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Value This Life

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One Simple Change That Helped Me Use My Planner More

simple_change_use_planner_more

Having been an advocate of planning and writing things down for many years, you’d think I would have my planner permanently chained to my body. Not so. Although I’ve spent LOTS of money on different models over time, most of them were used sporadically. Even though I settled on a particular type and have used the same model four years in a row (that’s a world record for me), I didn’t stick with it day in and day out. I’d use it for a few weeks, then drift back to post-it notes and scribbled lists in a small notebook.

When I first found my Planner Pad, I fell in love with the clean white pages, thick paper and clear black lines. As a visual person, I don’t care for colored pages and ink in a planner. I don’t want flowers or verses adorning the pages, and I don’t want pastel paper. Just the facts, ma’am, black and white.

It’s important that your planner “feels” like you. If you love busy colored pages, by all means go for it. That makes me nervous, but no judgment here.

When a business coach advised me to schedule my days and write to-do’s in my planner, I had a hard time doing so. The crazy reason was because I didn’t want to mess up my nice new planner. The coach was incredulous. Someone else in the group felt the same way, so I guess I’m not the only crazy one. I think it had to do with a mindset issue of fear of committing something to paper because then I’d be accountable for it, but at the time I didn’t realize that.

Fast-forward. Bought the same planner this year. Realized that for business tax purposes, I needed a January-to-December version so I bought another one on clearance and transferred information to it. Since then, I’ve used this planner more than any other one, ever. And here’s the simple change that made a big difference for me.

I decorated my planner.

I’m embarrassed to admit it. You’re probably thinking “I read all the way down for THIS?” Hang on, it gets better.

The Planner Pad comes in “Seasons,” “Black” and “Green.” Seasons is colorful, so you know I didn’t choose that one. I almost fell for the pretty light green one, but visions of stains by the end of the year brought me to my senses. So that left me with black.

My wardrobe contains no black, believe it or not. A few years ago I realized that black made me look harsh as I’ve gotten older, so brown is my black.

So here I am with a sturdy, durable, black planner. That I didn’t use consistently.

frontplannerpad

I had taken a course that encouraged making a dream board. So one day it hit me–why not make my planner my dream board? After all, if I was using it like I wanted to, I’d be handling it and looking at it several times a day. Why not make it a reminder of my dreams and goals?

Armed with a color printer, wide clear tape and laminating sheets, I transformed my plain black planner into a personalized dream board.

First I added beautiful inspirational sayings, most of them from Rhonna Designs (a photo app for the iPhone):

decoratedfrontplannerpad

Then the inside cover and title page became my dream board, with goals for this year and beyond:

insideplannerpad

Next I added stickers for birthdays and holidays, and seasonal stickers for months. I had used stickers before, but not to this extent. They added a nice touch of color and beauty and seasonal warmth. I’m big on minor holidays and seasonal decorating, you know.

stickersplannerpad

I also started using colored pens for categories (I already used colored pencil for trips and longer appointments). I’m thinking of trying some highlighting, too.

color

Sharing this feels a little silly. But it transformed my feelings about my planner. I love every image I chose. I’m constantly reminded of my dreams and goals, and looking at the pictures makes me happy. At last my planner feels like home, so I’m using it constantly. Win-win.

Moral of the story: Life’s too short to live ugly. Make sure that the things you use every day are beautiful, as much as lies within you to do so. Owning a planner won’t make you organized, but using a planner will. And if a planner “feels” right to you, it increases the chances that you’ll use it.

{Planner Pads can be ordered at PlannerPads.com}

What do you look for in a planner? Do you have a favorite kind?

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About Charlotte

I'm a grateful wife & mom of 12 amazing persons. I love to inspire & teach busy women to find beauty in everyday life by caring for themselves, creating comfortable homes with their families and living out ordinary days with grace and gratitude. I'd love to encourage YOU!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stacy says

    August 29, 2014 at 8:23 am

    Thank you for sharing that. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one that can’t stick to a planner. I think I have tried everything out there including the electronic version. But my good intentions fail after a few short weeks and all that money was wasted. The current one that I am using is one I designed myself and print out on the computer a month at t time. It is small enough that it fits in my purse. But ironically I still use scrap pieces of paper to do my list and the planner rarely comes out of my purse. sigh 🙂

    Reply
    • Charlotte Siems says

      August 29, 2014 at 2:33 pm

      Yeah, Stacy, I think I never really made them “my own.” I’ve been surprised at how much it has helped to personalize it!

      Reply
  2. Jennifer says

    August 29, 2014 at 9:08 am

    Thank you for sharing this!! I have found my new planner for next year!! Being a stay at home mom I don’t have a lot of scheduled appointments everyday but have lots of to-do lists. I have done a similar method of planning with lots of lists and trying to keep them organized but with a “normal” planner and just tried to make it work because I liked having the book open on my counter everyday to keep track of things. This is a perfect layout! Thank You!

