What is the proper way to use a planner? Well to be honest, there is no one true way to properly use a planner. Since needs vary from person to person, the proper way to use a planner will vary from person to person. However, there are tips on using planners that can benefit all planner types despite their different needs. In this blog, I will be sharing a few of my personal favorite tips with you to help you maximize your time and use your planners more efficiently.
TIP #1 - DO YOUR RESEARCH
Do your planner research! What I mean by this is you need to take time to find a planner that fit your needs. Thank about all the things that you need from a planner...write them down if you have too. Then while shopping, whether online or in person, use that list to find a planner that most fit your needs. For example, do you need a dated planner or an undated planner? Do your prefer your daily planner to have a Sunday start or a Monday start? What are the sections that you require in a planner? For example, do you need a time list section, a to-do list section, a budget section, meal prep section and so forth? These are some of the things that you need to consider when choosing a planner to fit your needs.
TIP #2 - SHOP AROUND
Shop around! Just because you choose one particular planner, doesn't mean you have to stick with it. It may seem to have fit your needs initially, but after using it for awhile you learn that is lacking in some aspects. It ok, to start over again and choose another planner. I believe this is the best way in finding the exact planner that fit your needs and personality.
TIP #3 - USE IT EVERYDAY
Once you have settle with a planner, use it everyday! I mean every single day! It's kind of pointless of going through the efforts of finding the proper planner, and then you don't utilize it to it's full potential. Included in this tip, is writing everything down. Yes, write everything down that you considered important and that you want to accomplish on that particular date. It is totally ok if you do not get all the things written down accomplished within your designed time frame. You can always carry over to the next day, month, or year. The important thing is for your to write it down so that you can visualize it when you read it.
TIP #4 - CHECK IT OFF
At the end of each day, always check off all the things that you have accomplished on your planner. If there is something that you didn't get done, you can write it down for the next day or make a note to complete it at a later date. Take a peek at the next day for any notes that you have already written or any appointments that maybe on the agenda for the next day. This helps you prepare mentally for the day ahead.
TIP #5 - KEEP IT IN VIEW
I believe this tip is one of the more important ones. You should keep your planner on your nightstand next to your bed or on your work table where you will see it first thing in the morning, or when entering work. If possible, have the planner turned to the page that starts your day. This will motivate you to use your planner everyday as well as get you prepared for your day ahead.
TIP #6 - START BIG AND STEP DOWN
Depending on the type of planner you are using, start big and step down. For example, if your planner includes yearly, monthly, weekly and daily sections within it, start big with your yearly goals. Then break them yearly goals down by the month. Next take those monthly goals and break them down by the week. Finally break the weekly goals down by the day. You can add a little more detail with each break down. I find that when you take large goals and break them down into smaller goals, the end results doesn't seem as overwhelming in achieving. That is the thought process behind this tip of starting big and stepping down slowly.
TIP #7 - IT'S OK TO BE MESSY
Planners can be messy and that's ok. Sometimes notes get jot down outside of the note sections because you ran out room. Other times you may find yourself writing down a phone number or a measurement on the side of the page. This is all ok. Believe it or not, sometimes the messiest planners belongs to the most organized people. So don't be afraid of marking out mistakes, jotting down random notes, or even drawing a little doodle. As long as you understand it because it's your personal planner, that is all that matters.
CONCLUSION
I hope that this blog provided some helpful insight on how to use your planner to its fullest potential. If you are curious to what planner I use, it's called "Ready. Set. Plan. Action! Quarterly Daily To-Do List Planner" offered by my brand. This is by no means encouraging you to purchase this particular planner. As a first stated, you need to choose a planner that fit your needs and personality, and this particular planner is perfect for me. Thus why I created it. This is far from being an exhausted list of tips for how to use your planners. There are many other tips that I can share; however, the blog would be super long. However, if you are interested in hearing additional tips on planners, I encourage you to view my YouTube video on planner tips. I will provide the link below. Thanks for reading and please share this blog with anyone who you think maybe benefit from it. As always I appreciate your support, until next time...be blessed!
Johanna Dao
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