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I’ve seen posts about 2019 resolutions since the December 2018. One thing I’ve seen over and over, that I haven’t in past is others’ desire to track their lives on paper, rather than through electronic calendars. I’ve been using a paper planner for years and have tried an entire gamut of them. Even though life is busy and electronic planners/calendars are easy and are in the palm of your hand 95% of the time, the act of writing things out through my own function helps me remember my commitments so much better.
My Favorite Planners + Accessories:
My Planner + Tips:
I've used many planners over the years and the one I keep coming back to is the Erin Condren LifePlanner. I know that you hear a lot of hype around these -- and let's face it, they have a higher price, but they're worth it in my opinion. I tried another well-known higher end planner last year and I completely fell off the wagon because it just didn't have the right characteristics and fun feel to planning like my EC one does. You can customize basically everything about your planner (layout, covers, binding, accessories, and more) through Erin Condren's site and I love that mine is always going to be different from anyone else who has one.
I chose the horizontal layout because I like the freedom it gives me and I have more area to write my plans down; especially if it's a particularly busy day. The vertical layout breaks your day into three boxes but I'll be honest -- my days are usually super chaotic in one portion of the day, so I wanted that extra space. But again, you get the option, so you can do what works best for you! Sometimes EC also has deals (which never used to happen), but they don't come about very often, so you'll have to keep your eyes peeled.
Organizing my days:
I like to slot in things I know won't change -- birthdays, anniversaries, big events -- before anything else. If there are some cool stickers that help to tie into the theme of what's going on throughout that day or week, I'll also add those. I don't go so big on writing that I can't add anything else to that day, though.
I like to use stickers to denote appointments, as those things can change. I also rarely write meetings in my planner because that is the biggest waste of space since my calendar is so fluid at work. I leave that to the electronic calendar but will put big things like work trips in my ECLP.
One tip that has really helped me keep up with my planner is to sit down every Sunday afternoon and go through the upcoming week and then weeks to come. I start to add more stickers and embellishments as time gets closer so that I can pick a theme when I know more about what's going on that week. I also add in my meals for the upcoming week on Saturday or Sunday as I'm meal planning and making my grocery lists. That helps me stay on track when Bob asks, "What are we having for dinner?"
In the notes section, I'll jot down items to buy for our home or others, errands to run, or bills to pay throughout the week. I love having the ability to see everything and check it off one by one.
Accessorizing:
Over time, I've found some awesome stickers (at Michael's) for great prices due to their sales and/or coupons. I've staggered what I've purchased so that I am not making a huge planner and sticker investment all at once. Michael's actually has an amazing sale right now on nearly all of my favorite stickers. Most are sold out online, but, pro tip -- order online and pick-up in store. SCORE!
In order for your planner to look and feel pretty, you also have to find pens that you like. Sounds kind of weird but it's totally true! A few of my favorites are listed below. I got the packs on multiple occasions, too, as it's more of a marathon and not a sprint with this stuff (plus, coupons!)
My favorite stickers, which you see in my planner are:
The pens I use in my planner:
Washi tape in my planner:
my favorite patterns + whimsical pack
classic, glitter washi tape (because, glitter, duh!)
I don't have these yet, but I'm going to grab:
Lastly, I organize it all with a cheap, but great case I got at Michaels. It all stays together and is compact enough to store in small places and be out of the way.
I hope that this helped you get inspired to get (and continue using) a planner! What are some tips you'd give someone just starting out with their paper planner? Let us know in the comments!
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