How to Select the BEST Planner for Your 2011

William Penn, the founder of the great state of Pennsylvania, once said: “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”

Does that sound like a day in your life?

One of the cheapest, easiest ways to solve your time management problems is by using a personal planner. (And just to be clear, this does not include “using” it as a coaster, doodle pad, paperweight, or otherwise unrelated purpose!)

Here’s a look at the different types of planners, and how you can pick out the best planner to suit your personality and lifestyle.

1. Yearly – allows you to see the entire year in one fell swoop. While yearly planners are great for reference, they really don’t let you to plan much of anything. There are so many days and months included in yearly planners that there’s hardly any room included for writing anything down. As an aside, any true monthly, weekly, daily, or combination planner — all of which will be discussed shortly — should offer some version of a yearly planner in the form of a 1, 2, and/or 3-year outlook.

2. Monthly – allows you to see an entire month at-a-glance. Monthly planners are a perfect choice for those individuals who have only 3-4 appointments or notations to make each day. Monthly planners are highly recommend for creative types, who crave a little structure but not a lot. If you really like to or need to schedule down to the minute, then a monthly planner is not going to work for you at all.

3. Weekly – allows you to see a week at-a-glance, either in a Sunday-Saturday or a Monday-Sunday format. Make sure you pay attention to that detail! If you like Sunday-Saturday, and you buy Monday-Sunday, it can be an adjustment. Sunday-Saturday always splits the weekend in half, which means you have to write things twice if you are participating in an activity happening over the entire weekend.

4. Daily – allows you to see one, possibly two, days at a time. With daily planners, you can schedule in great detail because there are specific time slots like 9, 10, and 11am. Daily planners are not recommended for those who like to look at an entire month at one time, because you won’t get that visual.

5. Combination – allows you to see a mixture of yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily features. This is arguably the best type of planner overall. Why? Because combination planners give you flexibility! Sometimes you need to be strict with your time, planning the exact second, and sometimes you don’t. Combination planners provide a great middle ground to do just that.

Before investing in any planner, check to see if it offers other tools to help you “keep it together” besides the standard dates, notes, and holidays.

For example…–

If you are a fitness buff, then you might want a planner with a daily calorie log and exercise journal.
– If you are a “yummy mummy,” then you might want a planner that allows you to track your children’s schedules in addition to your own.
– If you are the thoughtful type, then you might want a planner that includes an address book so you are ready with contact details when a Hallmark moment strikes.

Do yourself a BIG FAVOR — don’t just rush out to the store and grab any ol’ thing and hope it will work out! By doing so, you are psychologically and energetically telling yourself that your time is really not that important. On the other hand, if you take a few moments to make a wise choice about your personal planner, you are telling yourself that you are serious about taking control of your schedule. And your life will be infinitely better because of it!

Carmen Coker is a professional organizer who helps individuals find the motivation and know-how to get organized and stay organized. To learn how to save money, create more space, and manage your time through organization, claim your “FREE Tip Kit: 10+ Pages of Tips and Tools to Help You Get Organized — Finally!” at www.OrganizeClutterbugs.com