How To Get The Most Out Of Your Planner
I started on my planning journey a very long time ago - probably Grade 4 when I got my very first agenda in school. Back then, and until I discovered a love of stickering my planner, I always used it as a tool. While it’s fine if that’s you too, I didn’t really discover the magic of planning until I started planning as a hobby too. (That may sound backward, and maybe sounds like a waste of time). However, this is when I discovered all the tools and fun things you could do with a planner that make it so much more handy and fun. I enjoyed the experience so much more, and the planning itself was no longer a means to an end. I enjoyed (and still do, obviously) the process. Here is how I make it fun for myself and how I’ve managed to make the most out of my planner.
When I first started planning in my Franklin Planner, I had two thoughts. (I mean, I have a million thoughts, but these two were first in my mind). First, I was so excited to get started with all the things - I felt like I had to have all the binders and all the inserts and pretty things. Second, I wanted my binder to be filled up with all the important information and cool stuff that I had seen in other peoples’ planners on YouTube and Instagram. I wanted it all right away.
It took me awhile to realize this, but having a planner is a process, not a direct outcome. I consider myself a “planner”, not someone who has a planner (although I am that too)! At the beginning, I watched a lot of videos of other planners to see what kinds of things they planned for. When I started, I was like you - not knowing what I could put in my pretty planner. I had some of the things - the binder, the inserts and the dividers, and a lot of blank space in front of me. At times I felt intimidated, and almost anxious. If I wrote something, what if it was the wrong thing? And if I didn’t write anything, I felt like I was wasting money on inserts I wasn’t using. On top of that, I decided to put mine on Youtube for the entire world to see - talk about intimidating!
The great thing about processes though, is that they evolve. I let my planner change as I needed it to throughout the years. I tried something, and if it wasn’t right or I didn’t like it, I changed it. That’s one of the best parts about having a transient planner system. You can take things in and out without much trouble. It might be a bit harder with a bound planner. I can tell you right now that my Franklin binder is way different than when I first started. My decorations are different, and my sections might be different, and I’m on a constant mission to find new ways to organize myself and make things easier. As I’ve gotten busier through the years, I’ve had to streamline my process.
I didn’t give in to those gimmicks either - the ones that say they’ve streamlined their process, and so now you should use their system because they’ve already figured it out; why re-invent the wheel? The whole point (for me) in planning, is the fun in discovering new and exciting planner tools and methods. Again, it’s part of the process that I enjoy and if I take someone else’s planner and just use it the way it is, I would never really make my planner mine. Sure, Franklin Covey has a system and I use it to stay on top of my life, but when you watch various people with the same system, you’ll notice none of their planners are exactly the same. It’s because you give your planner your own uniqueness with your own style and your taste.
I’ll leave you with some tips I wish I had known earlier. These are ones I’ve picked up along the way!
Don’t buy all the things at the start. Work your way up, and incorporate a few new things at a time. (Trust me, this one will save you money!)
One binder (or cover) works just as well as another one. Again, don’t feel pressured to have all the colours or styles just because you see it on Instagram.
If you think of something, write it down immediately, even if it’s on a sticky note. Put that sticky note on a planner divider or dashboard and make sure you come back to it later. An alternative is to make a note in the voice memo section of your phone and write it down later.
Do a brain dump frequently.
Don’t re-write things a hundred million times - it’s a waste of time! Keep a running master task list that you can refer to from month to month or week to week.
Use a pen that handles well and is comfortable. Do a pen test on the paper in your planner before writing.
Use a planner cover that includes a pen loop.
Keep dividers or planner tabs so you can easily reference all the different sections of your planner.
If you’re not going to keep all months at a time in your planner, keep a future log for the current year.
Hold yourself accountable to your goals by writing down tasks and habits in your planner.
Keep a goals section and refer to it daily.
Keep birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates on a perpetual calendar so you never forget any, and you never have to re-write those dates again.
Break your goals down into quarters and then into months.
Break up your tasks in groups (i.e. school, home, personal, work) unless you keep separate planners for each of them.
Use your notes pages (if you use day on two pages) instead of writing on random sticky notes or on pretty note paper.
Keep your system as simple as you can, so you can find things easily.
Sticker your planner to your hearts content if you have time. (Or don’t, whatever works for you!)
Thank you so much for reading and we’ll see you next week!
❤️ Sandra
