How to Use a Planner: 10 Tips for Beginners
Staring at that beautiful, blank planner can feel quite daunting, can't it? Whether you’re launching that dream business, prioritising your wellbeing after years of putting everyone else first, or simply wanting to get a bit more organised with your days, a planner can become your most trusted companion on this journey.
We know what you might be thinking – "I've tried planners before and they just ended up gathering dust on my desk." Trust us, you're not alone in this. The secret isn't finding the perfect planner (though that certainly helps!); it's about how to make a planner work for you and finding a planning approach that resonates with you and your lifestyle.
Let's think of our planner as more than just a scheduling tool – it's a personal space for dreams, goals, daily victories, and gentle reminders to take care of ourselves. It's where our beautifully chaotic lives get organised into something manageable and meaningful.
We're here to support you with ten gentle planner tips on how to start planning that will help you fall in love with the process and, more importantly, stick with it.
1. Understand What a Planner Really Is
A planner isn't just a glorified calendar – it's your life's command centre. It's where you capture everything from doctor's appointments to creative ideas, from business goals to weekend plans with friends. Think of it as your personal assistant, therapist, and best friend all rolled into one beautiful package. A tool that can help you manage your time better, prioritise tasks and reduce mental load by keeping important information all in one place. Your planner holds space for both the practical (picking up dry cleaning) and the profound (reflecting on where you want to be in five years).
2. Choose the Right Planner for Your Lifestyle
Your journey to effective planning begins here. Choosing between a daily planner or weekly planner depends on your preferences and how you like to organise your days, weeks and months. Are you constantly on the go, needing something compact that fits in your handbag? Or do you prefer spreading out with plenty of writing space? Daily planners offer ample space for each day, perfect if you have packed schedules or love detailed planning. Weekly planners give you the bigger picture while still allowing daily planning. Consider your own preferences : what brings joy to your planning routine? Are you a detailed planner who loves listing everything, or do you prefer a simpler overview approach?
3. Master Your Monthly Overview
Start each month by opening to your monthly spread and taking a bird's eye view of what's ahead. Jot down the big events; birthdays, deadlines, holidays, important meetings. This isn't about scheduling every detail; it's about raising your awareness. When you can see that you have three major deadlines in the third week of the month, you'll naturally plan better. Add your goals for the month too, whether it's launching a new product, reading two books, or simply prioritising eight hours of sleep.
4. Plan Your Week Like a Boss
Take a few minutes each week to outline your week ahead. It could be on a Sunday evening or whatever day feels right for you. Looking at the week ahead can help you feel prepared and add a stronger feeling of purpose for each day. This is where you balance meetings with self-care, work deadlines with social plans. Don't just fill your week with obligations – intentionally schedule the things that bring you joy. That yoga class? Write it down. Coffee with a friend? It goes in the planner. If it's not scheduled, it often doesn't happen.
5. Use Time Blocking to Maximise Your Energy
Time blocking is a simple yet powerful time management technique where you divide your day into blocks of dedicated time, each assigned to a specific task or activity. Think of it like creating an appointment with yourself for each task on your to-do list. Instead of having a running to-do list that feels overwhelming, we're creating a realistic schedule with clear boundaries. For a deep dive into mastering this game-changing technique, check out our comprehensive guide to time blocking where we share how to organise your weekly and daily schedules like a pro.
6. Focus on Your Daily Top Three
Here's one of our favourite daily rituals: identifying the three most critical tasks for your day and making them your primary focus. Think of these as your "non-negotiables", the tasks that, if completed, would make you feel like the day was a success regardless of what else happens. By tackling these priorities first, we ensure that even when life throws us curveballs, we've already made meaningful progress. Adding this focusing ritual into your daily routine will set you up for success not just today, but throughout the rest of the year. Trust us, there's something deeply satisfying about ticking off those three important tasks before lunch!
7. Add Visual Flair That Sparks Joy
This is where planning becomes truly personal and fun. Add a splash of creativity to your planner by using colour coding or planner stickers. You could try using different coloured pens for different areas of your life. Stickers aren't just for children; they're brilliant visual cues that make planners uniquely ours. A small heart sticker next to self-care activities, a cake for birthdays, it’s these little touches that make opening your planner feel like a treat rather than a chore.
8. Build in Regular Check-ins
At the end of each day, spend five minutes with your planner. What did you accomplish? What needs to be done tomorrow? This isn't about perfection, some days we'll tick off everything, other days life will be unpredictable and we need to adjust our plans, and that's perfectly okay. This gentle review helps us stay connected to our goals and adjust our plans realistically.
9. Create a Daily Gratitude Practice
In a small corner of your daily spread, write down one thing you're grateful for. It might be something big (landing a new client) or totally ordinary (the perfect cup of coffee). This simple practice shifts our focus to abundance and creates a beautiful record of life's daily gifts. On tough days, flipping back through these gratitude notes can be an incredible boost.
10. Make It Visible and Stick With It
Keep your planner somewhere you'll see it every day; on the kitchen counter, next to the bed, on your desk. The more visible it is, the more you’ll use it. Remember, building a planning habit takes time. Some weeks you'll use it religiously, others we might forget about them entirely. The key is to gently return to it without self-criticism. Your planner isn’t there to judge you; it’s there to support you.
Your Planning Journey Starts Here
Starting to use a planner is really about creating space for what matters most to us in a gentle, intentional way. It's about creating space for both our dreams and our daily needs, for both productivity and rest.
Ready to find your perfect planning companion? Whether you're managing work, personal goals, or just keeping life on track, explore our carefully curated Blush and Gold Planner collection, crafted to meet your every need. Each planner in our collection has been designed not just for its functionality, but for its ability to inspire and delight you every single day.
Your new chapter awaits – let's plan it beautifully together.
