planner 101 – printable, spreads, and stickers
Welcome to “Planner 101: Printables, Spreads, & Stickers” – your ultimate guide to transforming your daily planning from mundane to magical! Whether you’re a seasoned planner aficionado or just dipping your toes into the colorful world of organization, we’re here to sprinkle some fun into your planning routine. Imagine a world where your to-do list looks less like a daunting chore and more like a vibrant canvas waiting for a splash of creativity. With the right printables, the perfect spread, and those oh-so-charming stickers, you’re not just planning your days; you’re crafting a masterpiece of productivity and flair. So, grab your favorite pen (we know you have one), and let’s dive into the whimsical world of planners, where every page turn is a new adventure!
Daily Planner or Monthly Planner
You’ve probably done it before. You bought a planner and were absolutely convinced that you would use it. You thought you’d plan out every single portion of your day, week, month, and year, and you’d be better for it. Did it happen?
Probably not if you’re reading this post. Planners are great, but they have to be maximized. Like any other tool, you must know how to use them best. Luckily, there are organizing tricks and hacks that exist that can help you use a schedule to organize your life to the fullest. Ready to dive in? Keep reading!
This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. Please note that I only share things I have tried or know for a fact are good quality.
Weekly Planner and Checking THigns Off
Let’s face it: using planners effectively comes down to using them consistently. If you’re trying to use it here and there, you probably won’t succeed. Not adding stuff to it regularly or checking it regularly will surely miss stuff. I try to sit down at least once a day and glance over mine, add stuff, and mark off stuff I’ve finished.
The best way to combat this is to make your planning time regular. Schedule a daily and weekly session where you can sit down and get organized. If you feel like you need a schedule to begin with because you barely have any free time, then make this the first thing you put in there.
There has to be an hour during the week that you watch TV or decompress (perhaps on a Sunday) and get ready for the week. Make this a part of your routine!
You can even add in times to do laundry or certain chores to keep you accountable for them. It’s not just for appointments and activities.
Happy Planner Tips
People often have trouble using planners because they aren’t specific enough and then feel like they are useless or too much work. Don’t resort to writing “get lunch” down and think you’re done using your schedule. Instead, write, “Get lunch with Mom and talk about Thanksgiving plans,” so that you have an actionable item to accomplish. You’ll feel much more motivated and productive once you’ve done this!
This is where choosing the right planner for you can really help. There are hourly planners, weekly planners, and monthly planners. Each planner is different and offers different layouts to help you.
Try some of these popular planners for 2019, click to shop. Erin Coldren planners, Panda Planners, Happy Planners, or Mead planners.
Try adding a half hour to yourself every weekday. Bath night? There are so many things you can do for you!
Planner Tips and Creative Ideas
People often go the opposite route when they have a planner and think they suddenly need to plan their entire days in and out or aren’t using their planners enough. Yet, overscheduling yourself is frustrating because it means that you’re unlikely to accomplish everything on your to-do list. You’ll end up feeling unproductive and upset when, in reality, all you really did was set unrealistic expectations for yourself.
Maybe instead, add a tab or extra folder to that week to write down stuff that doesn’t have to be done, a do list, or ideas. Then, if they don’t get done, you won’t feel as guilty.
Use only one planner
Some people like to separate out their planners. One is for work and personal use, but this can be a great way to get mixed up and feel like the planning becomes too much. Just stick to using one and put everything in there. Keep it simple.
I have one for work and personal stuff. I use a special blogging planner that keeps track of my social media posts, too. They are the first things I tend to ignore or not do. So, having it as part of my planner already helps me actually keep up with it. Social media is a pain!
Know what planner accessories can help you
Maybe this one is just a little fun, but planner accessories can be productive, too! Grab some stickers to add exactly what’s most important and jazz it up according to your style.
When your planning sessions get a little dull, stickers are always an easy fix. You can even add stickers like workouts or water bottles to help you remind yourself to drink your water. Keep track of weekly weather or food stickers to add to a shopping list at the end of the week. Whatever helps you stay more organized!
Think about your planner’s size carefully
Planners come in all shapes and sizes, and it might be tempting to get something huge (think like a Lilly Pulitzer planner). Yet, you need to think about what’s realistic for you.
Do you have a bag or purse that you always carry? Go based on that. You’re less likely to use it if it doesn’t fit in your bag. That’s an unspoken fact. The size should be just right for you, even if you sacrifice other style elements along the way.
I have so much to write down every week I use the 8.5 x 11 size planner. You can see my planner here from Purple Trail or check out the YouTube video below.
Purple Trail planners are my favorite because you can customize every planner aspect. The covers, the inserts, and even how your week is laid out. You can do blank boxes like the Happy Planner, or you can do vertical or horizontal ones. I do a quad system with four days per page, and I love it!
As a designer and photographer, I don’t like having always just to pick the same old designs that Happy Planner and Erin Coldren offer. I like basic and not colorful, and I am very minimalist when it comes to my planner. You can get what works best for you!
You can see my planner above and how this would be perfect for a blogger. On the bottom for every day are places to check off and write ideas for posts on social media I love the lines because I write so sloppy. Purple Trail even allows you to do the black and white font color like mine here or a colorful array.
Create a system that works for you
Your planner should have a system, and you should be the primary person who understands that system. For some people, just creating a specific list and crossing or checking those items off is effective.
Others must separate these items into “work” and “personal” categories to better categorize and understand their day. I add it all to the same day under one planner. But whatever works for you is key.
If you do not finish anything on your list (and believe it or not, that may happen occasionally), you can migrate it to the next day or a day that you know you can complete it. Or do something completely different. Make a new system that you’ve never seen used if that’s what makes you most productive and actually makes you use your planner.
At the end of the day, your planner’s system should make sense to you, and you should be comfortable with it. If you’re not, change it!
Just because you’re doing something one way doesn’t mean that you have to do it that way forever. In fact, you’re at liberty to change it whenever you want.
Try a new process out every day for the first week if that is what it takes. Get comfortable with your planner, and it’ll become an ingrained habit.
Trying using time assignments
This might not work for everyone, but many people can benefit from a time limit. It’s like a race to the finish that can actually help you get something done. When you list your action items in your planner, either color code them or use stickers to assign the time you want to complete them. Some examples of time spans are the following:
- Less than 10 minutes
- 10-20 minutes
- 20-40 minutes
- 40-60 minutes
- 1-2 hours
- 2 or more hours
These time designations will also help you figure out how much you can do in a day so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Also, consider implementing the two-minute rule – if there’s anything that would potentially go on your list that would take less than two minutes, then don’t delay it. Just knock it out and skip writing it down (unless you love to cross items off – no judgment!).
Stress less
Somehow, someway, planners can sometimes stress people out just slightly. Don’t allow your planner to become another source of anxiety because it’s supposed to help alleviate it. Use your planner to stress less, and you’ll be good to go!
Check out these cute stickers for fun!
Thanks for stopping by the blog today. If you love planners stuff and home decor, you will love this blog. I like to post mostly about home decor and DIY, but I love my planner, so I like to post about them, too.
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