“When we’re planning our year, we’re at eagle view. When we’re living our day, we’re at mouse view—and we don’t want to mix those up.” - Mia

If you’ve ever felt behind because you didn’t start your “year plan” on January 1st, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Plan Simple Podcast, I’m sharing why I love a 12-month plan you can start anytime—and the simple framework I use to create a calming, big-picture map for the next year of your life and business.

There’s a reframe I come back to often, and I share it in this episode: we often overestimate what we can do in a day and underestimate what we can do in a year. This episode is an invitation to stop waiting for the “right” time and start creating a 12-month plan that meets you where you are and supports who you’re becoming.

I also share a personal story about what it’s looked like for me to receive very real invitations to slow down—and why having a 12-month plan helps me stay grounded, focused, and flexible when life changes in an instant.

1. Why January 1st is often the hardest time to force a full-year plan
2. How a 12-month plan can start whenever you’re ready (February, your birthday, September—any time)
3. The difference between planning from eagle view (big picture) and mouse view (day-to-day), and why mixing them creates overwhelm
4. How I review the past year without judgment and mine it for clarity
5. The framework I use to create a one-page “year map” I can actually live with
6. Why seeing your year on the wall is surprisingly calming
7. How to plan for real life—health, family, work, and uncertainty—without losing momentum

In this episode, I walk you through the planning process I use inside FLOW365—a process designed to help you see the year clearly without turning it into a massive to-do list.

I start by choosing a word for the year. This word becomes a lens for decisions, boundaries, and how I meet challenges as they come up. It helps me ask, What would this look like if I honored this word?

From there, I create four vision statements, one for each area of life I want to hold in balance: food & wellness, lifestyle, OM (my inner life and nervous system), and work. These are written in the present tense, so they act more like anchors or mantras than distant goals.

Next, I narrow each vision into three points of focus per area. These are the few things I’m committed to paying attention to over the next 12 months—simple, clear, and realistic. This keeps the year intentional without becoming overwhelming.

I also choose a card for the year—an intuitive pull that reinforces the themes I’m working with and offers guidance when I need perspective or reassurance.

Finally, I identify what feels like the biggest obstacle to living this year well and pair it with a quote that helps me meet that challenge with steadiness and compassion.

Together, these elements create a one-page “map” for the year—something I can return to again and again as life unfolds.

I have one doable change from this episode: schedule when you will do your yearly plan.

Whether you do it on your own or with support, put the time on your calendar. Choose a date, clear the space, and give yourself the gift of planning the next 12 months with intention.

If you want to do this with me, I’m hosting a free live 3-hour planning session on February 13, where we’ll create your 12-month plan together, step by step. You can sign up at plansimple.com/workshop.

“Our success, our happiness, our life depends on the people we know and the relationships we have.”

–Dana Hilmer

Do you have an Abundance spreadsheet? I have one that includes clients, past clients, partners, people I want to connect with. Sometimes it guides my connection … and sometimes I just start reaching out and serving people. Because more connection is amazing.

I’m so excited about Dana Hilmer, the Unretirement Transition Coach, about her own transitions and the upswing many of us find ourselves on in our 50s. Dana thrives on connection in her business and life and we talk a lot about what that looks like.

Dana shared a tip in issue 3 of Pause Magazine that I loved. We started our conversation with her 3x3 Connect practice. Basically, each day you connect with three new people, follow up with three people, and serve three people.

We also talk about:

1. Actually connecting and getting to know people instead of playing a numbers game
2. Letting curiosity lead the way and sharing with excitement rather than it being transactional
3. How to organize your contacts and when to let it be organic
4. Connecting first and sprinkling serving throughout the day
5. Getting out of our heads and feeling awkward about reaching out
6. Extending your gratitude practice

ABOUT DANA

Dana Hilmer is an UnRetirement transition coach. She’s the founder of Wiser and Free, where her mission is to help people navigate their (un)retirement journey to create a life of more freedom, purpose and possibility.

With over a decade of experience as a personal leadership and midlife reinvention expert, she’s helped hundreds of people realize their potential and navigate big life transitions to create their next act with confidence, excitement and peace of mind.

When not working she is spending time with family and friends, trying new experiences (last year it was pottery and improv!) and doing anything that gets her into the great outdoors. She lives in Madison, CT with her husband and is the proud mom of three young adult sons.

