How I Use My Planners

Normally, one would think schedules, calendar, appointments, all dates and numbers when planners are the topic. In my world, they're more than that. I don't use planners for events only. One by one, I will share what they are with you.

Old school pen and paper means using my penmanship. It makes me happy to write legibly. The pen gliding smoothly on paper, creating words, sentences, phrases -- most importantly manifesting my thoughts visually for me to read back -- are the reasons why I enjoy it. It burns calories! HaHa! Well, it does a little if you really want to know. On a serious note, I use planner more beyond a calendar for appointments.

1. It's a Tracker.

My Old Snail Mail Tracker

I track the silliest things.
I track several things in my planners, which is why I don't only use one. I mainly track my snail-mailing hobby both incoming and outgoing mail. I also track several habits like drinking water, taking meds, chronic pain flare-ups (yeah, right!), and so many other things. Tracking things can be on a daily basis, weekly, monthly, or yearly. I use them all.

2. I make Lists with it.

My Old To-Do List

An Old Wish List
Lists have been a part of my life ever since I started writing. Grocery lists, all kinds of shopping lists (i.e. school supplies), wish lists, gift lifts, list of movies to collect, list of books, bucket lists, etc. Everything can be a list, right? I don't stop listing. It happens every day for me. My memory is not as sharp as before, and listing things down helps a lot.

3. I make Logs with it.

Logs are also Lists.
An old Gratitude Log of mine doesn't sound right as Gratitude List somehow.
Writing gratitude logs daily helps a lot with emotions. It lifts up my spirits, and it is surprisingly relaxing. I get to stop and run-through the whole day picking out what I'm thankful for. Logging what I'm greatful for, what I'm thankful for, what inspires me, what motivates me, make it easy to deal with everything the next day. It's my thoughts supporting me to continue on, to move forward. Keep going!

4. It's a Calendar. Of course!

Planning ahead is something I love to do. I organize my schedules that way. Spontaneity is fun, but I'm not comfortable doing spur-of-the-moment things. I like doing things I wrote in my planners. If it's written, it will happen. Keep writing that lottery wins! HaHa! I'm funny, I know, but to be realistic, there are written events that don't happen. That's why there are cancellation stickers or reschedule stickers to go with it. That famous Law of Attraction thingy: I try to connect it with writing. If you think it, or if you write it -- vision it! -- then it's more likely to happen. I wish it's that easy, huh?

5. It's a Memory Keeper.

I keep all my good memories in my planners.
In the past, I used to love photo albums. I take a whole bunch of photos and place them all in plastic sleeves inside a photo album. I tried so hard to add captions and decorations, but it didn't go well with how I wanted it. Then I discovered the merge of planners, scrapbooks, and art journals. Plus, mini photo printers came out, and I was just, "Oh emm gee! Buy everything and do everything with them!" In simple words, I went crazy. My weekends were all about prepping all the planners with colors, photos, words and phrases. Someone who is not into planners won't understand, but if you are like me, I'm sure our brains sync in so many levels.

6. It's a Safe Place for Codes.

Every stroke is a code. You can create your own and put it in a planner.

Every icon is a signifier.
When I was in high school, there was a Steno class that I wanted to enroll in. Unfortunately, the class was already full, so I ended up with a different one. However, it didn't stop me from doing my own shorthand. I created my own code, and I'm keeping it to myself. LOL. Lately, I only use it when I'm writing about frustrations, disappointments, and for passwords safe-keeping. It's very handy. There are other ways to use codes in a planner. They're called signifiers. They mark parts of a planner and it identifies what it is or it describes a part of an event.

7. It's a Canvas.

Not everyday I have content to legibly write. There are days when I get a block of emptiness floating in my head. So, I paint. I treated each blank planner page as my canvas. I never shared them in the past, but I thought I've been sharing planner pages so why not share the messy art journaling. It's fun playing with paint or watercolor. I love putting bright colors on paper or linen canvas.

There you have it. How about you, how do you use your planners?

