Planners: Why are they cool?

[penguin129]

Ok ladies.. I looked through some of the planner threads, but am still not convinced about the hype. Can you tell me why planners are so cool and how you use them? I found a bunch of free printables so I could make my own version, but am not sure if I will even use it. Bring me to the side of Pro Planners.

[Deleted]

[mustloveerica]

I make my own. I started bullet journaling this year because it's fun. But mostly I use it as a to do list and as a way of keeping track of appointments and evens. It's just a blank notebook so I can make it be whatever I want.

I also use the following printables around the house...

Calendars (I print a whole year and hang two months at a time up on the fridge). This helps DH because he's super forgetful.

Inventory lists (I make these myself and keep them in my linen closet and pantry so I don't ever run out of things like toothpaste or ketchup, there's always a spate of those kinds of things).

Cleaning schedule. Tho I started incorporating this in my bullet journal. It keeps me accountable so I can do 15 minutes of cleaning everyday and then don't have to spend all weekend cleaning)

Bill pay list (due dates, amount and then check them off as they get paid).

This stuff works for me. But I'm obsessively organized.

[penguin129]

OK.

*I currently have a wall calendar hanging by the dining room table where I put all appointments, etc.
*I have a composition book where I hand write the bills and keep track of them. I start a new page for each month. I highlight as the payments come out from my account and put a check mark by them.
*My to-do lists, when I make them, are in a thread on the SAHP board. Or if I feel like it on the white board.
*I use an app to make my grocery list: Grocery IQ
*I have a separate white board calendar where I meal plan. The meals I cook most often are on magnets and I just hang them on the bottom if they are a meal I bought stuff for. When they are not being used they hang on the side of the fridge.

[penguin129]

LOL! pippacricket I don't even use an electronic calendar...

[notagoddess]

Planners are pretty!

But they wouldn't work for me because I would forget to check it. I have a Google calendar synced with my husband's calendar. That way, we both know about each other's appointments, social things, time off, trips, whatever. It works out great.

[mustloveerica]

Jan 21, 2016 13:59:57 GMT -5 pippacricket said:

Stickers. Can you put all the stickers on your google calendar?

I thought not.

And that's why bullet journaling is awesome. I have an excuse to buy sticks galore. And....So many gel pennnnssssssssss.

[peaseblossom55]

I bought a cheap one under $15. I figured it was a good idea, since I was starting with IVF to keep all of my medications and doctor appointments straight, previously I was using my iphone. I will remember things much better when I write them down, especially with so much going on.

[spicysalmonroll]

Jan 21, 2016 13:58:29 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

OK.

*I currently have a wall calendar hanging by the dining room table where I put all appointments, etc.
*I have a composition book where I hand write the bills and keep track of them. I start a new page for each month. I highlight as the payments come out from my account and put a check mark by them.
*My to-do lists, when I make them, are in a thread on the SAHP board. Or if I feel like it on the white board.
*I use an app to make my grocery list: Grocery IQ
*I have a separate white board calendar where I meal plan. The meals I cook most often are on magnets and I just hang them on the bottom if they are a meal I bought stuff for. When they are not being used they hang on the side of the fridge.

I personally don't like any of this hanging in my house/ kitchen as I feel that it's "clutter".

[penguin129]

spicysalmonroll Hmmm... I can see that. I've thought that at times it can look cluttery. Maybe I'll find a new planning system to go with the house we buy.

[dke2010]

I have an Erin Condren planner and love it! It's nice to have everything organized in one place. I use one set of boxes for my calendar, one for to dos each day, and one for daily journaling. I also keep track of meals and IF stuff. I have a blast decorating with stickers and washi.

[penguin129]

mustloveerica What is bulleted journaling? Where do you keep your printables? Just in a 1 inch binder?

[spicysalmonroll]

penguin129, I am really into this book on Japanese art of decluttering and I forget the exact term she uses but she talks about "word noise" in your house. Like for example leaving the sticker that came on the garbage can. It's not as peaceful visually as just having blank surfaces.

[mustloveerica]

Jan 21, 2016 14:54:59 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

mustloveerica What is bulleted journaling? Where do you keep your printables? Just in a 1 inch binder?

Bullet journaling is basically doodling all over a notebook. I split mine into different sections (1 page for a list of monthly events, 1 page spread for weekly tasks for home and 1 page for work tasks, etc). I spend a lot of time on airplanes so I find it keeps me entertained. I can get several weeks of pages started on one flight so it's not like I sit down for an hour every night to write out my tasks.


