| | |

Why I Stopped Using a Fancy Planner & What I’m Using Instead

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission, at no cost to you, when you choose to use the links provided. See the Disclosure Policy for more information.

For years, I have wanted to adopt a planning system that would help me balance my home, work and personal life. I wanted to get organized with a perfectly put-together planner system that would help me be productive and efficient.

I stopped using a fancy planner and started using planning sheets I created myself. It's made a world of a difference!

Well, that hasn't happened.

I've tried several different planners, and I've failed at using them all. Here's why:

Why I Failed At Using A Planner

  1. They were too big. I don't always carry a purse (I know, that's kind of weird!), and I didn't want to carry around a big planner in my hands. So, it either got left at home or in the car. And, I eventually forgot about it.
  2. I bought them for how they looked, not how they worked. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a beautiful organizing system.
  3. I only used part of the planner. A lot of the pages went unused because I didn't need them.
  4. They are expensive! I'm a thrifty gal, and $49 for a planner hurts. This didn't make me stop using my planner, but it made me feel so guilty!
  5. I always ended up going back to using a sheet of paper. That's just what works for me. I love being able to put a list or schedule in my pocket and have it with me all day.

After realizing that I was a planner drop-out, I went back to exclusively using sheets of blank paper to organize my time. It was flexible, portable, and I could modify them to suit the needs of whatever season of life I was in.

But, I still longed for a beautiful planner.

What I Wished For In A Planner

I loved the bullet journal ideas I saw online, but I didn't end up sticking to the bullet journal regimen  either. At the time I tried it, it just took a lot of mental energy I didn't have. Plus, I didn't always bring along my journal (see #1 above).

Take charge of your time with this weekly plan free printable.
One of my favorites! My weekly plan sheet was the first sheet I made into a digital file I could use over and over again. This sheet really helps me stay on track!

As I continued to organize my time using blank sheets of paper, I realized that I repeatedly made the same kind of planning sheets for myself. They were the sheets that worked.

To save some time, I made electronic versions of the planning sheets so I could print them out when I needed them.

Then, I realized that I could make my planning sheets pretty, while still keeping them flexible and easy-to-use.

Coloring Planner Sheets collection from Organizing Moms. Notes sheet colored in. Planner sheets you can make your own!
I colored this one in while listening to a podcast. I think it's pretty even when it isn't colored in!

I still loved the idea of doing a bullet journal, and I had a lot of the bullet journaling accessories like colored pens and pencils. I started using them to doodle and draw pictures on my planning sheets. It was fun!

So, I created a hybrid printable planner/bullet journal/coloring book for myself. I added on graphics that I loved to color, and made everything black and white so I could save on ink while printing.

The Coloring Planner Sheets

Daily plan. Color in planner page. Organizing Moms.

Now, I have a flexible planning system that works. And, I get to color it in! Sometimes I use a clipboard to keep track of my planning sheets, and other times I staple several of them together. If I wanted to, I could even use a 3-hole punch and put them in a pretty binder.

Monthly calendar sheets. Color in planner sheet. Organizing Moms.

I love that I have pretty planner sheets that I can display in my kitchen or at my desk. And, because of their unique design, it's easy for me to spot them on a messy desk!

How to Get Your Own Coloring Planner Sheets

Notes sheet on clipboard. Coloring Planner Sheets collection. Organizing Moms.

Because this system has worked so well for me, I put some extra work into it, and created a Coloring Planner Sheets collection. If you think the Coloring Planner Sheets would work for you, you can get them here.

 

Button with Text - I Want This

Want to see what all is included in the coloring planner sheets collection? You can see lots of pictures and read a full description here.

Happy planning!

New to this community? Start here, friend!

Similar Posts

8 Comments

  1. Hello! I have the same problem you had in terms of carrying around a big planner everywhere. How did you address this issue? I’m guessing you don’t carry a clipboard around everywhere. Thanks

  2. I made a template on my PC and fill it in each week. Using different colours for different events then I print a paper copy and email it to myself. I open the email on my tablet so I can carry it with me

Comments are closed.