You’ve seen the unreal beauty of the planners that populate the page of your Pinterest feed. They’re decoratively filled and look like they require hours of time you just don’t have. The colors, the quotes, and the excuse to buy new pens collectively pull together and convince you to buy one. Planners are a highly recommended tool for students and others tasked with managing a hectic schedule. If you’re like me, you love the aesthetic and look of stationary items like planners and journals, but have a hard time committing. The first week is great, you’re writing in it and referencing it every day, but the excitement slowly dies and eventually your planner lies dormant for months. Believe it or not, there are ways to keep the less dedicated interested in the magic of planning.
Tip #1: Purchase a planner that motivates you to look at it every day!
Whether you’re a lover of the weekly planner system or you thrive off the layout of bullet journal, finding the planner that excites you is a must. Quotes throughout the pages or various doodles and decorations give you something to look forward every day. A few extra dollars may be the difference between a planner, you carry everywhere and a planner you don’t look at for months.
Tip #2: Set a reminder on your phone that reminds you to check your planner
Becoming a committed planner may require you to turn it into a habit. Creating a new habit requires a lot more effort than most of us think. A study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology reveals that it takes 66 days for a new habit to become second nature. In order to achieve this, setting reminders on your phone can help you get through the 66-day stretch.
Tip #3: Put it in the first place you look in the morning
As much as we hate to admit it, our cell phone is usually the first thing we grab in the morning. Whether you’re checking texts or getting your morning fix from Twitter, replace that immediate action with a better way to start the day. Checking your planner in the morning prepares you for your day and allows you to get more accomplished.
Tip #4: Use it as a way to track your productivity
A planner allows you to keep track of what you are doing and what you’re not. Little things may slip your mind throughout the day, but your planner acts as the friend that always has your back. Now let’s say you forget to check your planner for a few days, when you finally get back to it you’ll be able to see what you missed out on. You can determine if there’s a certain day or task that you frequently miss or are less productive on.
Tip #5: Take the plunge with a friend
Having someone to remind you or motivate you to not give up can amplify your planner experience. Get coffee and write out your assignments together or challenge each other to a simple task that encourages you to use it. The best friends are the ones that motivate you to achieve your goals.
If everything fails remind yourself that you spent a fair amount of money and you don’t want it to go to waste. By the time next year rolls around you’ll be ready to buy a new one, so you might as well get into the habit now. Good luck loves and happy planning!