Ever since I can remember I have been using lists and to-do's to get by each day. It was my general book as a kid, then a diary and now I use plain sketchbooks as my planner. I like writing down my tasks, goals as it helps my brain to organize my thoughts better instead of getting overwhelmed. Since, I have been doing this for such a long time, I have a system in place now which works best for me. In this post I am going to share my planner - everything that I include in it, page setup ideas while keeping everything simple and easy.
Before we begin, let's clear up certain things that usually deter people from using a planner.
Aesthetically pleasing planner : There was a time when I tried to add some more creativity in my planner spreads but I soon realized it's not sustainable for me. Even though I am a creative person inclined towards art, on some days I don't have the energy to maintain a beautiful looking planner. For me, my planner has to be functional not aesthetic. So, I went back to my minimal spreads and that's what works for me. Don't compare your spreads to others online; it's not a competition. Find what helps you align with your goals and stick to it.
Elaborate spreads and pages : It can be all too overwhelming to see so many spreads, pages and trackers if you search for inspiration online. But that's the thing - it's just meant for inspiration; you don't have to include everything in yours. Your planner can be as simple as just a list of goals followed by daily tasks or as elaborate as including trackers, making it artistic and fun. It all depends on your preference.
Time consuming : Maintaining a planner doesn't have to take up a lot of time at all. It takes just 5 minutes to write down you tasks for the day. If you want to add more spreads like I have, it takes around an hour for the initial setup and just a few minutes everyday.
Not a planner person : I literally use to-do lists to function properly; I NEED everything organized. It is such an integral part of my life that I don't think of it as extra work. That may not be the case for everyone. For some people, it is an exhausting task and they prefer to just get on with their work without it. That's okay. Writing down works for some, digital planners work well with others and some people prefer not having one at all. The key is to know yourself and decide accordingly.
I use black and red ink for specific purposes. Black ink is basically to write everything - headers, tasks, etc. and the red ink is to cross off stuff, to mark important events or if I want to draw attention somewhere.
Let's move over to my planner setup -
1. The first page of my planner has the year 2022 written on it with a simple illustration of a wave. You can skip this page or write a quote that resonates with you. I draw inspiration from nature and see the spirit and patience of water reflected in me so I went with this illustration.
2. Next is my yearly goals page. I like to set up goals under specific categories that are ambitious but also achievable within this year.
3. Next up are pages dedicated to trackers and lists. I don't watch that many shows but I do have some that I want to get to and this spread keeps a track of the one's I watch this year. So, I have a page to track movies, series and documentaries.
4. In this page, I note down any recipe ideas that might occur to me. This is helpful to refer when I am planning blog posts and developing new recipes.
5. I have this page for noting my 'needs vs wants' and tracking my savings. It helps me to assess my expenses properly and manage my finances better, so I don't end up spending all my money on books :P
6. This is no doubt the most helpful page in my planner. Having a period tracker not only helps in planning future events accordingly but also to manage your cycle better. To be able to see the annual view like this helps to highlight your patterns and is also helpful in case there is any disruption in your cycle. Plus you don't have to remember your last cycle date if that's something you struggle with. I highly recommend adding this spread to your planner if you face the wrath of Satan's waterfall :P
7. This is my favorite spread of all! It is my book tracker. I used to maintain a simple list of the books I've read before. Since last year I started using this design and I really love the look of it. It's also very easy to make and looks even better once it's all filled up at the end of the year.
8. I have a 'brain dump' spread which I use to write down any other random thing that doesn't fit anywhere else. Sometimes, while working or doing a particular task our mind wanders elsewhere and often we end up getting distracted from our work. To avoid this, I prefer to write those things on this page and take care of them later. This helps me manage my work better and avoid distractions.
9. From here my monthly spreads start. I have a monthly calendar view where I mark important dates, events and list my monthly goals.
10. Next, I have a spread to track my sleep, stress and mood. I mark the level on a scale of 1 - 10 (there is a mistake in the scale below) and then connect the dots using different lines for respective categories. The final graph gives a good idea of how stress affected my sleep and highlights similar patterns. I haven't been able to keep up with this spread everyday, but I want to use it more in the coming year.
11. From here on we have the weekly spreads. I have my weekly goals listed followed by the daily to-do's and a section to track habits. I have tried using a monthly habit tracker but it didn't work well for me. So, I am trying to see if breaking it down on a weekly basis helps. This kind of a layout allows me to see the whole week at a glance.
I hope this post helps you to create the perfect planner setup that will manage your work effectively and help in achieving your goals.
See you next time!
Great read!