The Perfect Planner Doesn’t Exist
Sorry but it’s true. Searching for a planner to fit ALL your needs is like searching for a mate!! You never get all you want but 80 % of your wants, is good right? You’ll take it and work with the rest.
I LOVE planners. I have tried more planners than I care to admit that I’ve purchased, but they are so fun just to play around with and see if it’s going to work for you. Yes, it’s January but if you’re still looking for a new planner or thinking about creating your own, I’ve corralled a few tips to help you make a better decision. And, welcome back btw, it’s been almost an entire year since I’ve blogged but I’ve recommitted to at least 1 post a month, and getting back to my FeatureFridays where I highlight other authors, artists and musicians, spoken word artists, so if you’re interested in free promo, check that out using Sign-Up Genius to get on the calendar.
Before I get to the tips, I did want to mention that as a writer, there are also Writer specific planners out there and while I don’t use planners for the story aspect too much, I do like to try out ones for the book launch. Here’s a link to two I’ll be reviewing on my IG channel
Susie May Warren’s Writing Planner, and someone I discovered because I’m such a Youtube addict is Mandi Lynn’s Book Launch Planner –
Watch Mandi Lynn’s video where she talks about the book launch planner
Look for in depth reviews on those in January at my IG channel.
Now the tips to get you the “BEST” planner!
# 1 – If you’re unsure or just want to try something new, DON’T BUY, DOWNLOAD FREE
If you really don’t know what you like or what to use at all, go for something cheap, borrowed or FREE!!
Guess what, almost EVERY Planner that I have used, has some version -even if it’s just a few sheets- on their website for you to download for FREE. You cannot be that. Pay 6 or 7 bucks to have it coil bound at Staples or Office Depot and wah lah, try it, make yourself use it for a free months. You’ll be less disappointed if it doesn’t work out AND you spent less than 10 bucks (if that) to do the test run. Also buy an old year, at stores like Ross, TJMaxx and Marshall’s.
The other week, I thought I don’t have a monthly calendar yet, I usually get them at Dollar Tree, but I thought surely someone is giving away free calendars. I was right. If found this awesome list of folks, organizations, nonprofits, museums and artists that will mail you a calendar, plus a short list of Digital Calendars ready to download. I love the chalk one. https://dealtrunk.com/free-calendars/
# 2 Know what type of person you are, be it Daily, Weekly only, Monthly Only or a little bit of both. Also knowing horizontal layouts vs. vertical layouts is also important…
I know that I am a Monthly ONLY type. I have found that I like a monthly view usually across one or two pages. I like big boxes to write it and sometimes I like lines, putting an appointment on each line. Roomy is it for me. Honestly, I’ve also found in recent years that most planners don’t work for me at all because I’m a list maker for my day, week, month. So I’ll write in my appointments and then I need notes to write the list of accomplishments for the days and weeks.
The reason I like monthly, at a glance, is that I don’t want to get to week four to find out there was something to do, to write a list for and to prepare for when it’s staring me in the face. I probably need to prepare on the second, and go to the store for something that’s coming up on the 22.
By the way, if you’re trying to be super frugal and saving money trumps everything for you, monthly ONLY calendars are cheaper because there is less paper involved. IKR!
I have tried weekly monthly and found I just don’t fill out the weekly pages AND I like to know what’s on the horizon and be able to prepare for things that upcoming.
# 3 Do you want to blur the lines, memory planners and scrapbookers UNITE!
Another important thing to know about what type of planner you is are you using you planner more like a scrapbook or memory/journaling tool? If you like this style and have time to do all that embellishment to your pages (usually you’re a daily/weekly if you do), then planners like The Happy Planner and Erin Condrin are for you. You probably even have one of those little mini printers. That is so cute, but ain’t nobody got time for that! LOL It’s cute tho, I know.
# 4 When all else fails, Go Custom or Use a Bullet Journal!
Many of the planners I mentioned now let you pick and choose inserts, so keep this mind. They already know not one size will fit all so they are trying to give you the ways and means to customize their offerings but you’re still having to work with what they have created. And that’s cool. You can also just pick and choose different printables, which is what I personally love to do for what some call and Franken-planner (after Frankenstein, of course) or I personally call a schizophrenic planner (I totally made that up), but print it out just like you want it, clip it with a binder clip (bind it at the office supply store like I mentioned earlier) or whole punch it 3 rings, for a binder or buy discs and get the hardback covers to make your own, also punching those with the Happy Planner punch, as you wish. I often do that because it can also serve as a little craft project plus you’ll be more apt to use something if you made it yourself.
I can’t believe it but looking back at one of my travelers notebooks, I was surprised to realize that I had been using it for almost 4 years. It was just something that I picked up and wrote what I wanted to happen each month, almost like a bulleted list. While it’s hard to say for sure that my version is an actual bullet journal (you can be the judge) it is my version. When I personally think of bullet journals, I think of the list-making but also the drawing. I don’t personally draw at all, and I don’t use any stickers or other art, but it’s my version and you can do whatever you want and call it whatever you want. By the way, according to Wikipedia – a bullet journal is…I think I’m okay. 🙂
A bullet journal is a method of personal organization developed by designer Ryder Carroll. The system organizes scheduling, reminders, to-do lists, brainstorming, and other organizational tasks into a single notebook.
So good luck with finding the “perfect planner” for 2021, if it works, it works. That is ALL that matters.
An oldie but goodie blog post, please also see when I Made My Own Planner. I’m hoping to do it again soon, so stay tuned.
Disclaimer: Listing any company or any links above do not constitute endorsement of any company, service or individual and NONE of the links shared are affiliate links. I also have received NO compensation by listing and check out my annual planner review coming in January on my Instagram Channel.
