I have been using a planner for school since high school (or maybe even middle school!) It's something that I heavily rely on to keep track of everything related to my school life. Oftentimes, I hear people say that they don't keep up with their planner--they don't look at it and they remember assignments to the best of their ability. Every time I hear someone say something like this, I want to convince them that they should try using their planner again.
Maybe it's just me and my slight obsession with stationery and organization, but the main thing I like about being a planner is that it is super fun! I sit down every Sunday evening and plan out my week. This shows me what I need to expect for the week, but it is also a form of self-care for me; working on my planner gives me a time to take a break from all other things in order to just have a chill time figuring out my schedule.
I start off by writing down the class assignments that I have due. Then I notate all the things that are going on with each of the organizations I am involved in! I have these awesome felt tip pens in a variety of colors. Each class and organization has a different color (ex. Earth Science is aqua and the Odyssey is light green). Some people find this somewhat trivial, but I promise, doing this is a necessity! I discovered stickers and washi tape last year, and let me tell you, it has changed the game. There are stickers that are seasonal and holiday related, quotes, and checklist options among other things. Being a planner is awesome because no planner spread is the same as the other; they are all unique.
Apart from the fun, decorative side of planning, it really is beneficial to keeping your life in order. Planners keep you accountable. People also say that writing things down helps you remember them better. I totally agree with that! When you complete a hard test or finish attending a long meeting, you get the satisfaction of crossing out that item in your planner! Let me tell you, this is one of the best feelings. You are left feeling accomplished and ready to tackle all the other things you have planned for the week.
It's also a good idea to take advantage of both the monthly overviews as well as the weekly overviews. For the monthly spread, I like to write down important assignments like tests and projects and important obligations I have. These are usually filled out in advance. For the weekly spread, I include almost everything that is going on for the week. This includes everything from the chapter I need to read for a class to when and where I am having lunch with a friend.
As you can see, I love my planner. Hopefully, I inspired you to give planning a try!
