Enhancing Daily Life with a Custom Planner
I started using a custom planner this year and cannot believe I haven’t done this before now! I created all of my own inserts and have printable versions in my Etsy store, PrintsbyKaitlyn, if you are interested. I am adding new items monthly! Here are some ways using a custom planner has elevated my daily life.
Organization
This point may be obvious, but using a custom planner allows for optimal organization for everything that I need to keep track of. The sections I currently have in my planner are calendar, work, health, personal, finance, and notes. In the calendar section I keep monthly and weekly layouts to keep track of my schedule. I also keep a few daily planner inserts in case I have an extremely busy day and need a more detailed view. I keep notes from work meetings and other reference information, such as contacts, so that it is readily available during my work day. I keep health information, such as a log of doctor visits and other reference material. My personal section is for my brand and also any other projects I have going on at the moment. I have a finance section for keeping track of monthly and recurring expenses. Lastly, I have a notes section for any other lists/notes I need to hang on to. I also like to keep notes of the book I am reading at the moment.
My planner is also extremely helpful for writing down and keeping track of my goals. I track personal health goals, such as nutrition, hydration, and physical activity. I also track goals for building my brand and Etsy store. My planner is a catch-all for the information I need day-to-day, which makes it easier to accomplish all my tasks.
Creative Expression
Planners need to functional, but they can also be a channel for creativity. As a designer, I love creating functional inserts that help me stay on track, but I also love creating decorative dashboards and cards that express my personal style. It makes me want to keep revisiting my planner throughout the day. I am still creating new inserts as I find I need to add or change the information in my planner to work with my current schedule/activities. I enjoy being able to switch out my deco depending on my mood. If I have an extremely busy week coming up, I may switch my deco to more inspirational and motivational material. If I am feeling more creative at the moment, I may include some abstract pieces. I need a creative practice/outlet in my life, so using my planner for this purpose helps me fulfill that creative need while keeping me organized and on task.
Satisfaction
I love being able to look back through the previous week/month/year and see a record of all of my achievements. It definitely motivates me to keep working on my goals. It is also satisfying to to have a very personalized system that is tailored to my needs.
