I've always been an overachiever. And having a busy life is something that I really enjoy. I like school, I love my job, and I am striving to improve my little #SideHustle and blog every day. If you're like me, then finding the perfect planner is KEY! But not every planner is for everyone or every occasion, so how do you determine which one is the best for you?
I've tried everything--Filofax, Daily Planner, cheap Walmart brands, digital planners, and the list goes on and on. Finding a planner that works for you can be a long journey. Since, I have had a lot of experience with planners through high school and my past four years of college, I have had a lot of time to try out a lot of different options. I can now quickly flip through a planner and figure out whether it will or will not work for me.
If you want to get to this place of planner-peace then you're in the right space. I've got a few helpful tips that might make your #SideHustle thrive with the help of a productive planner that works for you.
Experiment.
If you're a paper lover like me, then this shouldn't be a hard one. The first step in finding a perfect planner is experimenting with a few different layouts. Don't spend a ton of money on a cart full of new planners, but go out and purchase a few off-brands that have a wide variety of layouts that you might be interested in trying. Don't be afraid to grab something that you don't think will work for you... you may be pleasantly surprised.
And don't forget to give some love to the digital planners. Paper vs. Digital is a big debate right now, and you might find that you actually enjoy keeping your schedule online and available at all times. Some of my favorites are Outlook and Gmail. Typically your email will come with a calendar, so take the time to experiment with that as well.
Draw it out.
If you're still having trouble finding a planner that works for you, then pull out a few sheets of paper and draw up what you need if you could make your perfect planner. Now, work with those pages through the next week. Draw this, erase that, scribble this out, and add something new. By the end of the week you should have a rough idea of what you need in your daily life in order to accomplish the tasks that you need to.
Some things that you might want to consider including in your mock-up would be: a spot for list making, an area to add in your events (whether that be timestamped or not), different areas for blogging or jobs or random tasks, a section for journaling, and so on.
Go basic.
Now that you might have an idea of what you need, search the store for something similar that contains all of your essential parts. If you STILL can't get what you want then consider doing something simple! Find a really great notebook (I like Moleskine) and spend a couple hours while you binge watch some Netflix drawing up your own planner. Make it as perfect or as sketchy as you want. And then use your notebook as your planner.
There is no rule as to what a planner can and cannot be. You can use a folder, a notebook, a $100 binder, or something simple from the dollar store. Whatever works for you is what you're going to need. Don't ever be afraid to experiment, start from scratch, or use your creativity to accomplish perfect planner-peace.
If you're interested in learning more about my planner or my planner journey, then leave a comment below letting me know. Your feedback determines what I blog about next.
