Planning - Academic Year vs. Calendar Year

My recent planning realization and why it works for me so much better than January goal setting.

Oct 15, 2024

I attended public school as a student, then went to college for a teaching degree, and then became a public school teacher. Most of my formative life I spent thinking of each year in terms of what grade I was in from fall to spring. Summer was my downtime and reset. A time when I would get a new planner and think ahead at what changes my life would hold.

When I moved into being a stay-at-home mom I was no longer tied to the school calendar but because my oldest was born in August I often continued my late summer annual planning routine.

Each year I have been in a rhythm of planning and resetting our schedule in the fall. The realization hit me that I have not fully invested in this natural rhythm.

When January comes around the energy I have is not yearly planning mode. While everyone online is talking about revamping routines, eating healthy, and yearly goals, I am happy and settled in my hobbit-style home.

My mood after Christmas often looks more like:

getting extra sleep in the mornings
quiet reflection and journaling
some relaxed decluttering
slowly getting back into the school routine
baking homemade bread and trying new casserole recipies
reading fiction books snuggled up in a blanket with a purring cat
reorganizing spaces around my home that are bothering me
long hikes and walks in the Arizona desert 🌵
deep cleaning after I put the Christmas decor away
enjoying tactile hobbies like junk journaling or knitting
having slow evenings & family movie nights

clear fishbowl beside pine cones on brown wooden table — Photo by Dane Deaner on Unsplash

For years I gave myself grief over this. I felt less-than because I love goal setting and planning but my heart is just not into it in January.

But this summer I had a realization.

I can approach yearly planning when it works for me and not specifically when the calendar “says I should”.

This August & September my life has looked more like:

getting up early to go for walks (with Gunnar🐕‍🦺)
morning journaling and habit tracking
planning out the school year details & organizing our calendar
lots of time school planning
planned activities starting back up (driving kids places & being productive on the go)
writing work and reassesing what to focus on
research, reading and gathering ideas
teaching the kids new skills (cleaning, cooking, & around the house)
conversations about productivity with friends
evenings spent reading (usually non-fiction)

When I am in this mode I naturally move into planning, goal setting, and evaluating. It feels like a logical progression.

So this year I embraced it. I have switched all my planning (not just school related stuff) to an academic year rhythm. I evaluate all areas of my layered life and set goals, plan milestones, and look ahead at the next 12 months.

I set up my Notion Digital Planning System to give me some structure and a path ahead. [more about that in this post = Digital Planning ]

I also started a new routine with a daily log/reflection journal.

The combo of these planners is helping me stay on track and they fit seemlessly into my lifestyle. I don’t feel overwhelmed.

macbook pro on white table — Photo by Pauline Bernard on Unsplash

I am a sucker for paper planning and having something posted in our kitchen to communicate to my family. So every year I make some printables to use in my planning routine.

Here are is the free PDF from this year 😁

and this is a Printable Academic Calendar with space for notes

Apparently I am not alone in this idea.

A few days after I had written this post, I went on a morning walk and listened to this Mel Robbins podcast: How to Get Ahead of 99% of People (In 4 Months)

I loved her perspective and it further confirmed my suspicions! Check it out!

I hope that by sharing my recent planning shift that you can give yourself permission to tackle planning in a way that works for you.

I am excited about the year ahead and I feel hopeful about the plans made. We shall see what the year holds, but I feel good about moving into fall with fresh goals and planning.