Declutter Your Planner with Cloth & Paper

Planning is most satisfying when both my planner and the space around me are as organized as my planning skills! Marie Kondo’s popular book The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up features an approach that translates perfectly into planning. Simplify your planning system with me this week as we dive into some of our essential organizational tips to help your planner spark joy.

What Still Serves You? What Doesn't?

Whether it be monthly inserts from half a year ago or dated dashboards that need to make way for new designs, it’s important to organize supplies that aren’t currently being used. Start by clearing away anything that you know cannot be repurposed or reused. (Hate throwing things out, like me? Use your cast off items to create a memory box or collage!) Supplies such as journaling and quote cards can be arranged into a vision board or used to decorate your workspace as daily inspiration. Switching planner sizes? Try cutting down larger dashboards to create a custom look for a smaller planner. File your most important dated inserts from years past, and recycle any additional. If you own an agenda that sees less use, try repurposing it to store unused inserts that are taking up precious space in your main agenda.

Organize for Efficiency

Here are some terrific ways to organize your planner to maximize efficiency and tidiness:

1. Prioritize. Keep inserts that are most useful to you towards the front of your planner. This would include where you write your most urgent tasks and reminders. Any redundant inserts should also be moved or removed as needed.

2. Color-Code. Color coding is both an easy and visually pleasing method of staying organized. Maximize your supplies’ use by using our Penspiration pens to color-code your planning! Our Half Page Planner Inserts | Frappe are excellent for creating a color key and swatch test.

3. Catalogue & Adjust. Gather all of your loose, unorganized notes and migrate them into your weekly or monthly layouts as needed. For ongoing projects without strict timeframes, try our Task Inserts, which offer the perfect minimalist layout to create running to-do lists. For things that you cannot migrate, organize loose pages into labeled folders or pockets. Our Frosted Document Pocket allows you to easily see what’s stored inside, while its frosted finish provides privacy. File business cards, sticker sheets, and appointment reminders in a Frosted Credit Card Holder, and add a simple Inbox Dashboard | Arch to corral loose sticky notes.

4. Plan Ahead. Take initiative by noting important dates, goal timelines, and monthly tasks well ahead of time. Refer to our blog post “Take Action On Your To-Do List” for helpful tips to implement task based planning. Your future self will thank you.

Add Dashboards to Spark Joy

Use our functional dashboards to stay tidy and “spark joy”. Here are a couple that we think Marie Kondo would love:

Declutter Your Digital Life with our Digital Declutter Dashboard

Start Your Days Feeling Refreshed with The “Morning Mindset” Half Planner Dashboard

Pair the Digital Declutter Dashboard and the “Morning Mindset” Half Planner Dashboard for daily motivation and clarity in multiple aspects of your life. A positive mindset sets you up for an efficient and smooth day ahead.

Implement Inserts to Simplify + Minimize

Our Finance Bundle makes organizing accessible and effortless.

Get Your Finances in Order for the Quarter with our Finance Bundle*

*To be refreshed soon!

One of the most important aspects of staying organized within daily life is tidying your finances and home. Use these inserts to eliminate the stress of trying to remember everything, whether it is keeping tabs on your budget, refreshing your wardrobe, or reorganizing your kitchen!

Don't Forget Writing Tools

1. Refill. Order refills in advance for pens that are running low to ensure you have replacements ready when they finally run out.

2. Restock. Test your pen stash, removing those that no longer work and re-purchasing favorite writing utensils as needed.

3. Subscribe. Subscribe to our Penspiration box for a monthly delivery of fresh new finds to round out your collection!