LINKS

1. https://www.wiserandfree.com
2. https://www.linkedin.com/in/danahilmer/
3. https://www.instagram.com/dana.hilmer/
4. Pause Magazine

DOABLE CHANGES

At the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Change comes from action.

Doable changes are things that you can add into your life, one at a time to make micro shifts and really create a ripple effect that will create a big change over time. Choose one that really piques your interest and roll with it.

Here are three Doable Changes from this conversation:

1. 3x3 CONNECT CHALLENGE. See what happens if you try this practice for a week. Each day, connect with three new people, follow up with three people, and serve three people every day. Serving people might look like commenting on or sharing something they’ve posted, but the gesture is one of service.
2. BLOCK TIME FOR YOUR MOST IMPORTANT PROJECT. It’s easy to get caught up in our clients' needs and the little tasks. Block 1–2 hours every day (or 1 day a week) for your most important project. What happens when you actually hold that time for the thing that moves things forward?
3. EXTEND YOUR GRATITUDE PRACTICE. Every day, write down something that happened that day that you’re grateful for, something good that happened. Then answer this questions: What did I do that allowed for that?

“Take what resonates, add your own magic and swipe left on the rest.”

–Heather Dressel

Winter calls us inward, but the world can be noisy. What if you could get quiet enough to hear your inner guides? I’m so excited to have Heather Dressel — I call her the intuition whisperer — back on the show.

We tend to love spring and summer, the energy of creation and productivity. Winter can look so still and lifeless, but so much is percolating under the snow — and within. Tending to our winter energy can lead to greater growth.

That said, there is a lot to distract us from that this time of year. Add to that the programming deeply ingrained in most of us to keep pushing and striving all the time. Learning to get quiet and go inward can be challenging — even if it is appealing to you.

We talk about:

1. How going inward can feel amazing for introverts and the need to balance that with emerging
2. Being gentle with yourself as you learn to get quiet — it’s okay if it’s uncomfortable
3. Forgetting about all or nothing and remembering our ability to begin again and again
4. Getting curious to shift practices that aren’t working in a particular season
5. Tuning into your inner guiding voice, not your inner mean girl squad and learning to trust
6. Tools — like music and oracle decks — to help you tap in

ABOUT HEATHER

Heather Dressel is the founder of Divinely Sensitive and the Hear Her podcast. Heather is a highly sensitive empath herself, and launched her business to lead a community of women who identify as highly sensitive or empaths or both. Divinely Sensitive provide resources and support as they learn to honor their unique sensitivities and unleash their superpowers.

LINKS

1. https://www.divinelysensitive.com/
2. https://www.instagram.com/divinelysensitive/
3. https://www.facebook.com/divinelysensitive/
4. Hear Her: Sitting in Your Shit
5. Hear Your Intuition with Heather Dressel
6. Divinely Sensitive with Heather Dressel

DOABLE CHANGES

At the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Change comes from action.

Doable changes are things that you can add into your life, one at a time to make micro shifts and really create a ripple effect that will create a big change over time. Choose one that really piques your interest and roll with it.

Here are three Doable Changes from this conversation:

1. INNER INQUIRY. Close your eyes and ask a simple question to your heart's beat: How is my heart today? What do I need today? You don’t have to be sitting in meditation to do this. You can do it throughout your day, so it doesn’t become another thing on your to do list.
2. SIT FOR 3 MINUTES. Set a timer for three minutes, close your eyes and sit quietly. It’s okay if it feel uncomfortable or if you find yourself checking your timer or shifting your body. Try to sit through that. This practice changes as you get used to it. Be kind to yourself as you start.
3. MUSIC MEDITATION. Ask for a potent message. Hit shuffle play on playlist. Listen. See what happens. You might move. You might hear words in the lyrics you need. You might cry. Let yourself be in the music for the duration of the song.

“Journaling is one of the quickest, most readily available tools to tap into your soul.”

–Kim Marie

Too much hustle and feel like there should be more in this season? December is a potent time to figure out what's next. I’m talking with Kim Marie, creator of the Sacred Nights of Winter journal, about the sacred pause of this season.

Winter lends itself to slowing down and going inward, which makes it a powerful time for journaling. What should you write down? For the Sacred Nights: record your dreams, reflect on the year past, envision the year to come, spend time reviewing your day, and consider the cosmic virtues. Each day maps to part of the year.

