Given my love of writing, fantasizing, planning, revising and especially of books, pens, new beginnings and new years, it should come as absolutely no shock that I love me a new planner. Fresh sheets of paper, new calendars, dates, goals, aspirations. There’s nothing I love more than taking my markers to those pages.
On the flip side, I lose interest in a planner just as quickly once I’ve got all the staples entered. I keep updating it at first, but then it starts to drop off until it’s somewhere under a pile of other books beside my bed. It’s sad, really. I have such dreams for the beginning of every single one.
Just after Christmas, Rebecca mentioned to me that her Passion Planner had arrived and that she was super excited about it. She thought she’d told me about it before (this is, I think, her fifth year) but I couldn’t recall that. Regardless, I was intrigued and I hit her with a few of my most pressing questions. My final question: should I get one? She said yes, as the lover of any product would. Trusting her and really excited by some of the features I saw on their website, I ordered mine minutes later.
Billed as “your paper life coach” the planners include goal setting exercises that are unique in the planners that I’ve seen.
Also includes:
- Goal setting guide
- Appointment calendar
- Motivational quotes
- Gratitude log
- Personal and work to-do lists
- Weekly and daily focuses
- Sketchbook
- Journal
It definitely has a Bullet Journal vibe, but somehow manages to simultaneously add a little more structure and a little more creative freedom. It’s magic, really. And so far, for me, it works.
Mine doesn’t quite look like this yet, but after googling Passion Planner images, I’m going to be adding a little more flair.
So, what are the differences a planner can make? Well, for one, I like having a place where everything can be found. Part of that was habit change for me and willingly surrendering to the process and committing to stick to it. Second, I actually feel way better organized and like I’m getting things done more quickly, efficiently and on time. That feels good.
Do you use a daily planner? Which planner or method is your go-to?
2 comments
My go to is an electronic calendar that I share with Rob. We colour code our stuff, stuff we have planned but not booked, current and future work commitments. I can see as far ahead as I want and always have it with me so nothing to lose, forget or bury under anything. We generally review the week ahead on Sunday pm. For lists, I’m moving from paper to Google Keep. In my heart I still like paper lists I can physically cross accomplished items off with great satisfaction but they aren’t serving me as well lately so time to try something else.
We use a shared calendar and I have a few of my own, too. I’ve yet to find a digital calendar that allows for the type of notes that I like to keep. I also like being able to find commitments, work, lists and more at one glance instead of flipping between apps. Maybe one day something will come along, but I doubt I’ll ever put down my markers completely.