Planners for Moms: A Complete Guide for the Keeper of All the Things

Today I am dishing about one of my favorite topics, planners for moms! We have an important role as moms and as keeper of all the things. Having the perfect planner to use as a tool in helping us keep it all straight is a must. But you have to know when and how to use it and make it work for you! Let me help you get started!

Planners for Moms

Every year I take great pleasure in carefully and thoughtfully examining my options for a new planner. There is something so wonderful about finding the perfect new planner and filling it with beautifully colored dates and events. 

Although we are well on our way into February, there really is no such thing as a bad time to get organized and get a planner that will help you keep your mom brain in check.

It’s so easy to look around and see the other moms in your social circles and wonder how they do it all. 

Well – first let me tell you, they don’t. 

They don’t do it all. But they sure do a great job making it appear like they do. Here’s the thing, the moms that are making it LOOK easy are the moms utilizing tools like a planner in order to keep their lives in line and somewhat organized. That and they are busting their tail to keep their family organized.

Mama Needs a Planner

In order to maintain my sanity as a mom, everything goes in my planner. I have found that the days when I take the time to intentionally plan out my time and follow what I have written I am 100% more productive and SO less distracted. I don’t just use a planner so religiously because I am an OCD freak, it’s because if I didn’t my life would be chaos! Well, it would be more chaotic than what it is on an average day!

If you know me very well personally, you likely know that I have a slight obsession with planners and pretty organizing things. I’m a teacher so it really is kind of just in my DNA. That’s part of the reason why this is such a fun post for me to share with you all! 

Have you noticed the trend? There seems to be an ever growing and wide variety of planners for moms available right now. You can find planners at most stores like Target and HomeGoods as well as on Amazon and Etsy. There is no shortage of options and customizations available to create the perfect planner for your needs. There are even planners to fit everyone’s budget needs, which is really something to celebrate!

Planner Options

While we are on the topic of perfect planners for your needs, it’s important to acknowledge that just as we all approach parenting with our own unique parenting styles, finding the perfect planner is much the same. The planner that is best for one mom, may not work for the next. So it’s important to be able to scope out your options before committing.

I take planner purchasing very seriously. Deciding on the right planner is a year long commitment. The last thing I want to do is get tied to a planner that I will end up hating after I have already written in it.

Actually, I feel like I can be honest with you and go full disclosure here: I have been known to abandon a planner mid year because it didn’t quite serve its purpose for me anymore. I’m the girl perusing the planner aisle at Target when I quite literally may have a brand new planner in my purse. What can I say? I like to have options! And there is really something so sweet about a brand new planner with fresh clean simple pages just waiting for my colorful flair pens! 

There are other options when it comes to planners for moms. You can go digital or stick to the traditional paper planner. 

Many of my mom friends prefer a paper planner for several various reasons but mostly for its ease. Although, others would argue a digital planner is the best because it allows them to have their events at their fingertips. It truly is a personal preference. 

Don’t laugh at just how crazy I am, BUT I utilize both a paper planner AND a digital one. The paper planner allows me to look at the month as a whole and visualize all that we have going on. I can use my colorful flair pens and highlight things to stand out among the rest to my heart’s content.  Although I carry the paper planner with me, the digital one allows me to have the events at my fingertips. My husband and I share the digital planner and it’s a great way for us to keep our schedules in sync with each other. 

Benefits of Planners for Moms

Honestly I can’t imagine many moms can manage without a planner, but in case you happen to be one; girl, let me show you the light. The benefits of using a planner are plenty but I will limit my sharing to just five of the first ones that come to mind!

Takes Off the Mental Load

I can’t imagine trying to keep track of the overwhelming amount of information, events, appointments and lists without having a designated space to keep them. As moms the mental responsibility we have for making decisions for our families and keeping track of everyone’s schedule is like a silent burden that we carry. If you’re a mom, you know what I mean. 

Using a planner takes the mental stress from you and allows you to have a little bit of peace of mind. Just knowing I have a trusted space to go and double check dates and other important information is enough to put my mind at ease. 

Stay Organized

Having and using a planner helps you get and stay organized. The important key to this is actually referring to the planner to allow it to really work to its benefit for you. A planner gives you a space to organize recurring dates, lists, or track important reminders. 

Manage and budget time

Ever found yourself scrolling Facebook or Instagram and suddenly an hour of time has passed? I truly believe we all have the same amount of hours in the day and what we do with them matters. A planner can help you see where you have gaps of time to devote to reaching your personal or professional goals. 

Keep Track of Lists

Hello, my name is Anna and I like lists. Mayyyybe a little too much sometimes. I am working on honing my list creating abilities in order to stay productive and not get overwhelmed. Whether you are a list lover like me or not, a planner is a great place to keep a list for reference. Start with a daily to-do list and use your planner to track what tasks you accomplish when.

Set and track goals

Silly me, but I used to think goal setting only had to do with your physical health. That sounds so naive but it’s true. Setting and tracking goals is NOT just for someone who is wanting to improve their physical appearance or health. Goals are truly one of the best ways to cultivate happiness in your life and create a life you truly love. A planner is one of my favorite tools to use to set and track goals. 

Tips on Using a Planner 

Write everything down 

Literally. Write it all down. Once you get used to getting it all out on paper you will begin to see how freeing it is to have it there instead of trying to commit everything to memory. The more I write down and the more I plan my days, the more I get done and the better I feel at the end of the day. 

Refer to it Often

In order for a planner to truly transform your life, you actually have to use it. Just buying a planner and placing it in your bag will not magically provide you with solutions to all of your time management and organizational issues. You must create the habit of referring to the planner in order for it to be effective. 

Designate Colors

A pretty planner can do wonders for your motivation to use it. I especially enjoy grabbing a fresh package of my favorite flair pens and color coding the events of the month. Color coding does a few things for me as I use my planner; first, it makes the pages of my planner stand out and visually appealing. Second, it allows me to look at the calendar and know just by looking at the colors what I have going on from week to week. 

Carry it With You

This one is really similar to number two. You should carry your planner with you wherever you go. You never know when you might be somewhere and need to jot down something to remember quickly or when you may have some downtime to review your month at a glance. By carrying it with you, you are doing part of what it takes to create the habit of referring to it on a daily basis. 

Month at a Glance

The month at a glance is my go-to resource in my planner. I still like and use the day to day planner but the month at a glance allows me to see what I have going on a little more long term. I have found that planning ahead is so much easier than scrambling to figure out a plan last minute. 

Whether you are a working mom, stay at home mom, or a combination of both you need a planner! And it really doesn’t matter if you have one child or five. The moment you realize this IS your circus, and these ARE your monkeys, you will quickly be desperate for a planner to help you rock the role of keeper of all the things!

Before you go, I am sharing five of my favorite planners for moms with you. If you are lost in the sea of options, take some time to check these out. Hopefully, one of them can be the perfect fit for you! 

One more thing, if you loved this post about planners for moms – I think you’ll love my guide to intentional time budgeting. It’s the one thing that has allowed me to work full time, be a mom to three beautiful busy kids, and grow a brand and blog on the side. 

You can grab it here for FREE!