I'm one of those people who've always rolled my eyes at people who plan out their lives. This all changed when my concept of time and memory (unrelated to factual information) flew out the window. This has been happening over the last few years but it really ramped up this year. I would forget doctors' appointments, tests, homework, and other events. I would find ways to make up for it but it became too draining. There were still things I would forget and I was always having to rush everything even though I didn't want to. For the most part, this all changed when I started planning my life effectively.
When finding ways to help me remember stuff, I realized that planning doesn't only involve a pen and paper. Some people use Google Calendar as their only planner or they set alarms on their phones. Others use a whiteboard next to their desk or bed and create a weekly agenda on it. There are so many different ways to plan and you can spend anywhere from $0 - $100 dollars to find something that works for you. In this post, I'm going to talk about what has worked for me and what hasn't. I will also talk about some things that I haven't tried but I think are good ideas.
Before I get into the nitty-gritty of planning, I need to define what it actually means. It can be easy to get lost in the crazy world of planning without an idea of how it could help you. According to Merriam-Webster, a plan is a customary method for doing something or achieving an end. This means that you don't need to use a special bullet journal or app on your phone to plan effectively. Planning is just a method to organize your schedule and remember things. However, if you are writing plans on your arm and are chronically late to everything because water rubs off the ink, this is not an effective method of planning and you need to change it. Why should you continue to do something that is only making your life more difficult? You can defend writing your agenda on your arm for as long as you want, but, one day, you may be late to something that actually matters. An example of an effective planning system would be someone making a daily list of what needs to be done and where they need to go and remembering to do it. They aren't late because of their system, they don't forget things, and that makes it effective. This system may not work for you, but it doesn't have to. It just needs to work for the person using it.
Now that we're all on the same page, I wanna talk about what I do to plan. If you have issues with your memory or with time, I highly suggest doing all of this. It may seem like a lot but it will save you every time. The first part of my system is a physical planner. Three brands I like are Passion Planner, Bando, and Pipsticks + Workman. I write down events, appointments, and important deadlines in my monthly calendar as soon as I know about them. Then, I copy all of them down in the weekly agendas. Any small, important papers that I need to keep for a long period of time go in the folder of the planner. I write down all of my homework and due dates for every class as soon as I hear about it. This way I can't mess up any of the instructions for it later. The next part of my system involves Google Calendar. On top of writing down everything in my planner, I color code it when I transfer it to my Google Calendar. Usually what happens, though, is it goes into my Google Calendar first because I lose or forget my planner. The only difference is I don't write my homework in my Google Calendar. I use it strictly for events and reminders. Another plus with Google Calendar is that I can also set up multiple notifications for every event. I can have as many or as few as I'll need. This way I remember something when I still have time to drive there (we live rather far away from everything). At the beginning of every week, I erase my whiteboard weekly agenda. I change the dates and events. It sits right next to my bed so I can see it when I wake up. I'm going to be honest. If it doesn't get on that whiteboard, it probably won't happen. Below the weekly agenda, I have a list of things I need to get done that aren't a specific event. Some examples would be to wish someone a happy birthday or to return my friend's shirt. It could be whatever. I also sporadically set an alarm with a description if I think I may forget something.
Wow. That's a lot. It requires a lot of discipline to do all of this but it actually saves me time, worry, and stress in the long run. That all makes it worth it. If you are having some of the same problems as me, I recommend starting with one thing at a time. Having the whiteboard next to my bed made the biggest difference for me and you can buy one for $10 or less. If you aren't willing to spend any money, start with Google Calendar or alarms. Something else you can do with Google is to create to-do lists through Tasks or Keep. Those three things are all for free with your Gmail account. The only way planning effectively is possible is through small changes to find what works for you. Maybe using a planner is inconvenient for your lifestyle. That's okay. If you want to write stuff down, still, you can try a bullet journal or a regular, old notebook. Personally, I find bullet journals to be extremely time consuming and exhausting so I wouldn't recommend that if you are just starting out. My challenge for you is to try at least one of these things that I've listed above to start with.
If you don't think any of those things will work for you or you've already tried them, don't sweat it. I have more options and ideas for you. I just either haven't tried them or they didn't work for me.
This one is something I am planning on trying out but I haven't had the time to buy. Post-It Notes. Some people use Post Its to write down important information, goals, or reminders and stick them to the wall in their room, a whiteboard, or anywhere really. It does have the risk of being a little messy and disorganized and may make you look like you're chasing a criminal. Other than that, this is a great way to dip your toes in the water of planning.
This method is similar to using an average planner but allows for more customization. You can download and print planner templates and put them into a binder, folder, or a disk custom notebook. It's kind of like bullet journaling without the hard work. The only downside is that it will be more expensive to start in the beginning but could end up saving you money in the long run.
If you really don't like the idea of in-depth or time-consuming planning, then you could always go back to the basics with a yearly calendar. For me, there just isn't enough space to write down all of my plans on the monthly pages. If you don't have as much going on or have really small handwriting, then a physical calendar might be a good way to go. You don't have to put a large amount of effort into this type of planning. I would suggest writing in pencil so you don't have to cross stuff out if plans change.
If you have been like me and believed that planners are a waste of time, I highly suggest you give it a second chance. Being forced to plan in elementary school with certain colors and requirements is very different than creating a system that works for you. You don't need to have any fancy supplies. All you need is a place to take note of important life stuff. If you have any other questions about planning, send me an email and I'll get back to you!
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