Planners for the Type A Individual

If you are reading this, I am going to assume that you are a proud type A individual! ::raising my hand::

However, there is a chance that you may think you are type A, but may not know what exactly those attributes are. You are in the right place if you:

• Are highly organized
• Are extremely ambitious 
• Loves planning every little detail
• Lives by a schedule, often right to the minute
• Hate to waste time

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There is obviously much more to being a Type A person, but for our purposes, I think you catch my drift! So, here are my top five planners that I believe work well with this personality type. They are highly reviewed and are a range of price points – there's something for everyone!

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1. Passion Planner Daily, Undated

This is my personal favorite planner and has been for many years! Passion Planner recently released a new Daily Planner. It is similar to their standard weekly style spread, but it expands each day to have its own two-page spread. It is perfect for those of us who have many appointments throughout the day and a handful of to-do’s for both work and personal projects. Not to mention, each daily spread also comes with a full notes page for doodling and brainstorming. I also love that it is undated. There is no pressure to use it continuously and you don’t feel like you have wasted your money!

2. Action Day Planner

The Action Day Planner is great for people who do not want to spend a whole lot of money, and aren’t into all the frills of other planners. In my opinion, this is a great no BS planner that can fit within any budget.  There are different sizes to choose from and the layouts are perfect for long to-do lists as well as project planning. I think all A-typers will feel right at home, and all of their basic needs will be met.

3. All-In-One Planner by Ivory Paper Co

Ivory Paper Co is well known in the planner world. If you. have a little more money to spend, this is definitely a favorite! This planner, as the title states, has all of the best-selling layouts in one planner. Not only is the All-In-One Planner amazing to look at, it has daily, weekly, and monthly spreads for all of the planning breakdowns that you need. My favorite thing about these planners is the amount of room you have to write. A lot of people don’t think about this, but some planners’ layouts jam pack the page with prompts which makes writing space so tiny. As someone who likes detail and has a lot to jot down, this planner has more than enough room.

4. Day Designer Daily Planner

I find the Day Designer Daily Planner to be a similar vibe to that of Ivory Paper Co’s planners. For the Type A person, I recommend the Daily Planner, but there are weekly planners available as well! There are many gorgeous covers to choose from. There's one for any and every type of person, and these planners are great quality. You also get fun accessories like stickers and a ruler that fits right into your planner. Plus, there are templates right in the beginning to help you brainstorm and prep to complete your projects.

5. Customizable Planners: Golden Coil, Agendio or DIY!

I have come to the realization that those of us who are Type always like things to be “just so.” Therefore, I have found myself creating most of my planners from scratch and doing a bit of DIY. If you also feel the same way, check out this blog post that I wrote recently to give you some more resources on creating planners exactly how you like them 🙂

The Golden Coil and Agendio planners are a small step above making planners from scratch. These are VERY cool to play around with. You essentially build your own planner by selecting a basic configuration and layout, then customize! Agendio allows you to edit those templates in any way you’d like, and Golden Coil provides many additional spreads you can add to your planner. Golden Coil also has a feature that lets you import your own calendar .ics file to displays those events right in your planner. Technology is cool, huh! 

There are so many planners to choose from, but I guarantee that the Type A in you will love any one of these! I hope you enjoy browsing these products and even find yourself some others that you’d like to try out as well. The planner and productivity rabbit hole is a deep one, and I love it 🙂

PS: I have been working to build up my shop of digital planners and productivity tools, as well as sharing a bunch of other resources, so if you are interested in any of this follow me over on Instagram! @productive.space.design

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10 DIY Planner Ideas

If you’re anything like me, you love bits and pieces of different planners. And sometimes, you wish you could create a hybrid of all of those littles pieces to make this one giant planner masterpiece. Well, spoiler alert, you can. These 10 DIY planner ideas will not only allow you to literally create whatever you want, but they will also give you some insight into some really cool free digital tools and systems that can help you organize your life way better than any store bought planner can. Let’s hit it!

