Passion Planner v. Happy Planner

When your week looks cute as hell it's hard not to be a tad more excited about it.

Passion Planner and The Happy Planner. (The Happy Planner is the Picture Quote style, and shown with mini disks)

Although I'm currently managing google calendars for a living, there's nothing better than a great paper planner to prep for a productive week. 

There are two types that give me planner peace; 

The Passion Planner

and

the Happy Planner.

I think there is no right planner to have, it's all dependent on your needs. For me, the top 3 most important things about choosing a planner are:

1. size must be compact and lightweight

2. weekly layout functionality

3. overall cute factor

These two made the cut for me, and I know you will love them too!

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1. Passion Planner Compact

My 2016 #stayGOALden Passion Planner compact weekly layout before the pen

($24.99, purchased online only)

Link to buy: Passion Planner | Instagram: @passionplanner

This planner is perfect for: the goal digging multi-tasker who doesn't want anything falling through the cracks. I can't stress enough how much the Passion Planner has helped with time management.

Weekly layout: It's vertical hourly layout has kept me on track while balancing work, social life, gym time, and other varying commitments in between. The wide hour range from 6:00am to 11:00pm is helpful, whether you are a productive early bird or night owl.

It's goal oriented. From the very first page, the Passion Planner system guides you through a road map of goals and then walks you through how to break those goals into steps. These steps help you integrate them into your weekly to do lists. YAS, that is how you get sh*t done.

• Favorite Features: weekly gratitude and goal setting, monthly reflections, open space for random notes and personal and work to do lists are split up

• Pros: functionality, goal-oriented, structured for busy life

• Cons: minimal room for washi and stickers, and lack of flexibility with how to use layout differently

I love my Passion Planner to death, but with a steady Monday-Friday office schedule, I haven't utilized the hourly breakdown lately. I realized it's a good time to try something different and get crafty with it.

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2. THE HAPPY PLANNER

My Happy Planner weekly layout before the pen

($29.99 both in store at Michael's and Hobby Lobby or online the MAMBI website)

 ...and with 40% off coupon, I picked mine up at Michaels for $17.99. 

Link to buy: Michael's | Hobby Lobby | MAMBI | Instagram: @the_happy_planner

The Happy Planner is perfect for: the ever-changing creative and the planner sticker and washi tape enthusiast. 

Weekly layout: The Happy Planner has a 3-box vertical layout, similar to the fellow $65 Erin Condren Life Planner. The beauty of this type of layout makes it absolutely flexible in function, but you do have to experiment and create a system that works for you. This part got overwhelming to me at first, but once I figured out my routine (events | to do | health and gratitude), it was smooth sailing.

Tons of options. Initially, I thought the Happy Planner was too thick and heavy for me. To make it the right size to carry on my commute daily, I had to take out a 12 of the 16 months included. I purchased the mini discs (here) and only carry 6 months at a time. Now, it's perfect. That's only one example of many options there are to make it your own. There are so many design options, sticker packs and inserts. Creative customization is definitely their niche. 

• Favorite features: The disc system is life changing! It's so easy to pull pages out and put them back. Also, the Happy Planner accessories are so cute and tempting.

• Pros: Affordable, easy to find in stores, and customization is endless

• Cons: Not intuitive; you will need to create a system that works best for you!

My planner decorating partner, Socks! Next to my 1557 seasonal sticker book (MAMBI), my Happy Planner and my 20 pack of Staedler pens.

Honestly, I love them both and easily see myself switching between the two depending on my pace of life, and how many things I need to juggle at that time.

Hope this helps you find your planner peace! Let me know what planners you love!

Working out at Studiomix

The entry way to the stairs to Studiomix

Why I Made the Switch

My colleagues introduced me to sweatworking. It's basically like networking, but rather than getting to know your coworkers over drinks or happy hour, you pick up group fitness together! 

