Finding The Right Planner For You

If there’s one major life lesson that I’ve gleaned from blogging thus far it’s that taking on big projects requires a lot of organization and planning. This is actually a great realization because it means no project is undoable and you can always find more time in your day if you plan ahead and stick to a schedule. I’ve tried my fair share of organization systems and am always open to trying new ones. So today I wanted to lay out some options so you can find what works best for you and finally make that project happen!

The Printable Planner

I’ve just started using The Day Maker planner, a minimal kit filled with daily, weekly, monthly and annual planning tools. I love that the template is really customizable so that you can print multiple lists (or use it on a tablet) for your daily to do’s but also have a space to imagine more long term goals. I struggle with keeping a solid routine for general life admin, so sections for planning your ideal morning and evening routines, a habit tracker, and the weekly cleaning rhythm are super helpful. A template planner like this one helps you create a routine, which lays the groundwork for being able to accomplish bigger projects.

The Bullet Journal

This is a tool that I started using for the first time at the beginning of this year. It has been so instrumental for planning blog content and keeping track of my long term goals. This is the right format for you if you’re looking for something a bit more detailed than a daily or weekly planner/agenda that is completely customizable. If you’re wondering how I use my bullet journal specifically for blogging, I explain it in more detail in my blogging routine video on Youtube. This can be a bit overwhelming if don’t need to make a lot of specific schedules or track things. And I know a lot of people have trouble sticking to bullet journals because they have to recreate the template for each new page, a meditative albeit time consuming task.

The Productivity App

I have personally not tried a productivity/organization app myself. I’ve tried using apps to automate other areas of my life, such as my budget, and I just find that this doesn’t really work for me. Maybe if there were an organization app as fun to use as Instagram then I would be game but but for now, that’s the only app I’m opening daily. If you’re someone who relies on notifications to remind yourself of things throughout the day then this is definitely something to consider. There are so many out there so finding the one that suits your style is a must; ie. note taking, calendar, check lists. Brit + Co has compiled a great list to get you started.

The Digital Calendar

While I am currently a pen and paper type of gal, I have accepted that there will come a time when I will have to start utilizing iCal on my phone, at least a little. If all you really need is a place to keep track of your meetings and appointments, then this is the perfect tool that you probably already have at your finger tips. But really you can schedule in everything from your chores and workouts to mid-morning coffee breaks, whatever you want to make a priority in your day.

So those are my top picks for planning systems that you can actually stick to. Whether you’re looking for a place to keep track of your daily to-dos or to think big and work through your projects, one or a combination of these systems will work for you. Let me know what system you’re currently using and how it works for you! As always, thanks for reading! xx Jessica

SHOP THE POST