School, in whatever form, is starting soon, the holidays will be here before you know it, and working from home continues to be the thing to do until further notice. While our day to day seems so different, and there is definitely less on your calendar, there is still plenty to plan. Virtual schedules are still schedules, and the world continues to move forward even in a pandemic. A planner is always a good tool to keep you organized no matter how full your calendar is. But how do you choose a planner? Well, here’s a list of what you need to consider when selecting the one that works best for you.  

Purpose

Now you may be asking why I’m talking about planners in August and not December. Well, that’s a good question. At Penny Post we have Planner Season. That’s when all the new planners start hitting the shelves, primarily in time for back to school. Planners come in all sorts of calendar configurations. Some run from January to December, and others run from July or August to the following December. They are further categorized by daily, weekly, or monthly. That’s a lot of options from which you can choose.To narrow it down, think about your needs. If you use your planner to keep your calendar and that’s about it, then you might enjoy a monthly version. If you're more task-oriented and want to know the exact details of every day, then a daily planner is for you. And, if you are somewhere in the middle, then you might find the weekly planner with its week at a glance and room for notes, more suitable. 

Size

The next thing to consider is the size of the planner. If your planner becomes your most essential tool, then you will be carrying it with you all the time. That being the case, you will need to incorporate the planner size into your decision. Planners come in all shapes and sizes – from pocket to binder – and weights, which are based on the calendar size. Monthly calendars are usually very thin and easy to tuck in a bag or another larger notebook, whereas daily planners can get bulky. 

Binding

People have definitive preferences when it comes to binding. For me, I’m spiral bound all the way. Flipping the cover back is so satisfying. And it leaves nothing in the way. For others disc bound, hardbound, or stitch bound are better. It’s a personal preference. The other thing to consider is the cover. Do you want something sturdy or something a little more flexible? Hardbound is the most stable, and stitch bound usually comes with a more pliable cover. 

Extras

Most planners come with a few extra bells and whistles. Elements like pockets, lists of holidays and moon phases, elastic enclosure band, stickers for decorating your pages, and sections for notes and celebrations. These are generally a bonus on top of a good planner, but if there is something you absolutely find essential, then look for that in your search.   In the end, picking a planner is totally up to your work style and personal preferences. It may take some time and a little trial and error, but I promise you there is a planner for everyone. We have several in the store now with plenty more on their way, so stop in when you can or shop online. Happy planning!