"Your brain can't go from managing a to-do list to creating - it's too far of a jump...
You can't expect yourself to manage two businesses, be a mom, and still take care of yourself all inside your head."
That's the truth bomb I dropped on my brand bestie client via our weekly Zoom earlier this week.
It was no wonder she was feeling scattered and stressed when she was trying to hold all her brilliant ideas, client projects, content creation, and family responsibilities in her mind at once.
I've been deep in monthly planning mode lately - crafting editorial calendars for my brand bestie clients, mapping out my own March, and revisiting my quarterly goals.
This conversation with my client reminded me just how much these planning rituals ground me and create the space I need to actually be creative.
(And yes, I realize this is my second newsletter in a row inspired by a client Zoom call... what can I say? It's where all the good insights happen!)
Here's something I haven't shared much: as a kid, I had a really negative experience being diagnosed with ADHD. Throughout my teen and adult years, I dismissed the label (while still struggling with the symptoms). It wasn't until my academic career and diving into one too many personal development books that I finally learned how to manage my tasks and create planning systems that worked for my brain.
At times, my planning has crossed into overplanning territory - creating more work for myself and getting ahead of... well, everything. But I'm starting to accept that I'm neurodivergent in many ways (according to Google at least 😉) and that it's actually part of my superpower in how I approach strategy, design, and life.
I've trialed and errored to no end, learning which tools actually help me focus rather than just adding another layer of distraction.
The biggest lesson? The systems that work for me change with the seasons. Having planning "anchors" that I can return to keeps me on track when life gets chaotic.
For me, this looks like:
- Annual Planning (creating my Brand Roadmap)
- Quarterly Planning
- Monthly Planning
- Weekly Planning
These planning pauses help me regroup, refocus, and create the mental space to do the creative work I love.
This week's newsletter is all about what I do for my own brand/business (and a little bit of life) on a monthly basis. Let's dive in…
My Monthly Brand & Business Reset Routine
Disclaimer: This is my ideal monthly reset checklist. Does it all get done every month? Definitely not.
Does it happen in a single day or in any particular order? Also no.
This is simply my current approach - which looked different three months ago and will probably evolve again soon. (I was "off" paper planners for a year and now I'm back on the bandwagon!)
I should mention that content planning happens during my weekly sessions, and most project planning happens quarterly. Some of these reset tasks take just 5 minutes, while others involve deeper reflection with pen and paper.
The important thing isn't following my exact system - it's finding what works for YOUR brain and YOUR business. What keeps me organized might drive someone else crazy, and what feels natural to you might feel overwhelming to me.
As with all of my “advice” take what works for you!
My Monthly Reset Routine:
I believe the best systems are the ones we actually use, even if they're messy or constantly evolving. My planning process has changed dozens of times over the years as my business and life have shifted - here’s what it looked like for the shift from February → March.
#1 Review my "Home Dash" in Notion - This view shows all my content, client tasks, and Cedar June business tasks in one place. I update any outstanding items and get clear on what needs to roll over to the new month.
#2 Clean up my "Done" list - I keep a running list of completed tasks, and during my reset, I "archive" them all for a nice little dopamine hit. There's something so satisfying about seeing everything you've accomplished!
#3 Complete my “Monthly Brand Snapshot” - This is a template where I Audit how my content performed, Do an audience pulse check, Track key metrics, Use AI prompts to compare to previous months, and Set actionable goals for the coming month.
I don't obsess over follower count goals (though I do note them in my brand strategy docs). I'd rather track my output since that's what I can control.
This system helps me see growth patterns while focusing on small, consistent improvements.
You can get this template in my Notion Brand Planner, but I'm considering making it a standalone digital product later this year.
Hit reply with a ✌🏼 to let me know if that's something you'd be interested in!
#4 Block Focus Days in my calendar - Currently, I do this in my paper Passion Planner, but you could use Google Calendar or Notion. Since I struggle with task-switching, I designate one main project focus for each day of the month. Weekends sometimes include work in my current season but are typically open.
#5 Review my time data - I download a months worth of CSV files from Sunsama (my time-tracking tool) where all my time tracked is categorized by client or type.
I use Claude or another AI tool to analyze how many hours I'm working on average - this helps me prevent burnout and satisfies my inner employee who still feels like I should clock a "full work week."
This data helps me plan better by showing me how long things actually take and where my time fluctuates throughout the month. (I admit this step is pretty Type A, and I don't always do it!)
#6 Complete reflection prompts in my Passion Planner - This is honestly one of my favorite parts of using this planner. Having structured writing prompts for monthly reflection helps me process both work and life, since they're so intertwined for me. One of the prompts listed is to review how you spent your time over the last month and step #5 gives me tangible data to review.
#7 Set up the new month in my Passion Planner - I write out my monthly to-do list, add important notes, and sometimes break out the washi tape and mildliners to make it pretty. I also update my monthly habit trackers.
#8 Update financial tracking - I refresh my spreadsheets and budget in YNAB to stay on top of my business finances.
This monthly reset keeps me grounded and helps me stay aligned with my bigger goals. It creates the structure I need to be creative and flexible throughout the month, rather than constantly wondering what I should be working on or whether I'm making progress.
Bridge the gap between strategy and implementation
While I've developed these systems for my own brand over time, most entrepreneurs struggle with consistently implementing their brand strategy day after day.
That's why I'm opening one final beta spot for my Brand Bestie service in March - for established entrepreneurs who need strategic guidance AND hands-on implementation support.
As my Brand Bestie client, I'll help translate your strategy into action through quarterly planning sessions, monthly cross-platform content calendars, and weekly support that ensures your brand evolves intentionally rather than reactively.
Not ready for ongoing strategic support? My 2025 Brand Roadmap Notion Dash includes the Monthly Brand Snapshot template I mentioned above, plus tools to align your content strategy with your business goals.
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NEW ON THE STACK
My 2025 Plans, Rebrand Progress & February Reality
One Month Check in on my 2025 goals.
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FROM THE ARCHIVE
the brand foundations that come before positioning
When properly developed, brand foundations provide the clarity you need to position your brand effectively & sell its offers.
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WORKSHOP
2025 Brand Planning Workshop & Resource
A brand planning workshop designed to help you create a *life first* plan for growing your brand & accomplishing your business goals in 2025.
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