January is supposed to feel like a fresh start.
New goals. New energy. A clear plan for the year ahead.
But for a lot of people, by mid January, that plan already feels heavy.
Not inspiring.
Not motivating.
Just… pressure.
Stop Trying to Be Everywhere. Lock the Plan
January doesn’t need more goals, it needs better ones.
January has a way of making people rush.
New goals. New habits. Big plans. Fresh starts. And within days, the year already feels heavy.
Not because you are doing anything wrong, but because January pressure convinces people that everything needs fixing at once.
The result is usually the same. An overloaded plan, unrealistic expectations, and by March, a quiet sense of falling behind.
But here’s the truth most people miss.
You do not need to rush at the beginning of the year. You need to be strategic and intentional.
Design Your Life in 2026 (Before the Year Designs You)
Most people don’t fail at goals.
They fail at designing the days those goals have to live inside.
That’s why January plans often collapse by February.
Not because you are lazy.
Not because you lack willpower.
But because the plan doesn’t match the life.
And life always wins.
The Truth About a “Better Year”
How to Plan Your Business and Life in 2026 on Paper
Planning a new year can feel heavy, especially when you are running a business and juggling everything else life brings with it. Most people do not struggle because they are lazy or unmotivated. They struggle because they are carrying too many decisions in their head with no clear system to hold them.
That is exactly why planning on paper still works so well. A printed planner gives you space to think, a clear overview of your time, and a simple structure you can return to every day. It helps you make decisions once, write them down, and stop rethinking everything all week.
In this guide and video, I will walk you through a realistic step-by-step way to plan your entire 2026 using a printed planner, so you can move into the year with direction, structure, and a plan you can actually stick to.
If you want to plan on paper with a clear system, you can use a [printed business planner] that is designed to take you from yearly direction to monthly planning, weekly priorities, and daily focus.
How to Use Notion for Business (A Simple, Practical Guide)
Running a business means juggling ideas, tasks, clients, finances, and plans, often all in your head. Notion can be a powerful tool for organising your business, but only if it’s set up in a way that actually supports how you work.
This guide explains how to use Notion for business in a simple, practical way, without overcomplicating things or turning it into another system you never check.
Why Use Notion for Business?
Notion works well for business because it brings everything into one place. Instead of using separate tools for planning, notes, projects, and tracking, Notion lets you connect everything together.
Used properly, Notion can help you:
How to Plan Using reMarkable 2 and reMarkable Paper Pro (Step-by-Step Guide)
reMarkable 2 and reMarkable Paper Pro are designed for people who think better when they write things down. They remove distractions and give you space to plan, think, and focus.
But once you move beyond basic note-taking, many people run into the same issue. They have lots of notes, ideas scattered across notebooks, and no clear structure for their days or weeks.
Planning on reMarkable works best when you use a clear, repeatable planning system, rather than starting from blank pages every time.
Some people choose to use a structured digital planner PDF, such as the MY PA planner, which is designed to work well on paper-like tablets including reMarkable 2 and reMarkable Paper Pro.
How to Plan Your Best 2026 in Notion: A Complete Yearly Planning System for Real Small Business Owners
Most small business owners aren’t short on ideas.
They’re short on structure.
And when everything lives in your head, the year disappears into firefighting, constant context switching and always “catching up”. The businesses that grow consistently have one thing most others don’t…
a real system.
If you want to plan your best 2026, you need more than a pretty dashboard or a list of resolutions. You need a workspace that holds your vision, your business plan, your projects, your finances, your regular actions and your weekly rhythm all in one place.
That’s exactly what the MY PA Business Hub was built for.
In this walkthrough we’ll look at how to set up your full 2026 planning system inside Notion, using the exact structure real founders use to bring order to their year.
Your 2026 Business Plan Template: The Only Guide You Need to Start the Year Strong
Start simple. Build clarity. Then turn it into a real plan.
If you are preparing for growth in 2026, one of the best things you can give your business is a clear, realistic and focused business plan.
Not a 40 page academic document.
Not a generic template that leaves you more overwhelmed than when you started.
