Best Paper Planner for Work

|| Top: J.Crew (from about five years ago) || Pants: J.Crew (also available in navy and charcoal) || Heels: kate spade new york (sold out in black, available in silver glitter) || Earrings: J.Crew (spring 2018) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

I have worked in the digital media sector now for a little over five years. That being said, almost all aspects of my life are on the computer. Since leaving my hometown, I also have turned into a tiny environmentalist (I like to limit my paper waste). However, two things in my life are paper constants: a yearly planner and greeting cards. I am a digital girl who loves a paper planner.

Last month, I wrapped up my fourth consecutive year of using a Day Designer. I started using this planner a few years ago when I was working at Koch Communications. I have yet to find something better that meets my needs as a millennial girl-on-the-go. I find that this daily agenda helps set up my day for success! Before my day gets too crazy, I like to take about five to ten minutes to map out my day. It gives me a moment to prioritize and set the mood.

Here are the main reasons why I keep coming back to this planner year to year. First and foremost, each weekday has a workspace page. There you will see: today's top three, due, dollars, dinner, don't forget, today schedule (5:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.), 17 individual lines for you to write in to-dos, a small note section and daily gratitude. You will find that these pages have so much meat to them! I have had some friends find it overwhelming. As someone who schedules out her day meticulously, this helps me feel put together and organized.

If you choose to adopt this planner, you can find a system that works for you. On the month-at-a-glance, I love to add a little flair and fun. This is where I note birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, coffee dates, Barklynn's grooming appointments, manicures/pedicures and haircuts. When we get an invitation to attend an event or someone wants to hang out, this is the page I flip to. I can easily see if I am out of pocket or make plans accordingly. Last year, I found an Etsy shop with darling gold foil stickers to add some flair to my stark white pages. For three years, I had a pretty intense color-coding system where I used different colors of washi tape. Over the past year, I have been a little more relaxed and not as structured in that way.

My planner goes everywhere with me, we are attached at the hip! Last year, I made the splurge and treated myself to the spotty dot planner cover. I did this for two reasons, to give me more space and to keep my planner from getting scratched. In the inside of the cover, I can place mail and other essential items. There is a zipper compartment, that's where I keep my gold foil stickers and forever stamps. There is also a place for a pen, but I do not use it. Speaking of pens, I am a big fan of the Pilot Precise V7 RT. My husband introduced me to them, and I haven't put one down since. They are so smooth and dry quickly for an ink pen.

If you are feeling disorganized or frustrated with your current planner, I hope you look into the Day Designer.