Planning With Dyslexia (5 Tips I Learned While Planning A Wedding)

Ever feel your heart rate climb when you think about planning something big? Whether it’s a wedding, a complex project or an important work event, the idea of mapping out every detail can be intimidating. In this episode, I shared my unexpected discoveries on planning effectively and not letting the pressure crush your enthusiasm.

We explored five key insights that could save you stress and time. They’ll help you get clear on what you actually want, tackle obstacles with less head drama and bring others into your process so you’re not lonely in your planning cave. If you’ve ever felt that spike of panic when you see a to-do list, this will speak to you.

Clarify Your Vision

It’s tempting to jump in and organise tasks right away. But you need a guiding light before you start. Think of it like drawing a map. You can’t decide which path to walk if you don’t know where you’re going. A clear vision helps you stay focused and reminds you why you’re doing all this in the first place.

Ask yourself: What does success look like? Is it a smoothly run event or a project that comes in under budget? Maybe you just want to keep your sanity. Use that vision to judge every choice you make along the way. If it doesn’t line up with your end goal, it can wait.

Break It into Small Steps

Once you know where you’re heading, don’t let an avalanche of tasks slow you down. Chunking a project into smaller steps makes you feel less overwhelmed. You only have to focus on the next bite-sized piece before you move on to the next one.

It’s perfect for the way our brains work. We love dopamine hits, and ticking off a mini task feels like a personal high-five. Write things down, keep track of daily wins and celebrate each milestone, no matter how small. Over time, those tiny steps add up to something solid.

Expect Shifts

Plans almost never go exactly as you imagined. You might fall behind schedule or realise something you missed. That’s normal. Accepting changes early on makes them easier to handle when they pop up. It’s the difference between calmly steering your boat through choppy water or forgetting your oars altogether.

“Planning can feel like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle, thrilling but nerve-racking at the same time.”

When you’re ready for speed bumps, you adjust faster without too much panic. It’s not about dodging every obstacle. It’s about staying flexible and rethinking tactics when reality has other ideas.

Seek Help and Insights

No one’s an island. Whether it’s a friend, colleague or family member, feedback is valuable. They might spot blind spots you never noticed, or suggest a tool that simplifies your research. Don’t assume you have to figure out every step on your own.

Involve people who care about your success. They want to help and they can offer resources you hadn’t considered. You might save yourself hours of guesswork. Plus, you feel less alone when you invite others to join your journey.

Celebrate the Small Wins

Biting off a massive plan in one go can wear you down. That’s why it’s important to acknowledge every accomplishment you make along the way. A little moment of joy encourages you to keep going. It also reminds you this is a journey, not a race.

Stop to appreciate each milestone, even if it’s just finishing a day of tasks or crossing off a tricky part of your checklist. These micro-celebrations are fuel for motivation. Yes, you’re aiming for a grand finale, but the steps to get there can be fun too.

• Define success in your own words.
• Plan in small chunks rather than large leaps.
• Stay flexible when life throws you a curveball.
• Get input from people who care about your progress.
• Cheer for each step, no matter how small.

These tips were the heart of this episode. I believe they’ll keep you from losing sleep over your ever-growing to-do list. Remember, progress is progress, whether it’s a single step or a whole leap.

If you’re curious about the full conversation, the podcast player is at the top of this page. Go ahead and give it a listen. You might even pick up an extra tip that sparks your next big breakthrough.