My Plannerisms

Blogging is a part of my love for writing--which is connected to my addiction for planners, its accessories, paper crafting, painting, etc. Anything and everything crafty. So yes, I consider blogging a craft, and I consider it a method of my plannerisms.

Plannerism is my usage of planners and its accessories, and also its connection to other crafty traditional things like actual handwritten snail-mail, painting, lettering, calligraphy, paper decorating, photography, etc. It is an unending network of craftiness. I don't get tired of creating fun within its circle. It makes me happy, organizes my schedule, and allows me to accomplish a lot of things.

My first year in college
I remember my first planner. It was a three-ring binder from a personality development summer school I attended when I was in the Philippines. I got it the summer before my first year in college. I felt excited about getting it and used it for notes. It was too ordinary, but the function it gave me was phenomenal. So I researched for more planner binders and discovered a whole new world. I was already infatuated with stationery prior to acquiring a planner organizer, so when I saw all the planner binders or trapper keepers or leather covers for notebooks, I went cuckoo. LOL.

My planners evolved from blank and boring to decorated and colorful. I developed an addiction to stickers, washi tapes, colorful pens, and everything that makes the planner pages pop up brightly. They all give each page a character and a story, don't you think so? I always end up looking forward to decorating the next page.

I ended up with a whole lot of different brands of planners: Daytimer, Filofax, Gillio Firenze, Traveler's Notebook, Hobonichi, LV Agenda, The Happy Planner, Webster Pages, Erin Condren, and probably tons of notebooks too (i.e. Moleskine, Leuchtturm, Scribbles That Matter, etc.).

My growing collection of planner organizers

Daytimer Armorhide Cowhide Leather Zip with 2-inch rings in A5 size

Filofax Personal size and Daytimer A5 size

Traveler's Notebook Blue Edition in Standard size

Hobonichi Cousin

Erin Condren Life Planner (ECLP) coil planner - this is actually not the cover I ended up buying

Inside the Kaleidoscope ECLP - I created a vision board where some of my plans have happened
It is not easy getting comfortable in only one planner. There are multiple ways of how one can use them all. In my case, I am not happy in one planner's function because of certain details. For one, I couldn't move well around a bound planner. Meaning, I couldn't add or take out a page when I want to, which goes the same with coil planners. That's why I'm always a ring and disc planner gal. Day to day is different and I tend to insert a lot of stuff in it.

I used a THP puncher to insert souvenir pamphlets or brochures

THPC Notes

Be Happy Box THPC
I have found my planner peace from The Happy Planner Classic (THPC). I'm currently using the Be Happy Box THPC. It's so easy to use. I can add and take out all the pages I want. Plus, the rainbow metal discs are awesome! I don't even know how to go back to my previous planners, seriously. However, I will still try out other planners as they come out. One planner a year is not enough for how I do planning. I use multiple planners in one year for different activities: creative writing, snail-mail tracking, budget tracking, journaling, gratitude logs, etc. I don't carry them all with me, except when attending planner meetups.

Speaking of planner meetups, that is one thing I heartily appreciated. I met new friends who do the same thing I do when it comes to planning. They are addicted to the same things I like. There's always an excuse to meet up and shop for crafty stuff. Since the planning world is growing every day, there are conventions for a bigger venue. Plannercon, Go Wild, Wild for Planners, Candy Shop, etc. So many conventions, conferences, and planner events. I always look forward to one. I search high and low for an event near me. If I don't see one, I end up hosting one where I'm comfortable hanging out.

My first Planner Meetup

The first Meetup I hosted

Meetups allow me to meet other planners and we all have fun.

Meetups happen in different cities.

We celebrate different occasions.

But we don't need an occasion to meet up.

The only reason we need is planning.

Planning is the best reason of all.

I found my BFFs through my love for planners and everything connected with it.

That's my plannerisms.

For the next posts, I will individually write about all the items I associate with planning and crafts. It is endless. Stay tuned.