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The new school year will be here before we know it, and one of the best things that students can do to prepare themselves is to find the right planner that will work for them. We’ve all had the experience of buying a planner with the best of intentions that never gets used. Typically, it’s because we’ve chosen one that just doesn’t work for us. Although once you buy the planner, you must build the habit of using it, that habit starts with having the right tool for the job. This blog post outlines some things to consider when choosing the right planner for you.
Deciding whether you’d prefer a digital or physical planner is the first choice you must make when choosing a planner. Both options have benefits and drawbacks, and it comes down to personal preference. Physical planners are easier to pull out at a moment’s notice and are often much more mobile than a digital planner. A physical planner can be used anywhere, not requiring wifi or even electricity to use. However, physical planners are not very customizable, cannot integrate with other digital systems you might be using, and require the user to remember to check them. Lastly, the handwriting feature of a physical planner can be a positive or a negative depending on the user, as it can help the user retain the information they write better, but could create barriers for those who struggle to handwrite.
Digital planners, on the other hand, can be highly customizable, including both visual layout and the features you want to use. The user is able to use a lot more features without using more space, unlike a physical planner which grows physically as you add more elements. Digital planners can also integrate with other systems you might be using such as email and digital learning platforms. However, digital systems require a device, which is often much larger and heavier than a physical planner. They also require power and wifi, which creates limitations depending on your environment. The ability to type can be a positive for neatness and quickness, but also can lead to poorer retention of tasks. Finally, because a digital planner will live on your laptop, ipad, or other digital device, it is present in a pool of distractions that the user must avoid to use it effectively.
There is no right or wrong answer when deciding whether digital or physical is better for you. It’s important to weigh the pros and cons of both and make the choice that works best for you.
Once you’ve determined whether you want to use a physical or digital planner system, you must consider what exactly you’d like to track to help you choose the best system for you. It might seem simple: a planner tracks what you’re doing. However, not all planners are built the same and different systems work better for different preferences. Here are some of the things you might be trying to track through your planner:
For many individuals, the primary use for a planner is task management. Students might use it to write down their homework assignments and projects, adults might use them to track their work tasks. You might also track tasks outside of school and work in your planner, such as tasks for a club or extracurricular activity, tasks for a part time job, or chores and other responsibilities. If the only thing you want to track is tasks, you might consider a planner system that is centered around to do lists. If your tracking goals include tasks and other items as well, it’s a good idea to select a planner system that includes a to do list feature.
Another key item that many people want to keep track of with a planner is meetings and events with specific times. Students might write down club meetings, sports practice, meetings with tutors, concerts, and other events that have specific dates and times attached. If meetings are an important part of your overall tracking goals, it is sensible to choose a planner that includes a calendar format. This calendar format will allow you to record specific events on specific days and include times where desired. I recommend formats that include both a monthly and weekly view. In your monthly view, record important events that might impact future plans and will help you understand the busyness of your month. In your weekly view, include all meetings and events with details on time for a more detailed overview of your week ahead. If you would like to track both tasks and events, it’s a good idea to choose a format that includes both a calendar and a to-do list section or feature.
Most students have a schedule that is somewhat unchanging. Whether you have the same daily schedule, an A/B schedule that alternates, or a schedule that repeats itself week to week, it is common for your schedule of classes, and even events outside of class, to repeat itself on a regular basis. For this reason, some people do not feel the need to record this schedule. However, if you’re someone who finds yourself forgetting where you should be when, recording your daily schedule is a great idea. When choosing a planner, it’s important to keep this goal in mind to avoid needing to rewrite or retype the same schedule every day or every week.
For digital planners, look for options that allow you to set “recurring events,” which will allow you to add in Biology from 3-4PM on Tuesdays, then have your planner automatically repeat the event every Tuesday at the same time. For physical planners, look for planners that have a daily schedule section (or a blank page) at the beginning of your planner. This format will allow you to write in your schedule one time and refer back to it as necessary, rather than needing to rewrite it once per week. Note: if you find a planner you love without this feature, it’s possible to create your own page and staple it in. However, it will feel more organized if it’s included in the original planner.
The guidelines above will help you consider your overall goals for a planner and which direction you should go. However, once you’ve made the physical vs. digital decision, there are unique considerations to take into account for each type. These tips will help you consider the unique elements of your chosen type of planner.
