5 Ways to Make Planning More Personal — and Fun

The countdown to August and back to school has begun. And, whether you have school-age kids or not, it marks a shift. Summer’s end. A new chapter. Different routines. It’s the perfect time for a reset. The perfect time to get back into the habit of planning or level up your planning game. 

Like most things, Mary Engelbreit believes planning should bring you joy. So, she’s excited to share a few easy ways add your own creative flair to it — and a couple fresh collections of hers to help spark your imagination. This month marks the release of her new planner and notebook collection with May Designs as well as a new release of fun Violette stickers and storage tins.

So, how does Mary recommend turning the management of deadlines, meetings, assignments, goals and ideas from a tedious to-do into a hobby you look forward to?

1. Find the Perfect Planner

It all starts with the planner itself, your source of motivation and inspiration. Weekly agenda or daily, meal planner or health and wellness, a desk-size planner or petite enough for a purse — with so many options, your perfect planner is out there. Finding it is kind of like fun scavenger hunt where the prize is customized to you and your needs and goals for the year ahead.

2. Add Fashion and Function with Stickers

Not only are planner stickers a great way to express your personal style, but they can also help add functionality and organization to the pages. From appointment reminders and goal trackers to floral patterns and seasonal themes, stickers are a great way to keep you smiling and on track all year.

3. Get a Matching Notebook

Sometimes there just isn’t enough space for everything you want to write — like grocery lists or meeting notes. And sometimes, you just want an excuse to get a notebook that matches your planner. Well, Mary’s got you covered. Her May Designs collection also includes customizable notebooks with options like dot grids for bullet journaling or blank pages (more room for stickers and doodles.)

4. Color Code Everything

Black and blue pen? Boring! Colored pens, markers and Washi tape are great ways to bring your planner pages to life. They can also be used to create an organizational system where certain colors mean certain things. Red for deadlines or appointments. Green for finance-related reminders. Pink for birthdays. The possibilities are endless and, best of all, there’s no right answer. Just endless fun.

5. Keep Everything Organized

Keeping your planner organized is one thing. Keeping your planner accessories organized is another. With so many fun themes and colors, your pen and sticker collections can add up. But cute sticker tins, folios and other storage solutions make it easy to keep track of where things are — and keep everything looking cute between planning sessions.

Feeling inspired yet? We are! And planning doesn’t have to be a solo sport. There are book clubs, garden clubs and knitting clubs, so why not create your own planning club? Get the gang together once a month to break out your planners and get creative as you map out your upcoming schedules and goal tracking.

Happy planning! We’d love for you to share how you make it your own, what stickers and planners/notebooks you’re loving, and any tips you have for staying on track to meet your goals.