Share This Article
The power of a daily planner
As freelancers, we have to multitask. We have clients to dazzle, tax to tame, emails to reply to, social media strategies to run, invoices to send…this is our daily freelance mania! On top of that, let’s not forget we also have a personal life to lead. Now, we’re not just here to survive this whirlwind; we’re here to conquer it with the power of a simple but powerful daily planner. So we can relax in the free time we’ve earned without anxiety.
Using a daily planner helped me plan (obviously!), prioritise and strategise my tasks prior to doing them. It is my saviour for conquering the chaos of my daily freelance life. I use my planner to allocate everything. Client duties? Check. Accountancy obligations? Check. Deadlines? Double-check. Additionally to my planner I use a my desk notepad for quick notes on the spot which I then translate into my planner. This makes me super efficient and boosts my productivity.
Decoding the perfect fit for your daily planner
Ultimately, the combination of the three different planners is in my opinion the most effective. Each planner has a different goal, and all of them are useful to free up your time and mind.
Yearly planner
An annual planner is great for long-term planning and to set your overarching freelancer goals. I put my big-picture view of the entire year. My administrative to-do’s are obviously there so I won’t forget any of them and so that I’m prepared for them. But I also make sure to write down my business and financial goals in there. Mind you, they don’t have to be 100% accurate. Thinking about your ambitions and writing them down gives you a sharp vision of where you want to go. Here are some common elements to include yearly:
- Business goals (only set 1 to 3 goals)
- Financial goals
- Administrative obligations (e.g. tax, subscriptions, contract renewals)
Monthly planner
Your monthly planner is a balance between long-term and short-term planning. I use this planner to see all of my major deadlines for my clients assignments or projects as well as my social media planning and other marketing related activities. I also write down all my subscriptions and contract renewals, so I know when to renew my hosting and domains or when I have an opportunity to change from internet or phone provider if needed. Using this overview makes sure you stay on top of your business and know what’s happening month after month. Here are some common elements to include monthly:
- Administrative obligations (e.g. tax, subscriptions, contract renewals)
- Deadlines
- Marketing planner
Weekly planner
And finally we come to the weekly planner, the nitty gritty details of what’s happening day-to-day. I record all my tasks, meetings or appointments here in more details. I also write down phone numbers that I don’t need to save in my phone but need for a specific task, or even deliveries that I need to be alert for. We don’t want to miss our Leuchtturm1917 pen refills! Here are some common elements to include weekly:
- Appointments and Meetings
- Work schedules
- Deliveries
- Tasks and To-Do Lists
The key is to tailor your planner to suit your individual needs and lifestyle, helping you stay organised and manage your time effectively.
The benefits of handwriting
In our tech-savvy era, digital tools are everywhere to enhance our various aspects of life. We rely on notes, contact lists, calendars, and an array of online applications scattered across different platforms to streamline our tasks. While these tools are undeniably useful, there’s a unique merit to going putting a pen to paper. If you’re a stationery nerd like me, you love that fresh white page and that new pen to scribble your first note. Did you know that the act of writing actually nurtures your thinking and working memory? That’s my excuse. The act of handwriting activates parts of your brain linked to learning which nudges you to delve deeper into the information you’re putting down. So basically, the physical act of writing engages more neurons resulting in a cost-free brain workout!
More benefits
- Your input and personal information is truly yours and yours alone. I don’t know about you, but I’m suspicious of lots of digital planners. What if they compromise your privacy? If your device or planner app doesn’t have a secure password or two-step security, you could be susceptible to data breaches. We don’t want that.
- Have you ever had two or three different digital planners? One for this client, the other for your personal stuff and the last one for your regular work? Ever tried to sync them all? Then you know, it’s prone to syncing issues! You won’t have that problem if you’re using one organiser to rule them all.
- Another cool thing is, if you’re out and about, you don’t need your computer or the internet to see what’s happening. You’re not reliant on the digital world and that equals freedom to me.
- And as a plus, you can store your receipts and other paper notes when you’re on the road into your organiser, and file them at home or at the office afterwards. No hassle.
The one and only daily planner
You know there’s no other brand like Filofax. We’ve all tried to find something similar or even cheaper, but nothing beats the quality of their organisers. I know it’s an investment, and as an investment that will last you forever, I recommend you to go for a leather version. It will age with you and you’ll get more value for your money long-term. Personally I’m not a fan of the big bulky ones, but if you have a busy life it might suit you. My favourite is the Personal Slimline, it’s small but big enough for all my work and needs, it fits in my bag without taking over and sits on my desk nicely without cluttering it.
Conclusion
See for yourself, the power of a daily planner is real. I promise you that when used frequently and correctly, you will see an increase in productivity and a decrease in stress. Savour the sweet taste of a day that goes exactly as planned.
Please note that this page contains affiliate links. While I only recommend products that I believe in, I may receive an affiliate commission from purchases you make.
