to forget this,” not “I need to do this this week.”
Here’s what it might look like:
“Spring reset routine” post series
One Word workshop for the community
Closet refresh weekend in March
Try a 10-minute daily sketch habit
New meal rotation for busy weeks
“How to plan when you’re overwhelmed” video
No pressure. Just capture.
Why it helps
Because creative women tend to do one of two things with ideas:
Trust their brain to remember them, which it won’t, or
Try to act on all of them immediately, which leads to overwhelm and half-finished projects everywhere.
This list fixes both.
It does three things:
It protects your ideas.
You stop losing good thoughts just because life got busy.
It quiets your brain.
When an idea has a safe place to go, your mind stops circling it like a mosquito at bedtime.
It keeps you focused on today’s priorities.
You can stay excited about the future without derailing the week you’re actually in.
It’s the difference between inspiration and distraction.
How to use it in real life
This list is simple and powerful:
Add ideas anytime they pop up. No sorting required.
During your Monthly Reset, scan the list and pick one idea that fits your current priorities or season.
Move that one idea into your “Next Steps” Project List if you’re ready to act on it.
Everything else stays parked until its time comes.
You are not trying to “clear” this list. You’re trying to collect from it when you need fuel.
How to keep it from becoming clutter
Two rules keep this list helpful:
Don’t mix ideas with urgent tasks.
If it’s a real deadline, it belongs on your calendar or Weekly Top 3.
This list is for “later” on purpose.
Do a quick seasonal sweep.
Every few months, skim it and delete anything that no longer excites you.
If an idea feels like “ugh,” it doesn’t get to stay.
This list should feel like a possibility, not pressure.
Where to put it
Somewhere you naturally reach for when inspiration hits.
A dedicated page in your Creative Planning section.
A running list in your Notes app labeled “Future Ideas,” then you pull from it monthly.
A “brain dump/ideas” page at the back of your planner.
Pick one place and keep it consistent.
Tiny reminder
Ideas don’t need immediate action to be valuable.
This list lets you stay creative, stay organized, and stay focused on what matters now — without losing the spark for what’s next.
7. The “Next Steps” Project List
This is your “progress without overwhelm” list.
Because projects are sneaky. They sit in the back of your mind with a vague cloud of “I should…” and then somehow make you feel stressed even when you’re not working on them.
This list fixes that by answering one simple question:
“What is the next right step?”
Not the whole plan. Not the entire staircase. Just the next few stairs you can actually see.
What goes on it
Any project you’re working on, big or small, paired with the next one to three steps only.
Examples:
Project: Plan my 2026 goals
Next steps: choose 3 focus areas, write 3 goals, schedule January check-in
Project: Start a YouTube series
Next steps: outline episode 1, gather images, pick filming day
Project: Refresh my home office
Next steps: clear desk surface, decide what stays, order one storage item
Project: Get healthier
Next steps: schedule walks M/W/F, buy groceries for 3 easy dinners, book annual checkup
See how each one is actionable and small? That’s the magic.
If you write a project with 14 steps, your brain will politely faint. Keep it tiny.
Why it helps
Because overwhelm usually isn’t about the work. It’s about not knowing where to start.
When a project feels like a fog, your brain does two things:
Avoids it.
Panics about avoiding it.
The Next Steps list removes the fog. It turns “a big thing” into “a small thing I can do Tuesday.”
It also keeps you from the classic trap of planning projects forever and never actually moving them forward.
How to use it in real life
This list works best when you pair it with your Weekly Reset.
During your Weekly Reset, look at this list.
Choose one project to touch on this week.
Pull one next step into your Weekly Top 3 or calendar.
That’s all.
You’re not trying to finish five projects at once. You’re trying to keep one project moving at a time, consistently.
Momentum beats multi-tasking every day of the week.
How to keep it realistic
A few rules keep this list from becoming another guilt pile.
Only list active projects.
If you’re not working on it this season, it belongs on your Future Ideas list, not here.
Keep the steps embarrassingly small.
“Write a blog post” is too big.
“Outline blog post” is right.
Refresh steps as you go.
Once you finish a step, add the next one.
You’re always keeping the path visible.
This list is like leaving breadcrumbs for yourself, so you don’t have to re-figure out what to do every time you come back to a project.
Where to put it
Somewhere, you naturally plan your week.
A dedicated Projects page in your Weekly Reset section.
The start of each month if you’re more monthly-based.
A running “Next Steps” list you keep behind a tab.