1. Printables

This is an easy one, and you can go two different routes here. First, you can create your own templates OR you can download a ton of free ones online. However, before you start googling “free printables,” think about what kind of planner you want to build and what templates are the most useful to you. For example, my priorities are: workouts, meal prep, and a weekly to-do list. Therefore, I will focus my Google/Pinterest search on those templates. Passion Planner has their own printables available for free on their website which is really cool! After you have printed your templates, you can put them in a binder of your choice, or staple, paper clip, or put them in a folder. Many options to choose from!

2. Keynote + GoodNotes

GoodNotes is a note taking app as well as a PDF reader that people use to not only take notes, but also to interact with amazing digital planners! You could spend hours going through the #goodnotes hashtag on Instagram and get inspired to create something amazing of your own. Learning GoodNotes is not super challenging, and there is so much you can do to make your planners come to life. The tool that I use to actually create the digital planners to use in GoodNotes is Keynote (PowerPoint is also an option!). The opportunities are endless to DIY your very own planner templates that you can then export to a PDF and open in GoodNotes! There are tons of resources online if you are interested in this.

3. Gmail & Google Calendar

Another digital resource to DIY your own planning system is to use your Gmail and Google Calendar apps. This is a great way to never miss a beat if your priorities are events, appointments and to-do lists. I wrote a separate blog post here that explains how I tailor these apps for my own life!

4. Your Favorite Blank Notebook

This is probably the most popular DIY planner that people are familiar with. Again, browsing through the #bulletjournal or #bujo Instagram hashtags will open up a whole new world 🙂 People are attracted to the flexibility of bullet journals because you can use any blank notebook or notepad and create your very own paper planning system filled with unique layouts, spreads and trackers. These journals can also be as fancy, creative, or minimalist as you would like them to be. 

5. Notion

THIS APP! This app changed the game for me. There is too much to go into to fully describe the capabilities of this website and this app, but out of all of the planners and organizing systems that I have used over the years, this one has been my favorite. I have transitioned to being fully digital and this system allows you to create any type of template that you want, filled with embedded databases, to-do lists, links, project timelines, etc. The capability that sold me is the widget that I can put on my iPhone home screen. Check Notion out here and see the magic for yourself! (PS: it’s free!!)

6. Excel

I think Excel is so underrated! I love using formulas and creating my own spreadsheets and templates, and it is such a great tool to DIY your very own planner. There are even a few premade planner templates in Excel that you can edit as you see fit. Also, believe it or not, there are all kinds of Excel planners being sold on Etsy that you can purchase for pretty cheap, and also customize to your liking. If you are already an Excel super-user, or are just really curious, I highly suggest trying this option out for your daily planner!

7. Any.do App

I am going to be honest here and say that this is a brand new tool for me! However, it reminds me of Notion and I love having these types of planning apps accessible on my phone. I am constantly checking my calendar as well as my to-do lists for each day, and this app seamlessly combines both of these things in one location. Easy peasy. Check out their website here and give it a try!

8. Categorized Brain Dump

There is something special about organized chaos 🙂 This type of DIY planner system is something that I have used in the past when I was in between planners and just needed to get all of my thoughts and projects onto paper. Essentially, each week I would create different buckets or categories for things I was keeping track of (ex: fitness, work, social events, personal to-do’s, etc.) and spend time dumping everything I could think of within those buckets that I had to do that week, or that month. Then, I would go through each task and assign a due date to them and schedule deadlines on my Google calendar. This is a great DIY planner idea for those of you that thrive in a more freeform lifestyle, but still want to visually see some structure within your calendar.

9. ClickUp

I love ClickUp! This is another app/online system that is more of a project planner than a simple daily/weekly task list. This is another system that I could go on forever about, and there is so much content online to help you navigate this system, such as this post by Jessica! I think ClickUp is perfect for those of you who are juggling a full-time job with your side hustle as well as your personal life. This system organizes all aspects of your life simply and efficiently. Not to mention, there are SO many templates and capabilities that there is truly something for everyone to create their own completely unique space.

