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Do you know what your next 12 months really look like? Not the dream version. The real one.
In episode 105, I'm showing you how to plan your whole year in early November, before the holiday rush, and why January is the worst time to do it. You'll learn my 5 levels of planning (annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily), a 7-step plan for your bigger goals, and how to count your real weeks so you stop planning for time you don't have.
Then, in the second half, I share 10 more ways I'm romanticizing my corporate job, plus a 7-day challenge to make your workdays feel more like yours.
Soft life at work. Strong plan for your money. You get to have both.
With love and confidence, Jax.
Part 1: Plan your time
- Plan your year in early November, not January. You can still see your real year. Then review it in January so the new year feels gentle.
- Use 5 levels of planning. Annual (early November), quarterly (7 to 9 days before the quarter), monthly (about 4 days before the month), weekly (once a week), and daily (the night before).
- Check your year-at-a-glance before saying yes to any big request.
- Plan big goals in 7 steps. Pick your end date, see what's already booked, set realistic milestones, list specific actions, put them on your weekly calendar, and check in often.
- Count your real weeks. Subtract holiday weeks, events, travel and weekend commitments from the calendar weeks you think you have.
- Live within your time means. Do a one-week time audit, make trade-offs, and keep a time emergency fund for surprise tasks.
- White space isn't free time. It hides buffer time, catch-up time, recurring tasks and personal time.
- Plan for reality, not perfection. Plan like a pilot: expect bumps and keep flying toward your destination.
- Don't let planning become procrastination. You're allowed to change your plan.
- Don't dump carry-over tasks onto next Monday. Give each one a real home on a real day.
Part 2: 10 more ways I'm romanticizing my corporate job
- I wake up at 4 AM for my own self-care.
- My leather-bound planner and matching journal.
- I celebrate my coworkers with my own congrats email.
- Money and growth mindset audiobooks and podcasts all day.
- Real breaks, including a full one-hour lunch.
- Pretty pens, blue ink only, with pastel highlighters and Post-its.
- A Charleston coffee table book on my desk.
- A little mirror in my desk drawer.
- A candy dish for my coworkers.
- I use AI to work smarter, and I pitch ideas every week.
Your 7-day challenge and quick-start steps
Romanticize your workday, round two. Pick one a day:
- Day 1: Wake up 30 minutes earlier and spend that time on you.
- Day 2: Plan your day in a planner or journal you love.
- Day 3: Send a congrats email to a coworker who did a great job.
- Day 4: Swap your music for a money or growth mindset podcast.
- Day 5: Take two walking breaks and a few fresh air breaks.
- Day 6: Treat yourself to a pen or highlighters that make you smile.
- Day 7: Use AI for one task, then write down one idea to make work better.
Your planning quick start, before next Monday:
- Write down everything you've already said yes to for the next 12 months on one calendar.
- Count your real weeks left in 2026.
- Pick one day from the challenge and start tomorrow.
Resources and connect with Jax
- The Midlife GlowGetter blog: jaxstys.com
- Free Glow Assessment: [JAX: add the direct link here]
- Last week's episode, 11 ways I'm romanticizing my corporate job: [JAX: add the episode link here]
- Part one on the wealth shift for women: [JAX: add the episode link here]
Loved this episode? Share it with a friend who needs a calmer, clearer year. And tell me which of the 10 ways you're trying first.
With love and confidence, Jax.
Your are now listening to The Midlife GlowGetter with Jax. Enjoy!
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