The Best Planners for Women for 2017
A round up of the best planners for women to use in 2017. Is your favorite on the list? Click to see.
It’s that time of year again...planning time!!! There's something magical about pen and paper. Despite all the electronic calendars and planning tools, I love to pull out my notebook and brain dump then enter everything into my planner. After it's in my planner, I add it to google calendar/fantastical.
This is the time of year where you start preparing for the holidays and planning your profits for next year. This is also the time when you go out and get/order the planner that is going to help you manage your goals and make profits.
Here are the ten best planners for women for 2017! Despite numbering, these are in no order of how amazing they are:
1. Erin Condren Life Planner [$50 - $65] The Erin Condren Life Planner are the Beyonce of the #planneradict world. Let me warn you there is a cult like following with Erin Condren. They take glam planning (stickers and all things pretty) to a new level. You can either go with the 18-month option or the 12 month option. The 2017 versions have a choice of a horizontal, hourly, or vertical weekly layout with choices of a neutral black and white muted palette or bring on the colors palette.
The inspirational quotes throughout the planner are motivating. I love the options for customizing the covers, with the option of changing them out as often as you want. Erin Condren introduced Deluxe planners that are beyond gorgeous with thick motivating covers and two different monthly planners.
You didn’t hear this from me, but the new monthly planners are GAME CHANGERS! You can go minimalist or deluxe, either way, you are going to be able to plan and track efficiently. Click here to save $10
2. Inkwell Press Livewell Planner [$54]: THE planner for women, well at least that’s what the tagline says. The Inkwell Livewell Press Planner has a focus on goal setting and execution. There is a section in the front for planning out your yearly goals and a place for you to reflect on the month you just completed, as well as plan for the next month. *jaw drop* yes girl yes. There are motivational quotes on the mission (planning) boards. It’s very functional in addition to beautiful. The paper quality is unlike any planner on the market, very thick and luxurious. The Inkwell Press Livewell Planner has two options for the weekly layout, depending on your preference. So many amazing features.They offer inserts [$30] for ring bound A5 planners and quarterly planner books [current price not listed - goes on sale 11/10]. Click here to save $10 on Inkwell Press.
3. Daily Greatness Business Planner [$44.95]:
The Daily Greatness Business Planner was designed with today’s #girlboss in mind. It was created by a small business woman, which explains how she knew to include ALL the things you will need to develop and streamline your business goals. There are weekly check-ins, 90 day check-ins, and a yearly check-in to hold you accountable and committed. The Daily Greatness Business Planner is full of inspirational sayings and the pre-face is very encouraging in addition to helping you learn how to develop strategy and goals. It’s undated and includes a social media tracker, finance tracker and budget worksheets. Click here to save 10%
4. Get to Workbook [$55]:The Get to Workbook is a daily planner + goal setting workbook designed to help you make progress on your big goals by taking things one day at a time. Each month has a goal and reflection page. One thing I really love about the Get to Workbook planner is the project planning pages [breaking down big projects to reduce overwhelm] for each month.
5. Simplified Planner [$58]: The Simplified Planner was created to “help women focus on what matters most by building simplicity and joy intentionally into their lives.” The Simplified Planner includes motivational quotes throughouts, an hourly view of your day from 7 am - 7 pm. In addition to you to-do’s for the day.
6. Michaels Recollections Planner [$19.99-$29.99]:
Do you see that cute unicorn? These babies have broken the internets. Why, might you ask? One word...
dupe.
These are a duplicate of the Erin Condren Life Planner. Recollection also created personal ring bound planners which are dupes to Kikki- K and Filofax. [Word on the street is they will be releasing A5 size in December 2016] But you didn't hear that from me.
Now back to these spiral planners, they come in a variety of removable/interchangeable covers, there are two formats: vertical or horizon. Very similar to the Queen B of planners. In addition to 12-month planners, there are fitness, goal setting, pregnancy, wedding and meal planners. The planners can be purchased online or at your local Michaels stores. Download their mobile app for coupons to save a few coins.
7. Happy Planner [$24.99-$34.99]: I see so many rave reviews about the Happy Planner that I had to include it in this years round up. There are soooooo many covers to choose from. It features an arc bound system and is very customizable. You can purchase a full kit or buy individual inserts based on how you like to plan. The best thing that I have seen is that this is sold in local craft stores, so I would recommend waiting for that good ole 50% off coupon from Michaels, JoAnnes or Hobby Lobby. There are two layout options: horizontal and vertical. Additionally, there are three sizes to choose from: mini, classic and big.
8.Start Planner [$60-$68]: The Start Planner AKA Hustle Planner is the planner that has EVERYTHING you would think you need to get organized plus more.
You are able to develop mini goals and big picture goals; while checking in on your health planning, fitness plan, water consumption, and caloric intake. There’s a section for meal planning, grocery lists, food budgets, financial planning and budgeting. In addition to your day to day to do’s. There is also a business edition of this planner which has social media, branding and mileage sections in addition to the awesome features in the other Hustle Planners.
9. Happiness Planner [$59]: The Happiness Planner focuses on happiness and gratitude instead of productivity like most planners. It teaches you to focus on positive thinking, affirmations, mindfulness and self-development. The psychologist in me couldn’t leave this one off the list. The covers are beautiful, yet simple.
There are guided thoughts daily, monthly and yearly reflections, inspirational quotes throughout. The Happiness Planner features a happiness roadmap for you to integrate in your life and create the changes you want to see and pinpoint your focus for each month and day. There’s two 12 month options [June-July. January-December] and a 100 day undated option. The Happiness Planner is journal + Iyanla fix my life + planner goodness. While waiting on The Happiness Planner, download these printables to start 2017 off prosperous.
