8 Tips to Make Your Planner More Productive

It’s the start of a new school year, which means new priorities and new plans to add to your calendar! Fall semester tends to be the busiest of all as you’re getting used to new classes and schedules and taking on new roles around campus. If you’re ready to get organized and stay on top of things, follow these eight tips to make your planner your best and most productive friend this semester.

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1. Figure out what you want to put in your planner.

Most people use planners to keep track of appointments, due dates, and plans with friends and family, but that doesn’t work for everyone. Maybe your planner would be of more use if you used it to track things like meal plans, how much money you spend each day, or goals for the day/week/month/year. Play with it to see what helps you most.

2. Splurge on a nice planner.

A cheap notebook might do the job, but treating yourself to a quality planner will give you more motivation to get your use out of it.

Day Designer for Blue Sky 2017-2018 Academic Year Daily & Monthly Planner

3. Decorate your planner.

As silly as it seems, if you’re willing to personalize your planner and make it your style, you’ll be more excited to write inside of it. It doesn’t have to be perfect – feel free to doodle, add stickers, or design different patterns for events!

4. Color code your planner.

Put all of your reminders, appointments, and important dates in different colors to easily navigate your planner.

5. Don’t worry about blank space.

When you’re mapping out your days and weeks on paper, it can feel like every day needs to be full of plans. If you don’t have anything written down one day, don’t worry about it! Think of it as your day to kick back and relax (but if you really feel the need to fill the white space, leave yourself a little reminder to unwind).

6. Make checklists.

Write down lists of things you need to accomplish each day and check them off as you complete them. Putting that check mark next to each task feels so good.

7. Be specific.

Have you ever written something down and forgotten what you were talking about when you went back to it? Include more detail in what you’re writing down. If you want to remind yourself to call your mom to ask about holiday plans, write “call Mom about holiday plans.” That way, you won’t find yourself wondering what you needed to call your mother about.

8. Make it a habit.

Check your planner religiously, and take it with you wherever you go so you don’t miss anything. If you’re used to setting reminders in your phone, put everything in your planner instead. It’ll keep you on track (and off your phone more!).