the planner tools starter kit;
So you have your new planner. Now what? Where to start? If you see all these beautifully laid out planners on pinterest and want some place to start, here’s where I started!
- Calendars – calendars are crucial to any planner. There are so many styles and spreads that you’ll have to find what’s right for you. For me, monthly and weekly spreads are a must. Monthly calendars can be simple, just a basic grid with days of the week and dates. Weekly spreads I find to be a bit more personal: vertical or horizontal? colorful or practical? appointment or lists? The possibilities are endless, so make sure to check out all the varieties! I currently am using these 2018 A5 refills from Dokibook.
- Colorful Pens – Another must for me is colorful pens. They make my planner happy and bright without much effort, and let me color-code categories as I need to. If you use your planner on the go and want several color options all in one pen, my go-to has been this Bright Ink Colors Inkjoy Retractable Pen. I love that it comes in bright colors instead of just business colors, though that option is available too. And it writes so smooth and lives up to the “joy” in its name. If you use your planner in one location and have the space to house multiple pens, I also recommend these gel pens. They can smear if you don’t let them dry for a second, but I find they slow me down and the extra time lets me put my thoughts in order. Plus I love how smoothly they write.
- Washi Tape – I think every planner fanatic loses their mind over washi tape. However, I’ve actually found that I have specific needs out of my washi tape in order to actually use it. It needs to be able to be written on. I find I don’t really use the purely decorative tapes. So something like this pastel color set lets me section off long events on my monthly calendar and can be written on with any pen whatsoever. It is a little less sticky than some other tapes, but I find it’s good enough and lets me move it around if an event gets rescheduled. Something like this watercolor set is more like the majority of tapes I’ve found. They have way more colors and patterns, but the texture is much more like actual masking tape in texture which makes it glossy and requires a sharpie to write on.
- Stickers – Another personal preference, as there are thousands of stickers to choose from! I use a variety of stickers for different purposes. I use small round stickers like these volleyball stickers and dance stickers to schedule my volleyball games and barre classes. They are glossy so require a sharpie, but I don’t mind since I typically can plan a schedule for a month or at least multiple weeks at a time. They’re the perfect size for a time like “8PM”. If you’re looking for more general use and color-coding stickers, then I highly recommend Emily Ley’s* banner stickers and small dot stickers. The current monthly calendar I have has no holidays, so I’ve been using the banner stickers for that. The one downside? I find the navy blue is too dark to write on at all, even with a dark sharpie. Perhaps a silver or light color would work but I haven’t tried. The dots are perfect for color-coding or adding some easy color to your habit tracker.
*If you’re interested in purchasing Emily Ley products, click this link for a referral and $10 off your order!
- Discbound hole punch- if you’re looking to customize a discbound notebook, which is what I use, a discbound hole punch is a must. You can buy pre-punched paper from certain vendors, but I find the A5 size is hard to find in america and I don’t want the added work. I’ve found punches are an investment, so if you’re looking for a starter one then I recommend this portable one. Pros? Cheap and lockable for different sized papers. Cons? It only punches a few papers at a time. If you’re committed and looking for a more durable option, then I own this one from office depot. Pros? It’s professional grade, so easy to punch multiple sheets at once. Cons? It’s pretty large and takes up a large amount of space on your desk.
- Paper – if you’re planning to print your own inserts, whether you’re constructing your entire planner from scratch or just adding useful inserts, paper is a must. Paper size and quality is actually quite complex, and I will plan to ahre my research in another post. If you’re looking for printer style A5 paper I have bought this Kokuyo paper from amazon, however I find it a little thin for my needs. Dokibook also offers blank pre-punched refills, but I actually find their paper a little thick, plus they ship from China. I’m currently on the browse for an in-between weight, made harder by the fact that A5 paper is hard to find!
What are your go-to planner tools? Share your favorites with me in the comments!
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