Hi! I'm super excited about today because it's my annual agenda post! I've been doing this for the past 4 years (it's crazy I know) and every year looks extremely different from the last. I used a Lilly Pulitzer planner in 2013 (I have no idea where that post went, but unfortunately, it's gone), a Kate Spade planner in 2014 and 2015, and in 2016 I started using my Erin Condren Life Planner. Even though I'm in the same planner as last year, a lot has changed so I wanted to show you all how my planning style has evolved!
First things first, the cover. I started with the white and gray honeycomb cover, which I love, but I wanted something with a little for color and spunk to spice it up. One of the best things about the ECLP is that the covers are completely customizable. Whether you order another EC cover or choose to get one from Etsy, they are super cheap and easy to change!
What's changed the most is my planning style. Last year, I was in love with using tons of stickers to add color and creativity, while still being completely functional. Over the months, I started using fewer and fewer stickers; mostly because I don't always have the time to sit down and put them all in, but also because I wanted my planner to be sleeker and less bulky. Now, I use just a few stickers each week and they are all functional with the exception of the "Thankful Thought" that Erin Condren has at the top of each week's sidebar. The stickers I use are from an Erin Condren sticker book that a friend got me for Christmas (everyone knows how obsessed I am with my planner)!
To make my planner more school friendly, I write in pencil now. I've found that deadlines get changed and new things come up all the time, so writing in pen can make my planner a bit messy when things start getting crossed out. I use the top box strictly for my daily to do list because I always have things I want to get done whether it's homework, blog related, or something completely random. The middle box I use to keep track of anything in the day that's not flexible: classes, appointments, meetings, etc. The final, bottom box I use to keep track of any other little things; mostly packages or mail that I know is coming and tv shows. I also love the sidebar for keeping track of more general week to week things, such as to do list things that don't have a specific day and whatever book(s) that I'm currently reading!
That's everything you need to know about my planner and planning style this school year! Leave a comment letting me know what planner you use, I love the Erin Condren Life Planner with the vertical layout and colorful theme. xx, Lauren Alston
