An Inside Look: In-Depth Review of My Planner
Raise your hand if you’re nosy like me!
I can’t lie, I’m definitely nosy when it comes to other people’s planner set ups. I constantly scroll Instagram or Pinterest thinking, I wonder what their planner set up looks like? What did last week look like? How did they fill out the beginning pages of their planner? I want to know it all!
Because I share my planner on social media, I often get a lot of these same questions. My planner has changed A LOT over the years. Back in 2018, I started with the trusty Erin Condren life planner but changed to the Emily Ley planner, Happy Planner, and Cloth & Paper. Don’t get me started on the different planner sizes! I’ve used 7x9, A5, Paper Size (8.5x11), mini planners, and then some. You name it, I’ve likely tried it.
So if you’re nosy and want to know more about my planner set up, this is blog post for you! Here’s an inside look in my planner as I do a in-depth review of my planner set up.
Planner Specs
If you’ve been with me on this planner journey for a while, then you know that my go-to planner size is the half-letter planner. Planner spec questions are hard to answer sometimes because you can’t just buy this exact planner set up from a store. (IYKYK!) The planner system I use contains materials and accessories from multiple different stores and shops, including Cloth & Paper, Rosie Paperterie, and Amazon. (If you’re new to the planner world, don’t be afraid! There is so much beauty and fun in crafting your own planner set-up. The sky is truly the limit. You can change your layout as often as you want. If you’re overwhelmed, grab my Ultimate Guide for Planner Newbies freebie for more help with navigating the chaos that is the planner world.)
The overall set-up of my half-letter planner hasn’t changed much. My planner has three main sections, one of which has two sub-sections. Yes, subsections. Let’s get into it.
Divider 1: Schedule
The Schedule tab is by far my most used section of my planner. I use the inserts in this tab for most things “personal” that needs a space in my planner. In this section, you’ll find a little bit of everything. Random to-do lists, an affirmation or quote, even a random reminder or two. Whenever I need a burst of color (like I mentioned in my most recent YouTube videos), I love incorporating a highlighter to add that pop of color. Otherwise, the neutrals give me all the vibes I need to keep me opening this planner.
Because this is my go-to section, I have quite a few inserts in this tab. I currently use the weekly vertical inserts from Cloth & Paper, so those are the “main” inserts. When I’m not busy planning daily to-do lists on the vertical inserts, you’ll find me using a few trackers, such as my daily habit tracker and my daily gratitude log. Here’s a current view of the Schedule tab!
This layout is a perfect illustration of the beauty and slight chaos that is the Schedule tab. Of course, you have my schedule, broken out into daily to do-lists. The second photo shows a random daily to-do list along with some personal goals for the week.
I absolutely love how I use the Schedule tab and the inserts that live in this section! I don’t see myself changing this any time soon (although like most of us planner lovers, I am always excited to see new layouts).
Divider 2: Notes + Lists
For all of my planner lovers out there: do you have that one part of your planner that could be called “Miscellaneous”? You know, that one section that houses a plethora of things?
That’s the Notes + Lists tab for me.
Despite the title of this section, there aren’t many notes and lists here. Like I mentioned earlier in the post, this is the part of my planner that has two “subsections.” Let’s talk about them both.
Business
In the beginning of the year, I shared my 2024 Planner Lineup. I began the year with multiple (and I mean MULTIPLE) planners. I couldn’t stand it. Instead of using a separate business planner, I currently use Notion to plan some of the more habitual tasks of the business. However, if I need to brainstorm a few ideas, get my thoughts out of my head and onto paper, or simply conceptualize a new content series, to this section of my paper planner I go.
I primarily use lined inserts in the business subsection, but lots of sticky notes. Occasionally, if I have a laundry list business related tasks, I’ll place a sticky note in the Schedule tab so that it’s front and center.
These extra sticky black sticky notes are my go-to planning accessory for a lengthy to-do list, perfect when I need more space for business tasks! But as you can see, whenever I get a random business-related though, I pull out the nearest writing utensil and sticky note to jot down the idea. There’s no rhyme or reason to this subsection, but that’s why I love the freedom of a disc bound planner. You can plan in a way that meets your organizational needs.
Professional
If you’ve watched some of my plan with me videos lately, then you know that I recently took a leadership role on the board of directors of a non-profit organization here in Buffalo. The organization provides after-school and summer programming for students in the western New York area! More roles equal more work. So I often need space to take committee meeting notes, write down any tasks or meeting takeaways, and more.
I can’t show this section of my planner for privacy reasons, but I use lined inserts here as well. (Sensing a pattern?! I love me a good lined insert.)
Divider 3: Finances
I don’t use this section.
Let me clarify — I use this section occasionally, usually when I am sick of planning my paychecks digitally. Financial planning has always been tough for me because I haven’t found a method that meets my financial planning needs. I currently plan “big picture” financial goals and tracking digitally, but plan paychecks on whatever paper is nearby (usually a notebook if we’re being honest). The Finances tab is definitely the least used part of my planner!
More Details (for the really nosy ones who still want to know more…)
Whether you’re a paper or a digital planner user, you know that our planners are so much more than the mere dividers and sections. Here’s the inside scoop on other parts of my planner.
Self-Care Corner
The self-care corner is one of my favorite parts of my planner. Whether I’m feeling down or just simply want to practice mindfulness, I can open my planner to the self-care corner to get motivation, healthy reminders, and a boost of confidence. This part of my planner is filled with affirmations, scriptures, encouraging words, and helpful reminders (like my 2024 Word of the Year, forward).
If you don’t have a self-care corner in your planner, this is your sign! Your corner does not have to take up multiple pages in your planner. You can take half of a page, a sticky note, and your favorite pen to create a special and encouraging section for yourself.
Here’s the Self-Care Corner of my planner, which takes up only two planner pages (which is pretty good for me if we’re being honest!)
Aesthetics
In the age of capitalism, the word aesthetic often gets a bad reputation. And I get it! Sometimes, we try to achieve a level of aesthetic that could lead to overconsumption.
Creating an aesthetic planner does not have to mean buying anything and everything you see and blowing your budget. In fact, I’m a firm believer that if you love how your planner looks, you’ll likely use it more often. The key is to cultivate a view that YOU love and that YOU want to see on a daily basis; ignore what you see everyone on social media using if it doesn’t align with what’s important to you! For me, I love a minimal yet artistic view. So this is what I prioritize when building and adding to my planner.
The front of my planner is everything I need! Even if I skip planning for a day or two, I always come back to my planner after seeing this view on my desk! There’s something so beautiful and regal (to me at least) about this layering moment in the beginning of my planner that keeps me reaching for my planner. I don’t know what it is, to be honest. But this acrylic fluted dashboard and olive green planner card have stolen my heart.
How can you create a planner that you love to use? If you struggle to use a planner throughout the year, give some thought to what sort of planning style you love (whether it’s minimal or colorful and sticker-filled) and get t o planning!
Ending Thoughts
Despite changing planners frequently since 2020, I truly love my current planner set-up. I’ve crafted this planner experience with some of the most versatile yet elegant planner inserts that truly give me the flexibility to meet my planning needs.
In the meantime, let me know in the comments below which planner you are currently loving right now!