If you want to excel in your 2019 “Organization” New Year’s Resolution then you need an Erin Condren LIFEPLANNER- and I’m going to show you how to organize it too!
It’s a new year, and one of the most popular times to re-think organization and find new or fresh methods that work for our busy lives. I was lucky enough to get to try the Erin Condren LifePlanner a few months ago and I honestly cannot imagine keeping my head on straight with out it! It’s taken me though one of the busiest seasons of my retail year (Q4) {Sidenote: for those of y’all who are new around here I’m an Associate Apparel Buyer for a national retailer in my nine to five + blogging as my side hustle!} as well as the holidays! Now that we have begun 2019 I thought it would be the perfect time to give you a peek inside my planner and share my method for organizing my life with the LifePlanner!
THE BASICS/SUPPLIES
First things first, let’s start with the basic supplies of what I use to organize! Obviously my #1 is my Erin Condren LifePlanner- can’t organize without that! I also grabbed her sticker book as well as a few bonus sheets because I find that adding a few happy stickers makes planning more fun! I’ve also been using LePens for about a year now because I’ve started to color-code my calendar for different commitments/tasks. Since you can’t erase pen, I also carry post it’s with me to add in notes/appointments that might not be 100% confirmed yet! Here’s a rundown of everything I use:
START OF EACH MONTH
I wanted to give you a peek at what the planner looks like inside. At the start of each month Erin has designed the cutest motivational quotes that always inspire me and get me excited to dive into planning!
MONTHLY OVERVIEW
Next we have the month view to organize. As I mentioned, I like to color code my calendar so I can easily see what I have coming up and what “section” of my life I will be tackling that day 🙂 For instance, pink = personal (friends, parties, birthdays, haircuts, etc), green = work, orange = blog… you get the point! I keep a post it with my color key at the front of my planner for an easy reference! You can have some fun here adding stickers and finding a system that works for you!
WEEKLY LAYOUT
Up next we’ve got the weekly overview- this is where the magic happens! My Erin Condren LifePlanner is set up in three blocks. The most common way people use the blocks is “morning, afternoon, and evening” for schedule planning, but since I work 9-5 and have an outlook calendar I really don’t need my planner for a chunk of my day! So, I break my blocks up into “today” (my schedule/commitments), “to do”, and “to note” (I jot down bills that are due, giveaways for the blog, etc). This method has been really working for me and helping me to see everything I need to accomplish all in one space!
EXTRAS
Finally, your planner will come with a few fun extras! If you don’t want to carry a whole sticker book, your planner includes a few sticker sheets in the back (love!) It also comes with a Celebration Book which allows you to put in all the important dates you don’t want to forget! What I love about that is even after your planner is done you can use the book go-forward as you set up your next planner! So smart!
So, how do you organize your planners? Are you a color-coder like me? Do you have a thing for stickers too?? Share your tips in the comments below… I’m always looking for new ideas!
{GET ORGANIZED WITH MY LIFEPLANNER ESSENTIALS}
GIVEAWAY
Finally- the most exciting part of today’s post! My friends at Erin Condren have partnered with me to give one lucky winner a $50 gift card to the site! This is perfect if you would like to order a LifePlanner of your own… or maybe tons of fun accessories! I’m making it super simple for you to WIN… all you have to do is comment below with you favorite planner organization tip & leave your email so I can contact you! That’s it!! One lucky winner will be selected on January 7th! Good luck!!
I love EC! I decided to get the vertical instead of the horizontal next time, I think it will be easier to keep things neat in the boxes.
I think my best tip is to not plan too far in advance. My schedule is kind of fluctuating, and I noticed I have to redo things a lot. ( I got excited when I first got my panner and filled out a bunch!) My strategy with my next planner is to do one week at a time while using the monthly layout for future events.
You have such cute handwriting! And what a great giveaway!
Yes I love taking it one week at a time ☺️ That’s why I use post it’s for far out activities… I like to note what could be there but am not ready to commit!
Oh wow your planner is SO organized! I remember trying to color code mine one year in college but I totally failed on that, haha!! To stay organized now, I have a paper planner that I use for personal life stuff, work stuff, and I also make a checklist each day of that day’s blog tasks! My editorial calendar is through iCal. 🙂
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
My blog calendar is on google calendar- I love being able to move content around 🙂
My tip – I also use my planner for recording dinner meals. It helps me with meal planning, making sure there’s variety in our dinner rotations, and if I try something new, I record whether it was a hit or a flop for future reference.
That is a great idea! I love that with the EC layout you can use the boxed however you want!
I love the EC planner. I typically do horizontal but I would love to try the vertical. I like to color code as well as use bullet points to check off my to do list.
Yay for another color-coder 😉
This would be amazing! My favorite tip is to have the planner with accessories all in one area on the desk, so you can update it frequently or when needed. Also spend 30 min to update and make lists of tasks and cross off things because seeing all the accomplishments is motivating!
Great tips Tiffany! Thank you for sharing!
Could totally use this in my life. Between planning Instagram posts, work, gym, & social it can be overwhelming!
It definitely can be!! That’s why having a great planner is so key 🙂
I like to sit down at the beginning of the year and put as much stuff out in my planner as possible.
