Since August 1 was National Planner Day and I’m very much in “get-it-together-vacation-is-over mode,” I thought I’d share my favorite day planner with you again…Day Designer. As part of National Planner Day (it’s a real thing!), Day Designer is offering 15% off your purchase. Just enter the code PLANNERDAY at checkout.
I’ve made no secrets about being someone who loves her routine. Two years ago, I discovered a paper planning system that not only keeps up with my note-taking, it anticipates it. This is my third year using a Day Designer planner and I’m completely hooked. This system is simple, travels well, and is very pretty.
One change I made for 2020 is to move from a daily planner to a weekly version. What I realized is how valuable it is for me to see the whole week at a glance. I’ve always loved being able to see a full month on a page and now I can do the same with my week.
There is still plenty of room for my lists and this way I can actually better place my to-dos across the entire week.
If I run out of room, Day Designer has a number of free printable sheets that I can add. I have two favorites right now: the Weekly Meal Planner and the Food and Exercise Log.
The Weekly Meal Planner is particularly great because as I outline what we’re going to eat each night on the left side of the page, I can make a corresponding grocery list on the right. I don’t know why I think this is magical…but I do!
I try to sit with my planner every Sunday and map out the week as much as I can…work meetings, kids’ activities, meals, projects I’m working on around the house…and that gives me a pretty good picture for the week. I keep track of my blog editorial in a separate calendar because it really does seem to have a life of its own.
One question I do get asked a lot is about the spiral binding. I was nervous about this myself, but it’s the most durable planner I’ve ever had. It never gets snagged on anything and I love that it allows the planner to lay flat when it’s open.
This little system doesn’t work miracles, but it does help me tackle what I have coming day-to-day. When I feel overwhelmed, just getting it down on paper makes it all seem manageable–which takes me a few steps closer to my word for 2020–joy! (Remember when we picked those words??)
Also, my daughter Grace started using the Day Designer Academic Planner two years ago when she started college. Needless to say, the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. She is hooked, too!
I hope this is helpful! This method has organized me tons, but I would love to know what you’re doing to get your arms around all you have going on as we get back to school (hopefully!), too. We can all learn from each other!
xo,
P. S. In the spirit of full disclosure, Day Designer did give me an affiliate link. Should you decide to purchase a planner from them, I will make a small commission. Please know, however, that I would never support a product that I didn’t try for an extended period of time and fully enjoy. I purchased my own planners from Day Designer and am a huge fan!
Photo of me by Jenn Marie Photography
I’m so happy to read this! In my online programmes I require that all participants use it for one full week and then report back. They all LOVE it once they commit to it and, interestingly, when they inevitably slip and don’t use it for a while, they then feel the difference and come back to it!
Thank you!!