10. Get Crafty

If you do want to utilize your creativity but still crave some structure around layouts and templates, a fun DIY planner idea is to actually purchase a standard, inexpensive planner that meets your basic needs and sort of repurpose it using really fun stationery supplies. One of my favorite stores to go to (pre-pandemic) was Paper Source. I could spend hours in there just dreaming about all of the stickers, stamps, pens and markers I wanted to buy. There are tons of fun supplies you can find in stores online and wherever is open in your area to spruce up a plain old planner into something customized for you and your life! You can also easily insert printables into these planners as well to make it extra special.

Whichever option you choose, give yourself some time to really explore and try out these DIY planner ideas! With any new system, it will take some time for you to decide whether it really works for your routine and your lifestyle. And, the great thing about a DIY planning system is that the initial investment is pretty low and you can switch it up as needed! Have fun 🙂

I have been working to build up my shop of digital planners and productivity tools, so if you are interested in a fun workout planner in either Excel or a PDF (where you can use in GoodNotes OR print out), check out my Etsy shop here: Productive Space Design Co.

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Which planner best fits you?

I am definitely one of those people who gets way too excited about buying a new planner. When it comes time to purchase a new one, I am very thoughtful and intentional about which planner I buy, and each one has had a different purpose in the past. Buying as many planners as I have over the years, it has made me realize that I definitely have a “type” that I am attracted to most 😉 Can anyone else relate?? I believe that each person has their own type of planner that works best for them and that will complement their lifestyle. Because there are so many to choose from, it can take a bit of trial and error; however, below are 4 questions that you should ask yourself before you commit to your next planner

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What’s your style?

You are going to stare at this thing all day, so might as well enjoy what you look at, right? And, size does matter here. Will you be keeping this planner in your bag or backpack? Or, will you be leaving it at your desk every day? Think about what you’d like to tote around every day and pick a planner that won’t get in your way. There are planners that are designed to fit in your pocket, or, give you enough space like an 8.5×11” size, and many sizes in between. My favorite is around 5.5×8 inches! Along with the size, decide if you would rather work with a spiral bound planner or something else. Then, decide if you are more into a minimalist design or you love all the patterns and colors! There is truly a design for everyone.

What’s your schedule like?

How busy are you, really? Does your schedule change from day to day, or do you usually follow a set routine? When you visualize your day in your head, do you think in terms of an hourly schedule, or just a list of appointments/events? This is important because some planners offer a more open layout where you are free to list any appointments or events that you may have. Then, there are others that have your day/week structured by an hourly timeline. Personally, I prefer the latter and love Passion Planner for this reason! I like to plan out my day right to the minute, so these planners really complement that preference.

How do you manage daily to-do’s?

What do your everyday tasks look like? Do you only have about 1-3 tasks to keep track of everyday, or, do you have an endless list of personal, work, and side business tasks that you need to somehow manage? When thinking about buying a planner, you may need to consider how that planner is organized and if there is truly enough capacity to manage all of your workstreams. Again, I love the Passion Planner for this reason, because both my work and personal life tasks can live in harmony with each other and I never lose track of what needs to get done. However, some people hate the thought of mixing all of their different priorities and actually have a couple of different planners for each. Totally up to you!

Do you value structure?

There are a lot of planners that offer a bit more structure around your day such as space to write down goals, habits, workouts, project planning, etc. Some people love having prompts to help them brainstorm and plan out their day/week/month/year. However, there are others that prefer less noise and more creative freedom around what they write in their planner. I am definitely a mix of both and will look for planners that not only have some prompts and reminders to set and plan goals, but also have a ton of blank pages for doodling and note taking.

I hope these questions allow you to think more clearly about which type of planner fits you and your lifestyle the best! Also, if you try one for a few months and it just doesn’t work with your flow, make sure you note why, then pick something different next time. You will quickly learn which planner becomes your go-to, and even purchase others just for fun, which always becomes way more than you need 😉

Click here to get more organization, planning, and productivity tips from Xenia on her Instagram!

