My relationship with paper planners has been an on-again, off-again entanglement. In high school and college, I used them exclusively (probably because I didn’t have a smart phone). After I got a Mac and an iPhone, I cast aside my planners and instead used iCal for a couple of years, syncing work and personal calendars between computer and phone. Last year, I decided I really wanted to start things up with paper again, and Kapachino sent me a great Franklin Covey planner with a pink faux snakeskin cover. I loved that thing to pieces, quite literally. That planner got me through my first (harrowing) semester of grad school. It was there for me. I realized then and there I was hooked on paper again, this time for keeps. When 2011 came screeching to a halt (seriously, where did it go?), I could have easily bought a 2012 Franklin Covey refill, but I was hankering for something a bit fancier. Paper but better, if you will.
I started shopping around for planners and there was much talk on Twitter of Erin Condren planners. While I agree that they are gorgeous, I can never (ever) see myself spending $50 on a planner. So I took to the Amazon in search of a planner. I had two requirements: 1) It had to have both month-at-a-glance and weekly layouts, and 2) it had to be pretty. I found the Do It All planner for a mere $10 (it’s now more, not sure what happened), and it met the requirements. (Plus, it fits in the cover I already have, should I need a cover for it. Win-win!)
I also created several collages on pages I didn’t need (see above photo). I used to spend hours making cards and collages from magazine clippings; I had forgotten how enjoyable and relaxing it is. I might need to pencil in some “collage time” in 2012.
Here’s the cover.
Tear-out shopping & to-do lists are awesome for someone who wishes there was a lucrative career path for professional list-makers. Quotes every week are awesome for a word nerd. And stickers are awesome if your inner 5-year-old is all STICKERS OMG!
Month-at-a-glance, check. Weekly layout, check.
The only thing it’s lacking are tabs for each month, but I used removable arrow stickers (I believe they’re called message flags) to mark the month and the week, which is working fine. Overall, I think my new planner and I will be very happy together. There’s something so therapeutic about having a blank planner in front of you. This year was HUGE for changes; who knows what 2012 will hold. It’s exciting and scary all at once. The first step of preparedness: a pretty+ functional planner. Bring it on, 2012.
What type planner do you use? Do you love it?
Comments on A fresh start.
From kayleigh:
Moleskine weekly planner has been my go-to for six years. Soft, can take a beating, week view on left & page for notes on right, consistent format year after year. There’s just something so personal about your planner, right?
From Megan:
I’m horrible at planning. When I got my Erin Condren planner (for just $11 after using coupons!), I figured I’d be a changed woman. Yeah, I used it for a month or two, and now it sits in an old purse of mine. I’m just HORRIBLE at writing in planners. It bums me out because I do love making lists, so I don’t know why I can’t stick with a planner. I may need to try it again!
Also, I LOVE the collage idea!
From Marlena:
LOVE this. Might have to snag me one for the new year. The planner (paper) I currently use is a really cute but flimsy back to school type. It’s the kind I used to keep in high school and I seem to have a thing for them. Nostalgia, I guess? It only has the month at a glance though and those dang squares are not always meant for adults.
From Holly:
I got sucked into the EC planner hype. I used it all the time at first, between working full-time and going to school part-time and trying to keep my schedule, my husband’s schedule, and our son’s schedule straight – but now that I’m not in school anymore – I barely use it. I still think it’s a decent planner (and it’s so pretty!) – just not worth the money I spent on it.
From Jill:
I used to be die-hard paper planner. Once I finally started using my iPhone calendar synced w/my work Outlook, it was like I was DONE. Don’t I wish all things were so easy to give up!? I don’t know what happened, it was so weird. I’ve tried to go back to both, but I somehow can’t get with it…
From Erin:
I have the exact same one! Isn’t it great? I would definitely recommend it.
From Stephany:
I was suckered into buying an Erin Condren planner. I used a coupon and it was still around $30. First of all, it is SO bulky that I can’t even carry it around plus I’m just really, really bad at using paper planners. I don’t know what it is but I never keep up with them. I want to because they are soooo pretty but it never works.
So, right now, I use Google Calendar which actually works out great for me since I can plug in my workouts, blog calendar, bills due, and appointments. This is the first time I’ve ever really consistently used a planner/calendar so I’m sticking with what works.
I still lust after those paper planners, though…
From Manderz:
I love planners, but only buy the $10-15 ones at my local office supply store because I never use one the entire year. Currently I have a monthly/weekly one for at work, a monthly one for my study schedule and then Google Calendar for my work/activity schedule that syncs to my phone.