New Planner: Ultimate Guide to Set Up A New Planner

Sticky Note

This is one of my favorite parts. Before I write anything in my planner, I take my sticky notes and go from page to page to decide what I want to do with each page.

For instance, if I want to turn one of my notes pages into a tracker for my blog, I will write something like “blog pageviews monthly,” I would obviously track my blog’s page views.

The sticky note method gives you direction and a place to start from so that you don’t get stuck staring at a blank page for hours.

Color Coordinate

This tip is totally optional. Some people like to keep the color to a minimum, and that’s fine. I do that in my work planner.

However, color coordinating with pens and stickers can make planning fun and something to look forward to. It opens up that creative part of your brain that you don’t use as often when you get stuck in a routine.

I encourage you to check out some other planner blogs and YouTube channels to get inspiration for layouts.

Write Your Name

I usually write my name after I have planned everything out in my planner. It’s like the opening ceremony to the games.

I have written it in a bubble letter form. I’ve used sticker letters before. So get as creative as you like with placing your name in your planner.

Also, always add a phone number to the front of your planner in case it ever gets lost. I’d hate for you to lose it after you’ve made it all personalized.

Add Important Dates

I’m sure you’re saying, “Duh, that’s the whole point of having a planner.” Like my mother says, “Common sense ain’t common.” Lol

Adding your important dates to your planner is a given. However, don’t throw every date you remember into your planner. There is no reason for you to have your 3rd-grade teacher’s son’s first day of school when he was 5 labeled in your planner.

I had this problem in high school. My planner was filled to the coils with unnecessary dates of things I had no intention of attending. Don’t do that, sis.

Only add the birthdays, anniversaries, and special events that are important to you, and you want to remember. Cluttering up your planner is counterproductive.

Add Appointments

Add your doctor, dentist, and all other appointments after you’ve added your important dates.

This way, you will know if you need to reschedule these things for another day. You don’t want to have a conflicting schedule.

Goals

Your planner will become your go-to for motivation. If you are a goal tracking person, then writing your goals and checking in on them in your planner will keep you going.

I love tracking my goals because it lets me know when I’m on the right track, and when I need to work harder at accomplishing what I set out to do.

It’s totally up to you on what you want to keep track of, so write your specific goals out and get busy knocking your goals out the park sis.

Actually, Use Your New Planner

So many times, I have fallen into the planner world and bought pens, highlighters, and even new planners and didn’t even use one page.

In 2019 I purchased a Happy Planner with extension packs and washi tape, and guess how many months out of the year are decorated and planned in that planner? One! One single, lonely ass month.

Oh well, never again. So, use your planner and go back to it to reference.

Once you get the hang of looking it at your life all planned out, you will enjoy having this roadmap to help you.

This post was all about setting up a new planner and what to put in it.