You need a practical plan that helps you understand where your business is today, where you want it to be in 12 months, and most importantly, the steps you need to take to get there.
A good plan creates clarity.
A great plan creates momentum.
In this guide, you will see what to include in your 2026 business plan template, how to structure it, and how to use it throughout the year without getting lost in detail. You can start all of this on one page, then expand it into a fuller plan whenever you are ready.
Free Business Plan Template & Resources for Small Businesses
Start simple. Build clarity. Then turn it into a real plan.
Running a business is overwhelming enough. Planning it shouldn’t be.
This free one-page business plan template helps you organise your thoughts, get clear on your idea and build confidence before you move into the full plan.
Think of this as Step 1 — the warm-up before the real work.
Once your one-page plan is complete, you can expand it into a professional, investor-ready business plan using the MY PA Business Starter Kit, which includes the full multi-page template, step-by-step guidance, examples, financial tools and more.
How to Use Notion to Run Your Small Business (Simple 2026 Guide)
Notion has become one of the most powerful tools for small business owners. Instead of juggling ten different apps, Notion lets you keep your plans, clients, projects, finances and ideas together in one clear workspace.
But the question most people have is:
“How do I actually use Notion to run my business?”
This guide breaks it down in the simplest possible way.
You’ll learn the exact structure most small business owners need, the types of pages to create, and how to keep everything organised without getting overwhelmed.
⭐ Why Notion Works So Well for Small Business Owners
Most small business owners don’t have a software problem — they have a scattered problem.
They use:
Asana for tasks
Google Docs for notes
Stripe for payments
Apple Notes for ideas
Spreadsheets for finance
Trello for projects
A diary for planning
Their head for reminders
Notion replaces all of that by creating one organised home for:
planning
clients
content
sales
delivery
finances
documents
ideas
When everything lives together, you stop firefighting and actually feel in control.
⭐ 1. Start With a Simple Weekly Planning System
Before you move your entire business into Notion, begin with the basics:
your week
your goals
your priorities
your recurring tasks
A weekly planning dashboard should include:
This Week’s Focus
This Week’s Goals
Today’s Tasks
Quick Notes
Calendar
Regular Actions (recurring tasks)
This alone will change how your business feels day to day.
👉 Internal link:
Link “weekly planning dashboard” to MY PA Notion Planner workspace.
⭐ 2. Add a Task + Project System
Once your planning is in place, add a simple project dashboard:
Project name
Status (Not Started / Active / Waiting / Done)
Linked tasks
Due date
Notes
Linked client (optional)
Then create a task database with:
Task name
Due date
Priority
Status
Linked project
Linked client
This keeps everything clean and traceable instead of scattered.
⭐ 3. Set Up a CRM for Leads + Clients
A CRM doesn’t have to be complex.
A simple Notion CRM helps you track:
enquiries
leads
follow-ups
client details
meetings
notes
what stage they’re at
This alone can prevent thousands in lost revenue each year.
👉 Internal link:
Make “simple Notion CRM” link to MY PA Business Hub for Notion.
⭐ 4. Track Your Finance in One View
Small business owners often avoid finances because the tools feel too “big”.
Notion gives you a simple snapshot of:
upcoming payments
invoices
expenses
subscriptions
income
profit
categories
due dates
You don’t need accounting software for everyday visibility.
You just need one organised weekly view.
👉 Internal link:
Link “track your finance” to MY PA Business Hub Notion template.
⭐ 5. Add a Content Planner for Consistency
A content planner helps you stay consistent without burning out.
Create:
ideas list
platforms (IG, TikTok, Pinterest, email)
weekly or monthly posting schedule
hooks
captions
brand messaging
assets
This makes content creation structured instead of overwhelming.
⭐ 6. Bring Everything Together into One Business Hub
Once you have planning, projects, CRM and finances in place, you can combine them into a full Notion business hub.
A real business hub includes:
Weekly dashboard
Planner (daily → yearly)
Projects + tasks
CRM
Finance
Content
Documents
Systems
Meetings
Recurring actions
Quick add buttons
This is what turns Notion from “just a note-taking tool” into a business operating system.
