People are busy and we've gotten used to flying by the seats of our pants, living fast-paced, scattered lives and barely remembering to do all the things we need to do. Trust me, being organized makes life easier. It gives us peace of mind and makes our lives more efficient.

What's important is checking in with yourself right now by asking yourself: What can I do to make my life easier? That's when most people realize that they need a planner. A planner is the foundation of an organized life. It's a form of a calendar that allows you to arrange your day-to-day life.

One way to construct your planner is by using a symbol-based legend:

Creating a legend for your planner, like the example above, helps prevent your daily plan from looking cluttered and overwhelming.

Another method of organizing your planner is using a color-coded key:

You can use a legend or color-coding to create your own planner in a blank notebook, with a page designated for each day, or you can use a legend or color-coding in a store-bought planner or calendar.

Another way to organize your life with a planner is by using a daily planner template like the one below:

What I especially appreciate about the planner pictured above is that it allows you to realistically approach your to-do list by separating what you really need to get done today ("top 3 priorities") from what you can put on the back-burner ("this can wait until tomorrow").

In reality, we each live a unique life so feel free to personalize these organization strategies in whichever ways work best for you and your day-to-day life!