As a New Year dawns, many productivity-minded believers begin their hunt for a new planner. We want something to help us better steward our time. But everyone is different. So, the options for planners are nearly endless. How do you decide?
I’ve built two planners, the digital Christian Productivity Planner and the paper Waypoints Goal Planner (coming soon). In the research process, I surveyed dozens of planning tools. And I wanted to take that knowledge and distill it down into eight tips for how to choose a planner you’ll love—and actually use.
1. Get Clear on the Purpose
Before you grab the first planner you see in the T.J. Max checkout, take a moment to think about what you want your planner to do for you. Are you looking to keep track of appointments, set goals, or manage daily tasks? Understanding your primary needs will guide your choice. Planners have different purposes, so make sure you know your purpose before you choose a planner.
2. Digital or Paper?
Another decision you need to make upfront is the media for your planner. Do you like the focus of paper? Do you prefer the convenience of digital tools? Do you want a paper tool that you use with something like an iPad or reMarkable tablet?
Lean into your proclivities here. Many people have a special section of their bookshelf that serves as a graveyard for all the paper planners they purchased and used over the years. They just found they preferred digital tools, and that’s okay. The key here is to choose a planner you’ll actually use.
3. Layout Options
As I said, not all planners are created equal. And many planner companies offer various layout options.
- Annual planners simply focus on being a calendar for tracking appointments and to-dos throughout the year. Most people think of this when they think of a “planner.”
- Quarterly planners tend to be goal-based, like the Full Focus planner.
- Weekly layouts provide a balance, allowing you to see your week at a glance while offering space for daily tasks. Like the pocket Moleskine I’ve carried for years.
- Daily planner layouts are ideal for those who keep detailed daily schedules or practice time blocking. Think Day-Timer, or Cal Newport’s Time Block Planner.
Personally, I gravitate toward weekly planners or quarterly planners.
4. Size & Portability
If you use your planner at home or in the office, bigger is usually better as it gives you more space to work with. Capturing appointments or to-dos directly into your planner is the most effective way to ensure nothing gets forgotten. So, if you’re on the go a lot, consider your planner’s portability.
If you go the digital route, just make sure your app has a mobile companion.
Source: Print Passions, “Planner Size Guide,” printpressions.com/pages/how-to
With paper planners, you have a lot more variety in sizes. I like the pocket size because it fits in my back pocket.
5. Binding
We’ll talk more about aesthetics in a moment, but here, I just want to direct your attention to the practical aspects of the binding you choose. Again, there are lots of options here:
- Spiral bound
- Ring binders
- Hardcover
- Softcover
The chief consideration here is your planner’s ability to lay flat. I like the look of a classic hardcover Moleskine, but it’s very annoying to have it always trying to close itself when I lay it on my desk.
Ring-bound planners, like those from Day Designer, afford you the extra ability to customize and refill your planner. Instead of purchasing a new planner yearly, you buy the paper inserts.
6. Aesthetics
The more you enjoy using your planner, the more you’ll use it. And the look and feel is a big part of that. I like using the Notion app because of its design. And I enjoy writing in a pocket Moleskine planner.
If you get a sense of pleasure from using your planner tool, you’re more likely to use it.
7. Extra Features
Goal-setting features, habit trackers, budget trackers, ribbons, and paper quality all matter. But be cautious here. No planner does everything well. See the first point.
8. Budget
Obviously, don’t spend what you can’t afford. But there is a skin-in-the-game effect regarding tools like a planner. I have a lot of bargain-bin notebooks I’ve never used, but when I splurge on quality, it makes me more likely to use the tool. Investing money so that you can better manage your time seems like good stewardship to me.
Conclusion
A new year is a new stewardship. Let’s commit to using it well for the glory of our King and diligently seek out tools that can better help us redeem the time.
