How To Plan When You Feel Like You Have No Plans

Have you ever thought, ‘Why even bother with a planner? I don’t have that much going on anyway’? I see you, I’ve been there. Maybe you think planners are for people with crazy schedules, color-coded chaos, or like, next-level Type A energy. But here’s the thing… even when you think you don’t need a planner, you actually do.

Most of the time, we don’t even notice all the tiny little things hiding in plain sight. Like that email you keep meaning to send, the 10-minute phone call you’ve been putting off, the lunch you gotta prep, or even just remembering to drink water—yes, even that counts! And when you don’t plan these small things, they pile up, and suddenly… BAM. You’re stressed for no reason.

So today, I’m gonna show you how to spot all those tasks you didn’t think counted, break them into tiny, manageable steps, and use a planner to feel productive even on days you thought were ‘nothing to do.’ This is for working moms, busy parents, and anyone who thinks planners are just extra. By the end of this post, you’re gonna see that even a meh day is full of wins, trust me, a planner is gonna help you do it.”

Step 1: Brain Dump EVERYTHING (5:00–15:00)
“Okay, step one: brain dump everything. And I mean everything. When you feel like you have nothing to plan, your brain is lying. You actually have a million things floating around in your head—you just haven’t written them down yet.

Grab your notebook, sticky notes, or your planner and let’s just get it out. Write down everything, even the tiny, seemingly meaningless stuff.

For example:

• ‘I need to reply to Jessica about the anniversary’

• ‘Pick up milk, eggs, and bread before dinner’

• ‘Pay the electric bill before it’s late’

• ‘Clean out the kid’s backpack from school’

• ‘Schedule a doctor appointment for myself’

• ‘Remember to start laundry before it piles up’

Even invisible stuff counts, like ‘I need a mental break’ or ‘I want 20 minutes of quiet before bed.’

Here’s a little exercise: set a timer for 5 minutes and just write. Everything that pops into your head, get it on paper. You’ll be shocked at how fast your ‘nothing to do’ day fills up.”

Step 2: Group & Identify Hidden Priorities (15:00–25:00)
“Alright, step two. Now that you have your brain dump, it’s time to group these tasks. Scattered tasks make you feel like there’s nothing to do, but when you group them, your day suddenly looks full.

You can group things like this:

• Household → dishes, laundry, bills

• Work → emails, meetings

• Family/Kids → school forms, lunches, appointments

• Self-Care → shower, skincare, meditation

• Errands → groceries, post office, dry cleaning

Real-life example: You thought your day was empty, but after grouping, you see:

• Pay bills → 10 minutes

• Laundry → 30 minutes

• Prep kid’s lunch → 15 minutes

• Call doctor → 5 minutes

• Quick workout → 20 minutes

Then pick your top 3 priorities. Even if nothing else gets done, these make the day feel like a win. For a working mom, it could be:

1. Prep kid’s lunch and snacks for school

2. Pay bills online

3. Fold laundry

See? Even a ‘blank’ day suddenly has structure.”

Step 3: Break Tasks Into Tiny Action Steps (25:00–35:00)
“Step three: break your tasks into tiny, manageable steps. So often we feel like there’s nothing to plan because tasks are vague or overwhelming. Breaking them down makes them doable.

Examples:

• ‘Prep kid’s lunch’ → check fridge + pantry → pick protein, fruit, veggies → pack containers → write a note for lunchbox

• ‘Pay bills’ → log in → check due dates → pay each bill

• ‘Fold laundry’ → take clothes out of dryer → separate → fold → put away

When you do this, you stop feeling overwhelmed and suddenly, you see things you can plan.”

Step 4: Time Block Your Day (35:00–45:00)
“Step four: time block your day. Time blocking isn’t just for overachievers—it’s for anyone who thinks they have nothing to do.

Take your top 3 priorities and their broken-down steps, estimate how long each will take, and slot them into your day. Don’t forget to leave wiggle room and add meals, kids, and self-care.

Example:

• 6:30–7:00 AM → Breakfast + get kids ready

• 7:00–7:30 AM → Prep lunches (steps 1 & 2)

• 7:30–8:00 AM → Pay bills

• 8:00–8:15 AM → Quick coffee break

• 8:15–8:45 AM → Prep lunches (steps 3 & 4)

• 8:45–9:15 AM → Fold laundry

Even days that start ‘empty’ now look intentional.”

Step 5: Add Rewards + Mini Wins (45:00–50:00)
“Step five: mini wins! Motivation is key. When you uncover invisible tasks, reward yourself.

• Finish lunch prep → 5-min coffee break

• Pay bills → 3-min TikTok scroll

• Fold laundry → dance party with the kids

Real-life example: After prepping lunches and paying bills, I gave myself 5 minutes of quiet with my planner and coffee. Felt like a reward and kept me going! Mini wins = more consistency, less burnout.”

Step 6: End-of-Day Reflection (50:00–55:00)
“Before bed, take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself:

• What did I actually get done?

• What hidden tasks did I uncover?

• What do I want to move forward tomorrow?

Even if you didn’t finish everything, seeing your progress proves your day mattered.

Real-life example: I thought today was blank, but after reflection:

• Prepped lunches

• Paid bills

• Folded half the laundry

• Called the doctor’s office

See? That’s a productive day, mama!”

Step 7: Bonus Tips + Wrap-Up (55:00–60:00)
“Final thoughts:

• Feeling like you have nothing to plan? Totally normal, but your brain is lying.

• Everything counts as a task—even the stuff you ignore.

• Brain dump + grouping + breaking tasks down + time blocking + mini rewards = structure and clarity.

Real-life tip: Keep a planner or notebook specifically for this. Track invisible tasks and watch your day go from blank to productive.

Even on empty-looking days, you’ll leave feeling accomplished, calm, and in control.

And hey, if you want, I made a planner template for people who think they have nothing to plan for—it’s in the description. Once you start seeing all your hidden tasks, you’ll never feel like your day is empty again.

You got this, mama—and your ‘nothing’ days? Yeah, they’re actually full of opportunities. Go grab your planner and start your brain dump now!”