Every year, I treat myself to a diary. Each time, I promise myself to be more organized in my meetings, to meet my deadlines, to optimize my time. And systematically, my diary ends up in a corner of the office, forgotten. Before, I felt a little guilty about it. Now I know that this is just not the method for me.

Whether you are in the same situation, or have a completely different problem, we suggest here that you explore several solutions to change from the traditional agenda and opt for a more agile and intuitive method.

Why do I need a planner? 🧐

First of all, you will need to choose the context in which you want to use your diary. For example, a professional agenda will not be the same for a sales representative, a trainer or a human resources manager. The methods will differ depending on the context of use.

Here are four ways to get started:

My diary for home

If you need your diary to stay in a well-defined place, you can opt for the Archivio cardboard box, two sets of six dividers and a wooden desk organizer.

• Write down each month of the year on a divider.
• Write down your appointments and other important dates on the cards and classify them by month in your pretty Archivio box.
• Every day, place your daily sheet on your office organizer so that you always have your missions and priorities available. You can also put your worksheet for the next day there to get an idea of ​​your other short-term tasks.

💡 Keep track of your moods for each event by adding a little emoji stickers next to each note!

I want a diary for my travels

If you are often on the move and don't want to be cluttered, the Busta pouch, a Completo card pad and a set of six dividers will be your best allies.

• Write on the front of the six dividers the names of the months from January to June, then on the back those from July to December.
• Slip them into your Busta pouch.
• Add around thirty various foglietti to the pouch.
• When a month is completed, place the divider at the bottom of the pocket, turning it over so that the months follow each other naturally!

I want a diary for the office

At Foglietto, we have long been fans of the Kanban method. To set it up, you will need Masking tape, stickers and a block of 120 to-do list cards. This technique is used wall-mounted. We have written an article specifically for this method that you can find here in order to implement it optimally.

I need a schedule for classes

If you are looking for a diary while having to move around with equipment, such as computers, binders, documents, etc., we have created the Kanban folder. This method is very useful if you need a broad view of all your courses. Overall, it is used in the same way as the wall Kanban, but in a more condensed and above all transportable version. To set up this type of agenda, you will of course need the Kanban folder, but also Masking tape, and a block of 60 to-do list cards.

• Choose a deadline per shirt side (for example January, February, March, April, or week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4).
• Cut 4 pieces of Masking tape and glue them to the top of each part of the shirt.
• Set a color code.
• Drag your to-do list cards into the appropriate locations.

These are of course ideas, and as usual with Foglietto, everything is adaptable to your needs! You can use the Kanban folder for the office, the Busta folder for classes, and so on. What matters is finding the organization method that works for you.

What color code should I choose for my diary? 🌈

Once the context of use has been established and your choice of support has been decided, you will need to define a color code. Once again, these are avenues to explore:

Color coding for group work

If there are several of you sharing the same diary (as a family, it is possible to opt for an organization system where each member has their own color). So you will have no difficulty finding your way around.

A color code for project management

If you are the type to manage several projects at the same time, you can choose to associate a color with each project. For example, if we take up the problem of a course diary, it would be a question of choosing a color per subject.

A color code to organize my home or my family

In this type of case, it is possible to choose a color code according to the different aspects of daily life, in which case the possibilities are wide: social life (planned outings, vacations to organize, etc.), administrative matters, the program of children (the school trip, a classmate's birthday, etc.), household management, and so on.

Finding a color code is not the most difficult step, but it is important to follow your instinct: our brain automatically associates a theme with a color, and sometimes makes associations that you would not have thought of before. At first sight. If you realize, after the third sheet, that you have chosen the wrong color, take the time to change them in order to be as effective as possible in the long term.

How do I structure my diary? 📆

Defining the appropriate structure for your sheets in advance will allow you to save time and be more efficient. This is a step that must be thought through so as not to have to start over again with your files and upset your entire organization.

One sheet per event

If you are working on long tasks that must be divided into several actions, it may be interesting to choose one sheet per event. For example, if you need to schedule an Instagram post for work, writing “Prepare the Insta post” will not be suitable, since you have to take a photo, edit it, write the text, schedule it, etc. You will have to break the task into several pieces. In this case, to-do lists will be the most suitable.

One sheet per day

You can use one card per day if you have a large number of appointments. In this case, use the front side of your daily sheet for the morning and the back for the afternoon. This will allow you to keep enough space on the sheet to add tasks at the last minute. Don't forget to leave yourself at least an hour and a half a day for unforeseen events and meetings that last longer than expected! If you choose to use one sheet per day, the Go With The Flow lined foglietti will be the most suitable: you can thus structure your day by time slots.

One sheet per week

Choose one sheet per week if you have few appointments or work with a specific deadline. This format allows you to put Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on the front side of your form and Thursday, Friday, and weekend on the back. And as usual with our tools, you can adjust everything if you work on Saturday, remove certain days reserved for you, and so on.

It is important not to force yourself to systematically keep the same layout template. Knowing how to let go of organization also helps with organization! As they say at Foglietto: Go With The Flow. The advantage of using cards as a diary is there: it is entirely possible to adjust your card structures. Your Tuesday will be busy, but you have nothing planned for Thursday? Double the size of Tuesday and don't add Thursday to your week. Have you planned a weekend in the city and your day is organized down to the minute? Add a few cards especially for the occasion! The goal is to be efficient while unburdening your mind. Be kind to yourself.

Bonus: Add sweetness to your daily life ☀️

You can add a few touches of love to your diary by slipping in a few “surprise” cards here and there:

Add positive affirmations

Write a few positive affirmations such as “You are strong”, “You are intelligent”, “You are capable of achieving anything you want” on your cards and slip them randomly into your diary. You will come across it a few weeks later.

Write down your goals

When you have set a goal and a deadline to accomplish it, write it down. For example “Have you managed to go for a little run every day? If so: treat yourself to a SPA. If not: persevere, you will get there!”

Remember your journey

Write down on an index card where you are today and what you hope for yourself in the future. Place the sheet at the very back of your diary. When you find it again, take the time to savor the journey you have taken.

You will have understood: the most difficult thing is to identify your long-term needs. In a few steps you can set up your 100% customizable modular calendar:

• Identify the context of use of your calendar;
• Choose the equipment most appropriate to your needs (Archivio, Busta, Kanban, etc.);
• Determine a color code that speaks to you;
• Experiment with different flashcard structure formats to find the one that works best for you;
• Leave room for unforeseen events;
• Treat yourself to a little self-love by adding cards to your diary!

Enjoy this new organization, show us how it looks on Instagram 💌