There’s something so appealing about checking off a TO DO list. Sometimes, we even add a few things that we’ve already done to the beginning, just to get the ball rolling. If you can’t relate, are you even human? In our microwave-mentality society and this digital age, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the tools and methods to keep your task list organized. Should you go digital or keep your pen to paper? What are the best apps? If you prefer a paper planner, which one should you get? Around here, we love to plan and we love to make lists, so we’ve got some pretty great insight. Keep reading to find out what’s great and not-so-great about digital and paper and how to choose the best one for you. We’ve also included links to some of our favorites, so you can get started right away!
Paper
Paper planners is where our love affair with scheduling began. Sometime’s old school is the way to go. We love our paper planners. We love the pretty colors, the page markers, and the ability to see everything all at once. Traditionally, there are two forms of paper planners. Day Planners and Week-At-A-Glance. Week-At-A-Glance calendars show the entire week on a have a month-at-a-glance, as well as appointment times in either 15 or 30 minutes intervals. This is great for people who want to really dial into where your time is spent and strategize for the most productive day.
Here are a few other things to consider when thinking about paper planners:
Let your creativity shine!
Paper planners are unique in that they can double as a blank slate for you to display your creativity. Especially now, when we have access to so many tools like planner stickers and paint pens. With paper, you really have the ability to turn your planner into a work of art.
The Options are Limitless
When you use paper, you have the freedom to customize and categorize as much as you want. You’re not limited to a certain number of colors, technological restrictions or storage space.
The Brain to Hand Connection
There’s something to be said for the clarity that comes from getting all your thoughts out of your head and onto paper. Typing just doesn’t have the same effect. When you use paper, you can let your thoughts flow onto the paper without worrying about formatting or special functions.
The Downside
Paper might not be for you if you have more than one calendar to manage, if you constantly feel like you can’t fit everything into the planner, or if you struggle with communicating important dates and tasks to family or team members. If any of these struggles are a part of your life, we’d suggest you consider making the switch to electronic.
Electronic
It seems like EVERYONE has an electronic calendar, these days. And for good reason! The capabilities are really endless when it comes to the digital versions. Let’s look at some of our favorite things about going digital and the one thing that holds people back from taking the plunge.
All-In-One Capabilities
With an electronic calendar and To Do list, you really have all you need at your fingertips. You can not only keep track of your appointments and to do lists, but you can also add reminders, color code and link to important files and/or apps. The capabilities of electronic planners take efficiency to the next level.
Seamless Communication
If you have a family or are part of a team, an electronic calendar might be a good choice. You have the option to sync calendars and include more than one user so that everyone has constant access to appointments, tasks and project updates. No more communication errors, because it’s available to everyone, all the time.
Easy Access
With electronic, you can access your calendar and project list at any time, on almost any device. Your paper planner might not fit in your clutch, but we’d bet that you’ll still have your phone with you.
The Learning Curve
Whether you’re technology savvy or not, there can be a pretty steep learning curve when it comes to learning a new program. If you’re going to make the transition, we recommend you invest some time on the front end to study any tutorials and customize the settings to fit your needs. Doing so, in the beginning, will save you a whole lot of confusion and frustration later on. Plus, you’ll probably find some functions you love, that you wouldn’t have even known existed, otherwise.
Our Favorites
Day Designer Planner
This planner from Day Designer is one of our all-times favorites, because of its simple formatting. We particularly love that the weekly pages have both blank space for appointments and a task list. If you’re looking for a planner that isn’t overwhelming, this would be a great option for you.
Google Calendar
This is our go-to, all in one, can’t live without it program. This is mostly because it’s easy to use and easy to share. Furthermore, you can set up reminders, color code and add a task list with due dates and more. Ultimately, it’s the one-stop-shop for all your planning and task management needs.
Iphone Reminders App
This is our favorite app for keeping track of tasks and the never-ending to-do list. It comes pre-downloaded on your iPhone and is super easy to use. You can create lists for any topic under the sun. At minimum, we recommend that you have a list for each day of the week and groceries. It’s also a great idea to have a separate list for each child, regular household management and any upcoming special events. Check out the link for full instructions from Apple Support!
Our official recommendation
Use both! We love to start with a paper planner and To Do list to get all of our thoughts onto paper. It’s so relieving to see everything in one place. It also makes it easier to prioritize! Once we can see everything in one place, we prioritize by urgency and importance. Then the list is ready for formatting. This is where electronic calendars and task management apps come into play. While appointments get put into Google Calendar automatically, after our “brain dump” we time block the calendar for projects. Some examples might be home improvement projects, kid activities, chores, or special business projects. Each individual task gets put into the Reminders App. Once everything has been loaded into the calendar and the Reminders app, we never have to question what to do or when to do it. We just do what the computer tells us!
If this feels overwhelming, we feel you. Any time you implement a new system, it can be challenging! Take it one step at a time and give yourself a pat on the back for inching your way to a more organized life. You can do it! If you’re looking for some extra planning hacks, check out two of our popular posts, Weekend Prep for an Organized Week and Creating a Routine for Busy Moms!
Want more tips on living that organized life? Follow us on Instagram @simplifyinstyle for daily inspiration, behind the scenes peeks and life hacks for all you busy moms out there! Now, we want to hear from you. Do you prefer paper or electronic? What are your favorite tools? We can’t wait to hear how you make these tools work for you! Happy planning!