👉 Internal link:
Make “full Notion business hub” link to MY PA Business Hub for Notion.
⭐ What’s the Best Way to Start?
If you’re at the beginning of using Notion for business:
✔ Start with the MY PA Notion Planner workspace
This is ideal if your main challenge is:
clarity
weekly structure
getting things done
reducing overwhelm
✔ When you’re ready, upgrade to the MY PA Business Hub for Notion
This is perfect if you want:
planning + CRM
clients + projects
finance + content
everything in one place
one calm, clear weekly view
⭐ Final Thoughts
You don’t need complicated systems.
You need a clean, calm, organised structure that helps you focus on the work that actually grows your business.
Notion is powerful, but only when it’s set up properly.
A good template creates a foundation you can build on for years.
What Is Notion And How I Use It Alongside My Planner To Run A Calm, Organised Business
There is something grounding about opening a fresh planner.
Clean pages. A calm layout. A feeling that you are finally taking control again.
For many people, including me, pen and paper is where clarity happens.
It slows your mind down just enough to think properly.
It cuts out the noise.
It gives your week shape.
This is why MY PA has always been a paper first system.
The physical planner is the core, the anchor, the place you come back to no matter how overwhelmed life gets.
If you’re curious, this is the exact Notion workspace I use myself.
The Best Notion Business Templates for Small Business Owners in 2026 (Complete Guide)
Running a small business means juggling ideas, clients, planning, content, invoices, projects, goals… and often doing it all alone.
Notion is one of the best tools to bring everything together, but only if you use the right templates.
In this guide, you’ll discover the best Notion business templates for 2026, what each one is for, and how to choose the right system depending on where you are in your business.
Whether you’re a solopreneur, coach, creator, freelancer, or small business owner, this guide will help you build a business that feels clear, organised, and calm.
Why Notion Templates Matter (Especially for Small Business Owners)
Most business owners don’t struggle because they’re disorganised.
They struggle because their business is scattered:
projects in one app
content in another
invoices in a spreadsheet
ideas in Apple Notes
reminders in their head
Notion fixes this — if you have the right setup.
A good template helps you:
See your entire business in one place
Reduce overwhelm
Focus on what matters this week
Stay consistent with clients
Track money clearly
Grow without chaos
The templates below are the ones that genuinely help you run your business like a business, not a guessing game.
1. Notion Planner Templates
A Notion planner is perfect if you want structure in your week without bringing the whole business into Notion yet.
The best planner templates include:
daily, weekly, monthly and yearly planning
goals linked to projects
weekly focus
a content planner
space for ideas and notes
Who this is for:
Early-stage founders, creators, solopreneurs, or anyone who wants clarity without managing clients or finances in Notion.
2. Notion Project Management Templates
If you work with clients or deliver services, you need a simple way to see:
what’s active
what’s overdue
what’s waiting for the client
what’s coming next
The best project templates include:
task timelines
status tracking
links to clients
priority views
“this week” views
notes and deliverables
This keeps delivery clean and stops things slipping through the cracks.
3. Notion CRM (Client Management) Templates
A CRM doesn’t need to be complicated.
You just need a simple way to track:
enquiries
leads
follow-ups
client status
meetings
notes
Most small business owners lose money because they forget to follow up.
The right template fixes this.
👉 Internal link here:
Link to MY PA Business Hub page (this is where the CRM lives).
4. Notion Finance Templates
Your finances don’t need to be complicated. The best templates include:
income tracking
expenses
subscriptions
invoices
upcoming payments
simple profit view
due dates
A good Notion finance system won’t replace accounting software,
but it will help you stay in control week by week.
5. Notion Content Planner Templates
If you create content, this is a must.
Look for:
ideas list
posts by platform
schedule for the week
brand assets
messaging
hooks and captions
launch timelines
The key is consistency — a good content planner helps you show up without burning out.
6. Notion Business Hub Templates
This is the template for business owners who want everything in one organised system.
