PLANNER 101: GETTING STARTED

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product that I have recommended. All opinions are my own.

With a new year comes a brand new planner, and for me, that’s the Erin Condren® LifePlanner™.

I’ve taken plenty of planners for a test drive, but this is the first planner that I am 100% committed to. Because it simultaneously acts as a creative outlet AND an organizational tool, I actually look forward to sitting down with my planner and – wait for it – setting goals. Yep, I’m no longer terrified to put my goals in writing. Turns out, if you write it down, you’re scientifically one billion times more likely to actually do it. It’s a fact.

As women, as moms, as students, as volunteers, as human beings, we do SO MANY THINGS. My Erin Condren Vertical LifePlanner™ has helped me conquer procrastination and anxiety surrounding deadlines and to-do lists. There is something SO SATISFYING about checking off the tasks in a long list of must-do’s. And frankly, being able to visually see what I’ve accomplished gives me an excellent self-esteem boost. It’s great motivation to continue being a productive member of society.

Today I’m giving you my personal tips and tricks for getting started with a planner system that is organized but also beautiful!

PLANNER – As I’ve said, for me this is the Erin Condren® LifePlanner™ but you can find what works best for you. Be sure that the size fits your needs – will it be in your purse at all times or will it live on your desk? Be sure the interior is visually pleasing to you. Do you prefer bright colors or neutral tones? (EC offers both) Select a layout that meets your exact needs! (see strategies below)
PENS – I am a fan of color, so I use brightly colored fine line pens that DO NOT BLEED! This is key. Don’t select a marker or pen that will bleed through and damage the pages behind it. Here are my two favorite brands, Stabilo and Staedtler. Each is available in multi-packs or you can buy one at a time in just your preferred colors (available through Amazon or your local craft stores).

ACCESSORIES – I really love using planner stickers. They give me a chance to create cohesive layouts and color schemes and to create a visual theme in each layout. Plus I just really love stickers! Some people use bookmarks and decorative paper clips as well. Erin Condren offers a complete line of accessories and there is an ENTIRE WORLD of planner stickers on Etsy and at craft stores, but these are my favorite:

LAYOUT – Planners come in a variety of layouts. The LifePlanner™ , for example, comes in three layouts: Hourly, Horizontal and Vertical (my fave!) Each one features a full month view at the beginning of each month divider.

MAKE IT WORK – Figure out how best to utilize your layout. If your day is broken up into precise appointments, the Hourly Layout would be best for you. My Vertical Layout usually works something like this:

COLOR SCHEME – Put color to work for your system in an organizational sense or just for visual cohesiveness. Personally, I pick a color scheme for each month, 6-8 colored pens that I use for the entire month. I select stickers based on each month’s color scheme. You could also assign a particular color to each member of your family or color code work/social/appointments, etc.

COVER DESIGN – Erin Condren lets you personalize your LifePlanner™ covers! There is a HUGE variety of styles to choose from, and you can even order separate covers to switch out with the seasons! I chose the Marquee style for 2019 so that my planner would reflect the theme of my blog, Food and Family!

PAGES – Also included in the Erin Condren interior are a full year spread, month view layouts, lined pages for lists and notes, dotted pages for bullet journaling