As college students, we have so many deadlines and events to remember. It gets a little overwhelming sometimes to keep track of everything with Post-its, iPhone notes and mental reminders. Personally, I need something tangible where I can store and keep track of everything. I would be completely lost without a day planner to keep my life together.
There are so many planner options on the market. From high-end designer brands and quirky personalized editions to cheap traditional office-supply brands, the variety can be seriously overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for. Here is an overview of some of the most popular planners out there.
The Erin Condren Life Planner
The cost: For a personalized one, it’s $50 plus $10 shipping.
The details: I may be biased, as I am an Erin Condren lover, but these planners are amazing. They’re personalized, so the planner comes printed with your name right on the cover. They have so many styles and colors to choose from. The planner itself is bound with metal rings and has a laminated plastic cover. In the beginning of the planner it has two “at a glance” style calendars for the previous and current year. Each new month has a tab on the side for easy access. At the beginning of each month there is a monthly calendar, complete with a lined section for your monthly goals. For each week, there is a place to put a thankful thought and a lined section for a to-do list. Each day has three sections that you can label as you please, as well as an area underneath the day to put meal plans, goals for the day or whatever you like. The planner is designed so well. Each month has its own color scheme, and there are beautiful quotes all throughout. There are also a ton of blank pages at the end of the planner to jot down notes, resolutions or journal entries.
The Simplified Planner
The cost: $58
The details: The Simplified Planner by Emily Ley is another beautiful planner. For a weekly edition of this planner, there are three designs you can choose from: happy stripe, gold pineapple and mint dot. All of the planners have gold hardware and a hard cover. In the beginning of the planner there is an “at a glance” calendar for the current year, a lined page for a yearly bucket list and a list of holidays that year. Each month has its own calendar complete with a quote, area for notes and mini calendars for the previous and following month. Each weekday has its own individual page. On one side of the page there are time slots where you can plan your day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. On the other side there is an area to write down a to-do list for the day. There is also an area at the bottom of the page to plan what you are having for dinner and jot down notes. Weekends, on the other hand, share one page. The Sunday side has an area for weekly prep, which is sure to help you get ready for the school or work week ahead! This planner, unfortunately, is also pretty pricey and is currently sold out on its website. But be sure to keep checking back in case they come back in stock soon!
The Lilly Pulitzer Planner
The cost: A large agenda runs around $28 and a jumbo agenda is typically $34.
The details: This planner will definitely put some prep in your step. These bright, colorful agendas are very popular on campus. Upon opening the planner, you are greeted with a page of cute stickers for all occasions. There is also a 2015 and 2016 calendar in the beginning of the planner. It also features full-paged monthly planners set up for the year in the beginning as well as horoscopes, lined pages and a “dates to celebrate” page. For each month, there is another calendar page that is tabbed. Following the calendar page for each month are weekly pages with lines under each day where you can write assignments due, events and other reminders. Throughout the planner there are designed pages with quintessential Lilly Pulitzer illustrations. These planners are in the middle in terms of price, and they come in multiple sizes. Unfortuantely, these planners are so popular that they are sold out on the official Lilly Pulitzer website, but some can be found on sites like Amazon and The Paper Store.
The AT-A-GLANCE Daily Appointment Book
The cost: About $20, depending on where you purchase it
The details: If you’re looking for an inexpensive, tried-and-true classic, look no further. The AT-A-GLANCE Daily Appointment Book can be found at most retail stores that sell office supplies. Each day has its own page, which is divided into hourly slots starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 7:45 or 5:45 p.m., depending on if it’s a weekday or weekend. There is also a page that shows the past, current and future year, as well as a page for phone numbers and future planning. The book is bound by wire and it comes in black, burgundy and blue.
Purchasing a planner was honestly one of the best investments I have ever made in college. I use mine every single day and would be completely lost without it. Finding one that you love will make you want to stay organized. There are so many different kinds, so you’ll be sure to find one that fits your lifestyle!
Photo Credit: www.mercytiara.com