After they got me to attend my first class, I knew this gym felt like home. For me, it was conveniently on my route home from work, the facility was sparkly clean, and the quality of the classes and instructors were beyond my expectations. It's also great to note they have classes starting almost every half hour, so every day you have options to pick from. Since I've joined, I've been generous with trying different classes from yoga and pilates to weight training and TRX before pinpointing my routine. Let's put it this way, I have yet to take a bad class. 

In addition to quality and quantity of classes, I rationalized how much it would cost per class. I took their membership of $150 a month, and divided that into how many classes I'd attend weekly...3-5 or so. That's $7.50-12.50 per class, which is considerably modest for San Francisco fitness classes! Yes, I did have to really consider the financial aspect, going from paying $35 a month at my previous gym. Sure, at first glance, the price took me off-guard, but after the first class, it's no hard decision. I know the best investment, is the one you make for yourself and your health. I walk in, focus on my workout, and leave. That's it! No sign of disrespectful gym members, or maxed out capacity cardio machines. They made it so simple for me. 

Why It Works

Studies show that adding variety to your workout routine will help you break through fitness plateaus, prevent overuse injuries, build new muscles and make exercise fun if it starts to get repetitive (source). For me, my strength is in weights, but I dread cardio more than anything else.  By taking classes that switch it up, I can easily incorporate both, and it doesn't feel like a chore. Still, I can always assure I'm still getting an ass-kicking. If I'm really not feeling like hitting my plyometrics when my post-work energy is low, I'll take a yoga class instead and vice versa. If you know me well, you know I love having options!

Yes, there are plenty of gyms in the city, and I've been a member to handful of them. I find that some are either specialty class-based gyms that serve one genre of classes, or they are chain-brand names and their main niche is not group fitness, but more up-keeping the facility itself. As much as I love a gym with a solid weight room and loads of open free-range equipment, I was looking for something a little different...one that had options that would motivate me to up my cardio training. Even if your goal is the exact opposite, Studiomix has classes that will serve your wants and needs!

The Studiomix Nutrition Manifesto

 

My Favorite Classes

Below are a few of my favorite weekly classes. I pulled the descriptions from their calendar to be more specific about what the class offers! If you want to see the full schedule, click it here: See the schedule here: class schedule.  

1. X-Train or Cycle Express with Andre or Vanessa
2. HIIT with Andre or Vanessa
3. Build with any of the instructors
4. Strength + Conditioning with any of the instructors
5. Power Yoga with Howard

One of my favorite studios: The Strength Studio! Tons of equipment including kettlebells, and 6 platforms. YES. (pc: Studiomix)

The evening street view from outside of the gym. Studiomix is located on Van Ness Ave inside the same building as the AMC Movie Theater. The gym is on the third floor.

Hope to see you there!

Staying Healthy All Festival Season

happy festival season!

The weather is getting warmer and the crop tops, and bro tanks are are coming out to play! This time of the year, we are turning up the heat at gym sessions, and see the bohemian festival vibes in windows of every clothing store. It's important to look and feel good in your skin! This is a great time to use that momentum of motivation and work towards your health goals. 

Beyond aesthetics, there are many more reasons why taking control of your health is important for the festival months. Keep in mind these tips and tricks to keep you at your body's best all season long.

1. Build Endurance

Yoga at Tripolee, Electric Forest | source: Insomniac Events

Festival hours will have you prancing around the grounds in sunlight, and dancing all night long. Incorporating strength training and cardio into your workout routine will benefit your festival endurance. If you build this endurance leading up to festival day, you'll have an increased amount of energy to exerte while there. "I don't want more energy" said no festival-goer, ever.

I've been switching between a variety of classes: weightlifting, plyometrics, HIIT, barre, yoga, totaling about 3-5 times a week. I switch up my workouts at Studiomix, a class-based gym located here in San Francisco. For me, this works because my workouts never feel monotonous and being in a class setting motivates me to push beyond my comfort level. Most importantly, have fun with it. Fitness should be fun! Get active the way you most enjoy it. 

Tip: While there, take a morning yoga session at a festival! They are the perfect way to start your long day. 

