How to Start Paper Planning

Paper planning is a great way to transform your life and get organized better.

We already spoke about digital planning by using electronic devices, but if you prefer a more traditional approach – paper and pen, then paper planning is something you’re looking for.

Many people say that paper planning is better for them. Additionally, paper planning doesn’t bring any distractions (notifications, for example) and helps with memory.

So, how to start with paper planning?

Define a Goal

Yes, this may sound a bit cliche, however, it is true. The goals you define affect everything else and help with future planning.

What do you want to achieve with paper planning? More productivity? Habit tracking? Goal setting?

These are just ideas to help you define your goals.

You may want to start planning your days in detail which will require a daily planner template. Or you just want to write a recap of your day where an ordinary journal will do the job.

Another example could be tracking your new/old habits. They won’t require too much time from you. This monthly habit tracker we have requires you only to write down habits you want to track, then each day just checks that habit. One minute a day only.

Here are some key questions to ask yourself before starting with planning:

1. What is the purpose of my planning? Are you planning for a specific project, a general improvement in your life, or overall organization?
2. What is my planning timeframe? Short-term (daily/weekly), mid-term (monthly/quarterly), or long-term (yearly/beyond).
3. What are my current resources and limitations?
4. What are my existing commitments and priorities?
5. How can I make planning a sustainable habit?

Choose a Planner

The next step is to choose the planner type you need. Most planners are on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

Things to look for in your next planner:

• Type: Do you want a prebuilt planner or just planner pages to print and make a customized planner for yourself? For example, on our website, you can find various printable planner templates. And most of them come in A4, A5, Letter, and Half Letter sizes.
• Features: Look at the features the planner offers. Schedule? Grocery list? Notes section? The list can be way longer, these are just examples.
• Style & Design: Vibrant colors, inspiring quotes, or minimalist layouts – pick a planner you enjoy using is more likely to get used.

It’s also important to choose the right layout like a daily, weekly, or monthly planner.

This part is already covered in the beginner’s guide to planning.

Start Planning

When you start planning, there are several ways you can use to start paper planning.

• For overall organization: The best way is bullet journaling. It lets you create your structure using bullet points, fast logging, and symbols to describe tasks.
• For prioritization: The Eisenhower Matrix is best for this. It lets you assign tasks in a grid with two rows (Urgent/Not Urgent) and two columns (Important/Not Important).
• Specific purposes: For example, habit tracker or brain dump pages are great here.
• Additional: Mind mapping technique which allows you to create a central topic and then branch out with connected thoughts and ideas.

Of course, there are just a few ideas, and there are many other planning techniques you can use to plan your personal or work life.

Write Down

Now, the most important part – write everything down.

Here’s an example of writing down work-related plans using a daily schedule:

• 9:00 AM: Review social media content calendar.
• 10:00 AM: Team meeting.
• 11:00 AM: Follow up with the design team.
• 1:00 PM: Lunch break.
• 2:00 PM: Research competitor marketing strategies.
• 3:00 PM: Develop a draft post-launch customer survey.
• 4:00 PM: Respond to urgent customer questions.

This can be followed with additional notes like:

• Include deadlines for each task on your daily schedule.
• Assign ownership to tasks that can be delegated.
• Schedule buffer time between meetings for unexpected events.

Here’s an additional example, this time using the Eisenhower Matrix for self-development:

Important & Urgent:

• Finish an important assignment due tomorrow.
• Address a car maintenance issue.
• Respond to an urgent email from your manager.

Important, But Not Urgent:

• Schedule a doctor’s appointment.
• Research and enroll in an online course.
• Pay bills.
• Meal preparation for the week.

Urgent, But Not Important:

• Respond to non-work-related social media messages.
• Help a neighbor with a small task.

Not Important & Not Urgent:

• Organize old clothes.
• Browse social media mindlessly.
• Play video games for an extended period.

Remember, these are just ideas. You can always add more details to help you better remember your tasks.

Tools You’ll Need

Of course, you’ll need some tools to use planners. Some of them are a must-have while others are optional.

• Planner – of course, what else to say, how to plan without a planner? You can either get a printed planner or get printable planner pages and make your own.
• Pen – another necessity. Without a pen you couldn’t write anything down, right? 🙂
• Highlighters – Optional part (pen and planner are necessary, other tools not). Highlight important deadlines, notes, or sections for quick reference.
• Stickers – These can be practical (reminder flags, to-do list stickers) or decorative (motivational quotes, habit trackers).
• Ruler – Great for drawing lines, dividers, or underlining important notes.
• Eraser – Helps you keep your plan neat if you make a mistake.
• Washi Tape: Decorative tape for adding color or creating sections in your planner.
• Stencils: Great for habit trackers, labels, or repetitive shapes.
• Disc-bounds: Consider using a disc-bound system where you can add or remove planner inserts as needed.

Our printable planner templates come with enough space for disc bounds (or coil binding) so you can easily add or remove printed pages in your planner.