How to Choose the Best Planner for You
Have you started thinking about 2025?
As much as we'd love to stay in the present, especially this time of year, the impending "turning of the calendar page" is too much to resist.
I've had so many client conversations lately about the new year. Thinking about a fresh start, setting intentions, maybe even some goals if that's your thing.
In our household, we've already hung our 2025 wall calendar because the activities, invites, and commitments have already started coming in.
Maybe you've purchased yours too. Or maybe you're looking at a new planner for the new year.
Something that will help you make progress on your goals, keep your intentions top of mind, and ensure you're using your time effectively.
I get excited just thinking about it. (Can you tell I'm like a kid in a candy shop when it comes to office supplies?!)
But before you click 'add to cart', whether you're getting something brand new, buying the 2025 version of what you're already using, or coming back to planning after a hiatus, there are a few things you should consider.
You see, I get asked all the time about what planner I use. And I have plenty of thoughts and recommendations.
But if you have any number of half-used planners sitting around your house, you know all too well how we rush to solve a problem without first truly understanding what the problem is.
You see, a planner is an amazing tool. But it is just a tool.
You need to know how you'll use it, where you'll use it, and what you'll be tracking in order to get the one that you'll use consistently.
I can tell you that I'm currently using a PDF planning page that I created for my remarkable. I love it, but it may not be for you!
(In fact, I recently shared it with a client who, after just a week said, "this isn't for me!")
So, to find the right planning tool for you, here are 7 questions to consider first:
#1 Why do you want a planner?
If you want one because you think it'll change your life, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. But if you want one because you know writing things down helps you stick to them, or you want to be able to preview your goals, meals, and priorities at a glance, or you want to keep track of your progress toward goals or habits, that's good to know. And it'll help you choose the tool that will support those goals.
#2 What's not working about your current system for time/task management?
Think about the types of things that fall through the cracks now. The appointments you've double-booked, the deadlines you've missed. Why do you think those things happened? Where is your current process breaking down? Be extra clear and specific here so you can find a tool that will help you solve those problems. But then also consider if it's the system or it's you. Not to beat yourself up but to recognize where you can be a better steward of your tool
#3 When you have something important to remember, where do you store that info?
What do you reach for as a default? An app in your phone, a notebook or piece of scrap paper, your calendar or email? We're looking for what type of tool feels most natural for you, so you don't choose something so drastically different from what you lean toward. That'll just make things even hard to implement and be consistent with. I will always reach for pen and paper. But I actually use a hybrid model because I recognize that having a digital calendar that syncs and is available on-the-go, is so much easier. But for the things I really need to remember, those go on paper.
#4 Where do your to-do items currently live?
If you don't have a home for those, that's something you need to think about because not all planners have the space for long lists of to-do items. So you'll either need to create a process for capturing and storing those outside of your planner, or make sure that your planner can accommodate them. If you don't know how to create a running to-do list, make sure you grab my free guide that walks you through that step by step.
#5 Are you on the go or somewhat stationary throughout your day?
Essentially you want to think about how big of a planner you can get. Do you need something small and portable or maybe even a digital option? Or can you use something larger and heavier that will just basically live at your home office desk? If you fall in love with a large planner but commute to an office or have an on-the-go role, then better make sure you have a bag that will fit all the things!
#6 How much control do you have over your day?
If most of your working hours are accounted for because you teach in a classroom or see patients all day with very little time to "choose" what you work on, then you probably won't need a planner with a detailed hourly schedule. Maybe in this scenario, you simply need a weekly overview where you can see what your main tasks are or what you're planning to make for dinner. If you have a job where there are chunks of time throughout the day where you have to choose what project or task you're going to prioritize, then a detailed daily spread might be more applicable so that you can time block your priorities for each day and make sure you have the space for everything you're planning to accomplish.
#7 How committed are you to the success of your new planner?
Whether or not this new system is successful is more about your consistency than it is about the tool itself. You could actually just plan your days using a scrap piece of paper. (That's actually a great place to start if you're not in the habit of using a tool like this.) A planner might make it easier, because it has the layout already created for you, but you're the one who will decide whether or not to use it. Are you committed?
If you're still reading and just want a list of planners that I recommend, I'm here for you with a list of my tried-and-true favorites.
But also know that I have clients who plan with a clipboard and notecards, a digital notebook with checklists, and their google or outlook calendar for time blocking. These clients took the time to answer the questions above, do a little experimenting, and ultimately landed on what works for them.
My Favorite Planners
Monk Manual - smaller size so great for commuting and has an hourly daily spread for time blocking
Panda Planner - available in different sizes and great for weekly and daily spread options to help you narrow down your priorities
Passion Planner - larger size but great with goal setting and they now have a daily spread in addition to weekly
Full Focus Planner - helpful for making progress on your goals and priorities
After all of this, you might still be tempted to just click purchase on that planner because who has the time to think through 7 questions?! I get it. When you're feeling overwhelmed, you just want to solve the problem.
But what if you end up purchasing a tool that adds to your overwhelm? What if your new planner doesn't actually help you solve the problem because you don't even know what the problem is?
If you take a few minutes to think through these 7 questions, that won't happen.
And if you want more thoughtfulness and intention when it comes to your time in 2025, I'm putting together a small group coaching experience for working moms that will kick off in January. The group is limited to 5 working moms, and we'll be looking at your relationship with time: how you plan and manage it so that you can move through your days more intentionally, freeing up space and energy for the projects, people, and passions that matter most. The small size of the group is designed so that everyone gets individual, personalized coaching and support with my eyes on your schedule, routines, and how you do life. Plus, you get the added bonus of hearing from other women who truly get what it's like to manage a career, a family, and a home.
If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, click here to fill out a short form and I'll be in touch with more details to see if you would be a fit.
Happy planning and happy new year!