Just a Hint (or a Splatter) of Color

Finding a planner is the first step to creating your perfect planning system. However, this discovery of your “perfect planner”  is not the end. Now, you must create a method of planning that is both effective and easy for you to use. A planner is no help if you do not use it.  Every person is different and has a unique approach on organizing their planner but one thing that many use is color coding.  

Some may avoid color coding because it is “too much” and others (such as myself) have every color of the rainbow in pen form. Whether you are highlighter crazy or feel better when everything is in black, here are a few different methods and styles of color coding.

Styles of Color Coding:

Color by Class

   This is a very popular method of color coding for any type of student, but can be also applied to different work commitments or different types of anything going on in your life. The jist of it is that you pick a color for every class and use that color to write down any events, assignments, tests, quizzes, and everything else that pertains to that color.

This method is a good visual when just glancing at your planner and applying some time management skills. Now you know that you need to set a lot of time aside to do math or perhaps only need a half hour for an English reading. It may require many different colors but it is a method that many swear by.

Another version of this method if you are not a student or perhaps don’t need more than one color for school, is to color code each area of your life. For example, one color for everything that is personal, another for everything related to school, and/or another for work,etc.  

Color by Person

Perhaps you aren’t a student, maybe you are the planner person of a busy family and you need to keep everybodys’ work schedules, dance lessons, and soccer practices straight. Having a different color for every single type of event isn’t very plausible but having a color for each family member is a bit more manageable.

This is a great option if you are using a non-planner planning method, such as a white board, or if children are using this planning method as well. Every family member gets their own color and can reference said color when making plans.

Color by Priority

Color coding by priority can be good for people who don’t want a different color for every class or person but they need to know what to work on first. This method requires maybe three colors and can be applied very easily whether using pens or highlighters.  

For this method, we would three different colors. Red for urgent, blue for important (needs to be done soon), and black for non-urgent tasks that need to be done but are not of high priority. If you rather everything be written in one color, you can pick different color highlighters and use the same concept.

There are probably other methods of color coding as well, and we encourage you to leave your suggestions in the comments for other readers! So, now that we’ve covered different styles, all that is left is the few methods of color coding that we have compiled just for our lovely audience. We’ve tried to cover the masses, from people who don’t like a lot of color or too many pens all the way to the people who love when their planner looks like a rainbow threw up on it.

Methods of Color Coding

Writing Each Task in Different Colors

Obviously for color coding, multiple colors are necessary. The first method of color coding being one of the more obvious, is writing or highlighting each task in the color that pertains to said class/area of life.

Many people (such as myself) use this method and swear by it, The colorful to-do list is much less daunting to look at compared to a plain black list in my opinion. There are a few downfalls of this method however:

• You do need many colors and sometimes, there just aren’t enough for what you need (Especially with highlighters).
• One must find a way to carry all the highlighters or pens needed on a daily basis. Along with white-out or an eraser or whatever else you may need.

Using Post-It Notes

This method can be great for people who may not have a traditional planning method or perhaps just have too many post-it notes (if that’s even possible). This method is basically assigning each colored post-it notes for each category of your life and writing everything within that category on the assigned post-it.

This method can get a bit pricey and bulky but is one of the only methods that can be moved to basically anywhere. This can be great if you want to remember to grab a book, you can simply move the note from your planner to your bathroom mirror or your front door!  

Using Stickers or Mark-It Dots

For those who want to color code but do not want five million pens floating around in their bag, this method requires only ONE writing utensil and just a few extra sheets within your planner! Colored stickers or Mark-It Dots are nearly limitless in colors and take up much less space than other methods.

Mark-It dots come in many different sizes, even as small as ⅛ inch and in many different colors. You can simply use these to mark your different categories and write all of your tasks in your preferred color. Now, where to find such an amazing thing? I believe many office supplies stores carry them, or perhaps your local Target, Walmart, or simular type of store.  If you cannot find them in your location, there is always the lovely option of Amazon or other online sellers. However, with this method, you can basically use any stickers so long as they come in enough colors to fit to your needs.

I bet you never thought that you would read such a long post on color coding huh? This is probably only scratching the surface and we would love to hear about how you color code your planning system! Your methods, no matter how crazy or unorthodox they may be,  could be just as perfect for somebody else and they don’t know it yet. We always love to hear about other’s ideas when it comes to planning and organizing of all kinds or requests for future posts. So until next time, keep planning PlannerPeople!

