There are ten great ways a paper planner can increase your home, life, and business productivity. Having a paper planner makes it possible to stay organized. I know a lot of people live by electronic calendars. Although electronic calendars on your phone and tablets are great, you can lose your notes and information on them. This can damage your productivity.As a busy mom, creative, and small business owner, I always write my notes and appointments in my paper planner. In an electronic age, we often forget the advantages of having a paper planner instead of solely depending on an electronic calendar.
The Science Behind the Planner
Science has proven that by writing things down with pen and paper, you will remember and retain the information faster. When someone sets an appointment or date and just puts it in their phone, they are more likely to forget it. But, if you take the time to write it down with pen and paper, it sends a message to your brain to remember it.
No Accidents
When you have a paper planner, you don’t have to worry about accidentally deleting an appointment or information. You also do not have to remember to back up your phone.
Identify and Eat a Frog
By using a physical paper planner, you can open it up and identify your daily three “to dos” and “live frog.” Mark Twain said, “First thing in the morning, you eat a live frog.” That does not mean, literally eating a live frog. The “live frog” is the task you typically want to avoid or dread doing. This is something that you normally don’t want to do and is weighing you down. If you do that difficult thing first, everything else is easy. You’ve completely the absolute worst thing already.
Mark Twain said, "First thing in the morning, you eat a live from." I use my planner to identify and eat my live frog every morning. Once that is done, everything else that day is easy. Click To TweetThe Physical Act of Checking Off Your To-Do List
Having a paper planner opposed to one on your phone is better because you can open it up and see the daily, weekly, and monthly view. You do not have to scroll down to see additional entries. Using a paper planner, you can see what days you are free to make appointments on at a glance. This makes setting appointments more productive. You are also able to identify your free time and avoid planning during that time.
No Power Required
Using a paper planner, you don’t have to worry about running out of power and losing information that is not written down. When you have an electronic calendar, you may not be able to access the information you need because your battery has run out power.
You Can’t Overlook A Notification
With electronic calendars, you may miss notifications. You might not hear the little ding sound or you might hit ignore. If you get a reminder the day before an event and delete it, you could miss the appointment the next day. If you use notifications, make sure your appointment is also written down in your planner. Using a paper planner will ensure you are made aware of your appointment.
It Works With Other Systems
You can use your paper planner in addition to your electronic calendar. You can include major things on an electronic calendar like attending a class or a hotel reservation and include the details in the paper planner.
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Emergency Planning
A paper planner is better to have in case of an emergency. During an emergency, a family member can access your appointments and other important information. This will make sure all important tasks are completed. If you are solely using an electronic calendar, your family member may not have access to the information.
Planning Can Be Fun
Enjoying the planning process can increase your productivity in your home, life, and business. Being organized and having the things you need in a paper planner can make your life easier.
No Special Training or Set Up
Sometimes our smart devices and tools can be more smarter and complicated then needed. You do not need any special skills or equipment to set up your paper planner. As long as you can write, you are properly trained.
Bonus Info: I have created a Divine Home and Life Planner. This 2023 planner launches on November 11, 2022. In addition to a traditional paper monthly and weekly planner, this planner gives actual tips, suggestions, and prompts on things to help you create a beautifully organized home and life. The planner also comes with access into my exclusive Facebook group. Feel free to pre-order your very own planner HERE and you’ll have immediate access into the Facebook group.
If you need help getting your home and life organized, register for my free “5 Days to an Organized Home & Life” email course. You’ll receive tips and suggestions for five days and a copy of my eBook. You can register for the free course at www.decoratorsvoice.com/free5daycourse.
For information about my Full Home & Life Organizational Strategies course, please visit www.decoratorsvoice.com/homestrategiescourse.
As always, thanks for stopping by. If you have any organizational or decorating questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I would love to hear from you. For information concerning our decorating services and produchttps://decoratorsvoice.com/top-ten-updates-to-your-homes-decor/ts, please visit www.divineelementsofdesign.net
You’re absolutely right. A short pen is better than a long memory. I was guilty of not writing my to do list down and something or someone was always left out. Thanks for the suggestions!!!!!!
People ask me all the time if I ever forget to look in my planner. Sure I do! But like you said, I remember the appointment or task if I write it down, whether I look back at my planner or not.
Kristy as Giftie Etcetera recently posted…How to Stay Organized When In the Car
Yes ma’am. You can forget, but it’s there. We have to get in the habit of looking at our planner daily. Thanks for stopping by. I love your posts.