I’ve done this practice many times and love the insights I get when I revisit my journal throughout the year.

We talk about: 

• Committing to journaling for the Sacred Nights of Winter 
• Revisiting the journal — the cards, the insights, the dreams — in the appropriate month 
• Noticing your own seasonal rhythms
• Setting intentions for the year instead of resolutions and aligning with the seasons and moon
• Why you might want to dialogue journal and how to do it
• How journaling gets us out of our heads and helps us act from our soul

ABOUT KIM MARIE

Kim Marie is a Holistic Women's Empowerment and Spiritual Coach supporting women in the second half of life to awaken their inner wisdom, heal their Soul-sickness, and live a Soul-fulfilled life.

Through her powerful mentoring, publications, programs, courses, and retreats, as well as her group coaching program, Solace, Kim brings a unique, and magical, blend of ancient wisdom, archetypes, Soul-led leadership, and practical spirituality to support visionary women longing to step into the fullness of their authentic expression.

Kim is the author of the Sacred Nights of Winter Journal, the Sacred Seasons Journals, and the Soul Planner. Her products and programs support women to remember who they are, reconnect to what matters most, and rebirth themselves into the life of freedom and joy they envision.

LINKS

• Sacred Nights of Winter Journal
• https://YouTube.com/KimMarieCoaching 
• https://Pinterest.com/KimMarieCoaching 
• https://LinkedIn.com/in/KimMarieCoaching 
• X.com/KimMarieCoach 
• https://Instagram.com/KimMarieCoaching 
• https://Facebook.com/kim.marie.3192 

PAST EPISODE OF PLANSIMPLE 

• Journaling to Heal with Kim Marie
• Small Move 7: Stepping on the Path to Holistic Empowerment through Journaling
• Going Within with Kim Marie
• Navigate Your Year with Kim Marie

DOABLE CHANGES

At the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Action is where change happens. 

But here's the thing: when we have a goal, a wish, a desire bubbling up in us, it can feel really huge. Sometimes we stop ourselves in our tracks based on how huge our desire feels. Change needs action, but it doesn't need huge action. When we focus on the next step, the next Doable Change that we can integrate into our lives, we don’t get stuck and we create momentum. 

Choose one Doable Change that resonates with you today and really play with it. Fit it into your life, your days, make it work for you — then move on to your next Doable Change. 

Here are Three Doable Changes from this conversation: 

• COMMIT TO JOURNALING FOR A WEEK. Journaling every day can feel like a lot. Remember we are talking about doable changes. Commit to one week. Make it part of your morning routine. See how it feels. At the end of the week, ask: How did this work for me? Do I want to commit to this for another week? Do I want to adjust what journaling looks like for me?
• JOURNAL THE SACRED NIGHTS OF WINTER. Each morning, record your dreams, reflect on the year past, envision the year to come, spend time reviewing your day, and consider the cosmic virtues. Each focus on one month of the year. For more guidance, try Kim’s Sacred Nights of Winter journal.
• PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SEASON. Start with this season. What’s going on? How do you feel? How is your energy? What are you drawn to do? When we work with our own rhythms and energy, we do so much more with ease. It starts with really tuning into your energy. Journaling can help you see patterns.

In this episode, I talk about the unobvious reasons planning feels hard — the tiny, hidden parts of a plan that quietly derail our follow through. I share real examples from life, business, and the holiday season, and show how supporting ourselves differently makes everything feel more doable. If you’re stepping into a full month or year and want planning to feel easier and more aligned, this is for you.

I’m talking about the power of the pause, how it’s not a break from life, but an essential part of how we live, plan, and create. When I give myself space to pause, I reconnect to what matters most. In this episode, I share how pause has become my most important practice, how it shapes the way I plan, and why it’s the key to moving forward with more intention, ease, and alignment.

​​December can be the rush… or the reset. In this episode, I’m sharing why I’m so passionate about making December matter—how I went from hanging on to the season to aligning it with what my family and I actually need. I tell the stories: the year we cozied and decorated everything for a kid who needed softness, the year we all agreed to travel, and the year I dreamed a whole new chapter from my couch.

If you’re craving a gentler, more intentional season, press play. We’ll talk about pausing now, planning from clarity, and letting December become a portal into who you’re becoming. And yes—I’m inviting you into Make December Matter, my 4-part guided experience with a comprehensive workbook and replays if you can’t come live. Join me and let’s design a December that feels like you. (https://plansimple.com/makedecembermatter)

“At some point, feeling good wins over old thoughts.”

