How do you planner?

I’ve just started using Todoist and I think it might do what you want. there are different layouts you can use, and you can look at everything in one spot or broken out into different categories (mine are working, home, & education) as well as look at everything for the day.

before I kept my due dates & assignments with my notes in OneNote but I don’t like Microsoft and it’s only on my laptop, not my phone. Todoist has an app for the phone, for my laptop, as well as a web interface.

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I use these for work - perfect for circling the date for meeting notes, but also can do to do lists, plan out a busy day using the lefthand side, or completely ignore the dates/timeline if I want to and just use it like a normal notebook.

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This year I tried the Sprouted Planner (https://sproutedplanner.com/)

This is the only planner I have actually used consistently. I got the daily version but I think they have other options that will work for you.

What I like about it:

There is a list at the beginning for putting tasks into spring, summer, fall, and winter. So we put stuff here like clean AC filter, blow out sprinklers, book dentist,

There is an annual view I use to track travel and big plans.

The monthly view is great for putting anniversary/events/appts in addition to space to track other stuff for the month. I include a habit tracker here.

The weekly spread is pretty simple and has a small box for each day as half of the page and the other half is a weekly to do. Every Friday or Sunday my husband and I sit down and make the to do list for the week and I meal prep here too.

The daily pages allow me to focus and reset each day what is important. When I have one running to do list I find a lot of things get lost or not done. And the truth is sometimes things are not important so I can “cross” them off by deleting it all together. After 4-5 days of writing the same item and it not getting done is a good trigger it either needs to get done asap or drop off.

For anniversaries I use a google calendar with a repeating event and I put the year they got married in the notes so I can remember if it is a big year (like 5 or 10 year). But I have been to A TON of weddings so this would be too much to track in my planner.

The other thing I really like about sprouted planner is there are reflection questions at the end of the month we go through. Like “what was memorable from the past month” or “what did you struggle with” or “what are you looking forward to”. Every month has a few questions with a new focus like finances, relationships, spirituality, clutter in your home. My husband and I answer these questions together and it has been a really nice forced reflection! Plus months are going so fast right now it is really fun to look back and remember what we did instead of just feeling busy and chaotic all of the time.

I have fallen in love with this system for personal and professional and I had tried many other planners that just didn’t work.

ETA: seems like the Erin Condren are pretty similar! It seems like there aren’t big differences in the daily versions.

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Well you have pretty much sold me based on this feeling alone. I was like, oh crap, it’s SEPTEMBER?

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As I was browsing the website where I bought my work planner to see if I could give a suggestion to @noodle , I « accidentally « bought one for me :grimacing: this one will be for school/ home organization stuff

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So, @ginja_ninja , that link to the sprouted planner led me down a major rabbit hole this morning! :joy: I like it, but then got searching for Canadian made planners, as I’m in Canada and hate paying the shipping from outside Canada.

I found the Clever Fox Pro planner. Clever Fox looks really good, but is an 8.5x11” format. I’ve never used one that big before. I don’t know how awkward it would be to carry around, as I’m on the go a lot. They run around $52+ 15% tax for me.

Anyone with experience using the larger format planners?

ETA: okay. I just ordered their smaller sized Ultimate Daily Planner. It’s a 6 month planner. We’ll see if it’s any good.

ETA#2: Well rats! Clever Fox doesn’t tell you they are in the US and you’re paying in USD! I’m p*ssed. At least I didn’t blow my budget on it. I wonder what Customs will charge to get it over the border? :rage:

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This is my biggest peeve with US companies & online store software that doesn’t show currency and its bitten me so many times.

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I emailed support and told them if it was being shipped from the US to cancel my order and refund my money. I wasn’t paying duty on it…especially on top of the current exchange rate. No reply yet.

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My work planner is 8,5 x 11. I was surprised when I received it, but it’s fine, it fits well in my backpack when I go to the office and it’s not too big for my (small) desk at home

ETA: here’s the website. I didn’t linked it because I thought she didn’t have English planners but she seems to have a few: Planner - Petites fleurs sauvages - ANGLAIS – Papier & Latté

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The biggest I’ve used is A5, around half of the 8.5x11. It’s fine for carrying around but even the A5 (when open flat to A4) takes up a lot of table space when working in cafes. If it has stiff backing so it kind of supports itself like a clipboard that would be easier.

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NOT YET :triumph:

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Well I sent that email to Clever Fox support. Their response? They are not and never have been Canadian made, and have never promoted themselves as such. And did I want a refund? Oh, btw, your planner has already shipped. So yeah, like no. I get the joy of paying return shipping and duty both ways…for nothing? I think not.

I wrote back to suggest they add a tagline to their site saying something like “Proudly American made” and/or add USD after their prices. Or note somewhere prices are in USD.

I also contacted the website with the misleading information to suggest either a title correction on their blog post, or to remove them from their list of Canadian day planners.

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Oof. What a crappy customer service

Well they made it right…in a big way. I received an email this morning saying they’ve refunded me the planner and I don’t have to return it. The charge is already off my cc. Now all I’m concerned about is how much duty I’ll have to pay.

I receive it Saturday. That is much more than I expected. If it’s any good I’ll let you all know when I receive it. You Americans might be interested in it. And maybe others who don’t mind doing cross-border shopping. :slightly_smiling_face:

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Oh that’s nice :grin: hope you enjoy your planner!

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Thank-you! I’m not sure what to do with it though. It’s only a 6 month one. I’ll need another 6 month one to finish out 2025. Oh well. Off to look!

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I’m so curious about this because I have never had to pay customs on my side coming from Canada; everything I buy (especially planners/stickers) falls way under the duty free exception ($200ish depending on type of good) for personal. Do you have a super low one the other way? Or none?

ETA: oh yea because of nafta if a good is made in us can or Mexico we don’t have any duty or tax for import. But they have to state that on the customs form

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My experience is that it is highly unpredictable. But they may charge you the sales tax (5 to 13% based on province) as well as other fees and duties for anything over $20 that wasn’t a gift. Gift I think is 60.

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It’s highly unpredictable here too. In my province it’s 15% tax plus duty. Unless it’s sent as a gift, which I assume this wasn’t, as it was shipped before they decided to give the refund.

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Okay, colour me shocked! The CleverFox planner arrived a day early. The guy just dropped it on the door step. No charges for tax or duty! I am very relieved. :sweat_smile:

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