Organizational Tools for Paper Planners
Last week I posted a blog about planners. To say that I have a lot of experience in picking one out is probably an understatement and I’m rather picky. If you need help picking out a new planner check out my post HERE before you read this one. This week’s post is going to focus on a few helpful tools to help you use your planner to its fullest potential.
In my opinion, one of the most important planner tools is a great pen or pencil. I always feel torn between the two because I prefer the way that pen writes but it sometimes bleeds through the paper and of course you can’t erase it. On the other hand, pencil can be changed but sometimes smears and makes a mess. This year my sister showed me a new product that literally rocked my world – Pilot Frixion erasable pens. I know what you are thinking. You’ve tried erasable pens in the past – those blue and red ones you had in grade school – the ones that didn’t actually erase worth crap. These are NOT those old school erasable pens. The Frixion pens write smoothly and the ink is dark and vibrant. I’d compare it to a gel pen versus a ballpoint and it’s easy to read. Best part though? They ACTUALLY DO erase as well as pencil! It’s amazing and they come in a variety of fun vibrant colors. These have changed my planner game and do not bleed or smear. I tend to use colors to denote special events or to make writing in my planner more fun. It’s a lot more exciting to write in say purple or green than just black all of the time.
I also use markers in my planner. Lucky for me, my planner has thick enough pages that the marker does not bleed through but I’d recommend testing yours before going crazy. My planner this year has designated spaces for each family member’s activities so I use markers to make the lines between each person’s sections more obvious. It also livens up the boring page a bit. I haven’t tried them but for what it’s worth Frixion also makes erasable markers and highlighters. My sister says they are awesome! I occasionally use highlighter in my planners too but am more likely to reach for a colored pen and circle it to draw my attention.
In my last post about picking a planner, I also touched on planner add –ons that are available either from your planners’ maker or on Amazon. Did you know that if you chose a planner without monthly tabs for quick flipping that you can add them on? Even if your planner’s manufacturer doesn’t offer them, you can get them for under $10 on Amazon. They come in a variety of colors and styles to fit your planner and simply stick onto your monthly layout pages. You can also create your own using blank labels or using post-it tabs.
Another helpful add-on is a storage pocket. You can buy these or you can even make your own. Fold some printer paper in half and tape with clear packing tape to the front or back inside cover of your planner. Pockets are handy to have to store important notes, business cards, or appointment reminder cards. Additionally, a stick on pen holder can also be handy so that you always have a pen with you. This is especially handy if your planner is not spiral bound. In the past, when I had a spiral-bound planner I skipped the pen holder and simply always carried a pen stuck into the spiral coil of the notebook but this year my planner is book bound and I am finding the pen holder a valuable addition.
Lastly, stickers and post-it notes can be both fun and functional planner accessories. I personally don’t use stickers but I know many people who do. Some use them for creative design purposes to make their workspace more fun. Others use them to denote birthdays or recurring events. Whatever you want to use stickers for – have fun with them! They can add color and life to your space. Post-its can be used in a similar way. Use them for additional notes or to-do lists. I sometimes use mine to write down addresses or plan the order of my day when I have several appointments in one day.
Regardless of how you like to use your planner I hope that some of these tools make organizing your to-do list a bit more fun and functional. Do you have other tips or tricks that you swear by? I’d love to add them to my list. Share them with me in the comments! Plan on ladies. You got this!
This is what my planner looks like at the beginning of the week – before I fill in my weekly to-dos and goals!