–VJ Hamilton

Struggling with autoimmune disease — or uncomfortable symptoms that you’ve just learned to live with? What if you could reverse your symptoms? I’m so excited to talk with VJ Hamilton, registered nutritionist and a functional medicine practitioner who specializes in autoimmune disease.

I was diagnosed with celiac disease fairly late in life. When I was diagnosed, it just made so much sense and explained so many things. It also led to change. And that can be hard to navigate on your own.

Perimenopause and menopause symptoms and those of autoimmune diseases — like brain fog, joint aches, and fatigue — can be signs of both. Plus shifts in hormones can certainly trigger changes or unmask hidden inflammation. Testing and treatment can help.

We talk about: 

• Autoimmune disease 101 — what we’re actually talking about
• Triggers vs. root causes and how to find the root cause
• How to advocate for yourself with doctors and what other practitioner you might want to see
• Simple changes you can make to improve your health
• Focus not on what you have to cut out for food or what exercise you have to do, but what you need and what you like
• Eating whole foods instead of prepared meals and how to navigate restaurants and special events

ABOUT VJ

VJ Hamilton is the founder of The Autoimmunity Nutritionist and an expert in autoimmune disease, specialising in skin disorders, chronic fatigue, joint health, and digestive issues for both men and women.

As a Registered Nutritionist with a Medical Science degree (BSc) in Biochemistry & Immunology and having completed the full certification programme at the renowned Institute for Functional Medicine, VJ uses evidence-based nutritional therapies to support her clients in transforming their health.

LINKS

• https://theautoimmunitynutritionist.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/theautoimmunitynutritionist/ 
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/theautoimmunitynutritionist/ 

DOABLE CHANGES

At the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Action is where change happens. 

But here's the thing: when we have a goal, a wish, a desire bubbling up in us, it can feel really huge. Sometimes we stop ourselves in our tracks based on how huge our desire feels. Change needs action, but it doesn't need huge action. When we focus on the next step, the next Doable Change that we can integrate into our lives, we don’t get stuck and we create momentum. 

Choose one Doable Change that resonates with you today and really play with it. Fit it into your life, your days, make it work for you — then move on to your next Doable Change. 

Here are Three Doable Changes from this conversation: 

• MAKE A LIST OF THINGS YOU LOVE TO DO. Changing your lifestyle doesn’t have to be terrible! Make a list of things you love to do. Ways you like to be active, rest, connect with others. Make a list of things that make you feel good! Plan for more of those things in your life. That might look like swapping dancing for a gym session or eating food that gives you energy or going to bed on time.
• RESET IDEAS AROUND FOOD. Here are a few ways to try this Doable Change. First, instead of asking, “What do I have to cut out?” think about what foods you can eat that you enjoy. When you do have to give something up, like cake at a party, remember how you would feel if you ate the cake. Finally, when it comes to eating with others, think about why you are going out? Is it really about the food or the company? Put the food in perspective.
• BE A DETECTIVE. Notice how you feel when you eat certain foods. Do you feel sluggish or heavy? Do you feel gassy or bloated? Does it seem to affect your sleep? Tracking this kind of information can help you see patterns you might not notice and these patterns can be clues to foods that might not serve you.

“People want human connection more than anything. They want the transformation.”

–Amanda Kijek

I’m really excited to talk with Amanda Kijek, who has helped me so much with launches and challenges. She moved from a brick and mortar business to the line world and helps entrepreneurs launch and make 10K months and beyond.

After her own deep dive on marketing and spending too much money learning about it, she decided to create something for women who too busy, don't have a team, and don’t know how to hire someone and train them — but want results and need the money.

We get clear on what launching is — maybe not what you think — touch on building cold leads, and really zooming in on your message.

We talk about: 

• What a launch is — something you can do over and over
• Getting past the trust recession by letting people try you on in person
• Explaining what you do in the simplest terms — and in relation to what people actually need
• Adding “So you can …” to the ends of you description of what you do
• Starting conversations and leading people to the next conversation point
• Sharing vulnerable things from your life

ABOUT AMANDA

Amanda Kijek helps already-successful coaches stop hustling for one-off sales and scale to consistent 10K+ months without ads, overwhelm, or tech headaches.

