How to Plan Your Best Year Yet (with a big a$s calendar)
How to Plan Your Best Year Yet: Jesse Itzler’s Big A## Calendar and Life Rules
Life is busy—especially as a mom or a working parent. Between the day-to-day chaos of raising kids, managing work, and maintaining a household, years can blur together. Before you know it, you’re looking back and wondering, “Where the heck did the time go? Did I make the most of it?”
That’s the hard truth: if we don’t plan for what truly matters, life can slip by. Jesse Itzler’s philosophy—grounded in the Big A## Calendar and three simple life rules—offers a way to break free from the cycle of routine and create a life full of intentional moments, growth, and adventure.
If nothing changes, nothing changes. That’s the hard truth I’ve learned these last few years as a new mom and entrepreneur. If you don’t start prioritizing what truly matters to you, you’re going to have big regrets. BUT with the right tools and mindset, we can start making small steps in the right direction and have 2025 the year you live life to its fullest.
Why a Big A## Calendar Can Change Everything
Jesse Itzler’s Big A## Calendar is more than just a giant dry-erase calendar—it’s a mindset shift. At 48 x 36 inches, it shows all 365 days of the year at once, forcing you to visualize your time and plan with intention. It was honestly quite shocking to see. Laid out like that, you can’t help but think, “that’s it?!”
Here’s why this is so powerful:
You See the Big Picture:
When you see the whole year laid out, it’s easier to spot patterns, prioritize what matters, and ensure your time reflects your values.You Take Control of Time:
Without a plan, time controls you. With a plan, you control time. The calendar makes it clear how much space you have and encourages you to carve out time for meaningful experiences.You Avoid Regret:
By intentionally scheduling big goals, mini-adventures, and rest, you’re less likely to look back wishing you had done more. Or wishing you did things differently.
Mom-Friendly Tip:
Use the calendar to block out non-negotiable family time. Color-code it so it’s easy to see! For example:
Green for family activities (e.g., game nights or park days)
Pink for self-care time (e.g., workouts, book club, or spa days)
Blue for couple time (e.g., date nights or uninterrupted coffee mornings)
The 3 Rules for a Life Well Lived
To make the most of your Big A## Calendar, Jesse offers three transformative rules. These principles are designed to help you break free from the monotony of routine and create a year filled with purpose and joy.
1. The Misogi Challenge: One Big, Year-Defining Event
A Misogi is a single challenge each year that pushes you far outside your comfort zone. The idea, rooted in an ancient Japanese purification ritual, is to take on something so bold that it transforms your confidence and outlook. You want to look back and say things like, “in 2025 I ran my first marathon” or “in 2025 I learned how to speak Italian.” Something BIG that will define your year.
Why It Matters:
It helps you realize you’re capable of more than you think.
It creates a memory and sense of pride that shapes the rest of the year.
It makes life feel big and exciting, even in the midst of daily routines.
Examples for Moms:
Train for a 5k or a marathon while involving your kids in practice runs.
Learn a new skill, like playing an instrument or starting a side hustle.
Take a solo or family road trip to a place you’ve never visited.
Mom-Friendly Tip:
Make your Misogi a family affair! If you’re training for an event, let your kids cheer you on or participate. If it’s a solo adventure, frame it as a way to show them the importance of chasing big dreams.
2. Kevin’s Rule: Six Mini-Adventures a Year
Kevin’s Rule is simple but powerful: schedule six adventures throughout the year. These don’t have to be huge—just moments that break you out of your routine and bring a sense of play and exploration that you may not have done.
Why It Matters:
Adventures, big or small, create amazing memories and things to look forward to.
They remind you to step off autopilot and savor life.
They encourage you to explore, try, and grow.
Examples for Moms:
Take the family on a day trip to a local attraction.
Host a backyard camping night with s’mores and storytelling.
GIRLS TRIP !!!
Mom-Friendly Tip:
Keep a list of quick, easy adventures that don’t require much planning, like visiting a new park, trying a new family recipe, or exploring a nearby hiking trail.
3. Winning Habits: One New Habit Each Quarter
Instead of overwhelming yourself with resolutions, focus on adopting one winning habit every quarter.
Why It Matters:
This approach is sustainable—you’re building habits slowly and intentionally.
By year’s end, you’ll have four new habits that support a better version of yourself.
Small, consistent changes can create a ripple effect in your life.
Examples for Moms:
Wake up 15 minutes earlier to enjoy a quiet coffee or journal session.
Dedicate one evening a week to a “no phone” family dinner.
Start a gratitude journal and write one thing you’re thankful for daily.
Mom-Friendly Tip:
Involve your kids in building habits. For example, create a bedtime gratitude routine where everyone shares their favorite part of the day. Growing up, at dinner my dad would always ask us, “what made you happy today?”
If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes
Time moves whether we’re intentional about it or not. Without planning, life can become a blur of work, chores, and responsibilities. And before you know it, you’re older, wishing you had been braver, taken more risks, gone on more trips, enjoyed your kids during the chaotic years, or simply savoured life’s moments more fully.
Living intentionally is about refusing to settle for autopilot. It’s about taking the wheel of your life and steering toward what truly matters—family, joy, growth, and adventure (or whatever it is for you!).
As I mentioned, I’ve thought a lot about this over the last few years. My husband and I started a winery back in 2020 and were putting in crazy hours, working ourselves to the bone. This past year we have both done a major 180 because we realized how we were spending our days, did not align with the life we wanted for ourselves. We are also in the middle of chaos—with a baby and a toddler and very little sleep. It’s been a rude awakening for me, realizing if I don’t carve out time to do my workouts, to make healthy meals, to connect with my husband, to make an effort with friends, then nothing is going to change. So I made the changes and am doing the hard work.
Final Thoughts: A Life of No Regrets
Life is short, but it can feel long when it’s filled with meaning. Jesse Itzler’s system is about more than a calendar—it’s about building a life you’re proud of.
When you commit to a Misogi, plan six mini-adventures, and build four winning habits, you’re intentionally creating a year filled with growth, excitement, and purpose. Pair this with the Big A## Calendar, and you have a clear roadmap to ensure your time is spent on what truly matters.
The truth is, if nothing changes, nothing changes. But with intentionality, planning, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, 2025 can be the year you live boldly and without regret.
Your best life isn’t waiting—it’s ready for you to create it. 🌟