Photo by Eric Rothermel on Unsplash
I like to plan, I always have been a planner. I like to know what is happening in the week ahead and the feeling of being organised and prepared. I don’t know what it is about the start of the new year, but it always makes me want to go a little bit planner crazy!
The start of a new month and a new year, means a fresh start in my diary and my bullet journal. I get all excited when I get out all my stationery to plan my week, all you stationery lovers will know this feeling well!
I will usually do all my planning on a Sunday. For me, a Sunday afternoon or evening will consistent of me, my diary, my pens and my phone. I know some people prefer to use their phones, I do utilise my phone calendar but I love putting pen to paper and having a diary to refer too. Also, it gives me an excuse to shop for more stationery!
My Diary
I am currently using a BusyB mid year diary which I love. In my diary this is where I will record all the appointments I have on my phone, whether that be work commitments or meetings. I will have the commitments on both platforms, referring to my phone at a quick glance if needed.
To-Do Lists
To-do lists are such a great tool to keep me organised and get things done. There is something so satisfying about ticking off a task. I will then plan my week to-do list tasks and allocate the days and times for each one. It means I do not get overwhelmed and I can make my days the most productive.
My Bullet Journal
I make sure that my bullet journal spreads are planned for the following weeks and if I have some time I will add some more content to my bullet journal. As preparation is key and being ahead in my planning of my spreads is so helpful.
Having planning sessions on a Sunday works well for me because then I know what I need to achieve on Monday and I can start my day productive. I have Monday and Tuesdays free and so these first two days of the week I am super productive and usually achieve a lot of my tasks.These 3 tools and steps I take, helps me stay organised and keeps up my motivation. Having a simple planning process in place can boost your motivation and productivity.
I am a list lover. I can’t function without one.
I was just writing my shopping list as well.
I am really getting in to my bullet journal at the moment, mainly for my blog but I can see that it will really help me to work on my life one too x
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That’s great, let me know if you do a bullet journal post as I would like to see it x
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I tend to plan day to day more than weekly but YES to to-do lists. I couldn’t live without them! I definitely need to utilize my diary more though xxx
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Lists are so helpful, so satisfying to check tasks off too xxx
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I’m so unorganized, but usually, I do to-do lists to make sure I get the important stuff done!
Ash | pricklypineapples.ie
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That’s a great way to plan! Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Great post. Thanks for the ideas.
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Thank you for reading and commenting!
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So well organised I’m envious
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Thank you!
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We are so similar, I have so many planners and lists everywhere – planning your week is a great way to get motivated and actually be productive!
Awesome post ❤ x
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I love planning and organising! Yeah I love it. Thank you lovely ❤️x
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Love all these tips, they are great! Thanks so much for sharing!
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Thank you for reading and commenting
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I tend to plan day to day more than weekly but to do lists are something I couldn’t live without! I do feel like sometimes though maybe if I had a weekly plan like yours then maybe it would all be more smooth running. Awesome post x
Bumblingalong.co.uk
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Thank you for sharing how you plan. Your blog link won’t work it says it is unavailable 😦
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Yes! I love this system. I use a bullet journal to plan my blog schedule then a daily diary to plan my to-do lists. I sit down at the start of the month to do the bulk of my blog planning then check in and see if anything needs adding each week x
Sophie
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That’s a great way to plan! Thank you for reading and commenting! X
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I love how organized you are! It helps to have a plan and when you map stuff out it allows you to clearly see what direction you are headed.
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Thank you so much! Definitely.
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I use to-do lists too, and leave reminders on my phone and on my wall with sticky notes.
—Athena Christy
https://athenachristy.wordpress.com/
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Thank you for sharing how you plan. For reading and commenting! X
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I love this post! I use my planner to plan everything, and I also love lists. You gave me some great new ideas. I haven’t used a bullet journal yet, but I want to try it. Great post!
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Your blog won’t let me comment. It said I was blocked as I was a suggested bot
thank you for reading and commenting!
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A great blog! I rely on my diary, honestly cannot remember what’s on this coming week without it. @obituary_girl
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Thank you for reading and commenting. Can you link your blog
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Nice to read about how you plan your week 🙂 Personally, I can’t live without to-do lists, but if I want more focus, I use time-blocking. I actually schedule out my tasks during the day and I find I’m a lot more productive.
