Why Everyone Should Use a Planner

Get more done, make more money, have time for yourself and your family, be more organized, reduce tons of stress and live a happy more productive life.

Why Everyone Should Use a Planner

Take a look at these compelling reasons why everyone – including you – should start using a daily planner.

Planners Help With Time Management

Do you find that there is never enough time for everything you NEED to do and WANT to do? Do have a list running through the back of your head that never seems to get done? Does your hair stand on end whenever you thing of EVERYTHING you have to do?

Using a planner allows you to schedule each event, appointment, errand, and task, so that you know what to expect and don’t run out of time. Set specific due dates and deadlines for everything to help you stay on track, and have extra time left for yourself and family.

Your MASTER To Do List

One of the first things you should do is create a Master To Do List. When you think of something you must do, want to do, or want to keep as an idea – a possibility. simply add it to your Master To Do.

When you do this, you are freeing up mind-space. You don’t have to worry about forgetting important dates, tasks or worry that your brilliant ideas will fall through the cracks.

Everything is there in one place. Review your Master To Do List weekly. Put the things you want to take care of this week into your planner. Decide if you want to act on any of those ideas. Remove any items that no longer work for you or that you are no longer interested in.

Depending on the type of planner you have, you might move other items off the Master list and into monthly or yearly or project sections.

You Can And WILL Improve Your Productivity

While many people think of productivity when it comes to their work, however you also want to be productive at home so you have more down time for yourself and your family.

This might include getting your house cleaning and meal preparation done efficiently, or working on projects you keep putting it off. Regardless of what it is, planners help you to stay on track with each individual task you need to complete, and encourages you to move on to the next one effectively and efficiently. It is amazing the motivation and satisfaction that comes from checking items off your lists.

Years (eons) ago, I read a series of books from the Sidetracked Sisters. These two women were self-proclaimed slobs. Their homes were a mess, their kids never knew what was happening and their husbands were disgusted. They totally reformed EVERYTHING in their lives with a planning system. This system lead first to one book, then another, then a movie and is still going today.

I LOVED their story. Though I wasn’t a total slob, I wanted to reach the state where if visitors showed up at the door I could invite them in without being embarrassed or feeling like I had to apologize for the mess. It took me a few months to get there and still using the planning system today I can still invite anyone in at any time with zero embarrassment.

Planners Provide Excellent Stress Relief

If you are feeling stressed all the time, it is likely because you have way to much to do and get far too little of it done.

One of the benefits of having a daily planner occurs the moment you write something down. Whether you add something to your Master To Do list, or add an idea to your Ideas List, you are getting it out of your mind and onto paper. First, you are clearing your mind AND you are stressing less because you aren’t worried about forgetting it.

One of the interesting things that I have found, is when I actually write something down … I realize that this “thing” is something I really don’t want to do it and that I don’t have to do. There is a lot of joy and relief in crossing it off my list right away.

A Multitude of Health Benefits

Planners (and trackers) can actually help you stay healthy. They help maintin your physical health by enabling you to track things like diet and exercise. You can schedule regular doctor and dentist appointments, and make sure you are getting enough fresh air and vitamin D by scheduling days spent outdoors. You get mental health benefits by reducing stress and anxiety, and by having journal pages for when you just need a good brain dump or whine fest.

I have diabetes, and one of the stupid things I kept on doing was running out of my medications. It was a “duh” moment for me when I schedule my doctor and pharmacy appointments a month before I ran out of medications. Sheesh!

More Time for Creative And Fun Activities

As you start getting organized and actually getting stuff done, you will find that you now have bits and pieces of free time. Whether you want to start a new hobby, exercise more or simply bliss out in the sun or on the ski run, a planner will help you get more of those precious moments of ME or family time.