Getting Organized with an Erin Condren Life Planner

(This post does not contain any affiliate links…I am just excited about this product I found.)

It is decided. This is the year I am going to become more organized! I have been eating it up… reading, watching, listening to all things organization. I have some great ideas I plan to put into practice this year. There are certain areas of my life where I feel I do a pretty good job of decluttering and focusing but… I definitely have room for improvement. Not to mention, I have some glaring problem areas… like some of the closets in my house…ugh! My intentions are good. I start off doing well but things usually end in F5 Tornado devastation.

I have been reading and listening to audio books and podcasts about habits of successful people and one thing I notice over and over again is organization. Being organized makes people more productive and helps them reach their goals.

Because it is January, and the beginning of a new year always carries with it the hope and potential of a new beginning, I decided to use that motivation to dive in. The logical place to begin was with a new calendar. Easy, right?

EASY was not how this went down… I honestly started processing the purchase of a new calendar in November. How did something so easy become so complicated?

As I started to process how I wanted to organize my schedule, I found myself asking a series of questions. I didn’t want to start out using something and then give up by March because it just didn’t work for me.

The questions went something like this: Should I try to keep it completely digital or stay with a paper planner? Keeping everything computerized definitely has its advantages but which method helps me visualize best? What is the easiest way for me access it, opening up my computer or grabbing a paper planner and flipping through it? What all did I need a planner to include and what layout would I actually find helpful?

I finally decided it needed to be good ol’ pen and paper for me. I seem to do much better being able to visualize things when I can see them laid out on paper in front of me.

That decision made, I figured out what I wanted included in a planner. I wanted space to plan life; that meant enough space for both my work schedule (meaning my day job as a nurse) and my blog schedule. I also needed space to include our family life, appointments and activities. PLUS… room to keep a list of meals for the week, a never ending to do list, AND did I mention it needed to be pretty :). I’m not asking for much, am I?

To be completely honest, I didn’t think I would be able to find what I was looking for. I checked out a couple of different ideas.

A dot journal: while this option left lots of room for creativity, which I love, there was no existing structure. You were left to create and organize a blank page. That left me completely overwhelmed and I quickly moved on.

There was always the more financially smart, plain calendar that kept it basic; just a small book listing the 12 months. This meant no frills and no added space for my notes, meal plans, etc.

During this time of exploring my options I came across a podcast by Rachel Hollis (Rise podcast: episode 47- if you’re interested) featuring Erin Condren. On the podcast she shared how she started her company in her home and how it has grown and become very successful. Intrigued, I hopped over to her website, erincondren.com and presto! I found the perfect “Life Planner.” Everything I was dreaming of in one planner and even better, it was designed for you to completely personalize!

Now I will say, this is the most I have EVER spent on a planner, hands down. BUT that said, I am in LOVE with this thing. On the Erin Condren website you are able to pick your cover from a large selection of designs and even better, if say, in June, you have grown tired of your initial cover choice, you can order a new one because the covers are interchangeable!!!! Brilliant!

After you pick your design, you can then personalize it, add a favorite saying, your name, or initials. It took me a LONG time, ya’ll, to decide, but here is my pretty cover choice…

I chose to add “On Earth As It Is In Heaven,” an excerpt of the Lord’s Prayer, to remind myself everyday that I am here to bring the things of heaven to earth. Things like love, joy, peace…and patience (I am working on the patience one – lol).

I was able to add some of the things I wanted, like a to-do list and a dry erase weekly meal planner.

It has space for everything…

I have been able to put my work schedule on the full month layout, my blogging schedule on the week layout. There is even space for notes and a sweet little zip pocket to hold my colored pens!

Crazy excited to organize my life with this beauty! Step one complete. I am moving toward my goal of being more organized. YAY!

What goals have you decided on for this year? How do you want to improve your life? I would love to hear all about it! Or, if you have a favorite calendar/ planner, let me know. Leave a comment below and share your tips for being more organized!