When I first dove into the planner world, I was shocked at how many people felt the same way I did about their coiled planners – LOVE the size, but struggle with the limitations of the coil.  I think it’s the teacher in me  - I need the freedom to add things in and take things out as I go!  Planning is a fluid process.  So – I dove right into the world of uncoiling my 7x9 planners…and never went back! If you know ahead of time that you want to use the 7x9 sized layouts but you don't want a coil, you can always request an uncoiled and unpunched planner when ordering from Limelife.

This is my Brooklyn Weekly Planner – Layout A – in Teal and an essential tool any time I’ve uncoiled: A Leatherman Multitool. That being said, any wire cutter or similar tool would work just fine!

Above, you’ve got two ways to go about uncoiling – You can straighten one end of the coil and slowly uncoil it, one hole at a time, through the planner.  This is preferable if you want to be able to potentially re-coil it, later.  I choose the latter option – I snip the coil the entire way down with the clipper, and pull it out.  Faster, but you lose your coil! [You can always order an extra coil, too, and keep it for later if you want the ‘easy’ snipping method!] This is the A5 size hole punch that I use – purchased on Amazon – and my favorite washi.  I prefer ‘thinner’ Washi, as it doesn’t edge over into my planning boxes. (I'll explain this in a second!)   It’s also worth mentioning, here, that you could use a 3-hole punch for a mini binder, or an ARC punch for the ARC ring system – my punch is a 6-hole, A-5 size. 

What’s awesome about this process is that it gives you so many options.  My preferred method of punching my pages is to put washi tape over the coil-holes, and then punch over the washi.  It reinforces the pages, and prevents you from losing anything.  On the flip side, it adds bulk to your pages, and therefore your planner.  The other option is to trim the coil-hole edges with your favorite paper cutter, and just punch the freshly-trimmed pages.  I tried to represent both options, above! 

I always have the thought of “Patience, Grasshopper” at this stage in the process – if you’re anything like me, pages that aren’t all lined up at the bottom of my planner would make me nuts!  Make sure you center your pages evenly in the punch! 

This is what your pages will look like if you trim the edges, and punch straight onto the paper.  Again, this is all about preference – it will take less time, but you will be punching into your planner boxes, and your monthly calendar boxes.  Totally up to you if that bothers you or not! 

Opposite to the pages above, this is what it will look like if you “washi” your edges, first, and then punch.  The holes don’t touch any of the planning boxes.  

At this point, the hard work is done! You’ve either trimmed and punched your pages, or used washi tape and done the same – now they’re just waiting for a new home.  You can also trim the edges of your cover off, and punch it to use as a dashboard!  Here’s my Brooklyn cover in a Carpe Diem A5 binder (In Robin’s Egg blue) – Check out Meka’s earlier post on choosing the right A5 binder for you! – I should mention, though, that some binders are wider, which works better for housing 7x9 planner pages!! (As opposed to the A5 inserts!)  I stick to Carpe Diem or Studio Calico, which you’ll see below. 

I keep my Mary Weekly Layout C in a Studio Calico Binder – Melon color.  My edges are covered in washi and they don’t overlap into my boxes, giving me all the space I would have had in the coil – but I also have my planner add-ons in the binder, and can add and remove as I like! 

If you’re scared to take the leap, but know you like flexibility, ease of movement, and the potential for some extra color in the form of fun washi tape, I say go for it! I know you won’t be disappointed. :)

This blog post was written by Keri Thivierge for the Limelife Planners Media & Creative Team. For more information about Keri visit her on Instagram @steviedplans. Please share and repost this blog entry with your friends! All we ask is that you give credit to Limelife Planners and the post author.

What is your planning style? Do you like to use lots of stickers and washi? Or are you happy with just a pen or two? Browsing through all the wonderful planner community photos on Instagram, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed with the idea that every space needs to be filled in.

As an organizer that loves to help busy moms feel productive and less busy, I want to challenge the idea that every square inch of your planner needs to be filled.

I know, I know, you love to fill it in. And maybe you really are busy enough that you need to fill in all those lines and boxes. That is why you use a planner after all!

What I really want to challenge is adding things to your schedule for the sole purpose of filling up blank space. Savor those days when you’re not so busy!

Here are some ideas on how to fill in that white space in your planner that don’t include adding to your already busy schedule:

15 WAYS TO FILL IN BLANK SPACE IN YOUR PLANNER

1. Doodle a picture
2. Practice lettering
3. Write your favorite bible verse
4. Make a list of books you’d like to read
5. Fill in a meaningful quote
6. Decorate with non-functional stickers
7. Write a short poem or haiku
8. Paste in a photo
9. Record a memory from the day
10. Color in a design
11. Write out that funny thing your kid said
12. Fill in something you’re grateful for
13. Make a wish list
14. Record that crazy dream you had last night
15. Write lyrics to your favorite song

I mostly leave my empty boxes blank. Sometimes I use a sticker. I’m obsessed with cute emoji stickers, so I can usually fill in a space or two if I think it’s looking a little too sparse. I’ve also been loving all the fun and inspiring quotes people post on Instagram, and sometimes I practice my lettering with those quotes.

