Are you one of THOSE people… you know, the person who get’s excited about a physical planner? The person who has to physically write out their tasks, schedule, and to-do lists? I am one hundred percent absolutely that person. I like to think it is way I am able to wrangle my thoughts in a productive and manageable fashion and the only reason I don’t forget where I need to be when I need to be there. For the longest time I tried to have calendar appointments on my phone but there was just something about it that didn’t suffice. There is something about putting the pen to the paper that helps information stick in my brain. So in honor of my love of planners I decided to share with you my top 3 favorite planners and how I typically like to organize them.
First, I love a colorful planer but there is something to be said about a classic, sturdy, simple, durable, well laid out, and empowering planner… that is why I love the Get To Work Book Planner. This planner is a bit of a beast but has probably been one of my favorite planners to haul around with me in the past. I love the design elements by creator Elise Joy and her style of “extras” that you can get to go along with the planner. As an Event Coordinator by nature (and degree) this planner has it all.
My second favorite is the more colorful route of The Happy Planner. This planner is customizable and unique. Easy to take pages in and out and comes in such a variety of options… almost too many. Plus the accessories on this planner are nearly unlimited, from covers to stickers, there are a ton of additional goodies to choose from. They have financial planners and workout planners too just to give you more options than just a calendar planner too.
The third planner on my favorites list is the Emily Ley Simplified Planner which also comes in a variety of colorful options and as an added bonus you can see them in-person at Office Depot. It’s been a few years since I used a Simplified Planner but I remember buying a small, skinny version and I really liked the ability to fit it in my purse. That may not be a huge selling feature but trust me… after having a planner for a year, getting a new one can be embarrassingly exciting.
Now that I have shared a few of my favorite planners and why I like them, let me dive into the part that I nerd out over the most… the planner organization. Here are the steps I take when getting a new planner:
- When I first get a new planner I look over the pages to see what “extra” options the planner comes with… year at a glance page, blank pages to jot down notes, monthly overviews, etc.
- After that I pick a “birthday color” from my flair pens and start putting in all my immediate family members birthdays and a few friends (after that I have to add birthdays as they get closer because, to be honest, I am the worst at remembering birthdays).
- Next I add in important upcoming events or anything that needs to carry over from my previous planner. Sometimes I will color code things to be a certain color like my random work travel and appointments vs my reoccurring monthly board meetings.
- After I input as much information as I can remember I tend to just have fun with the planner… I will add in some fun stickers or draw cute designs on special days like Christmas or the Fourth of July.
- Lastly, I go back to the day and week that I am starting off with and notate it as the first day of using my new planner.
I know… if you didn’t think I was a little OCD before, now you most definitely might think I am! Nah, I just really love the organization that a planner can bring to an already full and amazing life. I love the organizations I volunteer for, I love my job and the travel that it takes me on, I love The Salty Exchange and writing these silly but useful (hopefully) blogs and my planner just helps me keep track of it all in a much more focused and manageable way.
People often ask me how I do everything I do… it’s because I write it down and I plan it out! That’s how.
The Salty Exchange 