I know you are probably thinking, 'how many planners does this girl have?' Yes. I have a ton, I have a planner addiction and I completely admit it. I've been abnormally obsessed with school supplies ever since I was a little girl, it is just who I am. However, in my defense, there are so many studies that show how writing things down and planning properly makes for a high level of effectivity in life. Which I can say from experience, planning keeps my life together & keeps me creating, designing and manifesting my best life.
Incase you missed my last post on planning, you can read that here. I still use my Louis Vuitton GM planner but I have turned that into an agenda and binder for my finances. I keep documents together, store passwords, keep track of my budgeting, etc. I am all about giving a strong energy towards keeping my financial life organized and elegant. As they say "where attention goes, energy flows". So I find that the more devoted time and organization I give my finances, the more growth and abundance I see in that area.
Years ago I purchased this gorgeous python notebook cover from Gigi New York. It's an A5 size, comes with a gorgeous notebook with gold foil trim paper. It's such a glamorous office notebook, I've always gotten compliments on it. I also got my nickname "ash" embossed in gold on the cover. I absolutely love it. However, I wasn't really using it and it has been sitting on my bookshelf for a year or so because I am all about my LV planner.
The thing is, the last calendar system I was using just wasn't working for me. It was a spiral and I couldn't add or take out anything from it. I really needed something a little more flexible with pages, but didn't want my calendar system back in my LV. And so...I discovered the magic of disc bound planners. If I had only found this system sooner, I would have reached planner peace years ago.
The TUL junior system fits perfectly inside my Gigi python notebook cover.
Allow me to introduce to you, the best thing since sliced bread...TUL discbound system. (which is also similar to the Levenger Junior system and the Staples Arc system). These agenda systems are amazing. For one thing, they are clean and minimal, not a lot of frilly decoration or multi colored, which I tend to shy away from. I am a Capricorn, I like things clean looking. Also, the paper is a heavy weight paper, so ink doesn't bleed through the pages, something I can't stand about most planner pages.
I currently write with my Pentel Energel pen in Gold. It writes beautifully on these thick pages.
Having a beautiful writing pen makes keeping up with a planner, so much more enjoyable. So, let me break down for you how I organize my life with this planner so that I am able to stay on schedule, stay focused, keep my thoughts together, habits on track and really do the things I want to do.
1. Monthly views help you to track dates and appointments. I purchased the 2018 calendar pages from TUL, they pop right into the 3/4" inch discs in the junior poly notebook. very simple and very chic. I added on these Erin Condren black and gold monthly tabs to make it easy for me to flip around to the dates. I love them. There is plenty of room to write in these monthly boxes, which I appreciate. You can also write certain dates in different colors, which is something I like to do. So for doctors appointments, they are in a pretty teal. I haven't finished my June set up just yet.
2. Weekly views to write task lists, reminders and things to remember help you to stay on track each day. I also love how with this system you can use the task sheets as a bookmark for lists for the week. I like something I can move from week to week as the list grows. This is how I keep a list of things I need to buy, habits I want to keep track of and quick notes.
You can also use this bookmark to write affirmations for the week, gratitude lists or keep track of anything you need. This is very helpful when you are trying to manifest things, keep to challenges or stick with routines.
3. Making lists is probably the most important aspect of planning your best life. Behind my calendar pages I keep these beautiful To Do list pages to organize my thoughts.
Lists I like to keep:
Monthly intentions
Blog post ideas
Client lists & notes
Habits to track
Affirmations, mantras, etc.
Things I want to manifest
Things to do, Things to buy, Things to try
Books I want to read, Movies to watch
Action steps to take for a particular project or goal
*Gratitude lists. This one is SUPER essential for any girl looking to manifest her best, most blissful life. I also like to write things I want to happen as if they've already happened.
There is a science behind list making. In fact, it helps the brain to keep up with your goals, desires, etc. Writing to do lists actually assists the brain whether or not you ever accomplish the tasks. I can tell you this, most of the things I write down, naturally happen when they are meant to. My favorite lists to make are my monthly intentions lists. Even when I'm not focused on them, when I look back, 9 times out of 10, they happened.
Glam tip: Next to your lists, put a circle or a check box next to it. That way you have a place to mark when its done or finished. I find that these make me more apt to tend to my lists and I like to color them in for fun, too. Right now my lavender highlighter is my favorite to use.
4. Pretty planner tools are essential for writing enjoyment. It also helps to keep things color coded if you so need. These are the current writing tools I use to keep my planner happy and to keep me organized. I'm not a big planner decorator type so colored pens and highlighters make planning so much fun.
These pens are literally everything and I love all the colors in this highlighter kit:
