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There's nothing I love more than a good day planner. While I use digital tools to help run my business, I have a need to have some things on paper to feel like everything's being taken care of to make sure I'm taking care of my business AND myself. Plus you just can't beat the satisfaction of crossing things off an old-fashioned paper list!
These are some of the most promising 2019 planners for entrepreneurs that I've found in my search for the perfect way to start the year:
The Visionary Journal
The Visionary Journal™ is an indie planner, designed by Monique Malcom. It can start in any month you choose and is designed to help you transform your goals into actionable tasks and integrate them into your schedule. You start with the big picture areas of your life, set S.M.A.R.T goals, create a 90-day action plan and commit to doing the work that will move you closer to achieving your goal.
This planner looks and works just like the big fancy ones from bigger companies that you love! It is a full-color hardcover provides a sturdy writing surface, while the wire-o-binding allows the planner to lie flat. It also features a few highly requested features like monthly tabs, a back pocket, and elastic closure.
The Visionary Journal™ costs $50 USD and supports an independent entrepreneur.
The Day Designer
The Day Designer is a gorgeous planner and time management system. It's designed to help you manage your schedule and tackle your to-do list. More than a productivity planner, this is the best time management tool to help you get organized.
I've used this planner myself, and it's a hugely useful and much-imitated format for planning. I've stuck with its weekly format longer than I have with other planners, and its mini size option makes it a flexible tool.
The Day Designer costs $59 USD
The Productivity Planner
The Productivity Planner has been tempting me ever since I saw Erin Flynn using hers. It works with the Pomorodo technique and has you prioritize your tasks for the week before you jump into your workday.
It puts the focus on quality work over quantity and looks both wildly effective and affordable. It starts at any time, and could be a powerful tool for making your year more productive and focused on what moves the needle for you.
The Productivity Planner costs $24.95 USD
If these don't quite do it for you and you want the customization of making your own custom day planner, you're in luck! I often custom day planners for myself and my friends, and if you'd like to try I have a whole course dedicated to teaching beginners how to design their own day planners that you can explore here:
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LAST UPDATED ON: January 15th, 2013
CATEGORY: DIY Day Planner Design
Hey Kyla! Kinda crazy but the planner from Droplet (#6) that shop is run by a gal I went to college with in graphic design! I recognized her very unique name and she ended up marrying the guy she dated in college…small world.
I can’t wait to see the printable! I use a digital calendar on my iphone for monthly planning/appointments, but for day planning and to do lists a paper planner is a must!
OH NO! NOW you share printables? :) Can’t wait to see them … you were one of the creative geniuses that inspired (and were copied) in my planner that I created for myself …
You never cease to amaze me! Designing your own planner? That’s awesome.
I LOVE the wall calendar you posted :)
My mom gave me a perfect one that fits in my purse, is just big enough but not too big and i love it. I had an Erin Condren one last year and didn’t use it nearly as much as I thought for the actual day planning, however it’s covered in wedding notes so I suppose it served its purpose :)
I’m so confused, i just got email about your reply but then can’t see it here!!
am i being daft?
Barnicles
got it ;) appears now.
so yes i was being silly/daft :)
Ha! You’re not daft at all. Thanks for checking back- I never know if the emails are annoying or fun for readers :)
yes love the emails! one of the things i dislike about blogging is not knowing about reply comments! For my blog is it worth replying through blogger if others will never know/read them?
barnicles x
emails are obviously too good because i got email before it appeared in your blog!
I am such an office-supply nerd. Seriously. Buying a day planner shouldn’t be as fun as buying a new pair of shoes, but somehow for me it just is. I’ve tried (what seems like) a million different planners and finally found my favorite! I highly recommend Domberger’s CoolDiary. They come in lots of different colors and you can choose between small, medium, or large. Whatever fits your fancy.
Here’s what I’m currently using:
http://www.amazon.com/2013-Red-Argyle-Cooldiary-Weekly/dp/3832757147/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1358304007&sr=8-8&keywords=cool+diary+2013
(and that Amazon price is silly. I got mine for $12)
I feel the exact same way, Heather. It’s at least as fun as new shoes! :)
The CoolDiary looks interesting. It’s a little Moleskine-esque and very colourful- thank you for the recommendation!
I found a cute striped planner from target last fall. I use both the planner and my phone to stay truly organized. My girls are getting bigger, which makes them busy!
Oh goodness, I can only imagine the coordination that must require! I always seem to get down to the US (i.e. Target) after back to school so I’ve never seen their full stock of planners and supplies at peak time. I can’t wait until they’re in my city next year, I think their planners will be worth an outing or two!
I NEED a paper planner. This year I received the Barnes and Noble Desk Diary as a gift. It’s pretty big but I don’t go anywhere without it. I wasn’t sure I’d like it but it’s filled with beautiful graphics of classic book covers and has plenty of room for me to put all my lists and stickers. I love it!
