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Thinking about using a daily planner? If you’re someone who’s all about keeping things in sync or maybe you’re still working on getting the hang of it, don’t worry – we’ve all been there, then using a daily planner may be just the right solution for you.

In this digital age, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the gadgets and gizmos that promise to keep us organized. Using our smartphones as planners, calendars, checklists and reminder apps have made life so much simpler for us. But with all these advantages come some disadvantages as well – staying organized has become an almost impossible task. Keeping track of all the things we need to do every week or month can be stressful at times. 

But fear not – cue the daily planner you can take with you anywhere! Your digital daily planner and even printable ones are portable so you have access on the go. Here are some super cool tips to use regularly to help you make the most of your daily planner and keep the chaos at bay:

Tip 1: Set Aside Time Every Week for Planning

Let’s kick things off with a super important habit: setting aside some chill time each week to plan. This may sound silly but you need to plan your planning time. Find a quiet time to reflect on your past week and get super focused on the week to come. When planning, block out time in your daily planner for each task you need to complete. Make sure to leave some wiggle room in your schedule in case something comes up unexpectedly. This can help you stay on track and make better use of your time.

Be sure to:

• Make sure you have enough time. You don’t want to feel rushed while you’re planning, so set aside at least 30 minutes each week.
• Add a splash of color! Use different colors for different tasks. This will help you visually see what needs to be done and when.
• Be specific with your plans. Write down exactly what needs to be done and when you plan on doing it. This will help keep you accountable and on track.
• Don’t forget to sprinkle in some fun activities! Make sure to schedule in time for activities that you enjoy outside of work or school.

Tip 2: Using a Daily Planner To Track Your Goals

Before diving into using a daily planner to get organized, it’s best to begin with the end in mind by identifying your goals. Your goals should be SMART, that is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound. 

Clearly state what your goals are, both long-term and short-term, then use your planner to track the progress of both. When tracking, be sure to celebrate achieving not only your big dreams but your small victories as well.

Tip 3: Create Different Tabs In Your Planner for Ultimate Organization

Tabs aren’t just for the bar; they’re for your planner too! 

Forget about using a daily planner as a glorified spiral notebook. If you’re one of those people who just likes to write everything down in one place, then this tip is irrelevant. But, if you want to stay organized, you need to make sure that you use different tabs in your planner.

Create different sections for events, daily tasks, important deadlines, and those not-so-urgent but still essential things – like spa appointments. This way, you won’t drown in a sea of information, and you can focus on what truly matters – getting super organized and boosting your productivity.

Tip 4: Make Sure To Use The Different Features of Your Daily Planner

Now, let’s talk about the love-hate relationship we all have with our planners.  We all know there are many ways to use a daily planner to unlock productivity. You love the idea of being organized and having a place for everything, but you hate actually using a daily planner because it’s so time-consuming. The good news is that there are a few simple tricks you can use to make sure your daily planner is working for you, not against you: 

Planner Sections

In order to get super organized you need to actually use your planner! Yes I said it! Many planners come with lots of sections to help you get organized. These may include daily, weekly and monthly planners, financial trackers, habit trackers, meal planners, visions boards and so on. These are all fantastic tools which when combined can really help you crush your goals and simplify your busy life.

So, instead of using a daily planner as a pretty notebook, take the time upfront to fill out the sections to get different aspects of your life organized. Remember the goal here is to get organized.

Weekly and Monthly Views

Using a daily planner can help keep you super focused as you can easily remind yourself of the bigger picture in a snap. You can do this by taking advantage of the weekly and monthly views. These can be great for getting an overview of what’s coming up and seeing where everything fits in. They also help you to check in on your goals to keep you on course towards achieving them. If you have a lot going on in a particular week or month, these views can help you stay on top of it all.

Hyperlinks

Using a daily planner is now much easier than before with the use of hyperlinks. Make full use of them. Digital Planners, especially ones with lots of sections, usually come hyperlinked. This can save you oodles of time to jump to the exact section or page in a second. There is usually an index so you can quickly enter details and update a particular day or activity. This allows you to quickly multitask your planning and organization and really shine as the super mom and/or successful entrepreneur that you are.

Notes

The notes section is like a brainstorming playground for your genius ideas! When using a daily planner, use the notes section to jot down ideas or thoughts as they come to you. Another thing to keep in mind is that your daily planner should be used as a tool to help you stay organized and on track. It’s not meant to be a replacement for your memory. That being said, don’t hesitate to jot down reminders for yourself throughout the day. These could be things like appointments, deadlines, or even just simple To-Do items.

Tip 5: Update Your Calendar and Weekly Tasks Regularly

Don’t let your planner gather dust – or get lost on your device! Set aside some time weekly to give it a good once-over and update your calendar regularly. This will ensure that you not only always have the most accurate information at hand but will help you prioritize and make sure that you are not forgetting anything important.

When using a daily planner be sure to check each section, see what’s working or not working. Are there any areas that need improvement? What about adding new tasks or events, or removing ones that are no longer relevant? Go right ahead and make those needed adjustments. 

Also, don’t forget to add a splash of fun! A daily planner can help you stay on track, but it should also be enjoyable to use. Be sure to personalize it with your favorite colors, doodles and stickers so that it becomes your own little happy place and you look forward to using it each week. 

By planning everything beforehand, you’re able to ensure that nothing will slip through the cracks when everything starts going haywire during the weekdays. Keeping your planner updated is like giving your planner a weekly spa day to keep it in tip-top shape.

Tip 6: Make A Habit Of Daily Planning or Routine Tasking

In the hustle and bustle, planning for the future can take a back seat. But if you want to achieve your goals, it’s important to make planning a habit. Planning can help you use your time more efficiently, accomplish goals, and reduce stress. Once you know the benefits of planning, it will be easier to make it a priority.

Making planning a habit is like adding a sprinkle of magic to your daily routine. Start small, focus on one thing at a time, and watch how it transforms your life. For example, if you want to start exercising more, plan when and where you will work out each week. Using a daily planner, you can then break it down to start with one simple exercise each day. Before you know it you will be getting your daily workouts in and enjoying them too.

Planning should be a habit, just like brushing your teeth! And like any habit, it takes some time and effort to develop. But once you do, you’ll find that it makes a world of difference in your life.

Conclusion – Stay Committed To Your Planner Journey

It might seem like a bit much to deal with when using a daily planner, but trust me, it’s worth it. Use it every day, and don’t limit it to just appointments and deadlines. Your planner is a versatile sidekick that can handle all sorts of things – ideas, to-do lists, grocery lists, you name it! It can be used as the perfect addition to supplement your business tools and resources.  The more you use it, the more helpful it will be.

You can find a variety of planners as well as habit trackers, journals and other productivity tools in my shop.  Be sure to check out my latest 2024 planners and get ready to be organized for the New Year.  I even have a FREE Daily Planner right below this post so you can try out your planning skills and boost your productivity. And hey, if you find yourself struggling to stick to the same page, my tips outlined above are here to rescue you. So go ahead, embrace the planner life, and make staying organized a breeze!

P.S Need help with planning, organization and/or Marketing for your business? Be sure to book a free call to find out more about the Marketing and Virtual Assistant Services I offer. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive my Marketing Mompreneur newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Bonus – You’ll receive a FREE Planner as well !