When I was in high school, my planner was just something that my school required me to carry everywhere I went. Since coming to college, my planner is my best friend, my assistant and my mom all rolled into one. I’m extremely meticulous with how I fill it out; writing in it has become a nightly routine. I know I can’t be alone in my planner obsession, considering planner videos on YouTube have millions of views. I’ll give you a brief overview of my agenda, and hopefully it can give you some fresh ideas on organizational tips for your own planner!
To begin, I use a Day Designer planner that I paid way too much for, but don’t regret at all. I enjoy physically writing things down and truly processing everything that goes into it. I have friends who use their computers and phones as their agenda, and that works great for them! There are a number of apps that allow you to sync up your phone and laptop, so if you add or change something, all of your devices will be the same.
I love this planner because the monthly overview is two pages wide. I use this layout to write down any important due dates or events that I need to be aware of significantly ahead of time. I also use washi tape to mark out events that last multiple days. This format makes it perfect for glancing at to know when certain weeks are going to be hell, and to know which weeks I’m going to watch way too much Netflix.
Another reason I adore this agenda is the daily layout. Every day has a section for planning out what is going to happen when, as well as a long to-do list column which I always fill up with homework. Additionally, there’s an inspirational quote at the top, a section to plan meals and a place to write down all of the important things for that day. This layout is perfect for a college student, like myself, who is constantly struggling to keep my life straight.
Within the planner, I use different colored pens to signify my different classes and obligations. For instance, red is accounting, dark green is for extracurriculars, etc. Filling out this planner every night puts my mind at ease. After I’ve powered through all of my work for a day, I sit down and cross off everything I did that day. Looking back over all of my accomplishments gives me a nice little push after a long day. Then, I sit down and organize my strategy for the next day. Seeing all you have to do is a good way to get motivated, but also a good way to not feel overwhelmed by the feeling that you’ve forgotten something. I understand not everyone enjoys putting this much effort into their agenda, but for those of you who are looking for a new way to get motivated or stay organized, I recommend giving it a try. The best way to find what works for you is to keep trying new things.