I love a good planner (or agenda, as some might call it). I’ve used them since my mom taught me how to use one in middle school. This was way before they taught kids to use them as standard practice. It always helps me feel more organized than I am in reality and helps me plan out things that I’m looking forward to. The last two years I’ve been using Plum Paper planner, which I’ve enjoyed a lot because of their sturdiness, customization options when ordering, and tabbed monthly sections. Prior to that, I tried the Erin Condren (which was fine but I found difficult to write in), and a wide range of planner styles/sizes/features.
My life looks pretty different now than it did a year ago, which has prompted me to re-evaluate what I need out of a planner. From a functionality standpoint, I knew I needed:
- Spiral-bound or ring-bound so I can comfortably write. No spines for me!
- Paper that is thick enough that it won’t bleed/show when I use my favorite Papermate Flair pens.
- Monthly overviews with tabs for the start of each month.
This year, I wanted to add some features that I haven’t had in previous planners, including a lunar phase tracker and weekly to-do list. While hunting for a new planner, I sought out something that would help me track my progress in realizing my Core Desired Feelings, as well as helping me track more of my personal life. The primary role of my planner in years past was to keep my work and school life organized. This was okay, but I think it contributed to me prioritizing work over personal. This year, I hope to strike a better balance. For years I’ve been using hourly layouts, but I don’t want to organize my whole life by the time of day anymore.
Thus I found The Happy Planner by Me & My Big Ideas (often referred to as MAMBI). The first thing that drew me to my planner was the words on the cover: “Choose where your energy goes”. I mean, wow! This particular version is known as the Self-Care version and only comes in an 18-month layout. Though I picked it up in early December, I found the flexibility of the disc-binding to be helpful in adapting the planner to my needs.
Joann’s, Michael’s, and Hobby Lobby all carry The Happy Planner systems, but I found for my area that Michael’s had a greater selection of the planners. Joann’s seems to carry more of the 2019 add-ons. I also splurged and bought myself a large size punch so I can add pages as needed. I plan on updating the discs from silver to rose gold once I find a second pack (the “big” planners require 11 discs, but most packs only come with 9 discs).
What I’m most excited about is the flexibility of this planner system. Because the planner is not spiral-bound, I can add/move/change/delete whatever I need. Much of the inspiration I’ve gathered for add-ins, dashboards, and trackers comes from the Bullet Journaling community. As I try out new inserts, I’ll be sure to share them.
How are you organizing your life in 2019? Be sure to comment below!
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