Most of my printables at home hang around the house and not in a binder. Even my bills list is hung on the bulletin board in our home office. I suck at binders because I never look at it.

[penguin129]

I found this very pretty Monthly Calendar. I don't like using 2 pages for each month. www.whatmommydoes.com/free-printable-2016-monthly-calendars/

[legalbeagle]

spicysalmonroll, Marie Kondo! Her second book just came out. I it.

I kind of have a hybrid approach with conference calls/meetings/appointments/dinners/classes in my iPhone or Blackberry so that I have the "pop up" to remind me right before it is going to happen. My planner is for my my "to do" list with me at all times staring me in the face and reminding me of what I need to get done, writing down stuff I did AFTER I do it (fun dinner with a friend, what we ate, etc.) and tracking my habits (gym and meditation right now). I've tried electronic before for to do lists and it doesn't work and the rest of the stuff is kinda like a diary. Also I just really like the feel of paper and I love a good pen and don't have the opportunity to use those much on a daily basis. Really the main benefit for me is to get down all the stuff I have to do on paper so I don't worry about forgetting it and it is all in one place.

[joy]

Jan 21, 2016 13:46:30 GMT -5 @snuff9861 said:

I'm really organized.  I don't need a planner to organize.

Even when I was in school, I didn't use one.  I could keep deadlines, vacations, meetings, etc. straight in my head.  It drove my parents nuts because they thought I'd forget homework constantly, but I never did.  My brain is as organized as a planner.  It's magical.

I fear the day I start to lose my memory.

[spicysalmonroll]

joy, SAME! I've never used a planner in my life until 2 weeks ago I decided to try it out. I have always been able to remember dates and deadlines in my head- hell I even remember my childhood friends' disconnected home phone numbers. I mean even the one I just bought, I sat down and filled it out through July just from my head, so it is kind of pointless but whatever, it's cute lol

legalbeagle, ooo a second book, I may need that!

[rablissful]

Jan 21, 2016 15:00:10 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Jan 21, 2016 14:54:59 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

mustloveerica What is bulleted journaling? Where do you keep your printables? Just in a 1 inch binder?

Bullet journaling is basically doodling all over a notebook. I split mine into different sections (1 page for a list of monthly events, 1 page spread for weekly tasks for home and 1 page for work tasks, etc). I spend a lot of time on airplanes so I find it keeps me entertained. I can get several weeks of pages started on one flight so it's not like I sit down for an hour every night to write out my tasks.


Most of my printables at home hang around the house and not in a binder. Even my bills list is hung on the bulletin board in our home office. I suck at binders because I never look at it.

I wish my handwriting was that neat.

I use Google calendar for everything. I've been thinking of a planner only because only two items fit on a square at once on my phone, and I'd like to add to dos and what not.

My calendar is color coded though!

[badwolf]

Jan 21, 2016 15:36:43 GMT -5 legalbeagle said:

spicysalmonroll , Marie Kondo! Her second book just came out. I it.

I kind of have a hybrid approach with conference calls/meetings/appointments/dinners/classes in my iPhone or Blackberry so that I have the "pop up" to remind me right before it is going to happen. My planner is for my my "to do" list with me at all times staring me in the face and reminding me of what I need to get done, writing down stuff I did AFTER I do it (fun dinner with a friend, what we ate, etc.) and tracking my habits (gym and meditation right now). I've tried electronic before for to do lists and it doesn't work and the rest of the stuff is kinda like a diary. Also I just really like the feel of paper and I love a good pen and don't have the opportunity to use those much on a daily basis. Really the main benefit for me is to get down all the stuff I have to do on paper so I don't worry about forgetting it and it is all in one place.

+1

[joy]

Jan 21, 2016 16:09:33 GMT -5 rablissful said:

Jan 21, 2016 15:00:10 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

I wish my handwriting was that neat.

These two planners shots are giving me straight up anxiety.  Too much writing.  Too many things.  Ohymgod.

[ohinvrtedworld]

Jan 21, 2016 15:37:59 GMT -5 joy said:

Jan 21, 2016 13:46:30 GMT -5 @snuff9861 said:

I'm really organized.  I don't need a planner to organize.

