Welp, here we are, month 4 of the new year and I’ve opened my planner at least twice a day. A lot of you might not know this about me but I LOVE stationery. The new year is a special time because I can buy all the new notebooks and planners I want and not feel bad afterward.
It’s something about a new planner that makes you feel like you’re getting shit done. This is exactly what I plan to do this year, be more strategic with my time. I typically color code different tasks and utilize cute stickers. Believe it or not, I’ve come to a point where I create a theme for each day of the week…. yea I’m that extra! I’m sure there’s at least one of you out there that can relate!
Funny thing is, I never really utilized my planner until I graduated from college. I mean sure, I picked up a free one at the beginning of every school year. However, that’s as far as it got. I never got the most out of my planner because it never registered just how essential it was. Let me break it down for you, here are 5 reasons you should ACTUALLY use your planner in 2021.
Time Management. Okay so, obviously, this is number one. In real-time, I always feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. However, depending on what kind of planner you get, you can schedule your daily tasks by the hour. Utilizing my planner helped me increase my productivity which rewarded me with more free time in the long run.
Tracking Progress. This is one of my favorite benefits of using my planner. I get to look back at my daily to-do lists and see what I accomplished. Especially with my 2021 Russell and hazel planner. There’s a habit tracker on each monthly spread that I can keep up with daily as well as look back on each month to see where I need to improve.
Provides Structure. In my first blog post, I touched on the fact that I truly thrive in routines. Having a planner to flush out your daily tasks has done wonders for me personally. Lacking structure is what promotes procrastination and we can’t have that 2021! #NoProcrastinationALL2021
Stress relief.At this point in my life, I have a lot going on. From my full-time job to growing my brand to being a maid of honor in my best friend’s wedding, my plate is full. Having my schedule mapped out to a T helps me make sure I complete everything and that I don’t overbook or extend myself. It’s stress relief in that I can visualize everything I need to do, and mark off things as I achieve them.
Good for reflection. We touched on this a bit earlier but having a planner is good for reflection. As you prepare for a new week, month, or even year, the areas you need to improve on or celebrate are laid out in front of you. Which is one of the main reasons you should use your planner this year.
My planner is going to be and has been my saving grace this year. I can’t wait to see what new habits I stick to and how much I accomplish. Did you buy a planner for this year or do you use your phone’s calendar? Do you go all out when it comes to organization? How do you manage your time and your daily tasks?
Shanika says
This! All of this! Once I fell off a lil bit while I was pregnant, I realized how much I needed my planner. I would forget things or miss deadlines and that was just unacceptable. Period. Thank you for this amazing read. Planners are clutch!