How I Use My Planner
As a second semester senior, I feel like I have mastered the art of using my planner. Of course, everyone is different and has their own method that may work for them for setting up their planner, but I thought I would share my method and what works for me.
I have used the same planner since my senior year of high school: the Lilly Pulitzer Large Agenda. It's so cute, is the perfect size for everything I want to do, and has made me come back year after year. There are three different agenda sizes: Medium, Large, and Jumbo. The large size is just the one that works the best for me. This is the exact planner I have right now (same print, too!), but it is no longer available since it is 2018-2019. But new agendas should be released within the next few months, so keep an eye out if you want one!
So, without further ado, here is how I use my planner in college!
COLOR CODE // Color coding is the easiest way to see, at a glance, what needs to be done. Assignments, exams, projects, and anything that has to deal with school goes in dark blue. So, when looking at the monthly spread, I can see by how much blue is there how much homework I will have to get done that week. Anything related to Greek life is in orange. I use this for events and meetings with my own sorority, and also if I get asked to any date parties, or have meetings for any of my two other Greek honors associations. Green is anything to do with money, so when my bills and rent are due and when I get paid from work. Pink is clubs or university-sponsored events and activities. So my dance team practices, Family Weekend, Study Day, anything like that will be in pink. Light blue is for my work schedule, and lastly, "home" events are in red. This would be family birthdays, weekends I decide to go home, or events I do at home such as dinners, sporting events, or anything else I do at home.
MONTHLY SPREAD // My mantra is that if it's not in my planner, it's not happening! On the monthly spread of my calendar, I use the color coding system I talked about above to write in everything going on that month. Every paper, exam, bill, meeting, literally everything goes on that page! That way I know what I have to do each day so I can know what's coming at a glance. I also like to cross off the days on the monthly page after they're done. It gives me a sense of accomplishment by crossing something off, so I try to do that whenever I can. On the right-hand side of the monthly spread is a column titled "To Do". In this column, I expand on things written in the days. For example, I write out how much my bills are due, when online lessons are due for my sorority, and any other due dates that are on my calendar, but may need to be expanded upon. This way I know how much to budget for my bills and I make sure not to forget my online lesson for my sorority (no fines for me!). I also like to use a checkmark to check off when these get done instead of crossing them off so I can still read amounts or dates if I need to.
WEEKLY SPREAD // After the monthly spread, the week is laid out in the following pages from Monday to Sunday, with a few lines under each date to write something. I still use the color coding system on these pages, and I repeat a lot of the things that are already written on my monthly spread. I just elaborate on them a little more. At the top of the day, I have written which bills are due (if any), the times I work, and basically anything else in the morning. I then write my homework I need to do for the next class in blue, and cross that off whenever I finish the assignment or reading. At the bottom, I write any evening meetings and their times. This way I can see my exact day's schedule whenever writing things down or doing work so that there is no chance I'll forget anything! I also have my entire schedule in my iCal, but that's because I like to view things digitally too, if I need it.
So, there you have it! That's how I use my planner! I hope that was useful to anyone who may be looking to get more organized, or that you enjoyed seeing what my planner looks like. Thanks for reading!
xoxo, Hannah
I have used the same planner since my senior year of high school: the Lilly Pulitzer Large Agenda. It's so cute, is the perfect size for everything I want to do, and has made me come back year after year. There are three different agenda sizes: Medium, Large, and Jumbo. The large size is just the one that works the best for me. This is the exact planner I have right now (same print, too!), but it is no longer available since it is 2018-2019. But new agendas should be released within the next few months, so keep an eye out if you want one!
So, without further ado, here is how I use my planner in college!
COLOR CODE // Color coding is the easiest way to see, at a glance, what needs to be done. Assignments, exams, projects, and anything that has to deal with school goes in dark blue. So, when looking at the monthly spread, I can see by how much blue is there how much homework I will have to get done that week. Anything related to Greek life is in orange. I use this for events and meetings with my own sorority, and also if I get asked to any date parties, or have meetings for any of my two other Greek honors associations. Green is anything to do with money, so when my bills and rent are due and when I get paid from work. Pink is clubs or university-sponsored events and activities. So my dance team practices, Family Weekend, Study Day, anything like that will be in pink. Light blue is for my work schedule, and lastly, "home" events are in red. This would be family birthdays, weekends I decide to go home, or events I do at home such as dinners, sporting events, or anything else I do at home.
MONTHLY SPREAD // My mantra is that if it's not in my planner, it's not happening! On the monthly spread of my calendar, I use the color coding system I talked about above to write in everything going on that month. Every paper, exam, bill, meeting, literally everything goes on that page! That way I know what I have to do each day so I can know what's coming at a glance. I also like to cross off the days on the monthly page after they're done. It gives me a sense of accomplishment by crossing something off, so I try to do that whenever I can. On the right-hand side of the monthly spread is a column titled "To Do". In this column, I expand on things written in the days. For example, I write out how much my bills are due, when online lessons are due for my sorority, and any other due dates that are on my calendar, but may need to be expanded upon. This way I know how much to budget for my bills and I make sure not to forget my online lesson for my sorority (no fines for me!). I also like to use a checkmark to check off when these get done instead of crossing them off so I can still read amounts or dates if I need to.
WEEKLY SPREAD // After the monthly spread, the week is laid out in the following pages from Monday to Sunday, with a few lines under each date to write something. I still use the color coding system on these pages, and I repeat a lot of the things that are already written on my monthly spread. I just elaborate on them a little more. At the top of the day, I have written which bills are due (if any), the times I work, and basically anything else in the morning. I then write my homework I need to do for the next class in blue, and cross that off whenever I finish the assignment or reading. At the bottom, I write any evening meetings and their times. This way I can see my exact day's schedule whenever writing things down or doing work so that there is no chance I'll forget anything! I also have my entire schedule in my iCal, but that's because I like to view things digitally too, if I need it.
So, there you have it! That's how I use my planner! I hope that was useful to anyone who may be looking to get more organized, or that you enjoyed seeing what my planner looks like. Thanks for reading!
xoxo, Hannah
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