Getting Organized

Every now and then I get really engrossed in one topic and I feel as if I eat and sleep that topic.  I research everything, watch a million YouTube videos and find out how others feel about that topic.  Right now it is planner organization.

Remembering correctly, I have always had a planner.  Not that I used it regularly, but I always had one.  I think it was probably 2013 and I discovered the Erin Condren planner.  I loved it!  However, I was so careful with it that I ended up wasting a lot of pages.  The next year I had a Plum Paper planner...but I couldn't resist, I had to buy the new Erin Condren one with the removable covers.

Now with my EC planner - of course I needed to make it look right.  I am love loving all of the Plan With Me videos on YouTube.  I've even made my first sticker order on Etsy.

I'm writing all of this to say that organization is really an acquired skill.  Just because I have a fancy planner, doesn't mean my life will be better.  It doesn't mean that I will stay on top of all of the tasks that I have written down.  Having everything in one place is a great benefit, but it does no one any good if you don't adhere to what you wrote.  My goal is to stick with it!

Erin Condren Life Planner review

It arrived!  I received my Erin Condren Life Planner 2 weeks ago.  It was soo worth the wait (and the online stalking).

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Erin Condren is a stationary designer that designs personalized stationary, planners, and journals.  With products made in the USA with lots of love, whatever you buy is well made and worth the wait.

Here is my planner.  I debated long and hard to find a cover with purple in it that would really compel me to use my planner.  I chose the Rad Plaid design.

 

 

The first section lists special dates and anniversaries in a perpetual calendar format.

 

 

Each month has a two-page spread in which to highlight special dates and appointments, etc.

 

 

Weekly pages are divided in 3 sections daily - morning, day, and night.  I use these sections mainly for my work tasks and it works great.  The main reason why I purchased this planner was to be able to see all of my tasks in one glance.  The Erin Condren planner has been a tremendous help for me in this area and I am able to stay on top of all of my to-dos.  I use sticky notes to list any messages are immediate things that I have to take care of.

 

 

One of my favorite parts has to be the Keep it Together folder.  I am bad for having scraps of papers and notes stuffed into other notebooks.  Then whatever happens and they are gone.  This folder keeps everything in one place.  Right now, I have coupons in it as well as some mail that I need to follow up on. 

 

All and all, I love my Erin Condren planner.  I have only had for about 2 weeks and I take it everywhere with me.  I don't have a color-coding pen system like some other people do.  I may do a post later to show you how I am using it - haven't decided yet.  As I get new tasks or have appointments, I list them in the appropriate weekly section.  Once I have completed the task, I put a little check mark.  This way, I know I have completed the task, but I don't make through it so that I can refer back.  Also, the Erin Condren team is very responsive.  I went to a conference last week and was afriad that I might not get my planner in time.  They assured me that it would ship and I received it very quickly once I explained my concerns.

 

Some of you may wonder why everyone is obsessed about Erin Condren and her life planner.  Once you get one you will see! 

The Waiting Game

Remember one of my first posts on the Erin Condren Life Planner?  Well, I bit the bullet and purchased it last week.  Now I am in the waiting game, becoming almost OCD checking the website for an status.  I know that is is really not that serious, but only a few things have capitivated my attention like the planner.  I think it is because it is very practical but very different and personalized that has truly made me want one.

I am definately going to do a post so that you all can see the unboxing - maybe a vlog, who knows.

On another note, can you believe that it is October already!  This time of year is my absolute favorite.  Waiting on the leaves to change or watching them change is oh so breathtaking and reminds me of all of the special celebrations that take place in my life this time of year.

• My Pastor's anniversary at my church
• Football games
• Fall Leaves and Cool Breezes
• Breathe Deep Atlanta Lung Cancer Walk
• Birthdays! (mine ;) )
• Christmas
• New Year's

I don't really celebrate Halloween but I do get candy in case some kids come by.  They haven't in the past couple of years - yet I still buy it.

My little obsession

I think I have a problem.  Well I wouldn't really call it a problem - maybe just a small obsession.  I was watching an Organized Like Jen video update on her FiloFax system and it reminded me to start using my Franklin Covey planner that I was so gung ho about earlier this year.  I really loved using it but the pages ending up being too thick for the binder so I couldn't put the entire year in it.  After finding myself not using it to its total functionality..I just drifted off to another notebook.  But then Jen did an update video and it reminded me why I purchased it - organizing my day and time is a necessity.

While looking at her video, I noticed another video about a life planner.  I watched it and the obsession began.  I have fallen in love with the Erin Condren Life Planner.  I really really want one, but I am just not able to afford one at the moment - plus my current planner is not done. I must have checked out every youtube video and every blog to thoroughly check it out to see if it is something that I really wanted.  It is.

What's so great about it, you may ask. From it's bright, colorful pages, to the simple designs- it's functional, personalized, and when I get one, everything I need to stay on task. (Anyone doing a giveaway or know of a coupon code? lol)



I would love to know if anyone is on the fence of getting a Life Planner.  If you have one, how has it made you more organized?