So I tried a lot of different ways to plan the week last year – 52 in fact! These were my top 7 favorite weekly planners.

1. Mi Goals Planner

This planner was the one where it clicked for me that I prefer a 2 page weekly spread with 1 page having the days of the week in lined horizontal format with a 2nd page that has a checklist, notes space and habit tracking on the other page.

Vertical planners just aren’t the right fit for me – the columns are too narrow and so is the sidebar – I’ve only found one – the Otto Wellbeing Planner that included a habit tracker.

I was really excited by the release of the 2018 Mi Goals version – there’s been lots of improvements and the weekly layout is almost perfectly in sync with what I consider the ‘perfect’ planner layout for me. I’ll definitely be using the Mi Goals planner sometime again this year!

Week 19: Mi Goals Weekly Planner 

2. Plum Paper Horizontal Lined With notes

I tried this one in week 12 but don’t think I used it ‘properly’. I didn’t put a lot of thought into what I was going to plan in each section.

Week 12: Planning using the Plum Paper Horizontal lined with notes

However, I ended up finding the perfect use for this planner later in the year – for pre-planning the week and journalling.

How (and why) I pre-plan the week using the Plum Paper horizontal lined with notes layout

3. Plum Paper Me Planner

A cross between a teacher planner and a student planner, I tried the Plum Paper Me Planner in week 29 and it worked really well. I recommend this layout not just for students but also people planning multiple things (for me it was blogging, meal planning, vacation planning etc.) and if you’re a mum, for keeping track of everyone in the family’s schedule.

I really liked the Me Planner as the sections for each day were lined. There were also more sections (7) for each day than what most planners in this style have.

I had Plum Paper send the pages to me unpunched, then used my ARC punch as I prefer discbound planners (can, add, remvoe and rearrange pages as often as needed)

See also: Review of the Plum Paper Me Planner

4. Limelife Planners Layout C

Some planner companies offer free printable versions of their planners – Limelife Planner is one of them (which is great as they have so many different layouts to choose from!)

I tried the layout C and really liked it…

So I purchased a proper physical planner from them to to try out in 2018! It’s similar to the Plum Paper Me Planner only the sidebar is wider and lined, there are 6 sections per week (unlined) and Sat and Sun are combined.

5. Erin Condren Teacher Planner

From looking at the image below I’m sure you’re picking up on a common theme here… I like planners with lots of planning categories!

This weekly spread took a bit of hacking / modifications with washi tape and planner stickers. It turned out really good and I loved the colors of the planner, but it would be time consuming to cover up the existing titles every week.

The larger page size (8.5 x 11″) gave more room to write – I actually had white space at the end of a week and didn’t need to use a sticky note to create extra space which doesn’t happen very often!

Week 25: Using the Erin Condren Teacher Planner for weekly planner 

6. DIY Printable Planner

The main reason I love making printables? So I can make exactly what I want, whenever I want.

>>> Sign up for my free email course and learn how to make your own weekly planner! (Click here)

At week 35 on my quest to find planner peace, it clicked. Planner peace for me is using different planners. And when I can’t find one that suits what I need to plan for that week, or when I just feel like using something i’ve made just for me that doesn’t need customisation or hacks to make it suit, then I can make my own planner.

Week 35: Planning with a functional minimalist DIY weekly planner printable 

Week 49: Using the Create Your Own Planner

7. Planning by category rather than by day

I much prefer to just work off a big to do list with blog posts planned for the day they get published and a small space for each day for things that need to get done e.g. paying bills – things with due dates. Otherwise I don’t allocate tasks to a day, I just work on them when I have time. Planning by category rather than by day worked really well and it’s definitely a method I’ll be using again!

Weeks where I planned by category instead of by day:

• Week 2: Planning using daily checklists 
• Week 4: Minimalist planning: how to plan your week using a blank notes page and stickers
• Week 5: Planning by category and task, rather than by day
• Week 13: Using a Kmart lists book to plan your week (planning by task, rather than by day) 
• Week 45: Using the priority quadrant for weekly planning
• Week 47: Planning by category rather than by day using a Kikki K Notepad – ‘Work Smarter : Live Better’
• Week 51: Weekly planning using only a printable to do list

Others planners worth mentioning:

1. The Planner Pad

If the Planner Pad comes out with a horizontal version I’d love to try it. It’s a great idea with the pre-plan / brain dump at the top of the page then funnelling down and scheduling / prioritising. The columns are just too narrow for my liking.

Week 34:  Review of the Planner Pad Weekly Planner 

2. Ashley Shelley Planner

A horizontal scheduling planner that I converted into 2 checklists per day. If this planner had been a bit bigger in page size with a larger notes section for the week it would be really good!

Week 31: Using the Ashley Shelly Planner for weekly planning 

3. Slice Planner

I’m normally not someone that uses a daily planner. I really only use it on days when I’m planning an ecourse or a product launch or am super busy.

The Slice Planner has a unique concept of combining pen and paper and digital systems. While I didn’t really use the digital / app part of the planner to it’s full potential, I did really like the pre-drawn close face that was a much better (more flexible) way to plan the week. If I need a daily planner, this one is going to be my go to!

Read more: Using the Slice Planner (daily planner + app)

4. Planning the entire week using only sticky notes

I use sticky notes almost every week. From meal planning to blog planning and when I run out of space. They’re so handy! I don’t think I’d plan an entire week using just sticky notes again though.

For an updated list of my current favorite planners, see this post: My Top 10 Favorite Weekly Planners (after reviewing more than 200 planners)

Browse all weeks from the 52 planners challenge.

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