The Best Planner for You: How to Choose the Right One

There are so many different planners on the market these days that it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. Do you need a large planner with lots of space to write? Or would a small, compact planner be more suitable? What type of layout do you prefer? And what kind of binding is best? In this blog post, we will explore all of these factors and help you choose the perfect planner for your needs!

Step 1: Understand your lifestyle and your goals

When it comes to choosing a planner, the first step is to understand your lifestyle and your goals. Are you a busy professional who wants to keep track of project milestones and deadlines at the office? or are you a mom who wants to make sure you don't forget your children's activities? Maybe you are a blogger who likes to brainstorm and keep track of ideas on the go? Maybe you are working on your fitness goals and want to keep track of your exercise routines and diets?

Now, write down in 1 sentence:

I want a planner that helps me _____________________________________________.

There is no right or wrong answer, just write down what comes to mind. The more detailed your answer is, the easier it is for you to narrow down your choices.

Step 2: Review what you like/dislike about your previous planners.

If you have used a planner before, do a deep dive on how your past planner has supported your lifestyle and your goals. Were you happy with it? Did it help you stay organized? Was it too big or too small? Did you like the layout? The binding? If you didn't like something about your last planner, make a note of it.

List down:

  1. What do you like about your previous planner?
  2. What do you dislike about your previous planner?

Again, there is no right or wrong answer. Be honest. No one is going to judge your answers. Remember, a planner is one of the most personalized items a person could own. It is a reflection of your lifestyle, your personality, your needs and your wants! it is a tool that will help you to create the life you want and not someone else's. So the more detailed your answer is, the better the chances of you finding your perfect planner.

 

Step 3: Choose the planner type that is most suitable for you.

Now that you have a good understanding of your planner needs, it's time to understand the different types of planners available. We live in exciting times because we have a LOT to choose from. However, it can be overwhelming.

Here is a quick overview of each type:

Coil Bound Planner: This type of planner has pages that are held together by a metal or plastic spiral. It lies flat when open, making it easy to write in. This planner doesn't offer much customizability. You can't add or swap pages throughout the usage of the planner. However, some brands do offer removable covers for you to personalize and call your own.

This planner is for you if:

  • You don't require a planner that you need to add or swap pages
  • You prefer a more permanent binding solution

 

6 Ring Planner: This is one of my personal favourite planner types. A 6 Ring planner usually comes with a leather or vegan leather cover with a metal ring in the middle to hold the planner pages together. You can add and remove pages easily by opening and closing the ring. You can truly customize this planner how you see fit.

This planner is for you if:

  • You want a classy/professional/timeless look as most leather/vegan leather covers are elegantly designed
  • You like a planner that you can add or swap pages

 

Digital Planner: For all of you tech lovers out there. This one is for you. This type of planner is designed to be used on a digital device such as a tablet or smartphone. Usually, you will need to use a third party App such as Good Notes to write down your plans.

This planner is for you if:

  • You prefer a paperless solution

 

Disc Bound Planner: This is another personal favourite of mine. This type of planner has pages that are held together by a disc binding system. Not only that the planner lies flat when open but you can add and remove pages easily. You can customize this planner to your liking. You can change its covers, tabs, add on pages. It is truly limitless.

This planner is for you if:

  • You like to fully customize your planner.
  • You want to add on or swap pages.

 

TN Planner: A Travellers Notebook Planner (TN short form), is a planner that combines notebook and strings. Instead of papers, you can insert a whole notebook into the planner. A TN planner covers usually comes in leather, vegan leather and fabric. You can also swap out the notebooks once it's finished. This type of planner also offers some degree of customization.

This planner is for you if:

  • You want to use multiple notebooks in one planner.

Photo courtesy of Jojo from @jojokwanplans

Bullet Journal: This type of planner is more like a notebook than a traditional planner. It is flexible and can be customized to suit your needs. You can use any dot grid notebook. Although it is fully customizable, you are required to draw the planner layout that you desire. If you're an artist or someone who truly loves to draw, this is the planner type for you.

This planner is for you if:

  • You truly love to draw and create your planner format.
  • You don't mind creating planner pages week after week.

Now, fill in the blank

The _________________________________ planner type is most suitable for me because ______________________________.

 

Step 4: Choose the size of your planner

Now that you know the different types of planners available, it's time to understand the various sizes. Take a look at the various paper sizes that are available for each planner type:

 

So which size should you choose? To help you decide which size, consider these questions:

1. Do you have big handwriting?

2. Do you need a lot of space to write in?

3. Do want to carry your planner with you everywhere?

4. Do you mind carrying around a heavy planner?

5. A question for you ladies, how big is your favourite purse/handbag? (Believe it or not, this question has helped me choose my right planner size time and time again)

Now that you know the different types and sizes of planner available, let's move on to planner format.

Step 5: Choose Dated vs Undated

Dated vs Undated

A dated planner comes with pre-printed dates on each page. Dated planners provide accountability as you can only use it for that specific year.

An undated planner doesn't come with dates printed on the pages. You can start using it at any time and for any duration that you want. Though it gives you that flexibility, it can create unaccountability.

Step 6: Choose Page Format and Layout

Weekly vs Daily planner

A weekly planner is the most popular planner format out there. Depending on the planner brand, you can either get a Monday start or a Sunday start. A weekly planner also comes in various different page layouts. The two most popular layout is Horizontal and Classic Vertical:

 

Horizontal is perfect for:

  • Journaling
  • Faith Planning

 

Classic Vertical is perfect for:

  • Time blocking
  • Decorating planner spreads using sticker kits

My personal favourite is the Modern Vertical.

Modern Vertical is perfect for:

  • To-do lists
  • Journalling

A daily planner, as the name suggests, comes with one page for each day. This planner is perfect for people who need to plan their days in great detail. It usually comes with a time section and notes section.

Step 7: Choosing Planner Add Ons

Planner Add Ons

Depending on the planner brand, some planners offer various other sections such as goal settings, quarterly reflection, notes, habit trackers and many more.

So how do I choose, you asked?

Consider your lifestyle, your needs and your goals. Go back to the first section and review your answers.

For example. if you want to change your habits, you may choose a planner that has a habit tracker or if you want to have your goals page with you every time you open your planner, you may want to choose a planner that has a goal setting section. 

Ultimately, remember that a planner must work for you, for your lifestyle for your needs and goals and not the other way around. 

So to recap here are the steps on how you can choose the right planner for you:

Step 1: Understand your lifestyle and your goals.

Write down in 1 sentence:

I want a planner that helps me _____________________________________________.

Step 2: Review what you like/dislike about your previous planners. (You can skip this step if this is the first time you're using a planner)

List down:

  1. What do you like about your previous planner?
  2. What do you dislike about your previous planner?

Step 3: Choose the planner type that is most suitable for you.

Now, fill in the blank

The _________________________________ planner type is most suitable for me because ______________________________.

Step 4: Choose the size of your planner.

Hint: If you want something on the go, go for an A5 Planner size and smaller. My favourite is the B6 Ring or the Extra Small Planner from my shop.

Step 5: Choose Dated vs Undated

Step 6: Choose Page Format and Layout.

Step 7: Choosing Planner Add Ons. Review your answer from Step 1 and Step 2. Identify what is it that you truly need.

Now that you understand the different types, sizes and formats of planners available, it's time to choose the one that is right for you. Consider your lifestyle, needs and goals when making your decision. We hope that this article has helped make the process a little bit easier. Happy planning!

Still unsure which planner would be suitable for you? You can always send me an email at team@writeosaurus.com or DM me on Instagram or book a 10-minute planner consultation with me here. I will do my best to advice you on the right planner for you.