PLANNING PRETTIES // HOW I ORGANIZE MY ERIN CONDREN PLANNER

A few months back I decided to purchase an Erin Condren planner, and I'm so glad I did! I was using my Day Designer planner- I still love that one, however the daily pages just weren't as practical as I thought they were going to be for keeping track of all my assignments and my school schedule. What I loved about Erin Condren planners is that you could really personalize everything on it to make sure you could stay organized with a system that works for you. I chose the horizontal layout since that would be the easiest for me to keep track of my weekly assignments. Today I thought I'd show you a peek inside my planner and a few tips for how I keep it organized as a college student with a full plate!

1. COLOR CODE EVERYTHING

Color coding is a system that I've found really works for me and keeps me organized. When I see the different colors in my planner I automatically associate it with a different aspect in my life. A tip when it comes to color coding is keep it simple, too many colors gets a little overwhelming! My favorite pens are the Papermate InkJoy pens since they come in so many different colors and you can find them at Target!

2. USE PRACTICAL STICKERS

I'm a big fan of stickers and making my planner look pretty, but I've found that stickers are easier to use when they're more practical. I love finding cute sticker shops on Etsy, a few of my favorites are SimplyWatercolorCo. for those cute heart checklists and SweetKawaiiDesign for other cute stickers. I also like to use color coding dots to mark paydays and when I have bills due. I usually get mine from Wall Mart or Office Depot!

3. UTILIZE YOUR MONTHLY CALENDAR

The monthly calendar is really important to me, I always make sure to keep it up to date just like the weekly spread. The monthly calendar is a good tool to use when you need to schedule appointments, meetings, vacations, etc. since you can open it up and have all your plans for the month right in front of you. 

Here's a closer look at my monthly spread. I also like to write down when assignments are due and when I have tests, just as a little reinforced organization. :)

4. WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN AND MAKE TO-DO LISTS EVERY DAY

The weekly spread is the most beneficial for me. When I get my class syllabus at the beginning of the semester I make sure to go through and write down all of my assignments and test dates in my planner so I'll never miss a due date. I also like to write down appointments and reminders throughout the week. One thing I started doing is making a to-do list for every day. Going through and being able to check off a task at the end of the day is one of the most rewarding feelings!

Here's a closer view at my weekly spread. I like to write down what we're going to be covering in class as well as what's due that day. I also write down my work schedule, when blog posts go up, bills that are due, and appointments like going to the dermatologist or getting a haircut. 

And that's how I organize my planner! I like to think I keep it pretty simple, but still fun! Having a pretty planner that I love makes me excited to open it up and use it rather than toss it to the side and ignore it all semester. Thanks for stopping by! Let me know some of your tips and tricks you use to organize your planner!

XOXO 

Angela & Amy