For 2021 I didn’t verbalize any concrete resolutions, but I did tell myself when I bought my planner for the new year in late 2020 that I was going to try to be more organized this year. When I mentioned this to some coworkers on a Zoom meeting, one of them laughed and said they couldn’t imagine me being any MORE organized. The truth is, I feel like there is always room for more organization! Everything you own should have a “home” (with a toddler running around and destroying every space he touches, this one is difficult). I keep multiple calendars - in my phone, which is synced with my husband’s calendar, on our “command center” in our entry way, and in my Happy Planner. I am OBSESSED with my planner, and I’m going to talk about how I use it, and what I use it for. This post is NOT sponsored by Happy Planner or MAMBI in any way, I just love their products. Writing in my planner gives me a visual way to see what my day is, and decorating it is a way for me to let my creative juices flow a little bit, and it can often be a little relaxing, zen time for me at the end of a long day to sit and make a spread.

For those of you, like myself, that always make it a point to go down the planner aisle at Michael’s when you stop in, you know that the sticker books and accessories are NOT cheap, but let me tell you, they are ALWAYS on sale! I have bought almost all of my planner accessories on sale, anywhere from 40% off to 70% off!! I also don’t use just MAMBI products; Michael’s carries a brand called Recollections and last time I picked up some supplies, their sticker books were buy one get TWO free!! The Happy Planner website always has sales as well. I also use washi tape and a hole punch for decorating to spice up my pages. But what do I actually DO with my planner?

For me, my planner is not just a place to write down what I have to do in a day; I am constantly looking at my planner, so I put inspirational and encouraging quotes in there. I have guided stickers that remind me to be grateful and to write down those things that I’m grateful for. I stop and reflect on my mood. I track my hydration for the day or week, I track habits. I keep a list of what books I am currently reading and the author that wrote them. On my monthly spread, I have when my bills are due, when to change my contacts, when to fertilize my plants, and if its the week to wash our pillows or the comforter. I need to practice utilizing the budgeting and chores sections, but I jot down ideas for home projects in the projects section and write down what supplies I need and what they cost. I have a section for meal planning that is always a few weeks ahead; it makes it easy to make my grocery list because I already know what I am going to cook and will write down what ingredients I need to pick up. I have daily priority sheets so at the beginning of the day I can sit down and make a list of all the tasks I have to do for work. I also have plain notepaper in the back so when I’m in a meeting or need to jot down an idea I don’t have to scramble for paper - it’s right there in front of me and I always have all the information, inspiration, and encouragement I need right at the tip of my fingers. To some it may seem silly and wasteful, but to me, I feel like having an organized mind leads to less anxiety and a happier life.

Do you use a planner? Do you decorate or keep in simple? Share your thoughts below!