My July 2020 Planner Set Up

The number one question I get asked from friends, family, acquaintances, Instagram followers, and more is: what planner do you use?

We’re all searching for that perfect planner, aren’t we? Planners are highly personal, incredibly tactile objects. If you’re someone who uses a planner, then you know what I’m talking about when I say: a calendar simply isn’t the same thing as a planner. It’s just not!

Part of the reason why I use planners is because I sometimes just need space to write down what is on my brain—it helps me to remember and cement that information. Plus, seeing it written in my own handwriting is often easier for me to recall and connect with.

It’s hard to talk about planners without making exact recommendations: what works for me simply might not work for you! However, I do find people love looking at planners and learning why I (or anyone!) has chosen that planner. So, without further ado, this is my planner set up for July 2020.

Planner 1: My Bullet Journal

I use my bullet journal primarily as a brain dump and a daily journal. I make a few monthly lists—tasks, my playlist, a list of books I’ve read, and highlights—but then after that, I try to fit about 5-6 days on every two pages for my morning journal session. I have been doing one list from the original 52 Lists every single day since June 1—I’m almost done with that book, then I’ll move on to 52 Lists for Calm. I find this a great way to journal every day without the pressure of knowing what to write. Usually once I’m done with my list, I’ll write a few things on my plate for the day or that I’m thinking about.

This journal originally started as a work journal; I kept work journals at my old agency where I kept track of tasks and notes. I have probably 10+ journals full from over 5 years. This was a brand new journal then when I got laid off—it’s funny to see those first few pages of business-as-usual notes that turned into journaling and keeping track of phone numbers for lawyers and more.

I almost thought about just retiring it: transitioning it to a journal felt very weird and it took me a long time. However, I don’t like being wasteful with journals—so I just keep it moving and those first 25 pages remain as a testament to a very weird time in my life.

This month’s theme was a 70s-ish flower theme. Nothing fancy—just the basics. I really liked it though. For a full flip through, you can check out my Instagram!

Planner 2: My Habit Tracker

This planner is the Blue Sky Habit Tracker; you can find a very similar one here, but mine was not that expensive! I really like this layout because it involves a monthly page to write down your goals, pick your habits to track, and write. I typically use this for non-work things, like reminding myself to drink water or other habits I’m working on building. I haven’t filled out my July pages quite yet (just a little behind!), but this is always one of my favorite things to do at the beginning of each month: pick my habits, write what worked from last month and what didn’t, and what I want to focus on.

This month, I want to intermittent fast every day through the end of the month—so that will be on the list. (Before anyone asks, I use IF to help with my migraines!) I haven’t decided on my other goals quite yet, but that will come.

I also use these pages to write out my household tasks and to write notes for myself, as well as things I want to remember—like quotes or ideas I have for blog posts in the future! At the end of the week, I usually condense these pages into a notebook or word doc to help me keep track of all my ideas and brain dumps.

Planner #3: My Daily Schedule Notepad

I get soooo many questions about this notepad. So, here are the details; this is the Lamare Embark Weekly Notepad. I use this for planning each day and keeping track of tasks I need to do on-the-fly. Things like texts from clients saying “can you do xyz really quick?” I’ll jot that down and finish what I’m doing, then take it on. I also try to map out my week here: I’ll look at my Asana task list and transfer things to the day I want to get them done so I have a plan in place. It helps me to be able to glance at my week and know when I have meetings, deadlines, and specific tasks planned.

I don’t really use the habit tracker on this notepad—I tend to use that area to doodle! But I do list my top 3 moments during the week; when something good happens, I try to write it down immediately so I don’t forget! I use the to do section for quick notes as well.

Voila! My planner set up for the week. It’s a fairly simple set up, as I have been trying to use my Asana as project management—rather than trying to have one handwritten to do list! This has been a huge help in managing my clients more effectively—plus it’s tied to the tool I use for recording my time for clients, so that works out perfectly.

How do you use your planners?

My Favorite Weekly Bullet Journal Layout

I've been bullet journaling for about two years now. I primarily use it for work, but at home, I use a bullet journal to do my daily journals. I find it's a lot less intimidating to simply write notes in a little box, as opposed to looking at an entire blank page. I use the space to also write my focus for the week (like reducing my anxiety or forgiving myself for making mistakes), as well as goals and track my work outs. 

Above, you can see my absolute favorite weekly layout. I don't like a ton of decoration, but I do use my embarrassingly large washi tape collection to make things a little pretty. It's neat and orderly and I have just enough space in each box to write important tasks and appointments, as well as to write my evening notes. On Sundays, I write a longer journal entry where I reflect on my week, what went wrong, what went right, and what I can do different next week. Then I make my next weeks layout with a specific focus on an eye on the past week. 

I wanted to share what my weekly layout looks like in my bullet journal for a few reasons: 

1. Bullet journaling can seem really intimidating when you see the amazing art pieces some people do in theirs! But realistically, I don't think you have to go crazy in a bullet journal. 
    
2. It's nice to see how someone realistically uses a bullet journal. I'm never going to get track of all my habits, my savings, my budget in a notebook. That's just not how my brain works! But I do try to keep a journal so that I can remember when things happen and my son can have a record of what life was like with him as a toddler. 

I keep my Pinterest journals board updated with interesting bujo layouts. You can check it out here. I'm always making little tweaks to my weekly layout--like changing up fonts, color schemes, and more--but I think picking one you like and sticking with it is the best way to figure out what works, so you can better use your bullet journal. 

How to Keep a Bullet Journal

I love my bullet journal. I've been bullet journaling for work purposes for over 2 years now. It helps me stay organized at work, monitor my priorities and work, and keep track of the various notes I take every day. 

I recently started keeping a personal bullet journal. I want to talk about keeping a bullet journal and how I started mine. To start though, I should clarify what I use my personal bullet journal for. Primarily, I use it as a way to relieve stress in the evenings (who doesn't love doodling and writing?) and to keep track of all the lists I want to make. 

I use a cheap, $1 journal from the Target $1 Spot. I primarily try to use only black pen, so that I don't have to do anything fancy. Sometimes, bullet journals can seem like these tomes where everything has to be perfect and I'd really like to let people know that it doesn't have to be perfect. You can make it as pretty or not pretty as you want. It can be a gratitude journal, a daily journal, a planner, whatever. Bullet journals are what you make of them; it stresses me out trying to make them as "cute" as some bullet journal uses on Instagram, but realistically, it's just for me. It's doesn't need to be perfect!  

Here's how I keep my bullet journal. 

1. I keep a list of "page ideas" in the front (just after the index, it's page 2) and am slowly working through it. You can view all my bullet journal pins--complete with page ideas--on Pinterest. 
2. Every night, I have the goal to complete one page and fill it in with writing. 
3. I don't do "habit tracking" or things like that because, undoubtedly, it ends up boring me. I prefer journaling lists, making running lists, or just daily journaling. 
4. I practice my hand lettering on specific pages. On my Pinterest board, you can see some of my inspiration for banners and dates.