Even when I was in school, I didn't use one.  I could keep deadlines, vacations, meetings, etc. straight in my head.  It drove my parents nuts because they thought I'd forget homework constantly, but I never did.  My brain is as organized as a planner.  It's magical.

I fear the day I start to lose my memory.

#humblebrag  

I sometimes don't even know what day of the week it is without a calendar, and if an event isn't on there, I will not remember. I may have become overly reliant on it but what can you do.

[joy]

Jan 21, 2016 17:10:07 GMT -5 ohinvrtedworld said:

#humblebrag  

I sometimes don't even know what day of the week it is without a calendar, and if an event isn't on there, I will not remember. I may have become overly reliant on it but what can you do.

Ha.  Fair!

I was just a little sad that someone thought I couldn't be organized without a planner.  But yeah, it was humblebraggy.

[ohinvrtedworld]

Jan 21, 2016 17:16:23 GMT -5 joy said:

Jan 21, 2016 17:10:07 GMT -5 ohinvrtedworld said:

#humblebrag  

I sometimes don't even know what day of the week it is without a calendar, and if an event isn't on there, I will not remember. I may have become overly reliant on it but what can you do.

Ha.  Fair!

I was just a little sad that someone thought I couldn't be organized without a planner.  But yeah, it was humblebraggy.

Hey, it's a gift, own that! *z snap*

[bunnyfungo]

Okay. But real bullet journaling is actually nothing like doodling on a calendar. It's a task list.

[akraus2015]

I take my planner with me everywhere I go. I have been using this one that I bought on Etsy, but there's not enough room for each day. I was reading a different planner thread (maybe on CAL?) and someone suggested this one from Plum Paper. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of mine!! I customized my sections so that I have boxes each day for:

• Work (meetings, deadlines, etc)
• Stella & Dot (trunk shows, planning, etc)
• The Kraus's (date night, tax appt., etc)
• Errands (grocery list, reminder to buy dog food, etc)
• Health (doctor appts., meds, bloodwork, etc)
• Other (things that fit in none of these categories)
• Goals (I set a small goal each day)

I also added on sections for Direct Sales Planning, Budget Planning, To-Do List Pages, Bill Tracker Pages, Notes Pages, and stickers (of course)!

I also use my planner to keep receipts, paper bills, my business cards, my checkbook, and our church donation envelopes.  

I seriously cannot wait for this new one to show up!!

[mustloveerica]

Jan 21, 2016 17:25:00 GMT -5 bunnyfungo said:

Okay. But real bullet journaling is actually nothing like doodling on a calendar. It's a task list.

This is true. That's not my journal I posted a picture of. Really the only part I doodle is the date. But I do have different symbols for complete, not complete tasks, etc.

[Deleted]

Jan 21, 2016 15:37:59 GMT -5 joy said:

Jan 21, 2016 13:46:30 GMT -5 @snuff9861 said:

I'm really organized.  I don't need a planner to organize.

Even when I was in school, I didn't use one.  I could keep deadlines, vacations, meetings, etc. straight in my head.  It drove my parents nuts because they thought I'd forget homework constantly, but I never did.  My brain is as organized as a planner.  It's magical.

I fear the day I start to lose my memory.

That's super impressive! I wish my brain was that good. But I can't keep numbers straight in my head,yet have photographic memory for words. I just have a cheap little planner for things like work schedule and appts. Now that I'm not in school I dont need a big ole honking one.

[dawnfire]

I really only use a planner at work. I probably should have one for at home, but that would require the time to do that. My work planner is really a lifesaver because right now I'm doing 2 jobs, so it helps me organize my Totempole of Priorities. Things at the top of the totempole are the hot issues that need to be addressed first, bottom of the totempole are things that can wait (or even if they're never completed, it's not like someone will die.)

The one I use for work is just a cheapy monthly appointment planner that my work orders for us.

I used to be able to remember everything and keep everything straight in my head, but now as I told my H, stuff just leaks out.

[bunnyfungo]

Jan 21, 2016 17:57:48 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Jan 21, 2016 17:25:00 GMT -5 bunnyfungo said:

Okay. But real bullet journaling is actually nothing like doodling on a calendar. It's a task list.

This is true. That's not my journal I posted a picture of. Really the only part I doodle is the date. But I do have different symbols for complete, not complete tasks, etc.

I think a lot of times those pinterest-y type planners scare people away from trying new systems. But if you go by the basics, it's really efficient and not as time consuming as those intense ones look.