Planner Crush Backstory
One of the things I focus on to make sure I’m designing my BEST LIFE is to get disciplined around planning it. But, damn girl, if you’re not careful, the planning itself can be a pain in the ass and result in more overwhelm. At the end of the day, it's about simplicity. Let's simplify life so that we can take care of our need-tos and focus on our want-tos. Let's ditch that standard of perfection and embrace a simpler, more what-matters-most lifestyle.
“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.
Dreaming, afterall, is a form of planning”
Paper Planning
Now that we have that settled, what is it about writing plans on actual paper that feels so good? It’s the tangible feel to paper that many people prefer. We have so many digital options used for planning that it can feel a little overwhelming. Instead of toggling from app to app, there is something about just sticking a pen (or for me I actually prefer luxury mechanical pencils) to paper that can make things feel a bit more solid and in some ways more organized. I think women are jonesing for tools that work. For my work-life, I do use technology for planning all the things. It’s easy to rely on technology, since we have our phones glued to our hands. But for all of my personal happenings, I just love having a stylish, beautiful, purposeful, never-going-to-crash-and-lose-my-data physical planner with me to house all my important dates and tasks. And, for me, it’s one of my favorite creative outlets as well.
Fangirl AF
I love to look at other people’s planners as well as my own, and I often scan Instagram and Pinterest tags to see what other people do with their to-do and bucket lists. Simply search on Instagram for #louisvuittonplanner #plannergirl #plannernerd #filofaxaddict, #dayplanner, #simplifiedplanner, #filofaxlove, and #plannerlove, and you will find thousands of posts and pictures detailing the love and dedication that goes into these simple books.
These "life planners" — calendars, day books, and agendas — are so popular that they are selling out faster than their creators can announce release dates and new designs. These products are well-designed and beautifully orchestrated. I personally love planners that allow me to personalize every inch to fit what’s top of mind in my life at the moment. I will be sharing details in future posts on all my planner set-ups and how I use them.
Health Benefits
For me using a planner goes much deeper than the basic callouts. Check out these health benefits:
Less stress – Writing everything down and clearing my mind allows my brain to not be so cluttered. Whether I am journaling or just getting everything onto paper, it’s like a writing meditation.
Healthy Eating – I actually eat healthier when I plan out weekly meals. It saves time, money, and poor food choices when I’m hangry…and I don’t have to wonder what’s for dinner every night.
More Workouts - It’s amazing how much more motivated I am to squeeze my workout in when I’ve written in down. I’ll be damned if I wrote it down and then don’t get to cross it off! I spend time on Sundays researching workouts and assigning them to the appropriate days. This also helps ensure I’m alternating strength, cardio, MELT, and Yoga (more on working out soon).
Memory Improvement – Creating lists frees up my brain to focus and remember other important (or exciting) things. When to-dos spin out of control, it makes me feel so much better to get them down on paper and prioritize.
Inspo Boarding - It does my heart good to post my favorite photos in my planner, and I always include several vision boards to keep the inspiration front and center.
More Prepared – With planning out my week and knowing what my schedule looks like at a glance I know when I have time to do something or not. Creating lists allows me to evaluate what is needed so I am prepared for projects and things that need to get completed.
Accomplishments – I can set and crush my goals. Being able to cross something off my list and knowing everything I have completed gives a sense of accomplishment along with a feel good feeling which is great for my health.
Increased Productivity – Planning on paper allows me to get more tasks completed and be more productive.
Relaxation – I plan self care time. I make sure to plan some time for me to unplug from life and do something I enjoy, whether it be decorating my planner, reading (I’m a self-help junkie—more on that another time), or social engagements. Being able to unplug and focus on myself does wonders for my frame of mind.
Happiness – Who would have thought that a paper planner could bring so much happiness? Ahh, the little things. Plus, planning my next experience keeps me so motivated and looking forward to the next adventure. Planning adventures is a huge part of the experience.
My planner has become a valuable tool in my life and I would be absolutely lost without it, both physically and mentally. Just having a planner doesn’t organize my life; I have to make it work by actually using it. The good news is that I’m totally obsessed with working, creating, and playing in it…so win-win.