Feeling overwhelmed by setting up your fresh new planner for 2018? It can be a very daunting task but getting started with your planner requires only a few supplies and patience with tweaking your planning system. I write things down in my plann
er to keep them from forgetting them or getting things mixed up, and to keep myself focused on what needs to be done.
Choose Your Planner
Deciding on a planner is such a personal choice. There are a ton of planners to choose from, it really just depends on your style and budget. This year I chose the Erin Condren Planner (contains referral link for $10 off). Last year I had the Happy Planner and the year before that I used the Plum Paper Planner. I decided against another Happy Planner this year because by the middle of this year one of my rings broke off, and I was just looking for something a little more durable. Everyone talks about the Erin Condren planner and I really wanted to try it out of pure curiosity. It’s a little smaller than the Classic Happy Planner, but it includes the same 3 vertical box concept as the Happy Planner, which I enjoyed. Measuring at 7.25″ x 9.25″, the Erin Condren planner is big enough for writing lots of stuff while small enough to bring along in my purse when I need it. I also like the fact that it comes with a pocket folder in the back so I can tuck in things when I need it and not be afraid of it falling out.
Supplies Needed
Start out with only a few supplies. Pretty pens and stickers can end up costing more than your planner if you’re not careful. Check out the dollar store and Dollar Spot at Target for cheaper supplies.
Stickers and Washi tape make organizing your new planner fun! I bought MAMBI Sticker books last year to go with my Happy Planner. You can score them for good prices when they have sales or by using coupons. I still have plenty of stickers from those books and will be using them with my Erin Condren. With coupons and sales I have also picked up the Recollections boxes of washi tape at Michaels for $10 (One of my boxes has 44 washi tapes in it which is an amazing deal for $10).
Etsy is a fantastic resource for buying fun stickers. I love finding different and unique stickers in Etsy shops. I have bought from several different shops during sales and things and have yet to be disappointed. They sell stickers that match the sizes of the different planners. This is a great way to make planning fun and also draw your attention to a special event that you have going on.
Colored Pens. You’ll need pens that don’t bleed through the paper. I am really enjoying my Papermate Flair pens that come with a medium tip. They have a huge variety of colors and can be purchased singly or in a pack. I like matching my pen colors to the color scheme of my spread. Some people use their pens for a color coding system for different family members or different tasks – you have to find what works for you.
What to Put in Your New Planner
Once you’re ready with your supplies, spend about an hour on the following tasks. If you feel overwhelmed, work on each task for a short period of time. Worried about making mistakes? Write in pencil, and rewrite in pen later. Use color coding with pens and stickers to help you differentiate tasks.
Add all the important dates for your family into your planner. What’s on the calendar for your family for 2018? All of those important dates need to be in your planner. I add in things from my daughter’s school calendar and my work calendar as well as doctor appts, birthdays, anniversaries. Your planner should be a one stop shop for all that you’ve got going on.
Seasonal Planning – Each season has its holidays, and some of those holidays have huge lists of tasks like Christmas. Dedicate a page or 2 in the notes section of your planner to your lists. When you do your weekly review, go through the lists and make sure the tasks are on your week plan.
Home Keeping Tasks – Put your daily, weekly and monthly cleaning tasks into another section in your notes. I will be using post it notes for monthly cleaning tasks and as I complete them, I will move them to the month they are done in.
Add Your Personal Goals
I think everyone should set goals for themselves. It’s a great way to hold yourself accountable by putting them in your planner and it’s a great feeling to look back through the months to see how much you have accomplished.
A dream becomes a goal when action is taken towards its achievement
-Bo Bennett
1. Setting a goal motivates you to move forward, to change something.
2. Setting goals turns dreams into an achievable plan.
3. Goals help us believe in ourselves.
4. You are held accountable for failure.
5. Goals, even the wrong ones, help us to know what we truly want.
6. Goals helps us to suck the marrow out of life.
Take 1 to 3 of your New Year’s Resolutions and turn them into a plan with identifiable steps and benchmarks on a page in your planner. Move the steps into the weekly section and start crossing them off as you do them.
Let me know in the comments what plan you’ve chosen for 2018!
