The Lazy Genius Guide to Planners
Have you noticed how a new planner is like the Holy Grail of school supplies? When it’s shiny and new, we put a lot of pressure on it to make our lives better. It inspires us to make new goals, remember the appointments, make time for ourselves, and track all the things. But then a few weeks go by and we miss tracking our water or answering the reflection question or sometimes we just forget to put someone’s birthday in the thing to begin with. And we feel terrible, so we buy another one, a different one because maybe this time we’ll be better.
Y’all, it doesn’t have to be this way. There’s no perfect planner because there’s no way to manufacture a perfect life. We can only use it as a tool in being a genius about the things that matter. One way we do that is by naming what matters and finding a planner that we can commit to and being okay with even if it fails us sometimes, which it will.
Now, I can’t tell you which planner to choose because what works for me may drive you bonkers. And yes, there are so many options out there for planners, those options work in our favor because there’s likely a planner out there that ticks all the boxes of what matters to you. I’m listing a few planners that I’ve either used in the past or ones that friends have used and what they’re good for.
If you want a refresher on the Lazy Genius approach, listen to The Lazy Genius Chooses a Planner. And if none of this feels like a good use of your time, don't feel the need to get fancy. One of my favorite planners was just a seven dollar situation I got at TJ Maxx one year. If you know what you need and what matters, you can choose whatever makes the most sense.
If You Want To Find Sacred Moments in Ordinary Spaces, Try . . .
This is the one I currently use and is good for setting daily intention and having a big-picture view of our souls and inner life in light of our days. I love that Jenn provides sample PDF pages for free so you can try it out to see if it works for your life before purchasing it.
If You Like Setting Big Goals and Completing Projects, Try . . .
This one is good for completing projects and making big moves. One book is one quarter, or three months of the year. You guys, this planner is so well made it’s stupid. Traditionally, they’ve only come in black with orange and blue ribbon, but there’s a new colorful version they just released. Both versions use bigtime achievement language, so if you have a wonky relationship with goal setting or achievement, this may not be the best fit for you.
My business manager/assistant/Lazy Genius right-hand man uses this one and swears by it. She says it’s great for prioritizing your days and weeks without colorful distractions, and there’s enough room to reflect and track habits when you feel like it. Plus, you can get a big Get To Work-branded rubber band to hold it all together like an old-school Trapper Keeper.
If You Know What You Want and Want to Build Your Own, Try . . .
This one is completely customizable if you know what you want to build your own. But I find it to not be as aesthetically pleasing for my tastes.
Laura Tremaine uses this one and loves it. She walks you through her whole selection process on her blog. You can build your dream planner from the ground up and choose the pages that best fit your life and schedule. Homeschool mom? There’s a layout for you. Blogger wanting to chart your editorial calendar? You can do it with Plum Paper.
If Style and Intention Matter to You Equally, Try . . .
You’ve likely seen Erin Condren’s planners on Instagram and for good reason. They are beautiful and lovely. She offers tons of cover designs and customizable options with her LifePlanner.
This is another one you’ve more than likely seen on Instagram. Emily Ley designed daily and weekly editions of her Simplified Planner that focus on planning your life but leaving room for white space. Plus, her trademarked Happy Stripe planners are so bright and happy.
If You Like a More Minimalist Style, Try . . .
I like Mochi Things because they offer planners that are more streamlined for everyday use and feel a little more grown-up. Plus, you can build your own padfolio of sorts to transport all your office-y things if you need that kind of thing.
Poketo is another really simple but cool minimalist calendar/stationary site. Their designs are fun and fresh and not overwhelming.
If Calendars Make You Feel Boxed In, Try . . .
Klarheit is great quality and good for reflection. It doesn't have a monthly layout though, so it's out for me. I learned that the hard way after buying it.
Bullet journaling is still a great option if you're just getting started. My favorite journals to use are Karst Stone Paper journals, I love them so hard. Amazing paper quality and a beautiful user experience if you care about aesthetics and design.
If You Always Have a Notebook With You, Try . . .
I love Leuchtturm products, and they have planners which look great. You can find them on Amazon.
I personally love the look of Appointed Planners. While I have never used them, they seem like a great option for some people.
If You’re Trying to Find Out What Matters to You, Try . . .
I used this a couple of years ago, and I only switched because I value thick paper pages in my planners. I think it's great for younger folks trying to find out what matters to them.
If You Spend Your Days Away from Home, Try . . .
I've used this before too. I stopped because I had to when I was home with kids, and it didn't serve me well. They’re very pretty though and have lots of room for goal setting and being intentional about what you want to accomplish.
That’s all I’ve got for you. This is nowhere near an exhaustive list of planners and notebook options for you (even though it feels like it), but I hope if you’re looking for a planner that you find one that works for you.
Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links to products on Amazon. All that means is if you buy something from one of my links, I earn a small commission at no cost to you.