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Create a Schedule that works for YOU

I have definitely fallen victim to trying to cram all of my tasks into one day, only to barely finish one of them. I found myself unable to find my “flow” and feeling resistance around what I was trying to accomplish. After much frustration and trying to figure out why I was barely making it through my to-do lists, I realized that I needed to be more intentional about planning my days and weeks. Each of us are unique human beings who each have a very specific work style! We need to learn what our style is and design a schedule that complements that. Stop working against the grain – let’s create a schedule that works for YOU!

So what’s the secret?

After some exploration, I created a simple process to help me design my daily and weekly schedule to fit my lifestyle and account for my commitments and routines. This step by step process asks the right questions to get you thinking about how you operate to create a schedule that works for you.

Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Schedule that Works for You

Step 1: List all commitments

The best first step in any sort of problem-solving activity is a brain dump. I want you to list every commitment that you have (or want to have) that is floating around in your brain or on your calendar. These commitments can include work, childcare, weekly errands, classes, etc. Essentially, anything that you have scheduled that is static, and cannot really be moved or changed.

Along with this list, also include any morning or evening routines that you incorporate into your schedule. Also add any hobbies (such as reading before bed) that you have or want to make time to do.

Step 2: Categorize your tasks

Now that you have this list of all of your commitments, the next step is to categorize them into two-three different groups. I have categorized my list into appointments and “nice to haves.” The “nice to have” tasks are hobbies and routines that I am working to incorporate into my life, but that do not take precedence over my appointments (work time, calls, meetings, therapy). You can have your own categories like “work,” “family,” or “social commitments” as well.

Step 3: Workshop what to do when

Step 3 takes a little bit of exploration and trial and error, which in my opinion, is the most important part! We have to be patient and experiment with what works best for us.

Take some time to reflect and workshop the following questions:

• Do you take more time to wake up in the morning?
• What time of day do you feel the most energized?
• At what point do you feel as though you are crashing?
• Do you find yourself getting a second wind when doing a certain activity?
• What do you look forward to doing the most?
• Do you need some time to wind down at night?

Getting a feel for how you operate during the day is key to creating a schedule that works best for you! If you are a morning person, this is when you may do your most impactful tasks such as deep brainstorming and/or strategy work. If you are slow to wake up in the morning like myself, you may use that time to bring the dog for a walk, make a breakfast that you look forward to eating, and go through some emails. It’s all about YOU and what makes you feel the most productive.

Step 4: Put it to paper

Now’s the time to set some standards for yourself. First, start with a blank piece of paper, a blank weekly agenda page, your favorite notes app, etc. Then, begin to populate items from step two in order of importance. For example, if you have weekly therapy, daily pickups and drop offs, or standard work hours, add these to your schedule first.

Now think back to what you learned about your working style in step three. Begin to schedule tasks at specific times when you work best for optimal results. Your time scheduling will always need tweaking, but eventually you will notice that you are in more of a “groove” than you have been before!

As you continue to workshop your schedule, keep a running list of other “nice to have” tasks along with the estimated amount of time you need to complete them. If you notice that you have some pockets of free time, you can add them in. For example, if you realize you have 20 minutes before your next task, you can refer to your list. If “Read NY Times article – 20 min” is on your list, you can automatically shift gears without wasting a second.

Last but not least, always make sure you have a cut off time before bed! If you don’t learn how to unplug at the end of the day, you will not be at your best.

A go-to schedule creation system that works for you is something that you can refer to whenever you need it. We are ever-evolving humans and we need to realize that our schedules, goals, and priorities are ever-evolving as well. Instead of working against what feels natural to you, learn to work with all of your strengths!

Want more productivity and organization tips from Xenia? Click here to follow her over on Instagram!

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Digital Planning vs Paper Planning

Planning can take on many different forms! In the digital planning vs paper planning conversation, the different planning options multiply. There are so many ways to plan both digitally and on paper. Tons of options can be difficult for those of us that find it difficult to make decisions when there are so many options available (me!). In this case, I actually welcome it because more options means more chances to find something perfect for me!

