The dreaded daily routine, something I’ve never been able to stay consistent with.
Every end of year, I would say, “Gina, are you ready?” “Next year is going to be different.” I would buy a new planner and start to plan my days, but I didn’t have a goal in mind. I would last about 2-3 weeks, starting each day with my planner and being so proud that I was following my routine, with no focus. Then it would happen, by week 3- I‘d miss a day, or two, and then by week 4- I would put my new planner in my bedside table and forget all about it.
If I want to see changes in my life during 2025, then I’m going to have to create new lifestyle habits and find a way to make myself accountable. But how…
What triggered this change?
I swear it was like magic. The stars aligned while I was browsing YouTube and I found her; it was Angie Bellemare, the creator of The Daily Grind Planning system. The Daily Grind Planner is 4-month goal planning system geared to help the individual plan their days, structure new habits and set needle movers to achieve goals. With a little touch of Disney, Angie made this new approach fun and rewardable. Check out her videos and you will understand. (this is not sponsored. I’m a fan and appreciate her motivation.)
What was the hook?
What drew me to this entire system is how easy all of this can be when you are putting more focus on you and how you want to live your dream life. Planning your days and tracking habits that make you realign your self to your goals makes a BIG difference when you are focusing the right way.
What did I do first?
I did my research.
This started in October when I was having a conversation with my sister who is a lover of planners and creating systems for getting your life together. I told her one day I was browsing YouTube looking up fun things to do in Florida because my husband and I were going to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary at the Magic Kingdom in November. Neither of us have ever been to Orlando and we were spending a week there so why not look up things to do in the area.
Then I found a video of Angie’s where she was vlogging about her daily routine living in Orlando, in the Golden Oaks Community near Disney World. OMG, a dream come true, right? Fast forward to 4 hours later and I discover this woman does so much through her social media presence and the business she owns called The Daily Grind. I hope I am not butchering this, but she’s a work-at-home business woman, a life coach and motivational speaker, a fitness coach, has two homes one in Orlando, and another in Canada. She decorates for the holiday’s you name it I think this lady has tried it all, and I love it.
Then I stubbled onto her 31 day challenge called The Daily Grind. I’m already into November, I enjoy her content and she made a bunch of recommendation in the Orlando area that I want to experience.
So, of course, I call my sister and start to tell her about Angie.
This is how our conversation went.
- Me: OMG, I found this new YouTube channel called the Daily Grind.
- Sister: Oh, really? You did?
- Me: Yes, you like planners and the planner community, you should look it up.
- Sister: Oh, really? You think I should, huh?
- Me: Yeah, and she is a big fan of Disney and Girl, you know how much I love Disney content.
- Sister: Oh, yes I do. That’s great, does this sound familiar?
- Me: What? What do you mean?
- Sister: Just staring at me through Facetime.
- Me: Let me guess, you already told me about her and I ignored you, right?
- Sister: Yes! Brat! I even have her planning system and I offered it to you but you said no.
- Me: Well, can I have it now?
- Sister: Fine, it’s yours.
Sidenote: Conversations with my sister end up like this all the time, either I do it to her or she does it to me. We are used to it and laugh at the end. After we rub it in the others face for a bit. I love my sister, and she loves me.
How is it going?
Well, thanks to my sister I have the planning system. I have a cute little bag for it too and all the pens and highlighters. She loves me!
I have been using the daily grind planning system since December 2024 and I’ve created new habits where I’m seeing improvements daily. By identifying habits and tracking my progress I’ve noticed I feel more accomplished each day and I’m a more pleasant person to be around. I’m not grumpy in the morning or towards the end of the day. You know, just what a partner wants to come home to, right?
I am taking steps towards my goals and I like how I feel.
What I am learning about myself and using a planner consistently?
This journey is not easy, and when you start to fall back to your old habits, it is a gentle reminder that you want something better and to stay focused. I was doing all of these things already but not feeling accomplished, or recognizing that I did so much in a day, or allowing myself to take time for me.
When you’re relaxed, rested, and make the time to take a nice long bubble bath to refresh your energy, you can accomplish a lot the next day.
So, let’s get to planning our days out!