Harness the Power of Planning

My family is entering the third (and final!) year of something I've been calling "The Grand Edit". As a couple who has been blessed to see our 50s, we've managed to accumulate quite a few things. Did I mean for this process to take three years? No, but hey, it took 50 years for me to get all this stuff, so maybe three is reasonable. Some of the excess abundance are useful (like t...

An Annual Review is a great way to put last year to bed 🌘 and open yourself up to all the amazing things coming your way! 🌑 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Annual Review Template ⁠⁠http://tinyURL.com/BYWDannualreview⁠⁠ Links: Our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BYWDreams.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our paperbacks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

If your arms are full of the past, there is no way to embrace what is to come. This episode will help you release whatever you've been holding on to so you can make space for the exciting opportunities coming your way. Resources mentioned in this podcast: Annual Review Template ⁠http://tinyURL.com/BYWDannualreview⁠ Episode 3, 12/26/17 My #1 tip for creating lasting change in your life and New Year...

I used to get depressed about the end of the holiday season, dragging my feet into the new year with the momentum of a sloth. But now that I have my end of year rituals in place, I look forward to this time of year. Here are the four steps I take to sew up my old year 🪡 so I can put old things to rest and embrace the new goodness headed my way! Next Episode Dec 25, 2025: Release the Old So You Ca...

You've heard me say "one minute of planning saves you ten minutes of doing." However, when the planning is "big picture" planning, the return on investment is even higher! I used to always get a little depressed around this time of year because I love the holidays so much and the new year seemed like a tiresome challenge that I needed to overcome. However, as I often say, a...

I like to start my annual planning the week of Thanksgiving because it gives me time to "percolate" on the question of "what do I want to do/be/accomplish next year." This is a big, boundaryless question and I find that questions like this are best answered with some writing and contemplation.✍️ In this episode I give you some tips and ideas for how you can start thinking about...

FOOD. FOOD. FOOD! There can be a lot of food during the holiday season, and with a little planning, you can even make sure that the leftovers feel festive and fun. -------------------------------------- Next Episodes Dec 4, 2025: Dec 11, 2025: Resources: -Get Organized 2026 https://tinyURL.com/getorganized2026 (watch the podcast for a special code for 25% off) -Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

It's the time of year when friends and family get together more and sometimes that can lead to challenging conversations. In preparation, I have a chat with my most diplomatic friend who introduced me to the book Non Violent Communication. We talk about ways to have more effective conversations so that everyone can feel better about the interaction and (hopefully) things can move forward rathe...

You know that feeling when you are doing something and you lose all track of time, your energy seems limitless, and the rest of the world falls away and it's just you and whatever you're doing? That's you in the flow state. It's euphoric and it gives you a sense that you're doing exactly what you're supposed supposed to be doing. In this episode, I chat with Flow State Expe...

In September 2024, I went in for my annual physical and everything seemed "fine". I had no aches or pains to complain of, yes, my clothes fit tighter than they had a year ago but I'm also on the verge of menopause. My body has changed and I didn't have any issues with that. However, all was not as it appeared. For the first time ever, I had elevated blood markers in EIGHT categories: liver enzymes...

I used to be really unhealthy. At one point, a doctor asked me when was the last time I'd eaten a piece of raw fruit and I couldn't answer. It had been over a decade. When I started on my health journey, I knew nothing about nutrition. Since then, I've found that one of the best ways to ensure I eat healthy is to eat repetitively. The side benefit of this is that it also saves me lots of time and...

Holidays or Holidaze? The holidays should be fun, right? So why are so many people stressed out about them? Because they don't prioritize the many opportunities that come their way. In this episode I give you a simple, 3-step plan to ensure MORE FUN and LESS STRESS this holiday season. Remember, planning makes everything easier...especially the holidays. 🎃🪔🎁 Next Episodes Oct 30, 2025: Save...

Although many people think I'm an extrovert, in many personality tests, I score right on the cusp of being an introvert, which is why I loved meeting Mandi. She gave some great planning tips that ensure success at networking events. In this episode, we talk about these tips, her career in sales for a conference planning broker, and sweatworking (it's a thing!) Next Episodes Oct 23, 2025: C...