One of the most important considerations of physical planners is their size. Unlike digital planners, you will physically carry your planner around with you at all times. Therefore, it must fit in your school bag and perhaps other locations such as a locker or desk drawer. It’s important to think about the size planner that will not be too cumbersome for you to carry around. However, you must also consider the size of your handwriting and the size of the spaces the planner provides to write. While you might want to avoid choosing a planner too thick or too large, you also want to avoid planners that are too small. Take a good look at the boxes and lines the planner provides to determine whether you will be able to fit all of the information you need into the spaces provided. The ideal planner size is one that’s big enough for you to write easily and read clearly, but small enough that it is not heavy or in the way.
Planners come in different layouts, and it’s important to choose one that’s aligned with your goals. Once you’ve determined whether you’re tracking tasks, events, or both, you must look for a planner that has the appropriate fields. It is not advisable to try to create your own fields within a planner, because on busy weeks it will be more difficult to put in those extra steps and your planner might get messy. The easiest way to stay consistent with a planner is to choose one that is already set up for success. Some planners are just books of to do lists with dates attached. Others have both a monthly and weekly calendar view. Some have a combination of calendars, to-do lists, and other features, such as weekly goals, meal plans, and inspirational quotes. Choose the planner that has only the elements you need without any extras. These extra features take up space and will often serve as a distraction. However, if elements such as a notes section and a meal planning section are valuable to you, choose that layout.
It can be difficult to follow through with using a planner. One of the best ways to build the habit of using your planner and taking it with you everywhere you go is to make sure you like your planner. Do not simply choose the most utilitarian option. Choose a planner with a layout and a cover design you like. Many planners have the same internal layout but come with different cover options. Some come with stickers, some are spiral bound, while others are bound like a book. When choosing a planner, choose one that you really like looking at to encourage yourself to take it out more frequently.
There is a huge range of cost when it comes to planners. Some planners can be purchased on Amazon for less than $20, while others that are more custom can cost closer to $100. It’s important to be honest with yourself about your planner budget to help you select the right one. While a low budget might give you fewer customization options, you will likely be able to find a layout and style that works for you in any budget. However, if you have a higher budget and style and customizability are important to you, brands like Golden Coil are great for finding an attractive planner that is specifically suited to your needs.
When choosing a digital planner system, you’ll want to make sure that it includes all of your desired features. If you’re tracking both events and tasks, does it have both calendar views and to-do lists? Other features you might find useful are things like notes sections within tasks/events where you can remind yourself of any context you might need, or link to documents relevant to the tasks. Many systems include reminders at the time of events, the day before, or 10 minutes before to help keep you on track. Other systems like Monday.com have additional features like task tracking, allowing you to see how long you spend on specific tasks. This feature is great for keeping you on track and helping you understand your workflow. Before selecting your planner system, keep in mind your desired features.
If you’re using a digital planner system, it’s likely that you’ll want to integrate it with other technology in your life. Email integration can be very useful if you frequently get emails that include new tasks or events, because they can be automatically added into your planner. You might also want to integrate your planner with your phone calendar to allow for easy reminders when you’re not using your computer. If you’re likely to use the phone version of a system more than the computer one, it’s important to make sure it has an app layout that is compatible with your phone and that feels user-friendly to you. Lastly, some digital planner systems can integrate with Google Classroom, Canvas, Blackboard, and other systems where your schoolwork might be located. This feature can be really useful in more efficiently tracking your assignments and due dates.
Some digital planner systems are more customizable than others when it comes to layout. Customizability may or may not be important to you, but it’s important to think about how crucial it is to be able to hide certain distracting features, change your background photo, place the layout in dark mode, or change the banner color to pink. If these things matter to you, there are many digital planner systems you can use that include these features. However, if you find a layout that you like without customization, it can be just as useful.
The last factor to consider when choosing a digital planner system is whether or not you’re willing to pay for it. Many digital planner systems have a monthly subscription fee. Although they are typically small (between $5-$20/month), many individuals would prefer a free system. Before exploring your different options, decide whether or not you are willing to pay for a digital planner service. If not, there are many free options that will provide the basic services needed to track your assignments, schedule, and basic tasks.
Some teens need more support than others when it comes to organization and other Executive Functioning difficulties. While parents can do a lot to support their child, sometimes they might need an expert to help. YA Success Coach offers 1-1 coaching sessions for teens to support them in building systems that are supportive to their unique needs and centered around building independence for long-term success. If you think your child might benefit from more specialized support in Executive Functioning, contact me today to learn about the different options available.
Having a conversation is the first step to helping your child realize their full potential and set them up for success!