Do you have a habit of buying a planner but never really using it to its potential? I’ve been there..
I love planners but it takes a lot of work for it to truly make you more organized. Unfortunately, simply buying a cute planner will do absolutely nothing to make you more productive and organized.
Bummer, I know.
But there are some simple tips and tricks for using your planner to its full potential. Here are some simple ways I’ve found to make my planner more effective
First of all, to state the obvious..
Use It
Sorry to burst any bubbles here, but just buying a planner will not make you more organized. You have to actually use it and implement your plan and to-do list on a daily basis. At least if you want to be more organized.
You can do this by intentionally making it a habit to go over your planner at least once a day – either before bed to plan the next day or early in the morning.
Just writing down your to-do list helps declutter your mind and gives you a plan of action for the day ahead. Instead of just winging it, you can actually be productive.
Find The Right One
Since I’ve found the perfect planner for me, it has done wonders for my organization. That being said, if the one you bought isn’t quite cutting it, you can adjust it yourself.
You could always add post-it notes for areas that aren’t included. Maybe you need a space for writing out your grocery list or a little extra space for notes.
If you’re not sure what you want in a planner or where to start looking for one, be sure to check out my post on how to find the perfect planner.
Color Code
If you are really busy it can help to break up your tasks into categories. For example, you could color code your planner like this: (all you will need are some different colored pens)
Cleaning: Blue
Work: Green
Social Outings & Errands: Red
Kids Activities: Orange
That’s just a small example.. there are lots of other categories you could add to make sure everything is separated and organized within your planning pages.
I do this often in my planner and it helps so much to see different categories of activities represented by different colors.
Take It With You
I love that my planner is a great size so I can easily take it with me when I go to work or run errands.
I have an ongoing grocery list in my planner that is really helpful so that I always have my list with me when I go to the store.
It is also a good idea to take it with you so that all your notes can be in one place when you need to write something down.
Even if you don’t take it everywhere, I find that bringing it along when I know I’ll have time to review and work on it is helpful to fit in extra planning time to be sure I’m making progress towards my goals.
Make It Fun
Make your planner extra pretty with stickers, ribbons, washi tape, or whatever else you like. It’ll be so beautiful you can’t help but use it every day 🙂
It’s fun to use stickers for birthdays and other special events and to just add a little extra decorations to your pages.
I usually pick a sticker or two for the day from my Create 365 Sticker packs. I love my productivity stickers and my faith stickers. It’s a lot of fun to pick out the day’s stickers!
Add Functionality with Accessories
You can add some extra functionality to your planner by incorporating things like folder pockets, extra note pages, and more. Just search for planner accessories and you will find all sorts of options!
But some of my favorites include: Budget Organizer, Pocket folders, and Note Pages.
Don’t Overload it
This one is key for me personally – I tend to get into the habit of writing down everything that I would like to do that day in my planner.
The problem with that is, that I start the day overwhelmed with everything I need to do!
Now, I’m ok with not getting everything on my list done each day. But when it’s barely half completed it can be a little defeating.
So I try to find a balance and stick to the top priorities of my day and what I can realistically accomplish.
Be Specific
Try to be specific about your to-do’s. Instead of writing down a big, overarching project such as “declutter the house” or even a generic term like “work on decluttering,” try to instead write something like “Clean out and declutter 3 kitchen cabinets.”
First of all, this works better because you’re breaking down the big tasks into manageable chunks.
Furthermore, it helps us focus on the task at hand instead of the possibly overwhelming “Big picture.”
Prioritize Your Tasks
By implementing a prioritizing system in your planner, it will make it easier to accomplish the most important tasks first.
I do this by simplifying numbering the items of what I should do first, second, third, and so on.
I also like to take it a step further and separate out things I can get done during naptime by marking them with an asterisk.
Play around with different ideas and figure out what works for you to keep your items prioritized.
So, to recap, there are several simple tips you can use to make your planner more effective. First, you have to actually use it! But then by finding the right one, color coding, taking it with you, and making it fun, you will start finding yourself more organized.
Further, by being specific, prioritizing, and not overloading it you can take your productivity to the next level.
These simple tips can take you from a casual planner user to using your planner every day so that your life and projects stay organized.
My favorite style of planner is actually a clipboard. I keep a calendar on the wall for family events and such but otherwise everything else is on a clipboard I carry with me. I have a list of blog stuff to do on there as well as home things I need to attend to and appointments for the day. It works well for me.
Awesome! I think the biggest key is to find the system that works best for you and it sounds like you’ve done that! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I love color coding and do that on our big family planner (each person has their own color). Admittedly, the first tip is usually my stumbling block. I usually end the year with the same empty planner I bought in January when I vowed to keep a planner. Whoops!
I’ve done better this year because I printed my own pages and made my own planner so everything is exactly what I need to be able to plan things out and then quickly see what is on the agenda.
It sounds like you have a great system going! Thanks for visiting!
I definitely agree with finding something that works for you! I’m always tweaking my planner to make it work better for me (which is why I end up creating a bunch of printables, heh).
This is great… If you aren’t actually using your planner, there is no point in having one! I love the idea of color coding, because sometimes I have so much written on one day that I could easily miss something!
I love this, especially number 1 Use it! 🙂 I love my planner and I am super great at writing things down and making a plan…following it, well that’s a whole other story! 🙂 These tips are great! I would love for you to share this at my brand new link party Making Memories Mondays going on now! There’s a great giveaway too!
Love my planners. I have one that I brought for home and it’s perfect and one that I made myself for work. I have always lived in my planners. When I don’t use them my life starts to slowly fall apart. Making them pretty keeps me looking at them.
HA! I love your #1 tip! So obvious & so true. 🙂
I don’t know where I’d be without my planner! I love you idea of color coding, too! This is something I’ve just started trying, and I love it!
Ok I have to lol The first point soooo pertains to me. Just use it!!! Yes yes yes
I don’t have a traditional planner but a note pad that I have a separate sheet to divide things up. One sheet has my running shopping list, another for this week’s meal plan, this week’s goals (work and home) and today’s to do list on top. It helps me easily keep an eye on what I need to be doing and feel good that I see things getting crossed off.
Having the right planner is important, but the tip about adding what you need with a post-it is critical.
Color coding would be so helpful – I feel like I would just get so overwhelmed having everything written down like this, but I bet once you get used to it it’s so helpful!
I actually use two planners- a smaller one for appointments, important dates, bills, etc. and a larger one for daily to-dos, like my cleaning schedule, phone calls that have to be made, etc. I love the idea of color coding. I even have the pens you suggested right here on my desk already.
love those tips.. thank you
Love the tip: breaking up the tasks into categories If you are really busy.
The to do list is the most important to do If you plan. In the planner you put the order when you going to do them.
I had not used a planner in years until I stumbled upon the huge “Planner Community” on YouTube. Those chicks make organizing GORGEOUS, and it’s super motivational!! 🙂
Really really love your tips. I bought my planner but i didn’t know where to start and I just kept looking at the cute unwritten pages over and over again. Now i got idea from you. Thank you very much
I am a planner addict. Now so far the longest time I kept a planner was 6 months. It was too big. This fall I decided to create my own. I am using a small bible cover. , Where I have 3 small notebooks. One for my business, one for my goals and then and one for a mind map to do list. Then I use a large index cards with a hoop for my journal. I use a large desk calendar at home.
good tips. thank you for your post !!!!!!!