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Thank you for sharing how you plan. Thank you for reading and commenting
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I have a diary where I put all my day to day things in such as appointments, birthdays etc. I like to get it out my head, because sometimes I just can’t remember everything 🤣 I also have a power planner which is like a goal setter for each month and each day but I’m yet to utilise this. I brought it because I couldn’t help myself because I just love stationery 🤣 I used the busyb diary last year and think they are fab!
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Sounds like you are super organised! Thank you for sharing how you plan, reading and commenting
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I try to be 😀
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Love this! I also use Sundays to plan my week and I’d be lost without that plan lol I love having a plan and a few lists to fall back on.
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Definitely! Thank you for reading and commenting. Can you link your blog so I can have a read
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I love this!! I’m really trying to get into planning this year to keep me active so have just started experimenting with my bullet journal for monthly plans and then my diary has a to-do list section that helps me plan the week.
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That sounds like a great system for planning. Thank you for reading and commenting!
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To do lists honestly help me keep my life together! I have one almost every day and find them so helpful.
– Charlotte / charlottesspace.com
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Thank you for sharing how you plan, for reading and commenting on my post!
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I mainly use my diary to plan my week but my Mum got me a really lovely goals planner for Christmas which is so useful. You can write down your goals for the week along with your to-do list and there’s even a bit for next week too so you can plan ahead. I’m like you in that I love sitting down with my stationery to get planning! X
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That’s a great way to plan thank you for sharing x
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Great post! I also do all my planning on Sunday evenings.
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Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Hey Lauren I too enjoy a great to-do list and planning it out always makes me feel more organized. I don’t know what it is but it’s so satisfying checking off an action off a to-do list, just feel rewarding!📝😁
Natonya | https://JustNatonya.wordpress.com
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Thank you for sharing how you plan, reading and commenting xx
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I love making a to-do list for the week! I got out of the habit of bullet journaling but I think I might try it again after seeing your post! Thank you 😊
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I hope you bullet Journalling helps again! Thank you for reading and commenting! X
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I love planning the week too! I feel like it is important because it helps keep your focus in check. Love that you customize your journal the way you want. It is a win-win where you can personalize it the way you want and you get that muscle memory of writing it down. Thanks for sharing your tips!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
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Thank you so much for reading and commenting Nancy! Planning is fun but helps me feel so organised for the week too xx
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Definitely love making it my own. Thank you for reading and commenting Nancy x
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I love journaling and I actually ordered my new planner and I am so excited to write in it and set goals. I actually accomplished a lot last year just because of having a planner and journaling. Great post.
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I totally relate to loving to plan and especially going planner crazy at the beginning of the year! And that satisfaction of checking off a task!
I bought a new planner this year that I’m using for both my life and blog. It has 50 pages of bullet journal pages in the back. This is my first time ever using bullet journal pages, so I appreciated seeing some of your pages for inspiration! 🙂
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That’s awesome it has bullet journal pages! I love them! That’s awesome! Thank you for reading and commenting
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I’ve been really big into planning with my journals now. I used to exclusively use my phone. I like being able to completely customize my lists and finances in notebooks though.
Thank you so much for sharing!
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Notebooks, journals and diaries etc are my fav! Thank you for reading and commenting x
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I love to make to-do lists! I bought this small marble white board to go in my room and either the night before or in the morning, I’ll write down my to do list for that day. I also keep my monthly goals up on the board to keep me focused!
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That’s a great idea! Thank you for reading and commenting x
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I don’t ever plan my week but I feel like I would be less stressed if I did! These are some good ideas and I’m definitely going to give them a try and see how well it works out. It’s gotta be better than my current plan of winging it haha. Thanks for sharing!
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It helps me not feel stressed and not forget anything. Haha! Good luck! Thank you for reading and commenting xx
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I love making lists and planning the week ahead, i find it is so much easier to focus when I’m not constantly wondering.
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Definitely! Thank you for reading and commenting!
