Once you reach a certain age and have responsibilities and a lot of other stuff on your plate, planning your weeks becomes essential.
After all, we may like to think we’re superhuman and will remember everything, but that’s not the case. You need to have what I like to call a “second brain” – a place where you can store your thoughts, ideas, and to-dos.
I’m probably preaching to the choir here. Most of us have already realised the importance of a good weekly planner. The issue, however, is selecting a weekly planner that works for you. With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to try and wade through all the life planners, which is why I’ve put together a list of tips that should help you narrow down your options to find the perfect planner for you.
digital, physical, or both?
Ah, yes. The big debate of whether digital or physical planners are best. I have a whole post about this, so I won’t go into too much detail.
What it comes down to is this: there isn’t a right or wrong answer. Both options have their pros and cons. You need to decide whether you prefer the convenience of digital planning or the traditional method of paper planning. And don’t forget that you can use a combination of them both!
what are your needs?
Some people only need a planner to write down big events or time-related things like meetings, whereas others love having a planner that contains every detail of their lives, from their meals to their elaborate morning routine and everything in between.
You may also need a planner that has space to write down your children’s activities, or one that has a space for daily reflection. Think about what you will be using the planner for, and look for one that meets your needs. Your planner needs to fit your weekly schedule as well as your daily schedule, so be sure to keep that in mind when perusing weekly planners.
Do you have any specific requirements?
Once you’ve narrowed down what you want to use your planner for, you need to get into the nitty-gritty details. This will help you decide which planner format is the best option for the current stage of your planning journey.
Think about any specific details you may want from your planner, and eliminate any planners that don’t have those things. Maybe you want an undated planner so that you have more flexibility when you use it. If you use a digital planner, perhaps you want one that gives you reminders or that syncs with other apps. Thinking about your non-negotiables will help you weed out any planners that won’t give you what you want.
Some ideas of extra features you may want include a monthly budget, an ongoing to-do list, a monthly calendar alongside your weekly layouts, or a fun cover image. Also, keep in mind that many companies offer custom planners, so if you’re on the market for something specific in your weekly planning pages, that could be a good solution.
what does your research say?
Do your research! Look up reviews for physical planners, read the reviews for planning apps, and talk to your loved ones about which planners they use.
What do people like about specific planners, and what drives them mad? I’m willing to bet that once you start looking into some planners, you will easily be able to tell whether they’re worth it or not. Also, think of your personal priorities in a planner and try to focus on planners that align with that.
can you do a test drive?
When you use a planning app, you can try various apps – either at the same time or switching between them from week to week – to get a feel of which ones work for you and which ones don’t. This can help you narrow down what to use for your own planner.
This is a bit harder when it comes to physical planners, of course, since no one wants to buy ten planners if they will only end up using one.
what's your budget?
The price range for planners is very broad. You could technically buy a small notebook and use it as your planner, or even type your weekly plans into your notes app.
But there are very beautiful and elaborate planners out there that cost a lot, and there are also many paid planning apps that offer you great benefits that free versions don’t always get. Again, it comes down to what you’re looking for in a planner. In the end, you need to know what you want in a monthly planner and how much you’re willing to pay for it.
quick shoutout to forzeit
Before I close this blog post, I would like to shout out a new planning app (and yes, I made it myself, so I am a bit biased). It’s called Forzeit, and it has everything that I myself look for in a digital weekly planner. Also, it’s not just weekly – you can use it for literally anything you want. The sky’s the limit.
If you’d like to give Forzeit a try, click here.
the end
There you go! This was a nice and short post because in the end, it doesn’t really matter that much which planner you use, as long as you have a planning system that works for you. I get that it can be overwhelming, though, so I hope that this post gave you a bit of clarity and a starting point to help you figure out which planner to use for you.
You can use a combination of both, or use one for a while and then switch to the other as your planning needs change. In the end, your planning system should work for you, and that’s all that matters.