How to Pick a Planner in 2016

It’s time to order a new planner for 2016. Being creatures of habit, most of the time we order what we’ve been using—but now and then it’s fun to change things up a bit. If you’re in the mood for something different this year, here are a few things to consider.

Format

Consider your needs when you make your decision. How often do you reference your planner each day? For example: years ago I used a two-page-per day planner. They’re ideal for those of us who have several daily meetings and appointments. They offer a page for notes, and plenty of room for your tasks. But after a while I realized that most of my pages were empty. I didn’t need two pages of paper to manage my day.

Later, I tried a one-page-per-day planner. They have everything you can find in a two-page-per-day planner, but the layout is smaller. Instead of a whole page for notes, you have a half page. It was a great alternative for me, but I realized that for my personality, I needed to see an even bigger picture of my schedule.

For the past few years, I’ve been using the beautiful Textures Weekly Planner. My job doesn’t include high-end executive decisions or a lot of daily meetings. My work is project-based. For me, weekly planners are the perfect solution. I can open my planner to the week and keep it there. I can see my whole week at a glance and see the progress I’m making on each of my projects. I know many people in situations like mine who plan much more than I do. But for my personality, a weekly planner seems to work best.

If you let your personality, your planning habits, and your schedule influence your decision, you’ll end up with the ideal planner format for you.

Size

If you are wondering which size is best for you, just consider: 1) how portable you would like your planner to be, and 2) the amount of space you will need for writing. Monarch planners are our largest size, measuring 8.5” W x 11” H. They’re great for those who like to write large and need a lot of space but they aren’t nearly as portable as our Pocket planner, measuring 3.5” W x 6” H. Of course, with a Pocket planner, you trade your room to write for convenient portability. Let your life dictate your needs.

Between those two extremes lie our two most popular planner sizes: Classic, 5.5”W x 8.5” H and Compact, 4.25”W x 6.75” H. These sizes offer both portability and functionality. You simply need to decide which size fits your lifestyle best. Because they’re our most popular sizes, you’ll find our greatest variety of designs in these two sizes.

Structured or Unstructured Layout

Some of our planners have a very structured layout—providing space for your Prioritized Daily Task List, Appointments, Notes, and a Daily Tracker. Other planners are more open allowing you to decide what you want to focus on each day. As you browse your planner options, consider how much structure you require to be effective each day and choose a planner the fits your lifestyle.

Wire-bound or Ring-bound

Your planner’s binding makes a difference. Ring-bound planners require a binder and wire-bound planners don’t. Because the wire-bound planner is self-contained you can grab it and go without any other expenses. That’s great until you want to add something to your planner.

Ring-bound planners offer greater personalization. You can add forms wherever you’d like, add additional notes pages, or simply hole-punch an item and place it in your planner. Because ring-bound planners require a binder, you also have the added benefits of a binder; pen loops, a notebook slot, pockets, and a cardholder. Luckily, we have covers for your wire-bound planner that offer the same features as our binders.

Design

It helps if you enjoy what you find when you open your planner. You’ll find a range of designs in our planner selections from simple to ornate. Some offer photographs or whimsical paintings on the pages while others display graphic designs, patterns, drawings, or daily comics. Still others offer clean, simple lines. Your personal tastes will play a large part in the selection of your planner.

Some people like to do a little designing of their own. We offer planners that give you room and freedom to embellish them however you wish. Your planner is a personal decision, and since no two people are alike, we offer a wide range of planners for any personality.

Discover the Planner That’s Best for You

Hopefully these basic suggestions have been helpful. In the end, you simply want to find the planner that fits your lifestyle.

While you’re browsing our site for your next planner, take a moment to look at our newest planners and binders. We also have beautiful new storage cases in five creative colors along with our traditional black and burgundy. Now you can store your planner pages in a style that matches your personality.

Good luck and happy shopping!