Have you heard everyone talk about the magic of using a planner but can’t keep on yourself? Are you tired of having no clue when anything is going on and always feeling stressed about the next upcoming assignment? Planners are an amazing way to keep organized for this school year. Here are my top tips to use a planner to keep organized.
1. Choose the right planner
The right planner is the key to your success. There are so many styles on the market with a variety of price ranges. You need to decide what style better fits your needs. Common layouts are daily and weekly. Daily layouts are great if you gave a define schedule to follow. A weekly layout is best for when you have a more open schedule and don’t require a strict routine. Either one can be used successfully, and the layout depends on your personal preference. I personally use The Day Designer Planner with the horizontal weekly/monthly layout.
2. Write down events and time chunk
This probably seems like common sense but a huge part of staying organized is actually writing events down as you know about them and assignments as they are assigned. When you have large tasks it is helpful to chunk it down into smaller tasks. If things come up that may change a date, write it anyway, but make sure to write in pencil so you can easily remove anything you might need to change later. It helps to keep each category as its own color for school, work, events and appointments. Keep designated times for daily tasks like studying or work schedules.
3. Review your planner daily/weekly
A huge step in keeping organized is keeping up with what is in your planner. You should review what you have set for the day on a weekly and daily level. This helps gives you an overview of how your week and day will go. It also gives you a heads up if any major assignments are due and will help avoid overbooking when you have appointment or events planned. This is a lifesaver to help avoid things from creeping up on you.
If you follow these helpful steps you will never be unorganized again, and your life will be easier and stress-free!