How long can I focus? You probably already have a sense of how long your attention span is. You are also probably aware of the fact that some things hold your attention more than others. In this episode, I explain Ultradian Rhythms and how knowing yours will help increase your productivity. I also discuss the one thing that hijacks these rhythm: FLOW, and how figuring out your entry point to flow...

Most of us have something we'd like to change or improve, but sometimes change can be hard.🤔 In this episode I explain the Trans-Theoretical Model of Change that will give you insight into why behavior modification can seem difficult. I will also give you tips for overcoming this challenge so that next time you want to implement a new habit, it will be easier! 🫰🏽 Next Episodes October 9, 20...

Sleep hygiene? That's just a fancy term for making sure you get a good night's sleep. 😴 Having an evening ritual is the solution to ensuring you have good "sleep hygiene" so that your brain and body can get the rest and repair they need to function optimally. If you don't get enough sleep, you will be impaired. In fact, driving drowsy has been show to be as dangerous as driv...

REBROADCAST In this podcast, I walk you through a powerful planning exercise: the monthly course correct. This is the tool that keeps you on track so that you can make progress on the big and little goals you set for yourself. 🚀 (Grab my free printable in the link below before you start this so you can follow along!) Resources: -Course Correct Printable http://TinyURL.com/BYWDcoursecorrect -My Fa...

Your chronotype is the label that helps describe your ideal schedule in terms of sleep and work. I'm sure that this system is partially influenced by geography and culture, so I don't like to overly generalize, but when I speak about chronotypes to American audiences, I get a lot of affirmative head-nodding. In this episode I explain how understanding your chronotype can help you lead a mo...

I'm a big fan of paper planners. I've used one for over 35 years, and so I have some thoughts on what makes a paper planner perfect (say that 3x fast!) To start with, there is no PERFECT planner. The perfect planner is the one that you use. It's different for everyone. In this episode I outline three things to consider when choosing a paper planner so that you can ensure it is perfect...

When I start working with someone on using a paper planner, I often notice that they neglect to make time for the many steps that don't have fixed date and time associated with them. I call all these steps the invisible work. For instance, if you have a dinner party in your planner for October 1 at 6pm, you need to write in your planner 6 weeks before to come up with an invite list, 4 weeks be...

This book is a great introduction to the world of the brain 🧠. It's science that reals like a novel! In this episode I discuss some of the high points and hopefully pique your interest enough that you will buy/borrow this fantastic book. You can buy the book here https://amzn.to/415vEBA Next week's topic (8/28/25): [PLANNING] Make Invisible Work, Visible Two weeks: [PLANNING] How to Pick...

Sometimes letting go is the hardest thing to do. In this episode, I tell you about three experiences I've had with letting go of expectations, and the way I prepare beforehand so that I feel ready to release.🕊️ Read my blog post synopsis on this podcast. Next week's topic (8/14/25): [BOOK SUMMARY] "The Dueling Neurosurgeons" Two weeks: [PLANNING] Make Invisible Work, Visible Reso...

The first day of school is two weeks away which gives you just enough time to implement my 5-step back-to-school plan. Next week's topic (8/7/25): Control What You Can and Let Go of the Rest 8/14/25 topic: Book Summary "The Dueling Neurosurgeons" Resources: -My Favorite Planning Tools (stickers, ink, etc) https://tinyurl.com/shopbywd -Start my life design course "Harness the Pow...

As a 51-year-old, I notice when my skin isn't looking it's best. And because I hate wearing make-up (always have), I have an extra incentive to keep my skin looking good because I'm not going to use make-up to cover it up. When people find out my age, they often ask "what skincare brand do you use," and while I think good products are a component of good skin, they are not the most important! In t...

NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENNED TO THE AUDIO, WILL SEE IF I CAN FIX AUDIO ONLY VERSION IN EDITOR. At the top of the show I speak to the Alexandra Stoddard quote, "What we do today, right now, will have an accumulated effect on all our tomorrows." It was a great segue into my topic. I've been in a long-term relationship for 27 years and I have some thoughts on what got us here. In this episod...