Hammocks of Electric Forest | source: Insomniac Events

2. Get some rest

Getting rest is the first thing to get pushed aside once you get to a festival. I know it can get really exciting when you are there! One of the most common problems festival goers experience is going way too hard the first day. Don't be that person that tries to outdo every one, and end up exhausted for the remainder of the festival. Enjoying a festival is not a sprint, it is a marathon, especially at multi-day events. Pace yourself, and allow yourself to take a break every now and then. Let those FOMO feels go. Trust me, there will still be plenty to enjoy after you catch your breath.

Tip: Bring a hammock to hang in the trees. Another option is a lightweight sarong in your daypack for when you want to plot down for a break in the grass.

Dirtybird Campout | source: Aaron Kwon, AOK Photography

3. Protect your skin

This one is as easy as it sounds. Sun screen is an absolute must. Vitamin D is good for you, but you'll definitely want to protect yourself from painful sunburn.

Tip: Hats, visors and parasols double up as accessories! Remember though, dark colors will attract heat. If it's a really hot festival, and you're wearing a black hat, check-in with yourself periodically to make sure you don't overheat.

If it's hot, grab something cool. Popsicles are always an easy go to. | source: Coachella

4. Eat to Energize

Leaning out for the Festival

Nutrition is key to a healthy festival body. Before heading to a festival two years back, I went on a strict 12-week diet that cut out all breads, sugar, and sodium. Sure, I saw results quick and felt good about how I looked, but because my body was not used to processing these foods, it immediately bloated after anything I ate, leaving me sick and groggy. From first hand experience, I learned NOT TO OVER RESTRICT PRE-FESTIVAL. Chances are there will be delicious food vendors you'll want to try at the festival too. Prevent yourself from making this mistake, and take your progress slow. There's nothing wrong with wanting to cut back on bad eating habits, so go for it. A popular and more flexible approach that works best for me, is tracking both calories and macronutrients. Check out Fit+Thick's guide to macronutrients for more information!

At the Festival

Always start the day with a solid breakfast. Do not skip meals. If festival camping, pack some energy boosting snacks for when you're on-the-go. Similar to foods you would take on hikes, great options to pick up are beef jerky, trail mix, granola bars and dried fruit. Easy to store, quick to throw in your bag, and no need to chill them.

Tip: Fruit smoothies! The smoothies are easy to drink and you can take them as you wander in the festival. Really though, anything light and fresh is a good choice, like slices of watermelon or fruit popsicles.

Insomniac's free water fill stations | Source: Insomniac

5. Don't Be Thirsty...Drink Water!

Most festivals occur when the weather is warm. If you aren't careful, the sun will show no mercy! Stay hydrated! Many festivals get a bad rep for other controversial issues and recreational activities, but one of the first things to send anyone to the medical tent is dehydration. Always carry water with you...for yourself and those around you. If you decide to consume alcohol, you'll need to up the water intake a little more. Check your festival's guidelines, but most now allow you to bring in empty water bottles to fill up throughout the day.  Save yourself and the planet simultaneously!  Keep those bottles filled and with you at all times and encourage your crew to take trips to refill together.

Tip: Getting in extra electrolytes will do wonders. Keep Gatorade and/or Pedialyte handy back at camp in addition to the cooled water. 

Dancing in Water Misters at Dirtybird Campout | source: Dirtybird Records

6. Don't Stress! Make a plan, then Break It.

When you get the lineup and festival guide, it's good to have a game plan. However, there's no need to turn that game plan into an hour-by-hour agenda. Festivals are the perfect chance for let go from a strict routine, to have fun and just explore!

Sometimes, plans aren't always meant for keeping. Don't stress it if you miss an artist you were dying to see. Be present in every experience there, big and small. Enjoy the little things you may come across, like the foosball table in the corner, or a chance to dance in the water misters.

You shouldn't have to go home from the event feeling exhausted.  Mental health is a huge important part of your health too. Music Festivals should be an escape, not something you take so seriously that you're drained at the end of your vacation.

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