The best tool to keep you on track
Are you intrigued by that one person who carries their planner like it’s a holy grail? Although you’re intrigued, you could NEVER because it seems so Type-A and you’re too unorganized for that. Well, I’m here to tell you that you’re selling yourself short. By using a planner, you’re doing what you thought your brain couldn’t do. Staying organized!
For years I have utilized a planner even if I didn’t have plans. I’ve hoarded and splurged on planners, discarded planners, and even had many planners in one year. It’s helped me map out what it is I want to do. The daily mundane tasks like buying groceries, planning out a recipe, don’t forget that oil change, and who has a birthday coming up in the office? (because I’m all for celebrating you on your day) It helps me plot out my next trip. When do I have to make a payment for that resort fee? A planner is all you need to help keep the line of vision in check.
So, if you’re a person who wants to venture into this world of taking notes, creating reminders, or looking for other ways to make planning effective, let’s jump into the places you can buy a planner and how to pick the right one for you and use it.
Planners are a marketable industry. In 2022 its industry brought in over 1022 million in sales. People more now than ever are finding uses for planners. Purchasing power is strong, and you may fall into the glitzy pit of an overpriced one. One year I spent $120 on a planner that had all the bells and whistles and would be the ultimate dream for a person who loves to color block and add stickers to the ecosystem they’ve created in planner usage. I thought I could be that person that year. I underutilized that planner and lost money. I didn’t use even half of its potential. Needless to say, I learned my lesson that year. Stick to what you know you’re going to do. If you don’t acknowledge how your brain is structured, you might lose out on money too.
Where to find a planner? The places are endless. Any office supply store, Walmart, and Target have planners. Even the dollar discount stores provide an affordable planner. TikTok and Instagram along with Temu and Etsy are another source to browse and find your next planner.
Some planners cost more than your $20 planner at Target. If you have a niche, you can find a specialized planner that suits your interests. For me, I love the moon. Yes, the moon. There’s a popular planner by a healer and creative named Gottesss she’s dubbed Many Moons Lunar Planner. I have had this planner a few times in the last few years and it’s one I DO find myself utilizing. It’s interactive, providing quotes I appreciate, self-care rituals I take part in, and of course, it acknowledges the many phases of the moon. I provide this as an example because it was a planner that fit my interest and I was able to use it every week as I jot down affirmations for myself, and it kept me on track with interesting events that were already written in. Knowing your niche, you are likely to find the planner that aligns with the same thread which will motivate you to be more proactive with your planning.
Bullet planners are perfect for the doodler. Since it’s more of a blank canvas, it leaves you full creative control. Fill in the dates and design to your liking. Make it as colorful or stylistic as you want. The creative can take a concept and put pen to paper. There are no rules! Bullet planners also come in specialized formats depending on your interests.
Want the quick and simple route that won’t break the bank? I recently purchased an affordable planner at the Dollar Tree. Its format is monthly meaning it does not have individual pages for each week in the year. This is best for quick notes. Think of the wall or desk calendar but in book format. I would say for its value and ease of use, it fits the needs of the person who doesn’t need to plot out super refined details in their planning. Reminders, appointment dates, birthdays. A chore planner calendar that notes which days are someone’s to take the trash out or wash the dishes. Keep it simple, because simplicity is what this is offering you.
Here’s a confession. I haven’t purchased a planner in the last two years. I know, blasphemy on my nearly twenty years of toting a planner. It was not in the cards those years, and that’s okay. In those two years, I found myself using my computer to use Evernote. This leads us into the world of digital planners! The uses of Evernote are infinite which makes it a great tool to organize and plan your thoughts. Evernote has a straight-to-the-point layout you can customize to your needs. Using Tasks, Calendar, and Shortcuts you can chart out your plans. I used Evernote for school to stay on track with test schedules, and study guides and used import features such as adding links, other files, and videos. Being a digital tool, it’s also useful to share and export to others which helps everyone stay in the same vein. Planning a baby shower or a birthday bash couldn’t be easier when more than one person is sharing the organizing responsibilities. Evernote does have a free version but note it has a maximum for note size and monthly upload. To use its full service requires an upgrade to a monthly or yearly subscription.
So, can you find yourself viewing planners differently? I hope you do and give it a good chance. Explore what it is you’re always needing reminders for. Stop using the Post-it notes that go missing or the notepad that has so many notes you can’t locate what is next. A planner is a great tool to keep you on track for today and tomorrow.