    Reply
    • Charlotte Siems says

      August 29, 2014 at 2:34 pm

      I have loved Planner Pad–when I’ve used it, lol. But that tells you something that I’ve bought the same one four years in a row!

      Reply
  3. Carrie says

    August 29, 2014 at 10:48 am

    Charlotte, I love these ideas! I’ve been resistant to planners; in fact the “p” word makes me quite nervous! But I realize it is a necessity in life so I bought a new planner for myself and one for each of my kids. I am encouraged by your post to decorate it and claim it as my own! Definitely going to get my own set of colored pens (but I’ll have to hide them from my girls 😉

    Reply
    • Charlotte Siems says

      August 29, 2014 at 2:35 pm

      Have fun with it! When I do next year’s I’ll probably try to use the laminating sheets exclusively rather than the wide clear tape because it just looks nicer.

      Reply
  4. Lois says

    August 29, 2014 at 11:37 am

    Finally you’re coming to Tulsa. And wouldn’t you know it, I can’t come. I’ll be in Ohio then for a baptism of a grandson (and seeing the new one just born). Oh well. I’ll hope to get to OKC for the next one.

    Reply
    • Charlotte Siems says

      August 29, 2014 at 2:36 pm

      Oh dear! Sorry it’s not going to work out for you!

      Reply
  5. Denise says

    August 29, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    Thank you for sharing your ideas with us all. I LOVE IT! I have a plain purple planner but intend on doing this. As homemakers, we need encouragement any way we can get it. Blessings sweet sis!

    Reply
    • Charlotte Siems says

      August 29, 2014 at 2:36 pm

      Glad you liked it, Denise! I think God created us to long for beauty, and every little bit of encouragement helps!

      Reply
  6. Denise Lee says

    September 2, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    I love Planner Pad too! I like how it has different areas for to-dos so I can break things down into smaller tasks and prioritize. I love how you turned the front of your planner into a dream board – brilliant! I suggest to my clients to write down their big goals in the front of the planner, but I will recommend creating the dream board too! By the way, I can not handle a black planner either so I was thrilled when Planner Pad came out with a soft green one. It’s so much easier on the eyes. Thank you for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Charlotte Siems says

      September 3, 2014 at 5:19 pm

      I’m still tempted by the soft green one–who knows, I might switch when I order the 2015 one! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Debbi says

    September 2, 2014 at 10:56 pm

    I appreciate this timely post! I’m wondering, do you find it useful for some of your homeschool year planning as well? I find most homeschool planners don’t allow for my personal and business scheduling and the basic/generic planners don’t allow for my homeschool planning. I’m looking for the perfect planner for the mom who wears many hats – I know you wear quite a few!

    Reply
    • Charlotte Siems says

      September 3, 2014 at 5:21 pm

      I make “Homeschool” one of the categories at the top, and make notes of anything I need to do, the history topic of the week, etc. I like having my whole life on a two-page spread, lol

      Reply
  8. Lora says

    April 28, 2015 at 6:58 am

    I have the same struggles. Thanks for sharing! I use the personal size (when I use it). Do you mind me asking which size you use?

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      April 28, 2015 at 8:54 am

      Lora, I use the Executive size, the 8 1/2 x 11.” I tried the Personal size (smaller one) but there wasn’t near as much room to write. It usually stays on my desk so I’m not as concerned about portability.

      Reply

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Hello & Welcome!

I'm a grateful wife & mom of 12 amazing persons. I love to inspire & teach busy women to find beauty in everyday life by caring for themselves, creating comfortable homes with their families and living out ordinary days with grace and gratitude. I'd love to encourage YOU! Read More…

