Tech and Teachability: planner

Showing posts with label planner. Show all posts

Let’s be honest: the idea of a "perfect" morning routine is often created by influencers who wake up at 4:45 AM, journal in cursive, and drink hot lemon water with turmeric while meditating in a linen robe.

That’s not my vibe.

But as someone who supports teachers and writes curriculum full time, I do need structure. I need energy. I need focus. And I need something I can actually stick with - even on mornings when I oversleep or my brain feels like static.

So here it is: my simple, realistic, teacher-approved morning routine that helps me feel grounded and energized without taking over my life. And yes, there’s still room for coffee.

🚪 Step 1: Start With Hydration

Before I even touch coffee, I mix up a packet of MAKE Hydrated or Fit + Hydrated with cold water.

It tastes like a spa day and gives my body:

A head start on hydration
Support for bloat and digestion
A gentle energy boost (especially Fit + Hydrated!)

Even when I wake up tired or groggy, this is step one. Because when I feel better, it’s way easier to make better choices for the rest of the day.

📅 Step 2: Check My Top 3 (Not My Inbox)

I used to scroll emails, social media, and notifications the second I opened my eyes. Now, I open my planner or Wellness Tracker (AKA Google Keep) and write down just 3 things:

One Must-Do task
One Feel-Good task (something just for me)
One Let-It-Go task (because letting go is also a task!)

This gives me focus and helps me avoid falling into a reactive spiral.

Bonus: I use Google Keep or a sticky note if I’m short on time.

🙌 Step 3: Move for 5–20 Minutes

I don’t always do a full workout in the morning, but I do move. Some days it’s a quick walk on the walking pad, some days it’s a few stretches or a strength circuit. It gets my blood flowing and tells my brain: "We’re awake and we’re doing things."

Even 5 minutes counts.

☕ Step 4: Enjoy the Coffee (No Shame)

Yes, I drink coffee. But I don’t let it be the first thing that hits my stomach anymore. I’ve noticed a huge difference in energy and mood when I hydrate first and give myself a few quiet moments to get centered before caffeine kicks in.

Coffee becomes a treat, not a crutch.

📆 Want to Try It?

If your mornings feel rushed, chaotic, or just plain non-existent, try building a routine that works for you.

You can use my free Weekly Planner or this simple formula:

Hydrate
Ground your mindset
Move
Then caffeinate

It doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful. Start small, and build from there.

Let me know if you want to know how I use MAKE peptides to feel focused without feeling frantic.

You don’t have to wake up at 4AM to have a strong start. You just need a system that supports you.

Jessica

You know that moment when your planner looks like a Pinterest board but your actual life looks like an unfinished group project?

Same.

When you're tired, bloated, and running on fumes, the last thing you need is a planning system that overwhelms you even more.

Here are the tools and tricks that help me plan my days without burning out.

First: Ditch the Perfect Plan

Perfection isn't the goal. Feeling supported is.

I used to write these color-coded, high-achieving schedules and then immediately feel like a failure when I couldn’t stick to them.

Now? I plan for real life. The kind where bloating, brain fog, and burnout are part of the equation.

My Low-Energy Planning Tech Stack

1. Canva Weekly Planner Template

Simple, customizable, and reusable. I plug in my tasks, meals, movement, and self-care in one place. It makes the week feel doable.

Grab it for free HERE as a PDF

And here's the Canva Template.

2. Google Keep

Color-coded blocks help me visually separate work, home, and rest. I schedule breaks like appointments and set alerts to remind me to, you know… eat.

Want some headers? Here's my Canva Template!

3. ChatGPT

When I’m mentally tapped out, I let ChatGPT help me outline posts, meals, or write gentle to-do lists. The key? Don't copy it word for word; make it your own!

Peptides to the Rescue

I sip MAKE Hydrated or Energized when I sit down to plan. It helps reduce brain fog, ease bloating, and boost clarity.

When I pair that with a small stretch or walk before planning, I feel more energized and clear-headed.

Check out these Peptides HERE. I recommend looking into the Science!

Planning in Survival Mode? Try This:

Instead of a full schedule, I list one thing per category:

Must-do
Move-your-body
Eat/fuel

Three things. That’s it. Everything else is a bonus.

And if you're dealing with a bloated belly or foggy brain? Try planning standing up, drinking water while you write, or even talking your plan out loud into a voice note.

TL;DR

Planning while exhausted doesn’t need to be pretty.

Use tools that simplify, not complicate. Let your plan reflect your real life, not your highlight reel.

And when all else fails? Drink water, write down three things, and let the rest go.

You’re doing better than you think.

Jessica

Hey guys! Hope everyone is doing great!

A couple of weeks ago, I posted this on Instagram.

Always a working lunch...

Many comments were made about how they loved this and wanted to know how I create it. So I thought I'd share!

I start with a blank template. I created my lesson planner using (of course!) PowerPoint.

I just inserted a table and made the boxes fit my needs. I added my name and the date. Then I created Month at a Glance pages, months, and then duplicated enough pages to stretch my entire year. The file came to 101 pages, 2 page spread per week.

I also included some blank pages in the back for faculty meeting notes and next year ideas.

And then I printed out the entire file, two sided. Ran it through my binding machine, and bound it for the year.

Speaking of binding machines, mine is awesome! I got it at Office Depot. It's a Swingline Pro Click.

You can buy the spines and precut paper, too, if you don't want to invest in the machine.

This little machine is perfect for how I use it. I've bound a lot of things!

So after I've printed and bound my planner for the year, I'm ready!

I take the blank planner book with me to grade level meetings with my team for planning. I write plans in pencil.

Not pretty, I know.

Then later on I type up my written plans in the blank template I made in PowerPoint. It really doesn't take long and I suppose I could just keep the penciled plans and use them, but it's not pretty!! And there are no pictures!