STYLE Savvy: Out with the Old?

Several weeks in, Lisa Hess assesses the utility of her new planner. What do you look for when choosing a planner?

A few weeks ago, I cracked open a new planner. Hardly the stuff of newsflashes and chyrons but, after using the same undated planner for years, trying something new was kind of a big deal.  

The new planner isn't dramatically different; in fact, its interior is nearly identical to that of its predecessor. One major difference is that the "notes" pages, rather than being gathered at the back, fill the right-hand side of the book, transforming the single-page/day view into a two-page/day spread. That's a lot of space for someone whose schedule doesn't vary much from one day to the next. 

A Planner in the Truest Sense 

Initially, I wondered if those daily notes pages would become wasted space. Three weeks in, I still wonder about the placement, but I've begun using those pages as a way to corral all my lists into one place, expanding my book into a true planner, a place to keep track of not just appointments and lists, but actual plans as well.

I've begun using Post-it flags to tab each of the lists, a tactic that's working well for my I need to see it personal style. By labeling the lists, I can find what I want easily, regardless of where the pages are located. I've also considered using the right-hand pages as a daily writing space but, so far, I haven't done that for anything except blog post ideas, which fit the overall "planning" category.  

The left-hand side of the daily two-page spread is very spacious with more than enough room for daily appointments, priorities, and a to-do list. There are some subtle differences in the layout as well: a dedicated space for follow-up calls and emails, and some extra lines in the appointment column that I use for notes that pertain to the day in general. I'm enjoying these additions, and I think they represent an upgrade. 

With all these places to keep track of things, I've yet to hit a day where my to-do list has overflowed onto the right-hand page. For me, this is a definite advantage, replicating one of the things I liked best about my old beloved planner — there wasn't enough room to create a to-do list that would overwhelm me. This is another situation in which the second page of the two page/day spread is a benefit; nagging larger and/or long-term tasks that don't quite earn their checkmark can become a list of their own — one I can flag and come back to. 

Investing Time to Tame Time 

I'm finding that there are a lot of things to like about this new planner, its price being perhaps the most notable. While my old planner was a splurge, this one is much more budget-friendly at 20% the cost. Its cover is less eye-catching but, while that's a nice perk, it's not the most important function of a planner.  

Change — even small change — can be challenging. And, adjusting to a new tool is a process but, when that tool shows promise, it can be worth the time and patience it takes to make it your own. This is, perhaps, especially true of a planner which we not only use regularly, but which transcends the role of organizer to become something that gives us a feeling of being on top of things. That feeling of peace, not chaos, is well worth the investment of time. 

As for this new planner, I think it's a keeper. If I get too nostalgic, I still have a few (still new) copies of my old favorite but, having found at least the same benefit for much less money, I think I'm going to keep investing the time and energy to make this one my own. 

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Copyright 2025 Lisa Hess
Images: Canva