Oh my gosh, that sounds lovely! Now I’m imagining a planner with all those beautiful special edition Penguin covers in it… someone needs to make that a thing!
I totally agree with you! I need a traditional paper and pen list to feel like I’ve actually accomplished something. Looking forward to the download:)
That feeling of accomplishment is a big deal! I think it’s why some digital planners are starting to show things you’ve done crossed off rather than disapearing right away. Maybe we need to write letters and recommend a bolder strike through and someone sounding impressed at our accomplishments when you mark something as completed to make digital more appealing? :)
I 100% agree with you on traditional planners! I have a few and am hoping to grab a new one soon. :P I love the ones you listed, especially that little robin egg blue one on the left hand side.
“I have a few but…” That sounds like me. This is a no shame zone, Angie. If you’re poly with your planners and it works for you, keep doing it. ;)
I found this lovely planner at target. I’m so in love with it that I actually have been using it which is practically a first for me. It’s got this beautiful faux wood grain look and it’s got a nice hard cover.
Ooh, that writing friendly cover is so key! Finding something that just works is so gratifying. Those instances are like the universe just dropping this perfect tool in your lap and going “Hey Jenna! I’m solving all your coordination frustrations because I love ya. No big deal- I know I’m awesome, please enjoy.”
And don’t get me started on Target’s office supply section, it’s my danger zone! They’re opening up in Canada this year and I’m on tenterhooks about the whole thing :)
I agree with writing it down and the thrill of crossing it off on physical paper. It’s just better (for me) that way!
Catherine Denton
Same here! Confession: I’m one of those people who’ll write things I’ve done down on my list just to cross them off ;)
I used to have a digital planner and I hated hated hated it. Now, I reserve my online calendar for one that is shared with my husband, so we can match up our lives. But, my paper Erin Condren planner? I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Love love love that thing!!!
That’s such a great point, Nilsa. Having a shared digital calendar with family is so handy. This year Jesse and I have a shared paper calender in the kitchen that we’re using much more actively than we have in the past and it’s helping a lot already. Especially because the illustration for each month is so eye catching, I can’t help but look when I walk by!
I use a shared digital calendar with a number of the partners that Freckled Nest Design works with and it’s a complete lifesaver :)
For the second year in a row, I went with a Laurel Denise planner – I love the way there’s a constant month-view with the small week-by-week pages in the middle that you can flip through. I paper clip mine to the current week and it works out great. I’m with you though, as much as I love digital everything else, I still like my planners on PAPER. :)
I had a Laurel Denise planner in this round up until the last minute- that’s too funny! I was really curious about it but I didn’t see that the week by week pages in the middle were flippable and the monthly view still showed. That’s genius! Thanks Mandi :)
If anyone’s looking: the 2013 Laurel Denise Planner is $35 & you can find it here
I have tried, year after year, to just use a digital calendar, but I can’t do it. Something about writing down things in my planner makes it more tangible and commits it to memory. There have been times when I have mistakenly left my planner in my office for the weekend and those times are the ones when the weekend feels confusing and I run around like a chicken with my head cut off! Planners are my sanity!
They’re my sanity too, Kristen! I’m organized, but it’s because I’m very absent minded when it comes to dates and times, so without a physical spot for everything my commitments go in one ear and out the other. I’ve started using a little digital in my life, but it’s mostly a duplicate of my paper planner so I can set reminders to my phone. I’m all for sticking with what works, and baby steps for digital planning tools :)
I LOVE my Erin Condren planner. I think I am a customer for life as it works so well for me. I adore my planner and use it every single day. Phil thinks it is funny how much I use it because I have things like a study schedule with days off scheduled. He is NOT a planner, so he finds it all a bit mysterious! But I have always been a planner and love writing down lists and crossing things off!
I’m similar to you and Jesse is also not a planner person- we’re both very mysterious to the other! The biggest thing that I look forward to about mine is not having to worry. If it’s written down, it’s out of my head and I can focus on all the pretty shiny objects in front of me ;)
I use an Erin Condren planner life planner and I am very attached! (Like one day I forgot to put it in my purse and was in a bad mood all day). I do like that green striped one though! Can’t wait to see what you came up with!
I’ve heard such great things about Erin Condren planners- I need to meet someone with one in person so I can paw through it. They do look great! Once you’ve found your planning soul mate, why stray? :)
Great post! i need to start using my planner more :)
can’t wait to see your printable version
Barnicles
I’ve been having so much fun using the planner I designed, I’m excited about sharing it here too. I’ve been toying with the idea of making & sharing a different printable planner for every month of the year… Part of me says no, but there’s a big part of me that’s geeking out over the idea. We’ll see :)
Thanks for commenting, Barny xo
that would be sooooooo cool! i love stationary but sounds like lots of work.
I’m struggling as I’m not quite organised enough for my own liking. I am overwhelmed by my lists. can you organise a planner for me? I need a system that works.
Barny x