4 Tips for Using A Daily Planner Effectively

One of the best ways to become successful is to plan for it. Planning isn’t a one time thing. Its not an annual event either. Planning on a regular basis can help you achieve your goals and reach the level of success you’re seeking. Some people keep things super simple and use a monthly planner. Others like a weekly planner so they can hone in on what's going on this week at a glance. A daily planner – or a planner that you use on a daily basis – can help you stay on top of your day-to-day life and get things done. Here are four tips for using a daily planner effectively.

1. Know the purpose

What do you want to get out of your daily planning? Are you hoping to keep track of your daily schedule and appointments? Are you more concerned about general deadlines and only using your paper planner to track milestones and special events? Maybe you need to set priorities for the week and your planner can help you track them. Make sure you know what you’re looking to get out of your planner before you invest in one. That will help ensure you find the right one for you.

Planners come in a variety of sizes these days. There are countless things to choose from. But if your planner is going with you and won’t just be in your work space 24/7, it is important to choose something you can easily carry in a your hand, purse, backpack or other bag.

You can also customize your planner. Many companies offer PDF versions of their planners – you can print out exactly what you need, when you need it. Check out The Next 12 Months PDFs here.

Chances are, you bought a planner with the hopes that it would keep you organized and moving toward some goal. So – what's the goal? Jot down your big goals for the year, and then break them down into monthly goals and weekly goals as you go along. I set mini goals all the time. I start my day by planning and I set a goal for the day – “get caught up with client projects,” or “send out a newsletter,” or “finalize my content marketing plan.” I place sometime in focus each day, week and month so I have something to focus on.

4. Use it daily

This sounds obvious, but this is where most people get off track with their planners. They use it for a while and then, after its not the shiny new thing in their life anymore, they move on. Planning is an important habit and practice for successful business owners. Check your planner each morning before you check your email. Look again mid-day or before you wrap things up for the evening. There's no need obsess about, but checking in and planning your day every day will go a long way in improving your focus and productivity.

Ready to rock your daily plans and accomplish your goals? Find the perfect planner here.