How to Start using a Paper Planner that’s Right for You

For the last few years there’s been a fast-growing phenomenon of people using paper planners again. Planner enthusiasts share and document the way they use their planners which combines scrapbooking, journaling, list-making and organization. Planner addicts are often very loyal to their planner of choice. Weekly layouts are decorated with paper die-cuts, stickers, washi tape and rubber stamps – often made specifically for their planner of choice. Layouts and organization tips are shared on Instagram, in Facebook Groups and in Youtube Videos. It’s a big thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why would you need a paper planner when you can do it all on your phone? People say that writing things down helps them to stop and focus on the event for a minute. It helps you to remember and when you look back at your week or month you feel more accomplished by what you’ve done. Taking the time to decorate or add little creative touches also helps to focus on your accomplishments and in general gives you a chance to honor your busy life just a little bit more.

 

 

Another thing that has come from this trend is the community of mostly women who are busy mothers, students, workers. They share their planner pages and ideas with each other and find support in the community. Planner parties and meet-ups are common in some towns. In fact, Craft Warehouse has planner parties once a month at a couple of locations in the Portland area.

If you haven’t considered a paper planner until now, think about how writing notes helped you remember in classes, how much you loved stickers as a child and how you can make your planner be anything you want and need!

How to Make a Planner your Own

1. Find a planner.  It doesn’t have to be fancy, it doesn’t even have to be a planner. You could use a journal or a notebook. It should, however, make you happy to look at it. You should want to write in it.

2. Determine what is the most important thing to you. Do you need a week at a glance, a day at a glance? Maybe you don’t even need a calendar as much as a series of lists or ways to track things (if this is true, we recommend trying Bullet Journaling). Perhaps this planner is just for work or just for school. It doesn’t have to include everything.

3. Keep what works and forget about the rest. Most planners have calendars that aren’t numbered, so you can choose to only use it for your busy months. Many are also spiral or ring bound, so you can take out what you won’t use and create pages for what you do use. Many planners sell extra page inserts that can be customized.

4. Start Small. Take 30 minutes or so on the weekend to fill in some pages. Don’t expect yourself to spend time on it everyday at first – or ever. This is your tool. Use it how it best benefits you. Many people look at it everyday to help keep them on track, but once a week might be fine for you.

5. Find some Embellishments – Decorating your pages or putting a sticker on a good day or a task done is not just for looks. Marking these small accomplishments and honoring the time you spend just making life happen helps with your mental attitude.  Planners say that this part can get addictive and contributes to lessened anxiety and helps lift spirits. So find some stickers, washi tape and embellishments you like and have some fun.

6. Don’t Ditch the Digital Planner – Keeping appointments on your google calendar or list maker app is still a good idea. Partly because these apps will remind you in a timely manner. It’s also a good way to remember the things you need to write down when you get back to your planner.

There are so many ways to create a paper organizer and journal that is right for you. Come by a Craft Warehouse soon and see all we have to help you create the perfect planner for you.