P.S Remember that we are just giving suggestions. If you try something and it isn't working, fret not and try something new. Don't settle for a planner system. You deserve to be a less stressed version of yourself and a planner can do that for you. :)

The Set Up

Designing a planner is like designing a room in your house; it works to your needs. If your planner is a DIY type, this is very simple. But if you have a templated planner, designing what works for you can be challenging.

Different Layouts/styles of organization:

1)To-Do lists

2)Appointment style

3)Color coding

4)Chronodex/graphing

....and the list goes on!

1) To-Do Lists- If you're a straight forward thinker who doesn't care for colors and prefers a more simplistic style, to-do lists provide what you need.  A to-do list provide a cut and clear list of priorities. (Be careful not to write them too long as this will become overwhelming- defeating the purpose of making a list in the first place).

2)Appointment Style- This style isn't for everyone. I personally don't have enough appointments/meetings during the day for this method to be of use to me. If you are a person who is schedule orientated, and busy with appointments, meetings, or other scheduled events, this method would be an easy way to lay it all out clearly. 

3)Color coding- coding your priorities, events, or subjects into different colors, works for visual planners. If you find it enjoyable to see color in your events, this method is very effective. Color coding allows you to mix tasks together while still categorizing them by color.

4) Chronodex- a circular appointment method, while slightly unusual, could still be a potential method to utilize. If you like to see exactly where your time is going, while also incorporating a little bit of color, this method is your sweet spot. Basically, you divide your day (a circle) into appointments by time and if you want, color code that event, or write brief notes on the side.

The styles used to organize tasks ranges from simple and plain to wild and creative, it's just a matter of finding what works for how you think. Many people prefer their planners to be plain, others loud, and others in between. If you are having trouble finding what works best for you, try out a different method each day or week until you find that organizational sweet spot. Good luck! 

Planners Are Not Just For Nerds: 4 Reasons to Have a Planning System

Everyone has had that moment, when the event or due date they were supposed to remember has suddenly drowned in the pool of their own thoughts. Many people feel overwhelmed with their work, school, or life in general and do not know what to do in order to keep on top of this hectic thing called life.

What they don’t realize is that a lot of this stress can be minimized with the use of some form of a planner! It can be a traditional book, a smartphone, or just sticky-note to-do lists… whatever is best for you. People have found that when they capture all of those thoughts that run around in their head and write them down, it helps them feel relieved and in control because they no longer have to rely on only their brain to recall anything and everything.

Don’t believe us? Here are just four reasons why having a planner can better your life. We promise that once you find a planning system that works for you, it will be hard to think of a time that you didn’t use it.

Stress Relief

• No more forgetting birthdays, due dates, or test dates (hopefully)!
• Give your brain a break by writing things down! It’s okay to not be able to recall everything but if you write it down while it is fresh in your mind, you will now have a written reminder. Just let it go and let your planner take the fall.
• Sleep better! Have you ever been unable to fall asleep because all of the tasks you have to do are rushing around your head? Simply having a place where you know that all your to-dos are written down can help relieve that stress and help you sleep easy.

Make an Impression

• People take notice when you are always on top of things and very organized. Having planning and organization skills can put you above the rest when it comes to job opportunities.
• Get ahead of the game! Good planning can help you prepare assignments, papers, projects, or anything else far enough in advance so that you are not scrambling last minute and stressing.

Be More Productive and Organized

• Writing down what you do during the day can help you see where your time is being spent. You can use this knowledge to improve your time management skills.
• Never again will a due date sneak up on you! Having an idea of when due dates are allow you to study and prepare accordingly.
• Have control over your schedule. Time is like money, it is something that you must budget. Having a planner can help you see what you need to focus more time on (like a big presentation that you have in a week) and what you can take time away from (The video games and television will still be there when you’re done).

Document Your Life

• A planner is the most simple version of a journal/diary out there. Perhaps journaling isn’t your thing, but a well kept planner can be just as satisfying.
• You can look back and see what you were doing a year ago! It is sort of a nostalgic feeling, looking back on your senior year of high school or perhaps the year you were planning a wedding. It is full of memories.
• Keep track of everything. A planner can be used as a food diary, exercise tracker, or even hold all of those questions that you have for your doctor throughout the year. Planners have many uses and can be tailored to your needs.

This is just scratching the surface of the planner world. Once you develop a system, with your own preferences on how you plan, you can create a planning device that will be a great tool everyday. Your perfect planner is out there if you are just willing to look. Have no fear! We are here to help you down the path to being a less stressed version of yourself.