All About Planning

Since the new year is around the corner, I wanted to share my favorite planners! I'm the type of person who loves using paper--paper lists, paper NFP charts, and a physical planner. Using physical paper helps me see the big picture and makes me feel more organized.

For an everyday planner, I love Plum Paper. They are reasonably priced (keep an eye out for pre-Black Friday and Black Friday sales!), and I love how they are customizable. I have used a Plum Paper planner since 2020 and look forward to buying one every year.

I prefer the 7x9 size and the Weekly Overview layout. I like how one page is dedicated to weekly tasks and notes, and the other lays out each day. I write down events or "must-dos" on the daily layout. Then, on the weekly tasks page, I like to include reminders and tasks that I would like to do at some point throughout the week. This makes my to-dos less overwhelming. I used to plan out what tasks I'd do each day, but then ultimately feel discouraged when I wouldn't get them done, and then I'd have to write them for the next day. Having a separate page for the weekly tasks was definitely a welcome change.

I also have a "priorities" section at the top of the page, and this is where I will write down what phase of my cycle I'm in. This helps remind myself to check in on how I'm feeling. I've noticed that I can typically get more tasks accomplished in my follicular phase, and in my luteal phase, I will need more rest.

I also like how you can add additional sections to the planner based on your lifestyle, like meal plans, budget trackers, and even coloring pages.

For work, I like to have a daily planner to write out that day's tasks and also take notes. I use Google Calendar to keep track of all meetings and work events, so I really just need something to focus my to-do lists and jot down notes. I also do an undated planner because I'll never use the weekend pages. I love a planner from Amazon like this. If you have a larger budget, Amplify Planner is also a great option!