A real Business Hub should include:
Planner (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly)
Projects
Tasks
Goals
Content
Leads & CRM
Client delivery
Finance
Systems
Documents
Recurring actions
A dashboard that shows “This Week” clearly
Most templates only do one piece.
A Business Hub brings everything together.
Which Notion Template Should You Start With?
Here’s the simplest way to decide:
If you want structure and planning → start with the Planner Workspace
Perfect if your biggest problem is clarity, focus, routines, or weekly planning.
If you want to run the whole business from one calm system → choose the Business Hub
This includes the full planner plus:
CRM
Projects
Finance
Delivery
Content
Documents
Systems
It’s for anyone who wants everything in one home inside Notion.
Final Thoughts
Notion can transform how you run your business, but only with the right setup.
You don’t need 20 templates.
You just need one system that brings the important pieces together.
If you want to get organised quickly, the MY PA templates give you:
clarity
structure
weekly focus
all your business in one place
a calm, clean workspace
Why Running Your Business in Ten Different Places Is Making Everything Harder
Most small business owners are not struggling because they’re disorganised.
They’re struggling because their business is scattered everywhere.
Projects in one app, content in another, money tracked somewhere else, client notes in a notebook, screenshots saved in your photos, reminders in your head.
It feels heavy because it is heavy.
And no one can run a business with clarity like that.
This post is for the business owners who are doing everything alone and carrying all the mental weight. If it feels messy, slow, or overwhelming, there is nothing wrong with you. You just don’t have a central system holding everything for you.
From planner pages to a full business system in Notion: the messy journey behind the MY PA Business Hub
For the last few months, I have basically been in a cave.
On the outside it looked like “planner season as usual.” Orders going out. Emails coming in. Social posts. Real life.
On the inside, every spare hour was being poured into one question:
How do I take what MY PA does on paper and turn it into a proper business system that lives in Notion.
I thought it would be simple. A few databases. Some views. A nice dashboard.
It wasn't simple.
At several points I seriously considered walking away from it and pretending I never started.
The idea that would not leave me alone
For years, I have watched customers use the MY PA Planner as their weekly control centre. They plan their goals, block their time, review their weeks and actually move things forward.
But there was always this gap.
They were still running the business in their head. Leads. Client work. Invoices. Content. Ideas. To-dos. All in mental tabs.
The Best Planning System for 2026 (Real Entrepreneur Edition)
How to Stay Aligned With Your Big Vision Every Month, Week and Day
Most small business owners do one of two things for the new year:
They write a big plan, then never look at it again.
Or they wing it week to week and hope it somehow adds up.
Neither really works.
The truth is, you need both:
A clear big plan for 2026.
A simple way to bring that plan into your months, weeks and days.
The Only 3 Things You Need for a Productive 2026
Most entrepreneurs believe they need motivation, perfect routines or complicated systems to stay productive. The truth is much simpler. A productive year comes from a few core habits done consistently, not endless lists or rigid plans.
If you want 2026 to feel clear, organised and manageable, you only need three things. These three things create the structure and consistency that make your business easier to run.
The Simple Monthly Reset for 2026
A monthly reset is one of the most powerful habits you can build. It gives you clarity at the start of every month, helps you stay focused on what matters and protects you from drifting or getting overwhelmed.
Here is your simple 2026 monthly reset that takes less than an hour and keeps your business moving forward all year.
The 2026 Entrepreneur Survival Checklist
Running a business can feel intense, overwhelming and chaotic, especially when you carry everything in your head. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel clear, organised and in control, you need a simple survival system.
This checklist gives you the essentials every entrepreneur needs to stay steady and focused all year. Think of it as your foundation for a successful 2026.
How to Use Time Blocking in 2026 (Simple Guide)
Time blocking is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay focused and organised. It helps you protect your priorities, reduce overwhelm and make sure you are working on the things that actually move your business forward.
In 2026, more entrepreneurs are choosing time blocking over traditional to-do lists because it removes the chaos and gives you a clear rhythm for your days.
Here is a simple guide to help you start using time blocking in 2026.