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I do try and plan for the week ahead but I’m certainly not as organised as you, sadly! But one thing we do have in common is I have to write things down, I can’t be doing with electronic calednars and to do lists on my phone. Pen and paper every time, as you say, there’s something about crossing off your to do list that’s sooooo satisfying 🙂 Lisa xxx
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I like putting pen to paper and planning! Yeah it is satisfying isn’t it? I have commented on your blood pressure post, but unsure if the comment has gone through as it disappeared haha! Xxx
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Got it, I have to approve all comments first, thank you! xx
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Ah perfect! Thank you xx
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I love a “to-do” list as well, so satisfying crossing things off.
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Definitely is!! Thank you for reading and commenting! X
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I’ve never managed to keep just a planner (I tend to fail after a few weeks), but my Hobonichi is a mix of a planner, diary and journal and it’s working well for me at the moment.
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That’s great! Everyone has a different way, that’s great you found something that works for you. Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Ooh, I absolutely love a to-do list! I make them for work each morning, for my blog weekly, and for life in general and they keep me on track and ensure that everything gets done. I cannot leave anything on my to-do list un-checked. x
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Yes, it is so satisfying to tick everything off! Thank you for reading and commenting! X
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Great post! As a very organized person too, I can absolutely relate. However for me diaries are sort of overwhelming, it’s too much information to be processed so I rather just stick to to-do lists, which is already a lot when you keep plenty of lists, lol.
Keep up the great work! x
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To do lists are great and easy to follow! Thank you for reading and commenting! X
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I try to keep a running file on my phone of “top priorities” and other things that I need to get done over the course of my week. I love the app TickTick
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Never heard of that app before! That’s great you have found something that works for you! Thank you for reading and commenting!
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I’m a bit of a planner freak myself haha 😂 I plan everyday out, week and month. I like having structure
Chelle | http://www.chellebelle2016.blogspot.com
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I like structure too haha! Thank you for reading and commenting!
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This seems so organized. I still haven’t found the perfect planner, but i hope to stumble over it soon.
And I love your bullet journal.
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BusyB ones are great, you should have a look super affordable and great quality too. Thank you for reading and commenting!
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I love to do lists, but unfortunately I start too many of them, one for the blog, another for work, maybe a shopping list..I tried apps but paper lists are so much better.. Still, I need a good diary to keep it all in one place.
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Paper is better I think. BusyB have great ones, super affordable and great quality! Thank you for reading and commenting x
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Great post! At the moment I’ve been using the notes app on my phone to list out the tasks I have to do 💛
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That’s great you have found a system that works for you! Thank you for reading and commenting ❤️
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I have always been a list lover. And, though I have numerous notebooks and diaries, I have not yet collected all my lists and notes up together into one place.
So much for my love of organization . . .
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Lists are great though! Thank you for reading and commenting!
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I’ve been trying to plan my week on a Sunday too. It’s like the first step to a brand new week where anything is possible. It makes me feel so much more motivated
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Haha yes, Sunday is my bullet journal day too. I love sitting down on a Sunday afternoon and being a bit creative. Or just joining dots, depends on my mood.
Cora | http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
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That’s sounds great!! Gets you ready for the week. Thank you for reading and commenting
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Great post Lauren! I love making lists. Being “task oriented” has really helped me in the past with my mental illness. It would make sure I did things like shower
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That’s great you have found something that works for you x
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I really need to take note! Because I’m so unorganised 🤣 thanks for sharing x
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I hope it helps! Thank you for reading and commenting! X
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Great post and tips!! Thanks
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I love pen on paper! I can’t be without a weekly plan and to do list! Love how organised you are!
Sarah
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I love keeping a planner too where I write my appointments, goals and whathaveyou. I’m very old school like that cos I prefer writing with a pen and paper. I buy a planner every new year too and it gives me a feeling of excitement writing down my goals and also a sense of control when I put down my schedules cos life can be crazy.
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I like buying stationery and using a pen and paper. Thank you for reading and commenting!
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I can’t wait until I have things to actually plan! My diary is my pride and joy!
Al. X
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I love planning. Thank you for reading and commenting.
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Great article. Thanks for the ideas. Will use those ideas.
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Thank you for reading and commenting.
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