Organize To Thrive [Planners]

Good Morning, sweet readers! This post is one continuing the tips on organizing to thrive! I would love to share with you the last two posts. First, almost two weeks ago I posted on home budgeting, meal planning, and organizing. Last week my friend Ashley @ Ash Ann Pow shared her advice on couponing through a guest post so that you can try to get more for your money. If you have not check out those posts I would love to encourage you to bookmark them and read them along with this post! They are jam packed with tips to use for future reference. 

This calendar is a 15 month planner from FiveStar. I found it at Office Depot for $21. It has spirals, which I hate but they are covered with cloth on the back. The cloth definitely helps the spirals to stay in place without bending. 

(Front Cover)

(Inside)

How ironic is it that I posted yesterday about my planning getting me in trouble with Jesus?   

I seriously would be lost without my planner, y'all. It is so weird to think about this "book" that we carry around everywhere for one entire year, right? My planner is my life and unfortunately, I do not have a clue of what I am doing day to day without it. I guess you can assume that dementia is hitting home with me at an early age. Ha :) I know I thrive best when I am organized, rested, and happy. In the past eight months I have learned how our home thrives best, how to provide for my husband so that he thrives best and is happy, and how to be a successful, thriving student.  

Confession: I have more than one calendar. I may or may not have 4 calendars in our home. :)  I have one on a bulletin board in our office showcasing everything for Tony, a school calendar in my backpack, a calendar on my phone, and then another family/bill/home calendar that I carry with my school calendar (the two basically have the same information in each). The calendar on my phone is for things I have to get done in my daily life and I have a hard time keeping track of things on there because it can be overwhelming at times adding things and changing the times.  I like paper calendars.  I like to write and then highlight things, which you can see above. I still love having a real, paper calendar in my hands or on my wall. In fact, it is a purchase I look forward to every new year.

As you can tell in the photo above, I max out every inch of paper with reminders. At the beginning of the week I write down all the things that I know must be done. Then, I color code those items so that I will know where it associates based on importance- school, home, placements, meetings, ect. All of the reminders listed in pencil are things that happen during the day that I did not plan for. Most of these things get accomplished on the day that they are assigned until around Wednesday or Thursday. By hump day I slowly being to push things to the next day. 

In an effort to continue sharing my organization love with you all, I have created a list of planners that are functional no matter the type of planner you may be. Some of these planners range in prices, brands, and where they can be found. If you are a little OCD about your planner like me, then you may find this post right up your alley. I hope you all will enjoy! And, then go shopping for a new planner! 

This is a Blue Sky planner from Target's clearance section for $6.98. (A sweet reader sent me this picture.) I LOVE the amount of white space to write in! 

This is a friend's planner that is similar to the Five Star planner I have. However, her planner is by month and not by week. This planner was $1 at Target and is the brand "Magnificent." As you can see in the photo above, there is additional space provided on the side to make notes for each day. 

The momAgenda personal portfolio in crocodile is definitely a splurge, but it has sleek styling and serves with a smart design that allows you to track schedules for yourself and up to four kids. It’s no wonder their planners are a favorite of moms everywhere. I am not sure that I would want to tote around a "notebook/binder" all the time though. If your lifestyle is more business oriented, this I bet this is the planner for you!

I have noticed many mothers in my classes never leave the house without their Moleskine journal. If you like their journal, you should start thinking of grabbing their mini hard cover daily planner, which gives you loads of space to write daily to-dos or even better, keep a little journal. New moms? This might just be a smart baby book alternative.

For under $20, the 8 Days-A-Week Planner gives you lots of vertical space (my favorite!) for daily appointments, plus an extra “Someday” for to-do lists or whatever else needs to be done at some point, which is perfect for expert list makers like me. This planner is very much similar to my Five Star Pink planner up there. I just love having that extra white space of paper to freely utilize. I am not a fan of bearing the spirals though. After a year, the spirals will not hold up. Sometimes open spirals will bend within the first two months of use. 

Finally, as you may recognize, this is an Erin Condren: Life Planner. This particular planner is $50. You have the option to personalize it, add more sections, and alter other sections. Options in this planner include sections for much more than just day to day life planning. It includes stickers, tabs, folders, a note section, art section, and more. I personally have yet to buy a planner like this because I was afraid of the spirals. However, I have a sweet friend who sent me this picture and info. She said that she will never own a different planner. This is her third EC life planner. So far she has yet to experience problems with the spirals bending. I am just too frugal to step out there and make the purchase. :) 

Lilly Pulitzer 2013 Large Agenda is really similar to the EC planner, yet much cheaper. This 17-month Lilly Pulitzer planner is a unique daily agenda full of frisky fun! The colored tabs make for happy planning, weekly and monthly calendar pages, holiday markers, stickers, pocket folder for storage, and is bound together with spirals and a elastic band. See inside the Lilly Pulitzer Agenda! I believe this planner is not one that can be personalized as much as the EC life planner. Regardless, I think it is still super cute for only $25!

I hope these ideas for planner options will help you get a better idea of the type of planner that fits your lifestyle. I am not one who cares much for the outside cover or price. Since a planner is something that you will use for an entire year, it is something that I try to make last. I am always more concerned with the little details inside anyway. Again, no matter the type of planner that you are, always find one that will fit your style, needs, and wants so that you will be organized to thrive! Happy planning, shopping, and blogging!

Thanks for reading!  

I would love to hear from you! What is an organization tip that you would like to know more on? Currently, I do not have ideas for next week although I would love to post again on organizing to thrive! 

As always, until next time! Have a great day!