The key is that you can find it quickly when you’re doing your weekly planning.
Tiny reminder
Projects don’t get finished because you “find time someday.”
They get finished because you keep taking the next small step, even in busy weeks.
This list is how you make that automatic.
8. The Self-Care Baseline List
This is your “don’t let life eat you alive” list.
Because here’s what nobody tells you when you’re setting goals. You can have the best plan on earth, but if you’re running on fumes, even small things feel hard. Your patience gets thin, your focus disappears, and suddenly everything feels heavier than it should.
This list is how you protect your energy before you crash.
It’s not a spa fantasy. It’s the basic care that keeps you functioning like yourself.
What goes on it
Your baseline is the small handful of habits that make you feel okay in your body and steady in your mind.
Think: minimum standards, not “perfect wellness era.”
Pick three to five simple things that support you in this season. Examples:
Sleep baseline
“In bed by 10:30 on weeknights.”
Movement baseline
“Walk 3x a week” or “stretch for 5 minutes daily.”
Food baseline
“Protein at breakfast,” or “plan 3 easy dinners a week.”
Mind baseline
“10 minutes of quiet in the morning,” or “journal once a week.”
Planning baseline
“Weekly reset every Sunday.”
Here’s a realistic example list:
Self-Care Baseline
Walk M/W/F
Protein at breakfast
Screen-free wind down 30 minutes before bed
Weekly reset on Sundays
Simple. Not glamorous. Effective.
Why it helps
Because self-care isn’t extra. It’s the foundation.
This list:
Protects your goals.
When you feel better, you follow through better. Period.
Keeps you out of the all-or-nothing spiral.
You don’t need to overhaul your life to feel good. You need a baseline you can keep even on chaotic weeks.
Gives you an early warning system.
If you’re consistently skipping your baseline, it’s not a discipline problem; it’s a signal. You’re overextended, and something needs adjusting.
This list is a quiet form of self-respect.
How to choose your baseline in five minutes
Do this during your Monthly Reset.
Ask, “What helps me feel like me?”
Not what you should do, but what actually helps.
Ask, “What’s realistic on my worst week?”
If you can’t keep it during a hard week, shrink it.
Start smaller than you think.
Your baseline should feel doable, not heroic.
If your baseline is “work out every day” and you haven’t worked out in two months, that’s not a baseline, that’s a setup.
You’re building a floor, not a ceiling.
How to use it in real life
This list works best when you treat it like your non-negotiable minimums.
During your Weekly Reset, you glance at it and plug those habits into your calendar first.
If your schedule is too packed to fit your baseline, your schedule is the problem, not you.
When life gets messy, you fall back to your baseline instead of falling off everything.
Baseline habits are what keep your year from turning into a cycle of “on track → burnout → restart.”
Where to put it
Put it somewhere you’ll see it weekly.
Right beside your Habit Anchor List.
In your Weekly Reset section.
At the top of the month, if you want a monthly reminder.
It should be visible enough to stay alive, but not in your face like a scolding checklist.
Tiny reminder
You don’t earn rest or care by being productive first.
You protect your baseline so you can be productive, creative, and steady in the life you’re actually living.
This list is how you take care of Future You without making it complicated.
9. The Wins and Progress List
This is your “you’re not behind” list.
Because your brain has a negativity bias. It will remember every single thing you didn’t do, and conveniently forget the 43 things you did do while living your real life.
So this list is evidence. Proof. Receipts.
It’s where you track progress in a way that keeps you motivated and realistic, instead of constantly feeling like you’re playing catch-up.
What goes on it
Your wins don’t have to be big to count. In fact, small wins are the whole point, because they’re what build momentum.
Add things like:
Progress on goals
“Walked twice this week.”
“Outlined my next blog post.”
“Did my weekly reset even though I didn’t want to.”
Life wins
“Handled that phone call I was avoiding.”
“Got everyone to appointments on time.”
“Finished the laundry mountain.”
Emotional wins
“Said no without guilt.”
“Took a real break.”
“Didn’t spiral when plans changed.”
Quiet wins nobody sees
“Drank more water.”
“Went to bed earlier.”
“Chose my priorities instead of reacting.”
The bar is not “did I do something impressive?”
The bar is “did I move forward in any way?”
Why it helps
Because motivation doesn’t come from yelling at yourself harder. It comes from seeing proof that you’re capable.
This list:
Builds confidence.
When you see progress, you trust yourself more.
When you trust yourself more, you follow through more.
