How To Start Using A Planner

The process of starting a daily planner can be difficult and it's easy to fall into a few common pitfalls. Begin with defining to yourself what the end result of using a planner looks like to you. What is it that you wish to accomplish?

What is your goal?

Are you starting school or a new job that will have new obligations that you want to make sure that you meet? Are you simply trying to get more organized and accountable? Are you busy with family life and have obligations to many people that can get overwhelming? Do you find that a digital calendar just isn't enough to meet your needs?

No matter what your goal is, clearly defining it is the first step to reaching it. Once you know what you are aiming for you can write it down in your planner as a constant reminder of what you are working towards.

If you aren't sure where you want to go, it is hard to arrive there.

Time Blocking - What it is and how to use it

Time blocking is a great tool to keep a planner from being overwhelming. This is when you block off the busiest times of your day and plan what you will do, sometimes minute by minute.. When you first start, it can be tempting to be very ambitious and plan a very tight and full schedule for yourself. 

This can lead to overbooking and can actually make planning more overwhelming. Sometimes to the point where you feel rushed and may not complete the tasks you intended to do. To combat this, use a timed schedule to write down what you do during the day, rather than scheduling what you plan to do. Do this for a week or two. After a while you will have a better understanding of how long it takes to finish tasks and how much you can reasonably accomplish in a day.

If you know that it takes 45 minutes to leave work to go and have lunch with a friend, you can accurately schedule for that in the future. This will help you to make a plan for your day and not only be able to get more done, but also make you feel accomplished.

Combining paper with digital

Digital calendars can be very dynamic and effective at keeping you informed and reminding you about your schedule. Paper planners can be used to keep you informed of upcoming tasks but can also be used as a log of how things have gone in the past. When you use them together, you get a much more rich and detailed understanding of your days and your life as a whole.

Write down notes about an upcoming event, like finding the perfect birthday present, getting tickets to an event, or something personal that you want to remember. Pair that with your digital reminder to have everything you need when the alert comes up.

You can then quickly flip through several pages and add or subtract things from your weekly and/or monthly calendars. If you can, try to write things down immediately and add them to your digital calendar later. One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is, "I'll remember that later."

Get the most out of your planner

• Have a clear goal and write it down

• Track how you use your time and how long tasks take

• Don't overbook yourself

• Make the most of time organization by combining your paper planner with your digital calendar

Our scheduling widget options are perfect for time blocking. With several starting time and size options, we're sure to have just the thing for your needs. With customizable daily pages and optional add-in pages for time organization, you'll never miss a deadline or forget an important event again. Luminary Planner — your daily ritual for self-improvement.