She’s a best-selling author, CEO of Amanda Kijek Coaching, and the creator of the 5-phase Peaceful Launch framework and Profit Accelerator Mastermind—programs that have helped hundreds of coaches build stable 6-figure businesses with repeatable, timeless strategies.

With 23 years of entrepreneurial experience—from brick-and-mortar to online—Amanda built the system she wished existed as a new mom: one that gets clients now and is actually done-for-you and with you. She runs her multiple 6-figure business in under 15 hours a week and is passionate about helping other coaches scale without sacrificing family, freedom, or peace.

LINKS

• https://amandakijek.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitablemompreneur
• https://www.instagram.com/amandakijek/?hl=en
• https://ca.linkedin.com/in/amandakijekcoach

DOABLE CHANGES

At the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Change comes from action. 

Doable changes are things that you can add into your life, one at a time to make micro shifts and really create a ripple effect that will create a big change over time. Choose one that really piques your interest and roll with it. 

Here are three Doable Changes from this conversation:

• MAKE YOUR MESSAGE REALLY CLEAR. Think about what’s keeping your clients up at night, what they are Googling. Don’t use your expert language. Keep it really simple. And add “so that you …” to the end of your message to help the client see the results.
• SHARE SOMETHING VULNERABLE. We all want deeper connection, and when we share something vulnerable, it helps people connect with us. Aim for once or twice a month. But your first step: Make the first vulnerable post.
• PRACTICE BEING CONSISTENT. Instead of trying to come up with something new to post, seek different examples, anecdotes, or other ways to tell people again what you you do. Your message should be consistent. It might even bore you, but you want your audience to really get it. It’s the human piece around it that keeps people engaged.

“It's normal that athletes hit adversity and they're nervous, but they don't typically have the skills to navigate through all of that.” – Coach Bre

Does your kiddo spiral after one bad play or mistake in their sport? Do they lack confidence in themselves? Breanne Smedley, or Coach Bre, who helps girl athletes improve their mental game — and helps moms support their athletes.

I never expected to be a sports mom, but here I am with a high school volleyball player, trying to find the right way to help her. Unfortunately, most coaches aren’t trained to help kids in face adversity or develop resilience, so you can’t rely on your kid’s coach to help them develop their mental game.

As moms, we want to help them manage the pressure, but don’t know what to say. Coach Bre works with both athletes AND moms to grow a new generation of confident girls who excel and find joy in their support.

We talk about: 

• What to do if your kids don’t want to talk after a practice or game
• The LOVE framework — let her lead, open the space, validate the emotion, encourage reflection
• Making sure we don’t only focus on the amazing achievements when we give praise
• Helping kids see their identity beyond being an athlete
• Teaching kids snapback routines
• Dealing with coaches — looking at tough vs toxic

ABOUT COACH BRE

Breanne Smedley or Coach Bre is the co-founder of the Elite Competitor, where she’s changing the game by making mental training accessible and effective for girl athletes. Coach Bre is a former college athlete and four-time state championship volleyball coach. She combines her background as a longtime educator with a proven system that helps girls build confidence, bounce back from mistakes, and play with resilience under pressure. Through her signature program, The Elite Mental Game, she’s helped thousands of athletes—and their moms— transform how they show up in sport and life.

LINKS

• https://elitecompetitor.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/elitecompetitorcoach
• https://www.instagram.com/elitecompetitorcoach
• More on the LOVE framework 

DOABLE CHANGES

At the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Change comes from action. 

Doable changes are things that you can add into your life, one at a time to make micro shifts and really create a ripple effect that will create a big change over time. Choose one that really piques your interest and roll with it. 

Here are three Doable Changes from this conversation:

• LISTEN WITHOUT FIXING. We all want to fix things for our kids, assure them that they are good at what they do, but that doesn’t really help. Try validating their feelings and making space for them to talk more instead of offering solutions or praise.
• RESET YOUR POST-GAME EXPECTATIONS. Your kiddo might be grumpy or want space after a tough game or practice. They might not want to analyze every play. They may not feel like going to dinner and being polite. Adjust your own expectations and let them take the lead on that ride home.
• SHIFT YOUR PRAISE. We can unknowingly set expectations for our kids by lavishing praise for major achievements. When we praise hard work, effort, leadership, not giving up even when things aren’t going right, we help set the bar a different way.