Thanks! You’ve inspired me to pull out my old planner and get organized! I’m the one who has paper lists, electronic reminders, notes written on the fridge…it’s a mess!
Wow, you have a lot going on. Yes, break out a planner. Thanks for stopping by.
I love this! I am a paper planner girl all the way! I couldn’t function without one! I need to write things down to remember them. I fear someday everything will become electronic and paper planners will become extinct…
Missy – Getting Fit to Find Myself recently posted…Turkey Trot St. Paul Recap
I sure hope not. Planners are oldies but goodies. I think there will still be old fashion people like us around. Hum! I wonder if people said that about 8 tracks.
This was a fantastic read because I am absolutely obsessed with my paper planner! Thanks for sharing!
Ashley recently posted…High Neck Swing Dress/ Pocket Scarf
You’re very welcome. The planning community is awesome!
I’m a paper gal, and have always loved my paper planners but I use them in conjunction with my digital calendars as well. Great tips!
Marlynn @ UrbanBlissLife recently posted…Holiday Bliss: Tackling the Holiday To Do List
Yes, use an electronic planner in addition to your paper planner but not to replace it.
I love writing things down – just the act of doing it helps me remember. Great tips!
Alexandra @ My Urban Family recently posted…Tweaking My Favorite Holiday Traditions
Thanks for stopping by.
I have to have a paper planner. It really does keep me organized. I also use if for blogging. I keep all my ideas in it, upcoming posts,etc. Great tips!
Mistle recently posted…December Goals
You’re right. Using a planner for scheduling and keeping track of your blog is an excellent idea.
You are so right! I switched to an electronic planner a few years ago and I cannot tell you the difference it made when I switched back to a paper planner. I was still writing stuff down in notebooks, but it wasn’t organized and I was losing stuff and forgetting if I wrote it in my electronic planner or on paper. My planner is always at my side now and I know where everything is.
Ashley recently posted…December Monthly Must Haves: Christmas Gift Addition
Thanks for sharing your experience. I solely used an electronic calendar for about a month and I didn’t like it.
I live by my paper calendar. I have been wanting to get a planner FOREVER!
Joanna recently posted…Gift Ideas for Her
That’s for stopping by. Yes, I don’t think I could survive without my planner.
I can’t live without my paper planner! Okay, well, I can live…just in a very disorganized manner. 🙂 Love your reasons for using one!
Julie@MomFabulous recently posted…Breaking Out of the Neutral Rut with a Pink Sweater Outfit
My name is Nakeya.. And I’m addicted to my planner, just like Julie. Lol
I have just discovered the importance of a planner and writing it down, definitely helped improved my life loads
That’s awesome to hear. Thanks for sharing.
Great summary of the advantages! I was thinking about getting a paper planner, but would be fine with an electronic one too.
Katechka recently posted…I toured Budapest: Jewish Quarter and Ruin Pubs
You have to do what works best for you. Each has its own unique benefits. Thanks for stopping by.
I love having my paper planner. I use it all the time. I love how it feels to cross something off a to-do list.
Yes, the feeling of crossing things off a to-do list is awesome… Thanks for stopping by.
As much as I love technology, I am obsessed with my paper planner! I love your list of reasons…particularly the fact that I don’t have to remember to back up all of my devices!
Julie @ Girl on the Move recently posted…Gift Guide: Travel Gifts
Thanks for stopping by. Have an awesome day!!!
I am a 80’s child, remember FILOFAX??? as a new year resolution I will start my year organized with touch of fun and punctuality, with that said I will start using a Planner again. I know we have our Smart Phone but I want my own not what other people put together for me to use.
Thank you Divine for the tips.
Advance greeting: Have a Prosperous Healthy Fun and Definitely Organized 2016.
Thank you very much for stopping by. Yes, I love being able to do what “I” want with my planner and personalizing it. Have a Wonderful and Prosperous 2016 to you as well.
Great advice! I’m looking for my planner for next year! Will definitely have to check out your links! I need plenty of help keeping photography sessions, work, and life organized.
The right planner is key for s busy professional. Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you for the great advice! You have inspired me to get back to paper planning. I stopped when a series of life tragedies struck. It’s time to pull myself together and start organizing my life again.
Deb Silhan recently posted…#Disney Wordless Wednesday to Wednesday #Linkup
Thanks for stopping by. I wish you the best of luck getting your life back in order after the tragedy. Just remember that you don’t have to do it all in one day. Take small steps.
its very use ful .