4 Things to Consider Before Choosing a Planner That You'll ACTUALLY Use

If you're here, you've probably been in the market for a planner and ended up spending money on a cute one that you used for all of two months and then never looked at again.

You probably have a stack of partially used journals lying around somewhere that you need to chuck. You were gung-ho about getting your life organized, but found that the planner you thought was perfect, just wasn't perfect for you.

I'm going to lay out 4 things you should consider when choosing your new planner, so you choose the right tool to help you get and STAY organized. (Psst...it's not too late to get a planner for 2022 or too early for 2023.) So, let's go!

1| Type

The first thing you want to decide is what type of planner will work best with your life, schedule, and habits. You can choose between a physical or digital planner. There are pros and cons for each type, so you'll really have to weigh it out.

Physical

• Pros

  • Using pen and paper has positive benefits for the brain and can help some people remember information better.

  • Using a physical planner can be a creative experience and outlet.

• Cons

  • If you misplace your planner the information is lost as well.

  • Lugging a planner around can be inconvenient and the physical product can experience wear and even damage. (Spilled Coffee, I'm looking at you!)

Digital

• Pros

  • Revel in the efficiency of technology by syncing your planner across devices and securing your planner with extra safety and privacy measures.

  • You don't need much; just a tablet, a suitable note-taking app, and a stylus. (You can also use a digital planner on a desktop or laptop with a pdf annotator or similar software.)

• Cons

  • If you're not used to digital planning, it can take some getting used to.

  • You may miss the feel of putting pen to paper.

  • This would be one more reason to look at a screen and can be counterproductive if you're trying to reduce your screen time.

2 | Format & Size

When shopping around for a planner, you don't want to get bogged down by the plethora of options out there. So, before you start your search, think of what format and size will work best for you.

What do you need to do?

• Plan your days by the hour?

• See a birds-eye view of your week?

• Keep track of your goals and priorities?

Where will your planner go?

• What size makes sense for you?

• Will you need your planner while you're out and about?

• Where will you store your planner?

Planners can come in a variety of formats or layouts: daily, weekly, monthly to name a few. Depending on the format, you may have more or less space for notes or other categories to help you keep your life organized.

One of my favorite layouts is the weekly hourly format. I'm able to look at my entire week, but also each day by the hour. I'm also able to make notes and list my priorities or focus for the week. (Check out the planner I use here.)

When it comes to size, I tend to write big, so I like to have lots of space. I gravitate towards US Letter sized planners, but if that isn't your cup of tea and doesn't vibe with your lifestyle consider other size options.

• Pocket planner

• A5 (8.3 x 5.8in)

• Half-letter (8.5 x 5.5in)

• Happy Planner (7x9.25in)

For those of you who love an expansive planner, you can try:

• US Letter (8.5 x 11in)

• A4 (8.27 x 11.69)

Lastly, you want to consider your binder options. I'll list the most common ones.

• Softbound and Hardcover

• Spiral (Wire/Coil)

• Ring and Disc-bound (Looseleaf)

When choosing your binding style, you'll want to consider how flexible and durable you want your planner to be, as well as, how and where you will be writing in it. Also, consider storage and portability.

3 | Style

This next part is super-fun to consider AND totally subjective. You'll want to use your planner for the year, so make sure it's something you're going to want to look at again and again and LOVE using.

You'll want to love the aesthetic and the features!

• Does it motivate you to use it?

• Does it fit your taste and style?

• Does it suit your purposes and planning style? (This kind of goes back to format.)

• Does it allow you to be creative, pragmatic, succinct?

• Is the style perfect for you?

Don't be afraid to go against the grain or buck the trends! You want to get a planner that you'll actually use so make sure it's right for you and not just what everyone else is touting.

4 | Goals/Intention

Last, but by no means least, is to consider the function of your planner. What do you want to achieve by buying a planner?

• Do you want to be able to make sense of your family's schedule?

• Do you want to keep track of your progress when working towards goals?

• Do you want to be more productive?

• Are you trying to keep your business organized?

• Are you trying to keep all of your obligations (school, work, community organizations) in order?

• Are you wanting to keep all of the aspects of your life organized in one place?

Knowing what you want to do with the planner will instantly take certain planners out of the running and keep you focused on the planners that will serve you best. Take a few moments and really think about what you want your planner to do for you.

REMEMBER...A planner is a tool! Every tool has a function for a particular task. Make sure you choose the right tool for you and then USE IT!

I've designed a planner for myself, because I wanted a very specific tool for my life. I've been using it for the last two years and now it's available on my site for anyone else who feels that it's the right tool for them as well. Find it here.

I hope these tips help and that you take some time to consider these questions and your life and habits to find the perfect planner for you - one that you will actually use.

Happy planning!