How I’m Successful With My Franklin Planner
Welcome fellow planners (or potential fellow planners)! I talk a lot about planning, because I consider it one of my specialties. I feel very lucky and privileged because it’s one of those things that I love, AND it helps me in every single area of my life. My planner is my peace of mind, and I’m so thankful that I found Franklin Planner!
I’ve been reading the book Getting Things Done, by David Allen and I had a few thoughts. A lot of what the author talks about, I have been doing for years, probably starting during my first attempt at post secondary, back in 2001. I’ve always had some type of planner, and I’ve kept a very no-mess, efficient system. I should say systems here, because in our lives, we have many systems that help us do the things we do consistently.
Over the years, I feel like I’ve had time to hone my systems to the point where I have them exactly how I want. My systems might not work for you, because I tailor my routines and activities for myself and my family. However, there is always room for improvement, especially when I try to incorporate a new habit or routine into my life. Sometimes they don’t always fit, so they might get scrapped, or they might just get changed so that it fits my life the way I need it to.
Besides for talking about random planner things, I also wanted to give you a concrete list of things I do that might help you as well. These tips are here for you to follow (or not), but I swear, that if you try them, you will definitely be more successful at planning than you were before, and increase your efficiency! Some of these things stem from David Allen’s book, (which you should also check out)!
TIPS TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH YOUR PLANNER!
Open it every day and read it!
You need to actually use your planner in order to even think about any kind of success. Use your planner - it’s a tool, and it doesn’t judge you.
Keep it open beside you while you’re working.
Whether you work from home, at an office, or are a student, keep your planner open at your desk while you’re working. Whenever you think of something to write down, it’s so much easier and convenient if it’s already open. If it’s still in your bag, or across the room on a shelf, you will not be as likely to use it. If you are in a job where you’re super busy and not at a desk all day, break it open on your breaks, and update anything you have to, or cross off completed tasks.
Cross off tasks as you complete them.
Yes, you might be busy and you might be in that zone. But, if you cross off a task as soon as you complete it, it gives you a dopamine rush. This in turn is very motivating and helps you actually want to do more on your list.
Plan the night before.
This gives you a game plan for the next day, and you will be more prepared for any surprises or new tasks that greet you the next morning. It also lets you get straight into work in the morning, and saves you time from jumping from one task to the next.
As soon as something comes across your inbox, enter it into your planner.
As David Allen says, if it can’t be done in 2 minutes or less, write it down in the appropriate section of your planner, and then come back to it as soon as you can. (This is a great use of an inbox - you can write the thing on a sticky note, plop it on the inbox, and then come back to it when you have time, or whenever you check your inbox). If it can be done in 2 minutes, do it right away. Not only have you completed another task that you can check off (and yes, I recommend writing it in your planner, even if you’ve already completed it), but it is done and you don’t have to add it to tomorrows list!
Use a monthly calendar, a weekly spread, a daily task planner and a master task list.
The calendar is for specific timed appointments. The master task list is for everything else that you need to do that month or week. The weekly planner is like an at-a-glance section so you can see exactly how full your week is becoming (it doesn't matter what layout you use here, but most people prefer an hourly layout so you can time-block your day). The daily section is for all your daily to-do’s that you can (hopefully) get done in that day.
Keep all your tools at hand.
Whether it’s a stapler, whiteout, eraser, ruler, whatever…keep these items close to you so you don’t get discouraged when you want to change something in your planner or make a chart. This goes for extra note paper as well!
Bring your planner with you on the go.
You never know when you need to write something down or refer to your planner for something. If you have a digital calendar for on-the-go, that works too; just remember to transfer the information into your planner when you get home!
Keep your sections separate and easy to find.
The first thing that comes to mind here are dividers, but you could use Avery labels and tabs, Post-its, or even dashboards in between the sections to mark where something is. Currently, I have six tabs in my planner, but at times, I’ve had up to twenty! I usually have a section for each life category that I have. (Read more on that here)!
Use a planner that you love and trust.
I currently use Franklin Planner, but I have used lots of other brands in the past. Use something you actually like, because then you will be more likely to use it! Protect your planner with a nice decorative cover or a dust jacket. (I use a Franklin Binder!) Find a layout (if it is a coiled or bound book) that works for your life. Don’t try to adapt your life to the planner!
Hopefully these tips are useful to you! Please contact me if you have any questions!
Good luck!
Sandra 🌼
