Meet Alma

Alma has a lot going on—she’s a stay-at-home mom, part-time family photographer, seminary student, and active volunteer. Even with daily task lists and dashboards, something wasn’t clicking.

Her challenge? It wasn’t staying organized, it was actually getting things done. Alma needed a way to see all her responsibilities at a glance and move her master lists into daily tasks that get done. 

Spoiler alert! Sometimes the problem isn’t your planning, it’s the layout you’re using. That’s what happened with Alma. We all thought she was in the right planner… until one simple question at the end changed everything.

What Alma Needs in a Planner

Alma’s goal: break down big checklists into categories and then bring them into daily planning. She needs:

- Daily structure to guide her week

- A way to see all tasks and events at once

- Space for notes, hobbies, and time-blocking

Alma, a seasoned planner, has been using The Nancy, small, and has tried several different spread layouts to find her ideal system. Each month felt almost right, but something was always missing.

Even as an experienced planner user, Alma struggled with:

- Time blindness and feeling overwhelmed

- Accountability and procrastination

- Finding space for notes and time to actually complete her daily tasks

Her Planner Match: The Anne, Large Size, Sunday Start

We initially thought a larger version of The Nancy might solve her space problem, but it still didn’t feel quite right. 

Towards the end of the session, we asked her one simple question:

“When you picture your week, do you see it side-to-side or up-and-down?”

Alma immediately said side-to-side, and just like that, it clicked. Her brain naturally aligns with The Anne layout, which also gives her the flexibility to time-block when she needs it.

"My brain is left to right, Sunday to Saturday."

Pro tip: Sometimes it’s not about adding more space or changing your spreads, it’s about finding the layout that actually matches how your brain thinks. For Alma, that small shift made all the difference.

Accessories That Make Planning Easier (and More Fun!)

We’ll be sending Alma a few key planner accessories to help her system work smoothly:

• Condensed Washi Tape – keeps things tidy and speeds up weekly setup

• Folio – protects planner coils while traveling

• Tidy Up Booster Pack – perfect for home tasks: categorize, assign to a month, and actually get them done

Shop Alma’s Collection Here

Trying Alma’s System Yourself

If her approach resonates, here’s how you can try it too:

1. Move In: Set up your planner for one month. (Pro tip: sticky notes make adjusting tasks easy!)

2. Master Lists & Tasks: Use the checklists in the back to make master lists for each category of your life. Then break each list into tasks.

3. Pomodoro Practice: Watch our Pomodoro Technique video and bring master list tasks into weekly and daily planning.

4. Use Your Planner for Two Weeks: Try it out and see how it feels to actually get things done.

5. Extra Credit! Try the Tidy Up Inserts: Brain dump tasks, assign them to a month, and bring them into your weekly planning to make progress. 

Quick tip: Start small, focus on one month at a time. See what works and adjust.

Printable Worksheet: Download Alma's Worksheet

Watch Alma’s Full Planner Matchmaking Session

Curious how we figured out the perfect planner for Alma? In this session, we talked through her routines, responsibilities, and challenges, everything from home tasks to photography projects and seminary work.

We discovered what wasn’t working with her current setup, explored how she naturally visualizes her week, and recommended The Anne layout with key accessories to match her brain and lifestyle.

Watch the full session to see the conversation, insights, and recommendations that helped Alma move closer to turning her master lists into daily wins.

Final Thoughts

Alma’s journey is such a good reminder that big lists don’t have to feel big. When you break everything into simple categories and gently pull those tasks into your week, things start to feel much more doable, and a lot less overwhelming.

Whether you’re a checklist lover or just looking for a calmer way to organize your days, we hope Alma’s story gives you a few ideas to try. Here’s to finding the little systems that make your week feel a bit brighter!