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Let’s Set the Scene

As many of you already know, the most common form of paper planning is your standard planner. There are weekly, monthly and daily templates as well as tons of other page layouts to help you stay organized. Within the last few years, bullet journaling has become extremely popular. This form of planning takes customization and creativity to the next level by leaving the planner design completely up to you. It also means that any piece of paper, any notebook, and/or any writing surface can become a planner!

While paper planning is more widespread, digital planning is building steam! The capability to use digital planners across multiple electronic devices is a huge draw. The ability to utilize apps and systems that are designed to streamline, automate, and organize every aspect of your life adds to the digital planning experience. For example, using Google Calendar in conjunction with a to-do list app is considered digital planning. Using well-known project management apps like Asana, Clickup, Trello, Monday, etc., is also considered digital planning!

Using a digital planner on your tablet or other PDF reader application has become even more popular. Think of any planner you would buy online or at a store, but now that template is on your tablet and you use a stylus to write on it. Even the bullet journal has found its way to another medium, with people using tablets to create their very own digital masterpieces.

The Lowdown on Digital Planning vs Paper Planning

The digital planning vs paper planning conversation opens up many doors for people trying to improve the way they organize and schedule their lives. Before jumping into any one of these planning methods, there are some things you should keep in mind about each option.

Paper Planning Pros and Cons

What I love most about paper planning is what I’m sure most people also love: the act of writing things down…and crossing things off 😉 Using pen and paper helps you retain and process information better, meaning you actually remember what you have to do, unlike mindless typing. There are also a ton of great templates with prompts to help you plan your day. If you go the bullet journal route, your creativity can run wild with all of the planner spreads. You can tailor each one specifically to what you need in your life.

While I believe paper planners are the easiest way to get started with planning, I have personally moved away from paper planning. Click here for a detailed step by step explanation of how I made this transition!

While I wish I was creative enough to hand draw beautiful templates in my bullet journal, I unfortunately lack those drawing skills and simply do not have the time for it. I found that having to carry my heavy planner around with me and pull it out to reference something was cumbersome for my “on-the-go” lifestyle. With all that being said, my cons are not necessarily “cons” for other people. They are things I have experienced that others may not think of before purchasing a paper planner.

Digital Planning Pros and Cons

Digital planning may have a bit of a learning curve, or just be a pain in the butt for people who aren’t used to using different apps on their phones or tablets. You need a bit of patience, a love for tech, and the ability to think outside of the box to plan digitally. Once you’ve started playing around with different apps and tools, digital planning is truly a game-changer.

A huge advantage that comes with digital planning vs paper planning is the ability to sync apps with each other and use popup notifications or reminders (i.e. Google Calendar). You can quickly and easily access these programs on your phone, which we all carry with us 24/7. Even bullet journaling digitally is a huge benefit for those of us who aren’t as artistic on paper. I can copy and paste shapes, templates, texts, stickers, etc. with the tap of a finger. (Not to mention the undo button! Who doesn’t love that?!) Digital planning is not as cheap as paper planning in some ways because it requires using laptops, tablets, and smartphones. It also doesn’t have the same ease of use as its counterpart. Still, I have found that digital planning has decreased my creative frustrations, and the general accessibility of digital planning perfectly complements my busy lifestyle!

Creating the Perfect Hybrid

While there are clear benefits to both digital and paper planning, there are really no rules when it comes to organizing your life and schedule. You can do whatever you want!

After using both methods for some time, I realized that the best system for me was a hybrid of both digital and paper planning. I always have random ideas, notes, brainstorms, to-do’s, and due dates that pop into my mind all day. I started using a small notebook to keep track of all these ideas in a brain dump format. Then, when I have a few minutes, all of my important to-do’s get a due date into my Google Calendar. I’ll also add in any events or appointments that need scheduling. Using paper to keep track of my thoughts and using my phone/online apps to project manage everything else is the perfect hybrid system for me.

