If you're new in the planning and organising world, starting your own planner may seem overwhelming in the beginning. However, planners have helped thousands of people reach their goals, never forget a birthday or an event, stay focused and keep their lives in order. You'll need a few essentials and some guidance to get you started.
Get a Binding Cover
Start your planner journey by getting a binder. It's a very practical addition to your planning journey because you don’t have to buy several notebooks to fit your notes and plans. You can easily add and remove pages without ripping them apart and ruining your planner. You can even rearrange the whole system until you find what works for you best.
An elegant and durable A5 ring binder cover makes everything more practical. You can add your own custom inserts. You have thousands of options to create your page layout. Monthly, weekly, daily planning, meal, workout and exercise planning, a to-do list, and taking notes are just some of the inserts you can add.
Finding the right layout and the system that works for you may seem overwhelming in the beginning, but as soon as you find it, everything will be easier and more enjoyable. These binders are very easy to refresh. You can change the decoration, cover and everything on the inside without a lot of effort. Another great thing about binders is that you can add storage.
With the right binder, you get pockets where you can store notes, bills, stickers, business cards, shopping lists etc. Binders come in many materials including leather, fabric and canvas. They all have their pros and cons and it all comes down to personal preference. The leather ones are very popular because of their elegant and classy look.
They can vary in color but brown and black are the most popular ones. They're also sturdier and will last for a long time. Fabric and canvas binders are cheaper. That's the main reason they’re popular. They come in many colour options, from bright tones to pastels, to patterned prints. Make it as fun or as classy as you want.
Binders come with a variety of closing options: some zip closed, others with elastics running vertically or horizontally, some with a strap that snaps shut, and some without closure. Before you buy a binder, consider how many pages roughly you’ll need. This will determine the binder’s ring size. If you don’t plan on using a lot of pages buy a smaller size. However, it’s a good idea to have some extra space just in case.
Buy Various Supplies
Some people think that you need a lot of supplies to get your planner started. However, that’s not the case. Yes, you can buy a few sets of markers, various pens in different colours, and plenty of washi tapes and stickers, but that’s not necessary. The most basic supply you need is a black pen (or a blue one if you’re not a fan of black writing). This is not an expensive investment and you can allow yourself to spend a few dollars extra on it.
Just make sure it runs smoothly and doesn’t smudge. Otherwise, you’ll get messy pages and unreadable tasks. A ruler is a good investment for a planner. It can help you create boxes, draw straight lines and make everything neat. You'll need scissors for cutting through the pages or cropping stickers and washi tape.
Markers can also be helpful for colour coding and making the pages brighter, more colourful and fun. Besides the regular ones, you can get a fluorescent set for the more important tasks and events. Stickers can make your A5 ring binder cover look prettier and washi tape can also help you decorate. These are just the basics and some of the other things you can get are a page trimmer, cardstock, post-it notes, stamps etc.
Figure Out a Color-Coding System
Using a color-coding system can help stay more organised. It will visually separate every task you have, and the nature of your meetings and make everything aesthetically pleasing. Keep the system simple if this is your first time doing it. Start with a few colors. Otherwise, it can get overwhelming and you’ll stop doing it.
Try a Sticker System
A sticker system can also be of great help. Your A5 6 ring binder will become more organised when you combine color-coding and stickers. There are hundreds of sticker sets you can choose from. Some can be for your work meetings, others for your free-time activities, others for family affairs etc. Keep in mind that they shouldn’t distract you, but just help you visually.
Give the Planner a Purpose
Take your time to figure out what’s the purpose of your planner. You can use it to simplify your daily tasks, help you remember important events, and stay on track with meetings or even with your day-to-day schedule. Giving it a purpose will help you balance your work and your life. The purpose also gives it some value and makes it an important part of your everyday life and you’ll be more likely to use it.
Divide It Into Sections
Dividing your planner into sections will make organising much easier. Leave space for your daily tasks. Divide the number of pages you’re planning on using into calendar-like parts (find a layout that you like) and write down your tasks for each day. You can also make space for your yearly bucket list, monthly goals, financial strategies and anything else you might need help with, mark the sections with a sticker or work with color-coding.
Keep It Simple
The best advice you can get about your planner is to keep it simple. Simple works best. Don't try to overcomplicate things because you may end up hating what you do. You can get overwhelmed by the tasks you can’t do or the page layout you just can’t get right. In the beginning, focus on simplicity, it’ll make you more successful.
Add Important Events
Certain events in your year are unchangeable. Put in the dates that won't change first. Keep track of holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. Make a note of important occasions the week before if you tend to forget things easily. This will allow you to prepare in advance.
