If you’re looking for a planner that primarily covers your work day, look no further. We reached out to various professionals and asked them what they use to be most productive, and we’re sharing our findings with you. No more excuses. Make the new year your year for productivity and time management!
1. The Franklin Covey Planner schedules top priorities, tracks personal goals, keeps track of appointments and organizes events, family schedules, tasks and more. You can opt to have the daily or weekly views with the month displayed as well, and it is friendly to the environment. It is printed in either 100 percent or 30 percent recycled paper and available in compact (4.25 x 6.75 in) or classic (5.5. X 8.5 in) sizes and different covers.
Aside from the apps for Android and iPhones, Franklin Covey planner is also available as PlanPlus Online Essentials. It keeps your calendar entries, task lists, personal contacts and notes on the cloud and can be accessed anywhere anytime.
2. The Moleskine planner can be used by professionals, students, businessmen, stay home and working moms who like to be focused by looking at the big picture amidst the details. Its cover is available In different colors. The double-ruled pages between months provide ample space for specifics and notes. If you need space, it has 51 ruled pages at the back of the planner.
An architect, professor, and a graphic designer chose Moleskines for their planners. The architect uses it for calendar, notes and a bullet journal and another uses the 2 pages per week, 18-month planner because it works for the academic year. The designer loves the simplicity of the cover and of the inside, which gives them many choices for how they create each page.
Moleskine planner. Photo credit: moleskine.com
3. The Day Planner by daydesigner.com is a daily planner that also includes a two-page monthly view, weekly view, and daily pages. It is printed on 90 gsm white paper measuring 7.3 x 9.5 in. and available in different covers. Its new goal setting worksheets and daily inspirational quotes will help you focus, be productive and keep your balance.
A startup founder/CEO chose the Day Designer because it is hard and wire bound, and says, “The pages are set up inside in exactly the way I like. I use zero electronic calendars. I dislike them with a passion!!!”
Jungle out there Planner. Photo credit: daydesigner.com
4. Bullet Journal® (or BuJo®), designed by Ryder Carroll, is an analog program that you can integrate with your chosen planner- a Moleskine, Franklin Covey, Erin Condren, Day Planner or a plain notebook—you only need paper and pen to use it. Place your entries using the rapid logging technique. The first step in rapid logging is to add your topic on the upper portion of the page and assign it a page number. Next, add bullets in the form of short sentences to describe your tasks, events, and notes. If you didn’t complete something and it’s still important to you, carry it over to the next month. No worries about filling all 12 months right away; you can just enter the first 2 months you have planned.
A freelance artist we interviewed says, “I like to use a blank notebook and bullet journal for my to-dos and whatnot. I'll just draw up two months at a time because I usually feel overwhelmed with a 12 month deal with specific slots for specific things. I've found the "build it as you go" approach to be the most successful."
5. Everyday Greatness Journal can be used by everyone - professor, teacher, artist, student, therapist, manager, investor, entrepreneur, working or a stay-at-home mom. The journal is available in different covers and colors, with a smooth matte finish and 488 full-color pages.
Among the planners are:
- Dailygreatness Business Planner: An Actionable Plan For Exploding Your Business
- Dailygreatness Journal: A Practical Guide For Consciously Creating Your Days
- Dailygreatness Training Journal: 12 Weeks to a Rocking Fit Body, Mind & Spirit
They provide a structure to create your day deliberately and enables you to manage time and daily routine. In a daily format, the journal has space for appointments, weekly and quarterly assessments of your work and personal goals, word of thanks, fitness, inspirations, and reflections.
