3 Planning Mistakes That Are Stealing Your Peace

You want to know the truth.... I used to think I was just bad at planning. People would think I was good at it, but honestly i just felt overwhelmed, stressed by my to do list and full on in a comatose scroll by Wednesday to avoid it.

I’d buy the prettiest planner, write out my colour-coded to-do list… and still feel behind.
Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I just get it together?” — the problem probably isn’t you. It’s the way you’re planning.

Here are 3 common planning mistakes I see over and over — and what to do instead if you want more peace, not pressure.

1️⃣ Overplanning every moment

If you’re cramming your calendar full of everything you think you “should” do, you’re setting yourself up for burnout.

Life — especially as a Christian woman juggling home, work, family, and ministry — is unpredictable. When your schedule has no breathing room, even small disruptions feel like disasters.

Better way: Start with what really matters this week, and let the rest flow around it.

2️⃣ Forgetting to build margin

Margin is the space between your commitments — the white space where you breathe, recover, and reset.

Without it, everything runs into each other. You’re rushing, distracted, and constantly in catch-up mode.

Better way: Treat margin like a non-negotiable appointment with peace. Leave 15–30 minutes between tasks and create buffer days for the unexpected.

3️⃣ Relying on motivation

If your whole week depends on “feeling like it,” you’re going to be stuck. Motivation is inconsistent — rhythms are reliable.

Better way: Build habits that align with your values, not just your moods. This is where faith-led planning changes everything: you’re not chasing productivity for its own sake — you’re stewarding the time God has given you.

Ok so what can we actually do about it??!

When I stopped chasing Pinterest-perfect routines and started planning with God at the centre, my weeks stopped feeling like a constant race.

It wasn’t about doing less or more — it was about doing the right things, in the right order, with His guidance.

If you’re ready to step out of the cycle of overwhelm, I created something to help:

📋 7 Steps to Plan Your Week — a short, faith-led checklist to help you reset with clarity and margin.

It’s free, it’s simple, and it will work even if your week never goes to plan.

👉 Click here to download it now and start reclaiming your peace.