When it comes to “planning life” this girl I know (me) can get a little anxious, worrying profusely about making sure I don’t forget something and keeping all the plates spinning. It can be hard to balance all of life in ways that help me and everyone around me to live healthfully and happily, and for the longest time I had been looking for a good way to do it.
Now let me just say this – you don’t have to go out and buy a fancy planner to live a happy and successful life. You don’t even have to spend a lot of money on a planner to plan well. I would argue that, as with all things, it takes willpower and practice to get into the habit of planning and working life well. I for one took an online class about it to spark some motivation, and found out about the Erin Condren planners there.
The way I see it I can just show you pictures of the inside of the planner and call that good, but the reality is that there may be a few people out there – like me – who want fleshed-out examples of how it can be used. For privacy purposes I won’t be showing actual days and plans, but rather will share what I can to maybe inspire a new mom with new mom brain (ladies, I don’t know if it ever goes away…) to work towards gaining that small sense of control back. These are really only my experiences, but I’d love any tips or tricks anyone else may have! Feel free to share in the comments 🙂
So first things first, I love that I can personalize what’s on the front of my planner with Erin Condren. I picked Romans 12:12 because it’s my favorite verse and a constant reminder to walk with God – even in our life-planning craziness He is still there. And this girl? Needs all the help with being reminded of that as she can get! There are also some wonderful motivating quotes throughout the planner as well, which I also love seeing. Like that “Bloom where you are planted” in the photo below? Yeah, just saw that and it totally just made my day. Really.
OK, so here’s the deal. My life can be really crazy at times and really slow and sweet at times – both of which I really enjoy during those various seasons. Right in this very moment and this season of summer I am ramping up for some really busy things, so what I like to do is list out all of the things I have going on:
- work – blog posts, freelance articles, commitments with brands and networks, continuing education, research, writing, recipe development, etc
- home – bills, playdates, cleaning, date nights, family time, summer travel plans, home needs, car stuff, groceries, appointments, etc
- personal – Bible time, journaling, working out, showers (yes, I plan my showers), girls’ nights out, etc
- goals – all of the things I want to do in the next week/month (kind of self-explanatory, but still)
I keep a running in list in the back pages of the planner, which are blank, and as I plan out the months and days I can cross those things off or add as needed. First I go through and write out all writing commitments – both for my blog and for freelance – in the month. This gives me a chance to really take a full snapshot of what’s going on and where I can give or take time for work purposes. If there are any appointments or home things that I know about in advance, I write those in too, although admittedly those things tend to change on a weekly basis. I rarely write in my personal stuff in the monthly overview section, but you get the idea – write down the things you know about in advance here.
After I’ve sufficiently planned out the month, more or less, I turn to the week at hand and write in each section of each day the things that I need to do. Right now Weston is taking 2 naps per day, which means that I attempt to do all of my work things during those times. When he’s awake we’re usually eating, at a playdate, at the pool or playground, and/or cleaning the house (well, I’m cleaning and he’s going through and tearing it apart again ;)). I literally write out every little thing I know we need to get done for the day, more or less in the order they need to happen.
And then? I go through and mark it all out as it gets done. I don’t have to do that, but it really does feel good to cross things off the list!
I tend to keep my planner open to the weekly overview, so if there are things that need to be done later in the week from the monthly overview, I will usually go in and write it at the top of the specific day and then highlight it. Keeping those things visible really helps me see the full picture, and then adjust accordingly. I really work my hardest to get most of my work for the week done Monday and Tuesday so that I can relax and go with the flow a little more Wednesday-Friday and on into the weekend. It doesn’t always work that way, but that’s usually my goal! I find that it’s especially important to try and stay far ahead of things during this season as we’re coming up on some really busy weekends and travel.
So another thing about the planner that I admittedly haven’t taken advantage of as much is the address book and all of the fun stickers that come with it. I’m hoping to use those more often, but I figured it was more important to get used to writing stuff down and planning than it was to use all of those things more consistently. Now though? I’m hoping to make the future months all pretty and littered with birthday and anniversary stickers!!!
One thing I really like to do is go back at the beginning of every year and make sure I input all of the birthdays and such from the year before. I’m not perfect at doing this, but it really helps keep me consistent with sending and cards and/or gifts to the people I love.
Now we’re kind of to the back of the planner. This is where all of those blank pages are that I doodle and list on, but it also has a great section to (as it says above) keep it all together. I have to keep track of receipts and such for work, and that little space is a lifesaver! Plus there’s a full 2 year quick view that kind of helps me keep everything at a glance. More than anything it’s helpful to have it all there for planning trips and vacations as needed!
There’s also a ziplock (not sure if that’s the right word, but you know what I mean) thingy in the back that’s great for holding business cards and receipts as well. More than anything it’s just really nice having room in one planner for all of the things I need to see and look at any given time. That whole quick-glance thing makes a busy life that much easier!
Like I said, I’m not angel when it comes to being organized these days, but I can definitely attest to the fact that my old system wasn’t working and left me stressed and worn out just trying to remember all of the details and things I was supposed to keep track of. This system is certainly working, and I can tell a huge difference in my ability to plan appropriately for all of the stuff life throws at me. And y’all? If it makes me a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and worker? Then I’m all in 🙂
So what about you guys? Tips? Tricks? Questions? I’m all for hearing how you stay organized and motivated!
