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How Planning Helps Me Balance Hustle and Self-Care

For as long as I can remember, people have said things to me like, "You are so organized."
It’s true—my job requires me to make sure all the boxes get checked, and I’ve been doing that for over 29 years. I’ve devoted my life to planning and coordinating my professional world, but over the last few years, I’ve started looking for something more: balance. Specifically, the balance between hustle and self-care.

As someone who thrives on productivity, I used to believe that taking time for rest or reflection would slow me down. But I’ve come to learn that real productivity isn’t just about getting more done—it’s about doing what matters and staying well while doing it.

The Game-Changer: Habit Tracking

One of the most powerful tools I’ve added to my planning routine is habit tracking—and I use it in several different ways depending on what part of life I need to focus on.

Two of my favorite planning coaches, Megan Sumrell and Wendy Cannin, both say:

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure.”

That hits home for me every time I hear it.

For years, I resisted habit tracking. It felt childish—like gold stars on a chart—and I didn’t think I needed it. But once I gave it an honest try, I realized how transformative it could be—not just for my business, but for every part of my life. 🧩

Choosing the Right Tool for the Season

Tula XII offers several inserts that make habit tracking both beautiful and functional. I’ve used different formats depending on what I’m focusing on:

1. Habit Tracker 📊 (Vertical & Horizontal)

Perfect for tracking routines like:

  • Posting to social media
  • Dishes, laundry, or cleaning tasks
  • Morning or evening routines

I used this tracker to create daily habits around decluttering—and what used to feel overwhelming has now become part of my everyday life. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t happen overnight, but with consistent use and tweaks, I found a rhythm that allows me to make forward progress.

2. Self-Care Tracker

This one’s close to my heart—because my word for 2025 is Self-Love.
Using this insert helped me shift my thinking: I started observing which daily activities were actually self-love, and which were draining or disconnected.

Surprisingly, I found that things I used to dread—like tidying up my space or stepping away from the screen—were acts of self-love. This insert helped me recognize them and treat them as gifts, not chores.

3. Food Tracker 🍽️

When I struggle with things like getting enough protein or water, this insert becomes my go-to. It gives me a simple way to spot where I’m falling short and adjust. And if you have the desire to make better healthier choices when eating, this tracker isn’t about restriction it’s about awareness and support and it has helped me move my progress in a positive way. 

4. Monthly Art of Planning & Journaling Insert

Right now, I’m using the habit tracker pages in this insert and loving it. It blends habit tracking with reflective space, giving me both structure and creativity in one place. I can track habits and behaviors that help me capture small wins that keep me going.

Progress Over Perfection

Are you getting tired of this phrase?  It’s still relevant, I’m still on this journey. I suspect I always will be—and honestly, I’m okay with that.  I’ve come to love the surprise in it: the small wins I didn’t expect, the quiet days that feel restful instead of “lazy,” while finding so much joy in celebrating progress I used to ignore.

Planning isn’t just about productivity anymore. It’s about living well—with intention, clarity, and space for both hustle and self-love/care.

✨ Want to Try This for Yourself?

Ask yourself: What part of your life feels like it needs attention, not pressure?

Start simple. Track 2–3 things. Reflect weekly. Tweak gently.

And if you want to see how I do this in real time, join me in my Facebook group, Plan With June, where I share regularly how I use my planner and how my planner setup blends hustle with self-love.

Let’s reset together—and build something sustainable, one small habit at a time.