In the face-off between digital planning vs paper planning, there is truly no winner! It really depends on what you value and what works for your lifestyle and schedule.

I love helping people create their perfect planning system, so don’t be shy to reach out and we can work on yours together!

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How to Craft the Perfect Morning Routine

The benefits of a morning routine are all over the internet, and several themes popped up as I was looking for one of my own. For me, classics like morning yoga and meditation didn’t make the cut. Why? Something so simple that people don’t realize is that crafting a morning routine should be tailored to YOU! What works for one person may not work for someone else.

What’s so great about a morning routine?

We are constantly juggling tasks, projects, and schedules as we desperately try to find some time to make dinner, or, hey, even take a shower. While our schedules have changed a lot this year, there is still a lot to balance, especially for those who are trying to work on their businesses and care for their little ones at the same time!

Morning routines allow you to become more grounded as you juggle the commitments of your life because it gives you stability amongst the chaos. A morning routine is something that allows you to see progress, which in turn, makes you more apt to stick with it and get even more things done. And, best of all, it allows you to make time for what really matters to you!

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Ok, so how do I get one?!

I will admit that when I was looking to craft a morning routine of my own, I wanted something that I could plug and chug into my own life. If a well-known influential entrepreneur was doing a certain set of habits when he or she woke up, I wanted to do the same to ensure I would get the same results. (Narrator: She would soon realize that, in fact, this is not how it works).

In an attempt to craft my own morning routine, I went through a lot of trial and error. I realized which activities, habits, or tasks I actually wanted to do in the morning, what new habits or activities I wanted to add and get better at, and that my schedule was in need of different forms of standardization.

So, what exactly do I mean? There are three things to keep in mind when crafting the perfect morning routine of your own: it’s yours and yours alone, it’s not going to be perfect, and you don’t have to have just one.

1. It’s yours and yours alone

Don’t be like me and just copy and paste someone else’s morning routine and expect it to fit perfectly into your day! Just because Bill Gates reads 1,000 pages a day does not mean you have to do the same. I’m not saying that this isn’t a great goal to strive for… but you should start with something that you already do well and something that you actually like to do! You'll get a confidence boost from doing things you enjoy and are good at, which will also boost your mood. You'll be able to tackle the rest of your day with energy and positivity! For me, I like to listen to a podcast as I hop in the shower and get ready in the morning. Whether it is educational, a fictional story, or a recap of my favorite trashy TV show, it starts my day off the right way. Pick that one thing that you look forward to doing and do it!

2. It’s not going to be perfect

This should go without saying, but if you’re anything like me, it is worth saying over and over. I am usually really hard on myself and expect things to be perfect on the first go.

Spoiler alert: it definitely won’t be perfect!

Just as I learned, you should expect your morning routine to have some trial and error. If you think you have crafted the perfect morning routine and it turns out you actually hate reading emails first thing in the morning, don’t force it! Just make some changes. There is no “morning routine boss” out there who is going to reprimand you. Once you figure out what works for you, the chances of the routine actually sticking will exponentially increase! Be the scientist of your own day and experiment as much as you need to and you will yield the desired result in no time.

3. You don’t have to have just one

I think this is one of the biggest misconceptions about having a morning routine. I used to work from home three days per week and went into the office the other two days. Those two different types of days had two completely different schedules. So, why would I force myself to have the same morning routine? Tailor your routine to the types of days that you have. Maybe each day is completely different for you and that’s totally okay! If you fall under the “multiple routines” category, the most helpful thing that you can do is actually document these routines somewhere so that you can always refer back and make changes easily when you need to!

If you have a list of tasks that you wish you could get to if you had the time, or even some goals that you want to consistently make progress on but can’t seem to find a free minute, you are definitely not alone. Using these tips to craft a morning routine will allow you to start the day off just how YOU want it to start, while also ensuring that you will actually stick with it! Now, go get ‘em.

Looking to organize your life and business? Check out Xenia's website, Productive Space Design Co.!

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