Strategic Planning: How To Use Your Planner To Its Full Potential
I have to be honest, my favorite time of the year is shopping for a new planner. Especially when I go to Target to look at all the pretty designs and florals from Kate Spades line. But, have you ever found a planner that specifically has everything you need?
You most likely have to explore online to find the planner that fits all of your college needs. However, here are some tips on how to turn your boring agenda into an effective source: Pick a planner that is the perfect size for your life- Buying a huge planner does not always ensure that it will be easier to plan or write in. If you are going from class to class with five textbooks and your planner, it is easier to leave your planner at home and forget about it. Having a very tiny planner is also easy to forget or drop and it may not hold enough pages for your everyday college life.
Be mindful of what you prefer on a daily basis. An agenda is made to follow you to class, the store, or even the doctor’s office.
Have time to sit and fill out the planner- A planner is used to plan ahead, so have a sit-down time right after you buy it to fill in as many events, birthdays, exams, assignments, vacations, and miscellaneous stuff you can think of. Sip on some coffee before class and note all of your important dates.
Color code everything– Some days, I do mess up. I grab the wrong set of colorful pens or in a rush to write things down, I grab a color out of order. I’ve learned to keep a package of pens just for my planner. I also keep them in my school bag with me at all times.
Take advantage of the daily section- Many people use the full calendar and forget about the other 100 pages of the planner. Use the daily pages as much as the calendar. It is also hard to find the daily section that fits your needs.
Mine has it sectioned with one-hour time slots, but you can turn it into a daily “To-Do,” budgeting page, homework checklist, or even a shopping list. Tend to your needs, whatever you write on a daily basis should be placed here.
It's your planner. Show your personal style- It is okay to splurge on stationery kits, sticky notes, washi tape, or binder clips. When I am in a rush to write something down, I use a sticky note and attach it to whatever section it belongs to.
Follow Instagram accounts that show you ways to create a stylish agenda if you want. Many items, like paperclips and binder clips, are easily found in Target’s dollar aisle.
Don’t stress. It’s just a book- There is no need to be overwhelmed. Of course, you want things to be perfect. We all do. Everything comes with trial and error. If one way doesn’t satisfy you, try again.