10.Visionary Journal [$55]: The Visionary Journal is a combination of a vision board, task manager and day planner. There is a system that it takes you through to set up your goals and strategize to achieve them throughout the year with monthly breakdowns. I really love the areas for brainstorming, mind mapping, and prompts on why these goals are important for you. Of course, the Visionary Journal has a section for you to create your vision board within the planner. The calendar is not pre-dated, so you are able to begin at any time.
Share these wonderful planners for 2017 with your fave biz besties:
1. Erin Condren Life Planner
2. Inkwell Press Live Well Planner
3. Daily Greatness Business Planner
4. Get to Workbook
5. Simplified Planner
6. Michaels Recollection Spiral Planner
7. Happy Planner
8.Start Planner
9. The Happiness Planner
10. Visionary Journal
May your year be profitable and productive!
XO,
Kimber
P.S. - Here are the best planners for 2016, with a few different planners, check it out!
7 Brilliant Tips for Brain Dumping
Back in October I started working with this amazing chic biz owner, Raine. I wish my mom was dope enough to name me Raine, but as I was saying... Raine came to me because she was having a hard time getting work done in her business.
Raine described herself as an "idea person," meaning she was full of ideas and always had a new idea for a project, product or business.
These ideas weren't helping her at all. She would start working on one and then would get stuck. She wasn't getting stuck because the ideas were bad or not well thought out.
The problem is the new ideas were flowing in and stopping the workflow of the previous idea(s). Raine and I developed a brain dumping system to help her move these ideas into action...one at a time.
Brain dumping is bae! [the love of your productive life. Before Anything Else]
Brain dumping is when you physically eject your mental trash. No lobotomies needed. Only a pen + paper. Oh and a timer.
Here's the brain dumping system I created for Raine:
1. Set one day per week for brain dumping.
Think about how you plan your workflow:
What day and time do you usually plan your work for the next week?
Raine found that brain dumping closer to the end of the week at the end of the day was best.
You may be tired at the end of the week and your brain needs recharging. Consider brain dumping in the beginning of the week or day.
2. Set your timer for 10-15 minutes.
Raine used her phone timer and started with 15 minutes for a few weeks then moved to 10 minutes.
Don't be intimidated by the time or think you won't have anything to write. Just embrace the process and let the thoughts flow.
3. Fold your paper in quarters or draw quadrants.
Raine started off with a full piece of paper and was overwhelmed with the full page and found it easier to have the quadrants smaller to help the ideas to flow naturally.
You can label the quadrants if that will help your process. Example quads:
Personal
Business/Work
House
Family
4. Write freely (no editing...just write) about whatever comes to mind until your timer goes off.
Raine initially would tell me that she would just sit there and couldn't think of anything. There's never a time when our brain isn't working. That was just resistance that Raine was experiencing. I encouraged her to doodle pictures until thoughts surfaced or the timer was up.
[doodling reduces anxiety and is therapeutic]
5. When the timer is up do a little dance! Brain dumping relieves your body of stress and anxiety.
How often you brain dump is going to depend on how often you're feeling overwhelmed and unproductive.
Organization beats overwhelm!
6. Now it’s time to organize the clutter.
Raine wrote random words that came to mind, several uncompleted tasks, projects she wanted to complete and appointments to schedule. Immediately she started feeling relieved, but she was just getting started.
Brain dumping is the beginning of an organizational planning system. 7. Action Jackson Time!
You want to:
- Group the similar tasks together.
- Prioritize task groups:
- [complete today, tomorrow, this week, next week, near future, etc.]
- what needs to be done now
- what needs to be done this week
- what needs to be done this month
- what needs to be done sometime in the near future
- what doesn’t need to be done at all
- what can be outsourced
Break down big tasks into bite sized tasks with due dates.
Store your brain dumps in Evernote with a simple snap of your camera phone and upload it on the mobile app. Add the new TDL (to do list) to Asana, so you can complete the tasks and get one step closer to your productivity goals.
Once you get the hang of brain dumping you can create a master list.
xo,
Kimber
10 Reasons You Need to Use Evernote In Your Business
Are you using Evernote in your business? You definitely should! Here are 10 reasons why!
Evernote used to have a tagline: remember EVERYTHING!
And because of that most people get overwhelmed with Evernote. They aren't really sure what to do or where to put everything.
Here are 10 reasons to use Evernote in your business:
1. You can store EVERYTHING related to your biz in one place. Think of Evernote as your business hub.
[This alone should be the reason you start using Evernote in your business today...but I will proceed.]
2. You can access your business' everything from the cloud via computer, iOS or android device. So whenever you have an amazing idea open up Evernote, wherever you are.
3. Don't feel like typing out thoughts, use the talk to text option...boo yah! Feeling like a girl boss yet?
4. Sign up for a challenge, but don't have time to do it live. Email it to your Evernote and get to it when it's more convenient. Saves space in your email + you can even set up a reminder of when to go and look at the email you forwarded.
5. The Evernote web clipper is exactly what you need when you're ready to steal like an artist or keep up with the Kardashians.
6. Keep track of all the post-it's, business cards, handwritten notes and brain dumping notes that you have lying around your desk, that you can never seem to find, when you need them.
7. You can encrypt text, that you don’t want a “random” person reading.
8. Connect IFTTT to save your favorite things across the web into specific folders automatically. [Even everything you screenshot on your iphone...say what? Yes girl, even screenshots!]
9. Unlike other cloud storage applications, your upload MB resets every month.
10. Communicate and share notes and notebooks with your team, clients and biz besties.
Are you ready to master Evernote for your business? Click here to be notified of when Evernote Mastery goes live. That's right an end to the backend chaos! 8 modules teaching you the ins + outs of Evernote. PLUS swipe files to get you started. Oh my!