Hi Belle,
I’m a long time reader with a post request. Starting to think about 2016 (maybe getting ahead of myself!) and thinking about new agendas/planners. I use one from May Designs currently but I’ve seen others recommended – Emily Ley’s Daily Planner for example. Just curious if you have any thoughts on useful planners and thought it could an interesting post.
Feel better! Megan
I recently started keeping a paper agenda for my school work. I organize my calendar online, but deadlines for homework and assignments needed a paper home. So while tech is good, sometimes paper is best.
I use a Graphic Image planner. They come in a lot of great colors. I also like their larger spiral notebooks for work. For something similar at an affordable $20, try this academic planner.
One of my relatives swears by these Day Designer planners, also in rainbow stripe. Kate Spade also makes a nice planner.
If you want something really chic — a sign of status, if you will — try an Hermes agenda.
Have a favorite planner, agenda, or notebook? Leave your suggestion in the comments.
I am OBSESSED with the full sized Day Designer. I balked at the pricetag (Who pays $60 for a planner, right?) before breaking down and buying one last year. Totally worth the money: it’s sturdy enough that it’s survived about a year of being toted around the globe when I travel, but it’s not so bulky that I feel like I’m dragging around a brick. I can’t get through the day without mine anymore!
I’m loving Rifle Paper’s new agenda. I contemplated a Day Designer but trying to find them for sale seems to be impossible (they sell out really quickly).
I agree sometimes…paper is absolutely best. I would like to give a shout out for my planner which I was gifted. It is available in this etsy shop along with some personalized stationary stuff. The full size calendar (which I keep handy for reference at home) does the job nicely, but there are a lot of other options. https://www.etsy.com/shop/jillhartline
I prefer a weekly planner and I love my planner from Erin Condren. I had a Lilly Pulitzer planner and Kate Spade planner prior to my Erin Condren planner and I prefer the Erin Condren planner. It isn’t necessarily “chic” but it does everything I need it to!
I used to use the myAgenda from MomAgenda, but now I’ve switched to this leather planner from Paper Source. I like being able to use both monthly and weekly views, and it’s got enough space for lists/details without being too enormous. Plus, it’s pretty (I’ve seen it in multiple colors in stores).
https://www.papersource.com/item/2016-Large-Gold-Planner/3303-057/530087.html
I love my Circa notebook from Levenger with the Daily Planner sheets. https://www.levenger.com/PAPER-322/PLANNERS—AGENDAS-523/Circa-Daily-Planner-Refill-12393.aspx
They have a 7-7 workday and allow me to keep my billable time (I’m an attorney) as well as room for a daily to-do list and notes. You can purchase 3-month increments so you can figure out if they work for you.
I’ve been using orange circle studio do-it-all planners for a few years now. I like that there’s additional space on each day that you can use to track other people’s schedules, meals, workouts, or whatever you want really. I usually grab em for $14 on amazon. Plus, the front “i’m a planner!” text is really a sticker that peels off and looks like journal.
I was a gifted a Tory Burch planner for my birthday last year. I must say it held up pretty well being tossed about in bags for the year. The only thing that is missing is a pocket were I can keep bills or important papers. I like that it had three ribbon bookmarks (one for month view, one for the current week and one I keep in the notes section for the lists I keep. I initially balked at the price – $75 – who pays that much for an organizer – especially since I usually get mine from the bookstore for $20. I was just in the process breaking down and buying one of the Lilly Pulitzer ones for $35 (steep for me) when I got this one.
I love my Plum Paper Planner. Similar in overall style to the Erin Condren, but you can opt for an hourly layout, which works so much better for me. I love the Erin Condren style checklist and notes area, but with the greater functionality for appointment. Plum paper also has student/teacher layouts and family layouts, if you have specific needs to see your schedule in that format.
I use a Leuchtturm1917 Notebook Medium (A5) and the bullet journal method. I’ve been using the bullet journal (www.bulletjournal.com)for more than two years and it is hands down the best method for me. I’m an attorney with a busy practice and it keeps me highly organized. I keep track of appointments in my google calendar.
+1 for Bullet Journal! So much flexibility and can be as rigid as I need it to be.
Erin Condren’s LifePlanner is the best! You can personalize the front, it has weekly and monthly views, spaces for notes, folders — it’s perfect!
I’ve been using Moleskine’s Weekly Notebook Planner on and off for over 10 years. It comes in various sizes. On one side is the week and on the other side is a blank page for notes, grocery lists, personal to-do lists. I love it!
+1 I love Moleskine planners. I used to use the Weekly Notebook Planner, but now use the Weekly Diary because it has a little more room on each day to write.
I have used this for a few years. I used the large (5 x 8 or so) for awhile then upgraded to the extra large (7.5 x 10, https://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Weekly-Notebook-Extra-Large/dp/B00O80WC7C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444936249&sr=8-1&keywords=moleskine+weekly+notebook+extra+large) last year. I spend a little time every couple months customizing it. I draw a line down the center of the left page so each day has 2 squares. The left square is for appointments, the right square is for daily to-do’s (I use the bullet journal format). On the right hand page, I have three sections across the top for listing work to-do’s (sorted by the three main functions of my job). Then I have a few squares for dividing up household tasks, schoolwork (since I’m also a student), and tracking workouts. I leave one large square for drawing or writing quotes. I end up drawing and writing quotes elsewhere, too. I know a lot of people aren’t interested in the level of customizing I do, but I love my planner because it is truly a reflection of me and my life, and it gives me space to create art. My system has evolved over the last few years, and because I create it a few months at a time, I can change it as priorities in my life change.
The slim, Moleskine format makes it easy to carry with me, and it is very durable.
++++++++ 100000 for the Moleskine Planners. I use the Weekly planner with the days on the left and a ruled page on the right. I’ve used a Moleskine planner for the last 7 years.
I also caved and bought a Plum Planner – which is similar to the Erin Condren. There’s a sub-fan-group around the Erin Condrens/Plum Planners and people go nuts over decorating them with stickers. I used my Plum Planner for a month or so and it felt too large and juvenile but I kept it around to use at home for meal planning.