So you want to become a planner nerd like the rest of us eh? It’s a fun and rewarding hobby. A very useful one too. So welcome to the world of organizing & planning, in style!

My cousin is a newbie and I am currently helping her out. I am in the process of setting up her very first filofax. I found an A5 daytimer and it would be perfect for her! Anyways, here are some tips for all you who want to get started.

Get used to the idea of writing things down

Get into the habit of writing everything down! When you write things down you remember more. If you have something to do, somewhere to go, something you need to buy, or make write it down! If it stays on your mind, it will get lost and never accomplished until the next time you think about it.
Write down all of your appointments, birthdays, special events, all contacts, everything you’d write in your phone put it in your planner. 

Take your planner everywhere with you! Whenever you have an appointment write it in your planner right away. If you’ve got an idea you want to remember don’t trust yourself to remember haha just write it down! If you have something you need to do, write it down in your to do list! 
Have something you need to reference constantly? Put that in your planner! Quotes, inspiration, relevant information, pay days, etc., anything and everything! 
Think of your planner as your brain dump! Once you get the hang of writing everything down you will get used to using your planner daily. I always tell myself oh I’ll remember that or I’ll just put it in my phone and write it later. But I never do. And I never really remember that I wrote it in my notes section in my phone. 

How I Got Started:
I needed some routine and schedule. I have two baby boys and am home alone with them all day. Things can get crazy and hectic and whiny when there was no routine! I needed to get organized and get things done around the house while still entertaining two babies! When I first started I had a tiny little planner. It was not enough room for me to write everything down. & it was not cute! I had no motivation to write in it everyday. I did not use it as much as I should. Then I ordered my very first Erin Condren Planner. It was cute and functional with plenty of space for me to plan out my days!
my pretty Erin Condren planner cover inside of a Kikki-K planner!
 

Erin Condren planner
But then I wanted something more versatile so I uncoiled it and put it into a binder – my berry Kikki-k planner! 
Then that got too big for me to lug around everywhere so I came across a smaller Filofax – the pocket, but it was too small for me and I found the perfect planner – my mulberry!
Now I use all three, but that’s another story. #planneraddict

Some Alternatives to Filofax Binders

If you think you are ready for a Filofax but don’t want to spend a fortune you can find some cute and affordable ones from Paperchase or Kikki-K. Barnes and Nobles has the punctuate planner for very cheap as well! You can also find some Filofaxes on eBay.

Update:
Just found out about happie scrappie’s shop – http://happiescrappie.bigcartel.com/product/rainbow-color-planner-personal-sized-free-ship. She has cute personal sized planners starting at $45.99 and come in such cute colors! It also comes with a memo pad, a set of dividers, a plastic ruler / today marker and a zipper pouch. So awesome for a beginner! I’d love to order a yellow one come mid-October! They are up for presale and if you check her blog out you can get 10% off! http://happie-scrappie.blogspot.com/2014/09/happie-plannerreveal-day-for-september.html?m=1

some kikki-k planners and my mulberry

Inserts

Next step is to find the perfect inserts! You can find some free printables on my blog or you can buy some.  Find some free printables and
see how you like to plan first. Do you like planning every week? every
day? Do you like seeing everything at a glance like a monthly view? Or maybe
all three! Test it out first! If you buy from filofax, paperchase or kikki-k they usually come with weekly and monthly inserts. Use that for a while, then if you don’t like those you can order some cute ones from piaric on facebook, find some on wo2p inserts on etsy or try some free printables online.You can use this to help you print your free printables.

Use the monthly view as your story board for the month. Jot down all of your important appointments, due dates, bills etc. 
Use the weekly or daily to jot down all your tasks for the day or week that you’d like to get done. The Erin condren planner has 3 different sections which I think really helps you split up your to do lists.

weekly view

monthly view
insert view of my erin condren

You can find other useful inserts to use in your planner on my blog as well, such as to-do lists, wish lists, budgeting, expenses, appointments, and many many more printables!

my free printables

schedule those appointments

Stationery Goodies

Personalize it & make it fun! 

Get a nice pen, some stickers, some washi tape, anything to keep you interested in your planner. Decorate and plan happily! 

When you have your planner, you can start decorating. Most people buy all these planner goodies while waiting on their planner! Get some sticky notes, pens, paperclips, washi tape, journaling cards and other cute stationery extras. You can get these from arts and crafts stores, etsy shops, or print your own like these stickers here! These help keep you motivated to
stay organized with a planner, all while still being functional! You can find inspiration on how to decorate pages on instagram, YouTube or pinterest!

Some cute online shops for pencil cases and clips and more:
This fakus pencil case and sentimental circus paper clip were both from coolpencilcase!! 

washi tape, project life cards, corner rounder and others!

stickers from online shops

bookmarks and stick flags!

Dividers/Sections

Decide on sections in your Filofax. Make your own cute dividers or buy some on etsy! Some common sections in a Filofax include:

  • Info
  • Calendar – Yearly/Monthly
  • Weekly (diary)
  • To Do
  • Notes
  • Inspiration/Lists
  • Addresses/Contacts

It all really depends on your lifestyle. If you are a student, a stay at home mom, a blogger, or working every day. Make sections relevant to your life. What do you need to reference all the time? What do you need to write down to remember?

After a few weeks or days of using this system, you’ll be able
to see what is working for you or not. Change them up as you
need. Starting a planner is a lot of trial and error until you find your niche!

Start using that planner as much as you can! Keep your planner open and in sight. You’ll use it way more if it’s in view and get things done too! You know the saying “out of sight, out of mind”. So find a spot for your planner where you can constantly see your plans and start planning!

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About wendaful

Welcome to the Wendaful planner blog! I'm Wenda, a mom, planner addict, and blogger who shares free planner printables and tips on how to live a happy, productive and organized life!