Exhausted, over-worked, over-scheduled, and anxious. Sounds like the life of the modern American, right? It certainly describes mine. Between cooking, cleaning, couponing, blogging, family life, and the occasional hobby, it’s very difficult for me to find enough hours in the day to finish everything I need to accomplish. When I try to wing it, I feel especially frazzled and behind. Getting organized, specifically by regularly keeping a day planner, has made a world of difference.

I’ve always been a huge list maker and calendar-keeper, but I would tend to write things down on scrap paper or leave my notes in different places rather than condense everything into one folder (big mistake).

For an investment of $14.99, I purchased a 3-ring binder and plastic binder sheets at Staples. I’m the sort of person that tends to be extremely detail oriented, so I wanted lots of separate sections. Feel free to customize according to your own needs. Here is what’s in mine:

• Cover page (Year, name, and my cell phone number in case it’s lost)
• Plastic pocket page (where I have some extra paper)
• Master Daily Schedule
• Morning/Evening Routines
• Daily Cleaning Projects & Emergency Quick Clean
• Business Work (Posts, giveaways, social media, etc.)
• Appointments
• Extra Projects List 
• Weekly Menu Planner 
• Grocery/Shopping List (divided by store)

The main benefit of the plastic sheet is the ability to check items off with a dry erase marker and then re-use the list. I find this works better for me than a plain notebook. Another thing I like about the binder is that it’s large enough to not be misplaced. I suggest picking a color you love as well since you’ll be using it so often. Mine is in my all-time favorite shade of purple.

For those who want an electronic option, there are tons of apps and Google Calendar. Personally, I do better with a hard copy and it’s a lot easier on my eyes than staring at a screen. Whichever method you prefer, any type of plan is better than none. I know I’m completely lost without mine!

Do you use a day planner?