If you’re looking to start using a paper planner, or are already a devotee, here are three ways to get the most out of your planner.
Using a physical planner has helped me to keep track of what I have to do, but also allows me to use the act of planning my day as a moment to escape the febrile rush of the modern world.
I love my stationary. Something about the beautiful covers and the fresh pages breathes of possibilities and calm. I love the compact weekly planner from Amelia Lane. They are an Australian small business which makes stunning planners. I’ve also used Papier’s gorgeous bullet journals. These are customisable, with so many pretty designs.
Include gratitude
In a world that focuses on comparison, it’s often easy to forget to be grateful for what we have. Create space in your planner to note down something you are grateful for each day. At the end of the month (or year) you can look back at all the good things that have happened.
You might be surprised by how many good things you experience once you start the practice of writing them down physically each day.
Summarise each day
You might not have time to keep a long-form journal (although I highly recommend it) but noting down what you did in two or three short sentences is very achievable.
Summarising the day can help you to process difficult emotions, reflect on your achievements or remember a special event without needing to write in depth.
You could try dot points:
- Finished work project
- Nice ice cream for dessert
- Chat with Mum on the phone
Or try a couple of sentences:
Finished my work project and had a lovely chat with Mum on the phone as I went home. Had a really nice ice cream for dessert
As you can see, this summary can double as your gratitude section, but you don’t only have to chronicle positive things. If you had a difficult day, note this too. Reflecting on hard times is just as beneficial as remembering the good.
Write out your goals
I argue that if you’re only using your planner for appointments, you’re missing out. A physical planner is the perfect place to write out weekly, monthly and yearly goals that you want to achieve.
First, start with your yearly goals, put down what you want to achieve in macro terms. Do you want to run a marathon? Learn a new language?
Second, work out what you would need to achieve each month to reach that annual goal. Perhaps that means you need to be able to run five kilometres by the end of January or have mastered a certain number of words in your new language. Putting this in your planner breaks down a big goal into achievable steps. It’s also harder to forget when it’s written down.
Time to get into the gritty detail: weekly goals. Part of the reason I love the Amelia Lane planners is that they have space for a weekly goal in the layout. So handy! This is where you can put down what you need to achieve this week, like running one kilometre or purchasing your language course.
Go forth and plan
Planners are a great way to keep track of everything you’ve got to do, but they are also a place to remember your struggles, achievements and the many blessings in your life. Additionally, they’re also a wonderful way to progress towards your goals, whether that be running a race or maybe just decluttering your wardrobe. Go forth and plan!
