Planning to Plan Less

I am a planner. A big one. Planning makes me feel responsible, prepared, and productive. And yet, as the new year begins, I find myself questioning, not whether planning is good—but whether I plan too much.

We live in a culture that celebrates hurry. Busy is worn like a badge of honor. Calendars are full. Rest is postponed. Stillness is uncomfortable. Silence is awkward. If we are not producing, posting, responding, or achieving, we feel behind.

But Scripture tells a very different story!

The Bible consistently calls us back to the present. To stillness. To delight. To an awareness that life is not a race to be won but a gift to be received. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Not “be efficient and know.” Not “be busy and know.” Be still.

Stillness is Not Lazy

Jesus Himself, though surrounded by urgent needs, regularly withdrew to quiet places. He rested. He prayed. He noticed people. He lingered. He was never rushed, yet He was always on time. That alone should challenge our modern American obsession with speed. Our brains are rigged to equate rest with laziness.

I am not saying to throw out structure, to be less organized. I am not advocating for chaos or irresponsibility. I am saying that somewhere along the way, planning became a way to avoid stillness. A way to stay busy enough that we never have to feel the weight of the moment we are in.

Here is what I am learning, and what I want to step into this year:

I want to plan times to do nothing. To put down the phone more. Shut off the screens more. Breath more. And to start to actually live in each moment rather than watching them speed by. I’ve experienced glimpses of a slow life that kills anxiety and I want it to be my norm.

I realize how radical that idea is in our world. Planning time to do nothing feels irresponsible. Breathing more feels unproductive. Putting the phone down feels like disconnecting from life. Without even realizing it, we have mastered the art of documenting life while missing it.

The Goal of Planning

What if the goal of planning wasn’t to fit more in—but to make room to actually be present? What if your calendar was meticulously arranged in order to get tasks out of the way allowing more time to just be?

Ecclesiastes reminds us that our lives are brief. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Numbering our days is not about squeezing every ounce of productivity out of them. It is about valuing them. Paying attention. Honoring the gift of life.

God is not only found in mountaintop moments or big accomplishments. He is found in quiet mornings, slow walks, shared meals, deep breaths, unrushed intimacy, and unhurried prayers. When we rush, we often rush right past Him.

Hurry is the Enemy of Delight

Delighting in God requires time just as delighting in one’s spouse does. Enjoying life requires margin. Love requires presence. None of those things thrive in a constantly hurried soul.

Jesus said He came that we may have life, and have it abundantly—not frantically. Abundance is not about fullness of schedule; it is about fullness of heart. And hearts need space to breathe. To process. And to heal.

This new year, I want to plan less—not because planning is bad, but because over planning breeds anxiety and depression and kills the beauty of life. Slowing down is an act of faith. It says, God is at work even when I am still.

A Productive Year of Rest

I do not need another year of rushing. I need a year of noticing. Of lingering. Of choosing presence over pressure. This year I want to be productive, but not in the traditional sense. I want my lifestyle to be one that produces patience, calm, trust, peace, thankfulness, contentment, and satisfaction.

Imagine planning white space into your calendar. Imagine intentionally leaving room for interruption, rest, and joy. Imagine ending the day not asking, “What did I get done?” but “What did I enjoy today?” and “Where did I see God working?'“.

Our culture tells us to chase more. Scripture invites us to receive enough.

Life is not meant to be lived in constant urgency. It is meant to be walked, slowly, with God. Step by step. Moment by moment. Breath by breath. You do not need to fill every moment. Some moments are meant to be felt.

My Resolution for 2026

Of course I made a list of resolutions for the year, but they all center around my highest goal (hint: it’s not to get more done). It is to live a PRESENT and UNHURRIED life. Each little resolution is meant to push me toward that end. You can do it too! Of course it will look different for everyone and every season of life. Below are a few of my personal resolutions;

Putting my phone away 8am-8pm in order to be present for bed time and enjoy a quiet time in the morning before the baby gets up. Breaking the habit of keeping it on my nightstand and instead placing on the dest across the room. And also turning it off on Sundays making it an unplugged day.
Cleaning up nightly to prevent a build up of dishes, laundry, or messes that make the next day feel cluttered. Along with more meal and snack prepping after grocery shopping on Fridays.
Taking more walks, doing more gardening, and other refreshing outdoor activities that I find relaxing.
Lesson prepping on Monday for work instead of randomly throughout the week. I have found it to be stressful and take up more time if I don’t get it out of the way at the start of the week.
Starting off the days with a little quiet time alone. Whether it be doing a devotional and journaling. Or simply sipping some coffee while I cook breakfast for my family (I got out of this routine with motherhood because I was constantly exhausted for over a year postpartum).

As I step into this new year, my prayer is different. I don’t want to plan a perfect year. I want to live a present one. I want to delight in God, enjoy the people He’s placed around me, and honor the gift of each ordinary day.

Because this life is short, fragile, beautiful, and not something to rush through. It is something to live…

Happy New Year with love, Rachel Espazien

Planning Less in the New Year