I’ve been loving the Erin Condren planners for about 6 months now and getting ready to order my 2014-15 life planner. I came across a picture of your planner and fell in love with the verse idea. My question to you is how did you add the verse on there? It is showing only 2 lines of available text space. Can you help? 🙂 Thanks.
Hey Hannah! All I did was write the verse in the space where people normally put their names. I *think* they may have changed it from three lines to two now though? Honestly I can’t remember now! I’m so sorry that’s not very helpful!
Ok thanks anyway! 🙂
If you are a new Erin Condren customer and are interested in ordering, you can use my link to save $10 off your first purchase (you’ll get a code via e-mail after you register).
https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/eringuyton0529
Hi –
Thanks for the review! I just found out about Erin Condren planners myself and have been searching for reviews in an attempt to make sure they are “worth it.” They are so pretty but more expensive compared to the simple ones you buy at OfficeMax or whatever…
Anyways, can you tell me more about the online class you took? I am pregnant, about to be a first time mom (Due October 9th) and really trying to get my act together. I also work as a freelancer/independent contractor and have realized that I am so disorganized sometimes because of this. Just curious as to what the class was and how it helped out out.
Thanks!!
Hey Christy! I think the reality is that any planner will work as long as you use it, but for me the incentive to use the Erin Condren was partly because it’s so beautiful and easy to work with coupled with the price. I can’t imagine spending the money on it if it just sat on my desk!
So the class that I took was through The Influence Network (https://theinfluencenetwork.com), which has TONS of great classes all the time! They have one coming up on September 19 called The Power of Planning, which might be a good one for you! You can either join the network (which I recommend…I do the $5/month plan) or you can just sign up for the classes without joining (I think). Anyway, it’s a great resource!
And congratulations on your sweet baby! Life is so much sweeter with a little one 🙂
I read these posts all last night and I had to comment on them this morning. Tee hee. I’ve been looking for another planner (was using Lily Pulitzer’s) that had a little more of a “me” style to it. These are great!!! I’m so picky when it comes to my planners, and if it’s not the design I like, I never use it. I don’t like lined sections, unless it’s the daily section. (If the monthly view is lined, I won’t buy it.) I love how you organize your monthly view versus weekly view – I’m always trying to figure out a way to make things less crowded.
Off to spend a little money on a new planner. 😉
That’s too funny – I’m super picky about the design too! And I never realized it but I hate the lined monthly sections in some! I hope you enjoy the Erin Condren one; it’s been my favorite so far!
Hi Heather,
Love your planner. I have an Erin Condren planner also. We have the same cover! I plan starting with a list in the back of my planner. I call this list my “running to do list”. I still working out how to use the weekly view. Good post.
Carolyn
Thanks Carolyn!!!
I need to get one of these for Stephie! Did you get the life planner, or the gold edition? I didn’t see one like you had–I love the scripture verses. Need to investigate this more. Thank you for sharing. By the way, my hair dresser has semi-given up with the straight hair for now, so I have a semi-curl look going (ok, ok. Some people would consider it a full curl look, but it really is calmed down for me). Thanks for that motivation, too! Hope you have a blessed weekend with your little family.
I actually got the life planner – when I purchased mine they were on sale!
Thank you! Got one ordered for her. It will be perfect for what she does.
I am all about making lists, keeping calendars, and setting reminders so that I can keep up with all that I want to get done in a day, week, month…
i have an Erin Condren planner as well! It seriously CHANGED my life. I love it and I keep it open to the weekly section every day. And the keep it together pocket? The best!
YES! I love hearing that – I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to something else now 😉
Oh my goodness! So great, and great timing. I have a post in my drafts to blog about my NEED to start being a SCHEDULER! And I’ve been day dreaming about the best way to go about it! 😉 Tada! I think I’ll get a planner like yours. And it’s so cute too! thank you for fleshing it all out–
aloha
Girl, I CANNOT imagine planning with 4 boys – I think you’d really like this planner though!
I really need a good planner. I try to keep my work life and my blog life in two different planners and things just get all confused. I’ve heard a lot about the Erin Condren planners. Maybe it’s time I check them out.
I really love it – it’s a little pricier than I would prefer but so far it’s been worth it!
thanks for the great review, thrilled you love your planner! just pinned to our pinterest boards, check it out! pinterest/erincondren enjoy!
Thanks team! 🙂
I think I need this. I have too many plates spinning as well!
The only ‘trick’I have is to write everything down. Even seemingly small stuff because I WILL forget. Everything from recipe ideas, flavors I like together, long-term goals that are months away. Writing it down helps a lot.
Exactly, I’m the same way. It’s like unloading all of it also helps me relax. It feels like if it’s written down then it’s “safe” to think about something else!
Loved reading this!! I’m definitely not back to a routine yet but this give me great ideas on how to get back into things. Before Everett I just kept a little schedule on my computer with weekly things to get done online – writing posts, making and photographing food, submitting blog posts, working on freelance, visiting other blogs etc. I just had one or two things I wanted to do regularly each day of the week. I’m not sure if I’ll go back to that or not but it worked well for me at the time.
I actually still keep my Google calendar up to date with work stuff – I have to send myself email reminders for the freelance/paid stuff to make sure I get it done!!!
Oh goodness, we sound way too alike! I have a phone calendar/planner and then a dry erase calendar in the kitchen so my husband can see what’s going on too. What would we do without our calendars… 😉
Adorable planner by the way!
Love this, Heather! Romans 12:12 is my favorite verse, too! I think I need to look into a planner like this sometime soon!
Thanks Madison 🙂 I think you’d love it!