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Have you ever procrastinated about doing something Have you ever procrastinated about doing something, with thoughts of dread and overwhelm?😬And then done the thing,  finding that it was easier and faster to get done than you thought it would be?🥴Yeah, me too. Note to self: The dreading and putting off costs a whole lot more emotional energy than just doing the thing. 😊
In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to get by with the barebones of running the household—but we skip the joy, comfort and encouragement part.   We trade an artful arrangement of beautiful things on the coffee table for a stack of newspapers and mail. The TV takes the place of a board game. Irritation with our family flavors our speech.   Sometimes this happens so slowly that we barely notice it, and then one day we realize that our home life is out of sorts.  With that realization comes the choice to fix those little things. Tidy up the clutter, get the laundry caught up, read aloud to children, and set a pretty table for an ordinary supper.  Look around your home with fresh eyes to see if it needs a reset. Even 20 minutes of tidying can make an amazing difference.❤️
Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power ha Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power has been out for 2+ days, grateful for a generator and hot water. I figured out that complaining doesn’t make electricity come back on. 😊
Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthst Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthstones of our children but we never found a design with 12 stones. 💍 It was a forgotten wish until I received this bracelet as a sweet gift. I can rattle off their birthdates like a boss but sometimes the size of our family still surprises me. It grew one baby at a time and I grew along with them, like all mothers do. There’s no rewind button, and we can’t go back and have a do-over. But we can be grateful during EVERY season for what we have, and I am!❤️
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Not “they that complaineth much” or “they that talk about their issues all day long.” I’m guessing that “not waiting” means sucking the life out of strength instead of renewing it. But waiting can begin in this very moment. 
•
(pic from my kitchen window)😊
Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a t Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a task, but we all love how it feels when the task is done. Maybe it would help to think about how good the result will feel before we start!
Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before 14yo could mix up cookie dough. 
👉🏻Note to self:
Don’t wait until it’s time to do a task to check whether you have what you need to do it. Realizing you’re short on supplies or information at the last minute costs time and causes stress! Knowing that you’re prepared eases the pain of getting started. Put “check for ingredients” on your to-do list!
How much life do we waste worrying and fretting an How much life do we waste worrying and fretting and dreading....when the thing we’re upset about IS GOING TO GET DONE?! It’s going to happen, it’s all going to work out, and we probably won’t even remember it by next week. Sometimes it helps to remember that!💕
We bought a house built in the 80’s and have bee We bought a house built in the 80’s and have been doing that fixer upper thing. Sorry for the blurry “before” but just think “black hole” and you’ll get the idea.😂 Amazing what paint and decor can do for a space. Sold the old mantel on FB Marketplace for $60 and bought the unfinished new one for $45. Found the print in my garage, lol. Mirror from Hobby Lobby. Sorta reminds me of my life pre-Jesus. Dark to light. Old to new. Same basic human, transformed with light and love.❤️
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valuethislife

valuethislife
Have you ever procrastinated about doing something Have you ever procrastinated about doing something, with thoughts of dread and overwhelm?😬And then done the thing,  finding that it was easier and faster to get done than you thought it would be?🥴Yeah, me too. Note to self: The dreading and putting off costs a whole lot more emotional energy than just doing the thing. 😊
In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to get by with the barebones of running the household—but we skip the joy, comfort and encouragement part.   We trade an artful arrangement of beautiful things on the coffee table for a stack of newspapers and mail. The TV takes the place of a board game. Irritation with our family flavors our speech.   Sometimes this happens so slowly that we barely notice it, and then one day we realize that our home life is out of sorts.  With that realization comes the choice to fix those little things. Tidy up the clutter, get the laundry caught up, read aloud to children, and set a pretty table for an ordinary supper.  Look around your home with fresh eyes to see if it needs a reset. Even 20 minutes of tidying can make an amazing difference.❤️
Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power ha Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power has been out for 2+ days, grateful for a generator and hot water. I figured out that complaining doesn’t make electricity come back on. 😊
Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthst Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthstones of our children but we never found a design with 12 stones. 💍 It was a forgotten wish until I received this bracelet as a sweet gift. I can rattle off their birthdates like a boss but sometimes the size of our family still surprises me. It grew one baby at a time and I grew along with them, like all mothers do. There’s no rewind button, and we can’t go back and have a do-over. But we can be grateful during EVERY season for what we have, and I am!❤️
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Not “they that complaineth much” or “they that talk about their issues all day long.” I’m guessing that “not waiting” means sucking the life out of strength instead of renewing it. But waiting can begin in this very moment. 
•
(pic from my kitchen window)😊
Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a t Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a task, but we all love how it feels when the task is done. Maybe it would help to think about how good the result will feel before we start!
Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before 14yo could mix up cookie dough. 
👉🏻Note to self:
Don’t wait until it’s time to do a task to check whether you have what you need to do it. Realizing you’re short on supplies or information at the last minute costs time and causes stress! Knowing that you’re prepared eases the pain of getting started. Put “check for ingredients” on your to-do list!
How much life do we waste worrying and fretting an How much life do we waste worrying and fretting and dreading....when the thing we’re upset about IS GOING TO GET DONE?! It’s going to happen, it’s all going to work out, and we probably won’t even remember it by next week. Sometimes it helps to remember that!💕
We bought a house built in the 80’s and have bee We bought a house built in the 80’s and have been doing that fixer upper thing. Sorry for the blurry “before” but just think “black hole” and you’ll get the idea.😂 Amazing what paint and decor can do for a space. Sold the old mantel on FB Marketplace for $60 and bought the unfinished new one for $45. Found the print in my garage, lol. Mirror from Hobby Lobby. Sorta reminds me of my life pre-Jesus. Dark to light. Old to new. Same basic human, transformed with light and love.❤️
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