Category: Planner Tips
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Stop Juggling. Start Designing. The Case for a Custom Planner.
As planner season arrives, many seek to create a custom planner suited to their needs rather than settling for generic layouts. By organizing sections for different life areas and choosing appropriate formats, users can optimize planning and avoid juggling multiple planners. A tailored approach enhances functionality and efficiency for personal and professional lives.
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How to Evaluate a Printable Planner PDF Before You Buy
(And Why It Matters)
You’re scrolling through Etsy on your phone. A printable file catches your eye — the colors are perfect, the layout looks clean, and something about it just feels right. You’re thinking, “yes, this is what I’ve been looking for.” That excitement is a great start. But it’s not the whole story. The real question —…
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DIY Cardstock Storage Pockets for Planner Inserts
Nothing derails a planning routine faster than rummaging for an insert—only to find bent corners, curled pages, or tab dividers that got crushed in a drawer. These simple cardstock storage pockets solve both problems: they protect your planner pages and keep your extras sorted and easy to grab. In this post, I’ll walk you through…
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Keeping Goals: How to Set and Achieve What Matters Most
Keeping Goals: How to Set and Achieve What Matters Most Are you tired of setting goals that look great on paper but disappear in real life? If so, keep reading. (If so, stick around.) The problem isn’t you. It’s the way you’ve been taught to set goals (I’m Linda and) I’ve been using planners for…
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From Pens to Paper: How to Conduct an Effective Ink and Paper Test
If you’re new to planning, you might not have heard of ink and paper testing. An ink and paper test is simply trying out each pen, marker, and highlighter on a sample of the paper or surface you plan to write on. This helps you find out if it writes smoothly and is legible.
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End of the Year Planning Tip #24 – Celebrate Your Progress Over the Past Year
Progress in our planning isn’t measured by perfectly checked-off task lists or beautifully decorated pages. It’s found in even the smallest wins: prioritizing what truly matters, remembering to schedule time for rest and simply using your planner more consistently. Planning is about growth, not perfection. It is a reflection of grace in action – the…
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End of the Year Planning Tip #23 – Begin Migrating Important Data
Migrating the important data from your current planner to a new one as the year ends, is a critical step. You need to try and find a time when your activity in the old planner has slowed down. You don’t want to be actively updating the old planner in the middle of transitioning the data…
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End of the Year Planning Tip #22 – Identify Resources For Completing Goals
Christa, the Christmas Elf, combines holiday spirit with goal-setting for the new year by encouraging planners to identify useful resources for achieving their goals. These include mentors, peers, books, classes, research topics, and new equipment. Such resources can aid in achieving personal goals while fostering motivation and accountability. Happy planning!
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End of the Year Planning Tip #21 – Identify New Habits
The post emphasizes the importance of establishing new habits for achieving personal goals. It outlines strategies from James Clear’s “Atomic Habits,” highlighting four laws: make it obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. Developing a clear intention and prepping for success are key steps in building effective habits over time.
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End of the Year Planning Tip #20 – Break Down Your Goals Into Interim or Step Goals
Christa’s latest planning tip emphasizes the importance of breaking down annual goals into manageable interim steps. By mapping these goals on a year-at-a-glance calendar or using sticky notes, individuals can visualize their progress, avoid overwhelm, and adjust plans as needed. This structured approach enhances goal achievement and facilitates regular progress tracking.