How I separate ideas from tasks, plan by energy, and keep marketing simple
This episode is a reframe for anyone who’s ever thought “planning boxes me in.” I share my real-life toolkit for a creative, ADHD-friendly workflow: split ideas vs tasks (ideas live in their own place; tasks feed a month → week → day funnel), pick one daily priority that moves the business forward, and use soft time blocks that bend with life instead of breaking when things change. I explain how Bullet Journaling® stays simple at the start and grows with you, why planning by energy (not just the clock) matters, and how a small phone redesign turned my screen into a supportive tool. We touch on themed days (hello, Monday planning), visual week pie charts, and the truth that planning takes a little time before it gives you time back. The belief shift: planning isn’t a cage—it’s a boundary that protects creative freedom and makes consistent marketing feel easy. You’ll leave with a one-week experiment: make a realistic daily list, cut it to what’s truly doable, star the one priority, and review the next morning. Bonus: book “Week 48” to plan Q1 with compassion instead of a full-year fantasy.
5 key takeaways
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Ideas ≠ Tasks. Separate them to reduce overwhelm.
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Month → Week → Day. Funnel tasks so the daily list stays realistic.
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One Priority. One action that actually moves the business.
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Plan by energy. Use soft time blocks and themed days as anchors.
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Plan Q1 in Week 48. Compassion beats full-year fantasy.
Try this week: Brain-dump → cut to reality → star the One Priority → review tomorrow.
✨ Mentioned in this episode
• Bullet Journal® Method (official website)
https://bulletjournal.com
• Waking Up App (meditation app I mentioned)
https://wakingup.com
• Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34466963-why-we-sleep
• Watch the video version on my YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/@pattern-shift
✨ Work With Me & Explore More
• Ja, Wol Business Circle Membership
A monthly space for makers and creative business owners — with Wins & Woes sessions, co-working, accountability, and ongoing support.
https://www.ja-wol.com/pages/business-circle-membership
• Bullet Journaling® Workshop
A gentle, creative introduction to integrating the BuJo Method into your life and business.
https://www.ja-wol.com/products/bullet-journaling-workshop
✨ Get in Touch
If you try the planning experiment I shared — I’d love to hear how it goes.
Email: info@ja-wol.com
Contact form: https://www.ja-wol.com/pages/contact