About
Determined to Love Mondays

Determined to Love Mondays was started in 2018 with one goal in mind…to help myself & others live the most fulfilling life possible while looking forward to the start of each and every day, including Monday.

The best way I have found to accomplish this is through the development of life planning strategies and planners, thought provoking articles, online courses and individual strategizing meetings.

ABOUT THE PLANNER SHOP ~ LOVING MONDAYS

• Products: All products were created by Karen to help you make life changes, get organized and stay focused.
• Delivery Details: You’ll receive an email immediately upon purchase for instant download. Nothing will be shipped.
• Return Policy: Please read the Return Policy prior to purchase.
• Terms of Use: Please read the Terms of Use Policy prior to purchase.
• Questions: Send a message ~ Response time is typically within the same business day

LET’S CONNECT

• Life Planning Strategies with Karen
• Create and Sell Digital Products with Karen
• Subscribe & Watch on YouTube: Life Planning with Karen AND Sell Digital Products with Karen
• Follow on Pinterest

ABOUT KAREN

The Long Story

I grew up in Palatine, IL and went to college at Winona State University in Minnesota. 

While I was in college, I became a Resident Assistant (RA) my sophomore year and an Assistant Hall Director my junior and senior year. 

I liked the leadership opportunity of being an RA but I mostly liked the idea of free room and board in order to pay my half of my college expenses. 

My dad was paying tuition which was about $2,500/year 🤯 back in the old days…LOL…I’m not that old.  

So, I was very fortunate to not end up with any student loans.

The funny thing is…I had no idea that becoming an RA would set-up my entire career going forward.

After graduating with a BS in Social Work, I got my first job as a Residence Hall Director at Northern Michigan University (NMU). 

Again, free room & board besides a salary and free tuition. Not bad for a 21 year old. 

Granted my salary was probably $21,000 at the time but free room and board for 5 years set me and my soon-to-be husband up very nicely for the years to come. 

We kept our expenses low and our savings high!

After graduating with a Masters in Public Administration, we left NMU and landed in Madison, WI where we have been ever since.

Long story short…I remained in higher education for the next 25 years working in academic advising. 

Since I had always had a longing for being my own boss, I decided to start an online business in 2018. 

Even at a very young age, I recall disliking anyone telling me what to do. 

I have always had my own ideas and ways of doing things and feel best when I’m honoring that.

I started out learning how to create and sell printables and opened my first shop Loving Mondays which is still going strong today. 

As soon as I started learning about digital planning, I added some digital planners to Loving Mondays and then opened my second shop A Planner to Remember.

My overall business name is Determined to Love Mondays. 

I went with this name because even though I loved working in higher education, I often struggled on Sunday knowing I had to go work for someone else for the following 5 days. 

Once the week got started, I was totally fine because I loved working with college students, but those Sundays, Ugh. 🥴

I was also aware of how many other people (including many of my students) struggled with Mondays. 

Therefore, I had a lot of interest in using my experience to develop tools and resources that would help people love every day of their lives (even Monday). 

I’m happy to report that I’m now fully self-employed and absolutely loving every minute of it. I was born to do this, there’s no doubt. 

It’s even more fun now because I get to help others who are interested in starting their own business as well. It’s truly the best.

So…that’s a little about my journey. 

What journey are you on and where are you hoping it will take you?