Planning with Purpose

Why Planning Your Month Sets the Tone for Everything

The first full week of May has come and gone!

I don't know about you, but I came into this prepped, planned, and ready for smooth sailing.

Now, if this had been April, it would have been bringing more of that “everything’s on fire” feeling.

The difference between the two:

April:

A packed calendar between work, business, and life.

There were a lot of hearings, depositions, travel to the main office, and even a trial. I was on go, with very little office time!

Finished working with one client, started working with another, and preparing to onboard a third, in the midst of podcast interviews and even pop-up speaking engagement.

Then, outside of that, busy weekends with book club, travel, and even running a 5k had me feeling like life was just running at full speed, no brakes.

Now, May:

I had some hard stops and blocks on my calendars, but otherwise there was lots of clear space.

This was a drastic difference and contrast between the two.

The transition week between the month was a full office week at work that gave me the peace to create, catch up, and prepare.

But, here's the thing that I know about time and clear space, things are going to come up, and time will get filled in.

Yes, I made a plan for April, but I'll be honest, I made the plan late so I struggled to stick with it.

When life gets chaotic, planning isn’t just helpful. It’s necessary.

Now in May, I've made a plan, and I'm sticking to it so far. I'll be honest, next week is where the real test will come into play, so stay tuned to see how that turns out.

But here’s the thing: Whether May is giving peace like mine, or the chaos that April gave, just because everything feels chaotic doesn’t mean you have to lose momentum. In fact, this is the perfect moment to get intentional about your month, pivot with purpose, and keep moving forward, even when things feel messy.

Let's divide into the LEE Method to guide us through understanding why planning is necessary.

1. Look: Planning Anchors Your Routine

You don’t need some overly complicated, multi-step routine to feel grounded. Instead, you just need a few intentional non-negotiables that bring you back to yourself.

The goal isn’t perfection, it’s consistency. Look to see what simple rituals act as anchors in your day to help you stay steady and focused, no matter how chaotic your day gets.

2. Examine: Progress > Perfection

We already know that “perfect” is a myth, real isn't perfect and perfect isn't real, especially in a full season. Progress is what moves the needle as you continue to show up consistently.

Some days you’ll do all the things, tackle the whole list, while other days, the win might just be sending one email or finishing a small task.

Both are important, they're still momentum. Don’t discount it. Examine how while planning gives you clarity, giving yourself grace is what keeps you going, as you continue to make progress instead of striving for perfection.

3. Execute: Pause on Purpose

Sometimes the most productive move is to stop. A strategic pause can save you from burnout, frustration, and spinning your wheels. If you're feeling stretched thin or constantly behind, it’s a sign that you need to step back, regroup, and come back with a plan.

Rest isn’t the opposite of productivity, rest isn't a failure. No, rest is a part of your executing on the plan because in taking the time to pause on purpose, you're allowing yourself to regroup and check your alignment.

If you want to learn more about the LEE Method, I break it down in my book Lee’s Laws of Productivity.

You understand the importance of planning, but how can you plan for a productive month, even when life feels chaotic?

It’s not about doing everything. A well planned month gives you direction, helps you cut through the noise, and ensures that your momentum isn’t derailed by every curveball life throws at you.

So, what does this look like in practice?

✅ Set clear goals for the month. What do you really want to achieve? Make these goals specific and get real on why you want it.

✅ Block your time intentionally. Decide what the priorities are based on your goals, when you’ll focus on them, and when you’ll rest as well.

✅ Use your non-negotiables as anchors. Build your schedule and routine around these so that you stay grounded and not distracted from your goals.

📌 Ready to make your plan work for you this month? Check out my book Lee’s Laws of Productivity for actionable strategies, or book a Personalized Productivity Audit and I’ll help you build a plan you can actually stick to.

Planning isn’t about controlling every second of your day. It's about creating space to show up as your best self. When you pause to plan, you’re not just filling out a calendar. You're choosing alignment over anxiety, clarity over chaos. Don’t wait for life to slow down to get intentional, start now.

~ Until next week💜