Easy Planners
Planning made simple
Paper planners are effective only if you use them properly and regularly. Here are some ways to get into the groove, if you’re not yet an addict!
Perhaps you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to become more organized. Paper planners are an old-fashioned yet effective way to stay on top of everything that has to be done by providing a powerful visual layout and space for jotting notes, to-do lists, and ideas. The only problem is that no planner will help you get organized unless you use it. Establishing that routine is important and well worth the effort. Here are some tips on how to get started with a planner.
Take 5 or 10 minutes every evening to go over your tasks for the next day. That refreshes in your mind what needs to be done, making it less likely for you to forget about appointments, etc. Organizational expert and blogger Jen from Pretty Neat Living makes a good point by describing it as an important brain dump:
“I used to have issues falling asleep until I started this nightly practice a few years ago. I no longer experience racing thoughts scrambling through my mind of tomorrow’s to-dos since they’re all nicely laid out for me.”
2. Have a Regular Weekly Planning Session
At the start of the week, such as Sunday evening (or whatever works best for you), take a few minutes to go over plans for the week ahead. This is your chance to plan for broader tasks that can’t be pegged to a specific day, i.e. catch up with a friend, send out thank-you notes, finish that pile of ironing, weed the garden. You can also transfer any information that may have gone into your phone during the week.
3. Use the Monthly Section
Every planner has a monthly spread. I prefer designs that place it at the start of each month, although some planners put all the month spreads at the beginning of the book. This is where you should jot down all the things that won’t change – birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, due dates for bills, etc.
It’s easiest to keep it all in one place, so you don’t have to consult multiple planners or calendars. Try color-coding business and personal tasks for better separation, such as a red pen for anything relating to work. This is easiest done with a paper planner.