Personalize your planner – Currently on Etsy
Sometimes, the hardest aspect of using a planner is commitment. If you’re like me, you can probably relate to the struggle of finding a planner that suits your needs and using it consistently. Digital planners have never worked well for me since I hardly use my phone, and I’ve always found it more satisfying to complete a task list by hand instead of doing it digitally.
Designing a Planner
Designing a planner was a good challenge for me. There are already many planner designs in the market, each with its own unique aspect. I wanted to design a simple planner that was unique but also general so that it could be designed to each user’s preferences.
In the initial design, I thought about my experiences with different types of planners and how others like me might feel the same since I’m not a unique person. (¯―¯٥)
When I first started using physical planners, I started with a simple dated one. Dated planners require a more consistent planning schedule and I always felt guilty and wasteful when I had dead weeks with no plans. Many dated planners that I’ve tried in the past were either too detailed for my needs or too minimal and I wanted more.
Then I tried out bullet journaling because I wanted more flexibility in a planner that could fit my daily schedule. However, that didn’t last long since drawing a layout every month took too much of my time. ಥ‿ಥ
So when I designed this planner, I figured, an undated weekly planner is a good starting point. It’s not too specific (like a daily planner), and a simple weekly spread would be perfect for those who want to focus on specific daily tasks instead of hourly tasks.
Simple but practical
As the first planner product for my shop, I wanted to focus on a design that was flexible, practical, and simple. Adding too many titles and sections seemed too restrictive, but keeping the space empty without content is no different from a bullet journal where you have to design the space yourself.
The 4 major points below were the major factors in my design.
Undated 13-Month
The undated aspect allows you to start, forget that the planner exists ¯\(ツ)/¯, and start again without issues. You can start (or restart) your planning journal any time in the year, making it perfect for those who prefer a more flexible approach to planning or are trying to get into using planners more consistently.
Also, by having 13 months, you can get a head start in building a habit for the next planning year.
Graph Paper Layout
The faint graph paper is designed to be flexible, providing structure for those who need it but light enough to be ignored. It is perfect for planning, note-taking, and drawing.
Weekly Notes + Block Sections
Each weekly spread has a Notes section where you can doodle, sketch out ideas, take notes, record your weekly budget, write a short progress journal, or track your habits.
The two additional blocks at the bottom of the page are open sections. The title is empty so you can change its uses weekly or leave it entirely blank. You can use the blocks to write weekly goals, keep a weekly task checklist or habit tracker, write an inspirational quote, or record important dates.
Weekly Spread
The weekly spread is good for keeping a small checklist of tasks to do on the daily. Every day is a new and, equally important, day so each day has its own block. You can record your Weekand Day based on your personal preferences (MM/DD/YY or MM/DD, etc).
For Etsy Only:
Since this is a handmade product, you are welcome to request a different starting day for the weekly spread. (Ex: Mon -> Sun or Sun -> Sat)
I hope this post was able to give you insight into my design choices and goals for this planner. Whether you want to set goals, manage tasks, or are just looking for a space to record your thoughts, I hope this planner can help make each week uniquely yours.
If you decide to try it out, let me know how it fits into your life!
Leave a Reply