Stops the “nothing I do is enough” feeling.
You get to the end of a week and feel proud instead of depleted.
Keeps you consistent.
Wins remind you that progress is already happening, so you don’t quit just because things aren’t perfect.
Basically, it’s a mindset reset in list form.
How to use it in real life
You don’t need a whole journaling session for this. Keep it simple.
At the end of each week, write down 3 to 5 wins.
At the end of the month, skim your weekly wins and list your biggest progress moments.
When you feel behind or discouraged, read this list before you make a new plan.
It changes the story you’re telling yourself.
Because if your inner narrative is “I never follow through,” you’ll start acting like that’s true.
This list rewrites that narrative with facts.
Where to put it
Somewhere you naturally land at the end of a week.
Bottom of your weekly spread.
A “Weekly Reset Wrap-Up” page.
A running “Wins” list in your Notes app.
You want it easy, not another chore.
Tiny reminder
This list is not bragging. It’s tracking reality.
You are doing more than you think you are.
You’re making progress more than you feel like you are.
And when you keep a Wins and Progress list, you stop needing to “start over” so often, because you can see that you never really stopped.
10. The Reset and Boundaries List
This is your “protect the year you want” list.
Because progress isn’t just about what you do.
It’s also about what you stop doing, what you stop tolerating, and what you stop saying yes to out of habit.
This list is where you course-correct before the drift turns into a whole season of “wait, how did I get back here again?”
It’s part reset, part boundary-setting, and it’s a quiet game-changer.
What goes on it
This list has two simple sections.
Section 1: What I want to adjust or reset.
These are the small tweaks that will make next week or next month feel better.
Examples:
“Plan earlier in the week instead of scrambling Sunday night.”
“Stop overscheduling Tuesdays, they’re always a mess.”
“Make workouts shorter so I actually do them.”
“Batch content once a week instead of spacing it out.”
“Leave more buffer between errands.”
Section 2: What I’m setting boundaries around.
This is where you name what you’re saying no to so your yes can mean something.
Examples:
“No more volunteering for things I secretly dread.”
“No checking work email after dinner.”
“No guilt for resting when I’m tired.”
“No automatic yes to last-minute requests.”
“No adding new goals until my baseline habits feel steady.”
Both sections should be short and specific.
The goal is clarity, not a manifesto.
Why it helps
Because without boundaries, goals don’t fail; they get crowded out.
This list:
Stops repeat patterns.
It helps you see what’s not working while it’s still small, not after three months of frustration.
Protects your energy.
Boundaries are basically time and energy savings accounts.
Keeps your goals realistic.
Instead of trying harder, you adjust the system.
If you’re constantly feeling behind, it’s rarely because you’re not capable.
It’s usually because your life is asking too much and you haven’t redrawn the lines yet.
This list is how you redraw them.
How to use it in real life
Use this list during your Weekly Reset or Monthly Reset.
Ask: “What worked that I want to repeat?”
Ask: “What didn’t work that I need to adjust?”
Ask: “What am I letting into my life that’s making this harder?”
Then write:
One to three resets.
One to three boundaries.
That’s it.
You don’t need a huge overhaul.
You need a small, realistic shift that makes the next stretch easier.
Where to put it
Put it where it naturally fits your reset rhythm.
At the bottom of your weekly spread.
On a Monthly Reset wrap-up page.
Beside your Wins and Progress list, so you can see the full story together.
Wins show you what’s working.
Resets show you what needs tweaking.
Boundaries protect both.
Tiny reminder
You don’t need more willpower. You need better guardrails.
This list is you saying,
“I’m not doing this year on hard mode anymore.”
And that, right there, is how steady progress becomes your normal life.
If you want, I can now go back through the full “10 Lists” post and make sure every list has the same depth and flow, so it reads like one cohesive, really helpful guide.
How to start using these lists without feeling like you need a new life
You do not need to set all ten up today.
Start with three. Here are the ones I recommend you start with.
Year-at-a-Glance Goals List.
Weekly Top 3 List.
Habit Anchor List.
That trio alone will make your planner feel like it has a job again.
Then add one list per week as you feel the need. The point is function, not perfection.
A little reminder before you go
Your planner is not supposed to be a scrapbook of good intentions.
It’s supposed to help you live your real life with less chaos and more direction.
These lists are how you get there. Simple, realistic, repeatable.
Now tell me, which list do you need most right now, the one that keeps you focused, the one that keeps you consistent, or the one that clears the clutter?
