How to Choose the Best Planner for Your Needs

Do you feel like you rarely get everything you need to do done during the day? Or, do you feel exhausted thinking about everything you have to do? This frustration can make you want to take a break from “adulting,” as some people put it, and that’s totally understandable.

Sometimes writing things down can make a big difference in managing your tasks and schedule. That’s where organization planners come in.

Pick Paper or Digital

This being a digital age, there are many planner options, including both paper to electronic.

For many, writing by hand makes ideas and tasks feel more solid. Also, if you’re artistic, paper planners are especially nice because they allow you to personalize.

Digital planners, or planner apps, are great for more technology-minded people. They also tend to cost less than physical planners. Many of them store your data in a cloud server so you can access it from multiple devices. You can use your phone to input something you need to get done, then check it off later on your tablet.

Paper Planners

Let’s go over several of the most popular paper planners, and what they offer.

PandaPlanner is especially popular. Its design focuses on improving your success and happiness. On each page, there are sections for you to write what you’re grateful for and excited about. You can also include your current ambition, your focus, review the last week, and make a general plan for the next week.

The BestSelf Co. Self Journal lets you tackle your big projects one 90-day goal at a time.

The Moleskine Weekly Notebook Planner is released yearly and has dates from January 1 to December 31. Its design is simple. Main features for each page are a week’s worth of spaces for your to do entries on the left, and a lined page on the right for notes.

Planner Apps

If you prefer to keep track of what you need to do on your phone, then check out these apps.

Regardless of what platform you’re working on, you can use Google Calendar. It’s great for keeping track of scheduled appointments, and you can switch between month, week, and day views. You can also add tasks and check them off when you finish them.

Evernote, usable on Android, iOS, and in any web browser, isn't specifically a day planner. Instead, it’s a place to take important notes, including tasks you need to get done. So, if you need help keeping track of long term plans, it works great. You can use it for free, or add additional features with various subscription plans.

Writing your tasks and goals down, whether with a pen or keyboard, ensures you don’t have to keep everything you have to do in your head. This can lessen the feeling of having the world on your shoulders. You’ll see your task list on the page or screen, and get things done. At the end of the day, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment.