I love January. It represents hibernation, coziness, a mug of hot chocolate and a good read. It’s a new mini-series to watch with the fire lit. January is introversion after December’s extroversion. It’s a fresh start and a new year.
Another thing I love about January is getting my new planner and dreaming of all the things yet to come, all the goals to plan, the dreams to ponder, and the work to complete. I light a candle and pull out one of my favorite pens (this one or this one) and begin looking at the new year.
I used to use cheap planners that zipped or snapped from Wal-Mart or Target. Then I just kept a digital calendar for a period. I still keep a calendar online. I use it mostly for appointments as well as things I want to share with my husband so we both know who-is-where-what-day. But I returned to the the physical planner again several years ago. First, I tried The Happy Planner. They were all the rage and they ARE so pretty. They have beautiful images, positive sayings, and you can buy fun stickers and things to decorate it and almost turn it into a scrapbook.
But The Happy Planner didn’t work for me. First, it was very thick and heavy. It wasn’t easy to slip into a bag or purse. Second, there were lots of sections I wasn’t using and was leaving blank. There was lots of wasted space.
My next choice was trying the Moleskine planner. I got a 12 month weekly planner in the XL size. I love this size! It is large but because it is so slim it isn’t heavy or clunky. It might be too large for some people, which is fine because they also make two other smaller sizes. Sadly, the only negative thing is the XL comes in more limited colors. This year I purchased a lovely sapphire blue, but if you want more color options you’ll have to choose a smaller size.
I really like the simple set-up. Each week is listed down the left side of the page with a whole blank page on the right. This is perfect for me. I write in daily tasks, appointments, and so forth on the left and then put a running To Do list on the right. These are things not assigned to particular days, I just need to remember them and get them done.
Choosing a planner is very personal. You have to figure out what best works for you and your life. You have to know how you operate and how you don’t. This planner is not perfect for everyone. If you like a more feminine vibe and want motivational sayings this planner isn’t for you (although it can definitely be decorated!). However, if you like simplicity, I’d give the Moleskine planner a try.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A PLANNER YOU LOVE WHAT DO YOU USE AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT IT?
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