Finding YOUR Planner
August 1, 2022
Picking the correct planner can make all the difference in keeping you organized and ensuring you use your planning system regularly. Franklin Planners are especially great for those that are new to planning, like youth and college students, because they teach you to define your values and priorities, and schedule your time wisely, so you can focus on the things that matter most. But how do you know which planner will work best for you? No two people are completely alike. You have your own unique combination of focus, family situation, job description, industry, season of life, and hundreds of other factors. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding which planner is right for you.
Project vs Schedule Based
What does your daily life look like? Are you jumping from project to project throughout your week, or do you have hourly appointments each day? If you’re more of a project person with a flexible schedule, our weekly layouts are perfect for seeing your week at a glance, big picture ideas, and focusing on weekly goals. If you have time-sensitive appointments and need to plan daily and hourly tasks to ensure things run smoothly, try a one-page-per-day or two-page-per-day layout.
Portability vs Capacity
When it comes to planners, size matters. We offer four different sizes: Pocket, Compact, Classic, and Monarch. Pocket planners are 3.5” W x 6” H and fit easily in a large pocket or small purse, while Monarch planners are a full 8.5” W x 11” H, and are great for a desk or large briefcase. Our two most popular sizes are Classic (5.5” W x 8.5” H) and Compact (4.25” W x 6.75” H) for the best of both worlds – each fit well in a bag or backpack, and are more ‘book- sized’ for easy handling and storage. We also offer ring-bound and wire-bound options in several planners, adding another way to create or save space in your planning set.
The size and weight of a planner influence portability, accessibility, the way you interact with it, how often you use it, and how it enhances your life. What size and binding you need will depend on how many notes you take, how many tasks you have each day, and how much information you need to keep track of.
For some additional information on Planner sizing and details, click here.
Your Planning Style
While there’s no right or wrong planning style, it’s important to figure out the kind of planner you are. If you’re a crafty person, you might be drawn to a more artistic planner, or something less structured like our Dot Grid Planner, with plenty of space for sketching, embellishing, and journaling. If you’re more logically inclined, you may want something with more structure and a muted design. It’s also important to decide whether you want a colorful planner with bright images, and decorative fonts, or one with a more minimalist design stripped of distractions.
No matter what planner format and design you choose, you can feel confident knowing that you’re getting time-tested principles that will help you create the life you want to live. Find all of our planners on our website and learn to use them fully with our free planner training.
One thing infrequently if ever discussed here is how best to transport the classic size, which is what I use. Often I am forced to leave it at home and then at a meeting wish I had it. I am male, so a purse or handbag won’t work. Suggestions? Thanks – Bob
Carry it in your hand – proven over decades (centuries?) of men carrying items like this.
1. Carry it in your hand. Real men only need one free hand in any given moment anyway.
2. Use a small messenger bag, which is great for carrying other gear like an everyday carry (EDC) kit or water bottle. Real men stay prepared and hydrated at all times. Using a bag even frees up your other hand for more action.
Hi Bob, I use classic size as well and have been using a simple waterproof backpack. It’s not big, or bulky, or overly embellished with loads of pockets or zippers, and it’s been great for my back and shoulders.
I would suggest looking into simply designed backpacks made of waterproof fabric to protect your binder and contents. (Leather backpacks add more weight.)
I hope this helps!
Though I often transport mine to and from the office in a shoulder bag, my husband carries his Classic size planner in his hand like a book, or in his briefcase for business meetings. 🙂 We definitely keep them with us!