It’s only June, and one might typically consider it a bit early to start shopping for school supplies. However, when it comes to the number one back-to-school essential, it’s never too early to start considering your options. Every college girl knows the importance of selecting the perfect planner for all of her organizational needs, so I’ve created this guide to some of the most popular planner choices on the market.
1. Lilly Pulitzer
Pros: This is probably the most quintessential college agenda. It is available in several beautiful Lilly patterns as well as various sizes ranging from “small” (about the size of a postcard) to “jumbo” (slightly larger that a regular notebook). This agenda features both monthly and weekly views and is perfect for recording academic assignments.
Cons: This planner does include a small “notes” section filled with blank space for list making, so unfortunately, this space can fill up very quickly. Additionally, I do not feel that the weekly layout (lined sections for each day of the week) lends itself well to the task of weekly planning and recording social and extra-curricular engagements.
2. Kate Spade
Pros: Just like everything by Kate Spade, these agendas are equal parts girly and classy. They come in a variety of patterns that change from year to year, but you can always depend on the two most classic prints out there: gold, black and white stripes and gold polka dots. The inside layout is very simplistic (this is very important because who wants distraction from their perfectly color-coded schedule) and provides both a monthly and weekly view. In the past, this agenda has only been available in two sizes, but this year an extra-large edition has been added, and it looks absolutely amazing.
Cons: Because the layout of this agenda is similar to the Lilly Pulitzer agendas, one could run into similar problems in terms of inadequate space for weekly planning. That being said, because of the more minimalist design, the pages allow more space for list making in the margins!
3. Erin Condren
Pros: This is, in my opinion, the book that bridges the gap between agendas and planners. Sure, a normal person might consider these words to be synonymous, but I would like to argue that there is a clear distinction between the two. While the previously described agendas have lacked in organized planning space, Erin Condren provides two vertical weekly layouts that allow you to plan your days by morning, afternoon and evening or by the hour. (An agenda layout is also available) EC planners provide tons of space for making weekly lists and setting goals, so this planner will be your lifeline during those busy weeks when you barely have time to think about how exhausted you are. This planner is extremely customizable, and you can even order multiple interchangeable covers, which takes away the pressure of choosing the wrong pattern and being stuck with it all year.
Cons: This planner is a little on the pricier side at $50 for the initial planner, plus shipping, not to mention an extra $10 if you want a gold coil and metallic cover (which, of course, you do) plus the cost of additional covers, stickers and tons of other extras that you’ll want to throw in your virtual cart. Additionally, this planner does take about two weeks from the time you click “check out” to arrive at your door, so if you decide to choose an Erin Condren planner, I would suggest ordering it sooner rather than later.
4. Day Designer by Whitney English
Pros: If your thoughts on this article up until now have been something along the lines of “Wow, this girl takes her agenda a little to seriously, why wouldn’t I just write things down in my phone?” turn back now. The Day Designer is what I would consider the planner of all planners. It provides the typical monthly layout, essential to long-term planning as well as a daily page divided into an hourly planning section as well as a blank to-do list with check boxes for each line. That’s right, this planner gives you a whole page for every day of the week with Saturday and Sunday condensed to a shared page. Each page gives you a place for your “Top Three” to-dos as well as space for notes and daily gratitude. This planner will not only help you organize your hectic schedule, it will motivate you to accomplish so much on a day-to-day basis (no one wants to look at a page full of un-checked boxes at the end of the night). The Day Designer has the potential to bring out your inner over-achiever.
Cons: This planner is a bit bulkier than others on this list, due to it having hard covers as well as a page for every day. It will certainly add weight to your backpack or purse. In addition to being heavy, this planner is certainly not cheap. The standard Flagship edition is $59 plus tax and shipping. (But hey, if you use it every day for a year that’s only about 16 cents a day, what a steal!) Finally, when choosing a cover, I would suggest staying away from the patterns that include gold foil; it begins to wear off over time.
It is worth noting that this is by no means an exhaustive list. There are many amazing planners out there, and the most important thing is finding what works best for you. So do your research, explore your options and have fun planning, or as Leslie Knope would say...