It’s nice to get a big picture look at the year!
i love my planner, it must be in paper form, not electronic. Since my planner is for work and personal, i highlight all the work things so they stick out, but i’m still able to write personal needs on it as well. it works for me!
b
Yes Im definitely a paper girl too! I used to highlight and loved that method too!
Using different color pens help me not over look anything
Yay for color coding 🙂
I love color coding my organization. I am going to try the sticky notes so I can use pens instead of highlighters. I am dying to try the Life Planner.
You will love the sticky note trick!
I also color code and make sure I enter everyone’s birthdays at the beginning of each year!
Love that! Thank you for sharing!
I love using post-it notes and make daily lists for the things I need to get accomplished each day!
Daily lists are KEY to success!
I write almost everything in pencil in my planner. Very few things are written in pen. Things change, plans change!!!
Would love to win an Erin Condren planner
thank you
That’s a great point of view! I recently bought erasable pens for work and they are a game changer if you love pens but also need to erase!
The right extras are key for me! I like to use good jelly pens – they write well on the stickers (which you can cut down to any size & rename on box in the planner). I also like to block off bottom pages with washi tape and use this area for meal planning for the week. And I think my biggest tip is not to plan everything so far out. I will fill in birthdays, holidays, etc. for the entire year. But if I fill everything in right away, it can become overwhelming. For me, I enjoy the creative process of using the planner with stickers, etc. – it helps with anxiety!
You are a planner pro Kim! Thank you for sharing all your great ideas 🙂 I need to get some wash tape!
I am beyond excited about this giveaway. You can ask my friend Courtney, I have been looking at EC for months, but haven’t pulled the trigger because of the price. Eekk! My planner organization tip would be to super utilize color systems (stickers & ink), it helps make it exciting and enjoyable while providing a clear way to identify separate items. ????????
Hi Giselle! Thank you so much for sharing your tips with us 🙂 Crossing my fingers for you… EC planners are worth every penny 🙂
I just got a LifePlanner, the hourly layout! I am so excited to start using it, I really hope it will help me keep my schoolwork organized. I also love to use different colored pens as an organization method!! Thanks so much for sharing! (rachelearly2414@gmail.com)
The hourly layout is a great set up too! Perfect if you’re still in school! Yay for a fellow colored pen lover 😉
I don’t have a favorite planner organization tip because I have zero organization for my teeny tiny planner! Got my mom an EC last year and she loved it! Been dying to try one to help keep all of my son’s therapies organized!
Hi Jasmine- definitely time for you to upgrade! 🙂 You need space for everything you have going on! Best of luck!!
It took me forever to get an Erin Condren planner and I will never go back. They are amazing! I color code everything – work stuff, school stuff, personal, work outs. It makes it easy to glance down and see where my time is going in the week.
It’s making me so happy to see all the other color coders out there! Thanks for sharing!
My best tip would be to focus on your desired end result as you design the planner. That way, all of the details you include will have a valuable purpose and you can avoid cluttering up with ideas that are cute but not practical.
I love that big picture mindset!
I color code my activities by different washi tapes. I like the added pops of color which help catch my eye! I make a little reference section in the back to help me remember what each washi tape represents because sometimes I get carried away ?
I have a key in my planner too- great tip Pamela!!
I love how you organized your planner! Between the color coding and the way you use the weekly spread, I’m inspired for how to proceed in my own organization for 2019!
Yay!! So glad that it inspired you!! Fingers crossed for a super organized year!
I am a color coder and use pencil or erasable pens for things that could possibly change. I use mine for personal dates as well so things that won’t change like birthdays or anniversaries are all in color coded ink.
I’m obsessed with erasable pens- they are the best!
I like color coding so I can easily spot what is happening when. It makes it easy to spot when something is coming up. pooh1334(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like using different colors so it doesn’t all blend together. It helps me stay on track. pooh_1334(at)yahoo(dot)com
This is amazing idea dear. I love planners, it keeps you on track and top of everything.
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
It definitely keeps you on track!
Love this planner, and love how you color code! I’d love to try it out 🙂
Such a fun planner, and I love how you color code! It would be great to try it out!
I think you would love it! Good luck!
I like to add stickers icons like money symbols to tell me when I have a money item for that day. Creative.lauren (at) aol.com
Cute idea! I love it!
I love using colored pens and sticks to help signify different things like a red pen for something important. Stickers to show an accomplishment.
dlatany at gmail dot com
Hey Gentry!
I love this post. I just recently learned of EC planners and there is a store about 40 min. from me. My favorite planning “tip” is too add my workout for the day at the end of each day. For example, I’ll mark my long run days, sprint days, chest, back and so on. That helps me manage my time, food and water intake.
Keep the great ideas coming! I’m so proud of you, lady!
Oh I love that idea! A great way to use your planner!
Ok first of all, you have the NICEST handwriting! Second of all, you inspire me to get a handwritten planner in order! I am a digital girl but just got a paper one this year to better reference my personal projects at work, etc. I’ve heard so many good things about Erin Condren!
xx katie // a touch of teal
I just love a good paper planner- it’s the one old school thing about me!