Meet Ansley: A Busy Mom & Hair Stylist Balancing Family, Work, and Side Hustles

If you’ve ever looked at your week and thought, “There has to be a better way to keep all of this straight,” I promise you’re in good company. That feeling is exactly why we started Planner Matchmaking, our live series where we sit down with real people, walk through what their days actually look like, and help them build a planning system that brings a little more breathing room into their lives.

In Episode 1, we met with Ansley, a mom of three in grades K–6, an avid book reader, and someone who is managing home life, clients, and a growing side business all at once. She came to the session wanting a planner that wouldn’t overwhelm her, but instead gently guided her through busy days. 

What She Needs in a Planner: Layouts, Flexibility, and Simplicity

As we talked with Ansley, a few needs became really clear:

• - She feels most grounded when she can see her month and week at the same time.

• - She likes having a place for a running master list, color-coded, and delegated.

• - She needs space to include her categorized list and time-blocking appointments.

If you’re nodding along to this, you may find her setup helpful!

Her Planner Match: The Anne Week + Month

After learning what typically works for Ansley (and what tends to feel overwhelming) we recommended The Anne Week + Month Planner.

Why This Works

This layout combines the month and week in one view, so she can see the big picture alongside her daily schedule without flipping back and forth. She also has space for “this week” where her housekeeping can go and her monthly list and note-taking space gives her extra room for goals, book reading, and kid responsibilities to live.

Accessories That Make Planning Easier and More Fun

We also suggested a few tools that add clarity and simplicity:

- The Appointments Insert gives her a straightforward way to schedule clients and appointments and will live tucked behind her weekly short pages.

- Time Washi helps her visually block out busy days without having to rewrite times each week.

- The Side Hustle Booster keeps business goals from getting mixed in with family to-dos.

- Itty Bitty Sticky Notes and Sticky Note No. 2 offer quick reminders she can move around as needed.

- Tidy Up Stickers and Patterned Washi bring a bit of creativity and encouragement to the page.

Shop Ansley’s Collection Here

Getting Started: How to Make a Planner System Work for You

Whenever someone is trying a new planner setup, I like to encourage a small, intentional start. For Ansley, that looks like:

• - setting up just one month,

• - using it consistently for two weeks,

• - and noticing what feels supportive and what might need adjusting.

There’s no pressure to get it perfect. The goal is simply to see what brings a bit more clarity and calm.

Watch the Full Planner Matchmaking Session

If you’d like to see our full conversation with Ansley, you can watch the replay of Episode 1 here. Sometimes hearing someone talk through their planning struggles makes it easier to reflect on your own in a gentle, helpful way.

Explore Ansley’s Planner Matchmaking Collection

If her setup feels similar to what you need, you can explore the exact planners, inserts, and accessories we recommended for her here:

Shop Ansley's Planner Matchmaking Collection

Use it as inspiration, a starting point, or simply a way to see what combinations might work well together.

Before You Go

Choosing a planner can feel like a big decision, especially when you want it to support so many parts of your life. But the right planner isn’t about being perfect or filling every page. It’s about choosing tools that meet you where you are and help bring a little more peace and clarity to the days ahead.

Ansley’s setup is just one example of how a simple, thoughtful system can make planning feel doable again. And if you’re still unsure of where to start, watch this video where we walk you through how to choose the right planner for you.