Do you mind having blank space in your planner? What is your favorite way to fill in those empty boxes?

This post was written by Kristan Kremer for the Limelife Planners Media & Creative Team. For more information about Kristan visit her on Instagram @pinkrosecompany. Please share and repost this blog entry with your friends! All we ask is that you give credit to Limelife Planners and the post author.

I hadn't used a planner in about 10 years when I got my first Limelife planner back in August of 2015. I struggled to balance school, home, work, and keeping up with my two boys and wrote about it here. Thankfully I settled into a system that worked for me rather quickly and I found that I am a purely functional gal.  

Recently, I had a particularly busy week at work and looked down at my legal pad and post-it mess and thought, there has got to be a better way. You would think since I love my spiral 7x9 Limelife Planner so much that a solution would have dawned on me sooner, but it took me a while. As an aside, someone once spelled "don don" as a substitute for "dawned on" to a group of online friends (we kept asking - Don WHO?) and I can't ever type dawned on without thinking of don don. And now you won't either.

Where was I? Yes, my solution! A5! I was worried a little about the investment and knew people outside of the planner world would be unlikely to understand why I had two planners, so I found this inexpensive binder to dip my toe into the proverbial second planner waters. I also found these binders, which are adorable. I'd love a kikki.K or Filofax one day, but for now this will do. 

I ordered monthly planner inserts (Florence style) as my base along with daily inserts in layout 2, the checklist add-on and extra notes, both lined and unlined. Since this is my all-in-one for work, and I already have an electronic calendar, the purpose is for noting large events or deadlines, taking notes, and keeping track of to-do items. Limelife paper has ruined me forever; it's so crisp and buttery I want to write on it always.

Do you like my dish?  It says "The Future is Female"  Yeah it is!

So far, I love this setup. I am left-handed, and I am so thankful to be able to take pages out and write on them. I also love that I can re-arrange a checklist page as items on it may spill over month to month. I don't need a daily sheet every day, but when I need one, boy do I NEED one.

I appreciate that the binder and pages are relatively neutral. My Mandy 7x9 planner is gorgeous, but maybe isn't the best choice for a high profile meeting. The extra notes pages can also double as stationery for thank you notes in a pinch. Now that Limelife sells A5 dashboards, I think I may need one of those, too - they'd be great for reminders up front.

Do you have two planners?  If so, what are each of them for?  Tell me I'm not alone!
This guest blog post was written by Amanda Cahill, mom, friend, and Limelife Planners supporter. Please share and repost this blog entry with your friends! All we ask is that you give credit to Limelife Planners and the post author.

I don't know about you but I enjoy planning out every aspect of my life: from my work schedule, to my workout schedule, to events I go to, to events that I would consider going to. That being said, sometimes (most of the time) things don't go as planned. What do you do once it's already been written in your planner?

You could scribble it out.

This is my least favorite option, but of course it happens. Scribbling looks a little sloppy, so I prefer to cross text out with a red pen and a straight-edge. I guess you could call me a little fussy but even my mistakes need to be neatly taken care of. You could make your scribble into a doodle if you feel compelled to.

You could white it out.

White out is a slightly better option than scribbling. It covers the text and you can write over it. Just be sure to get a decent white out. I prefer the correction tape to the liquid white out and even then, it's still hit or miss. Correction tape can flake depending on the writing utensil and that drives me crazy.

You could put a large sticker over it and pretend it was never there.

Full box stickers, or even half box stickers, are pretty awesome for this. If you've written a large amount of text, just cover it up with one sticker and you have a fresh slate and a cute background for your plans in your planner.

You could put a "cancelled" sticker over it.

Lots of shops make these stickers. There are also variations: cancelled, rescheduled, not today, another day, and many more. I love these stickers when plans get changed last minute or I decide I want to Netflix instead of doing work. They don't remove the event from your planner, but give you a constant reminder that something didn't happen.

You could do nothing and pretend you actually did what you said you were going to.

Did I actually go on that 5-mile run that I wrote in my planner? You will never know. Did I go to the planner meetup last Saturday? I could tell you I did. The only people who will know you didn't go are the ones that did.

How do you cover up your mistakes or cancelled plans? Let me know in the comments!

This blog post was written by Victoria Lee Werth for the Limelife Planners Media & Creative Team. For more information about Victoria visit her on Instagram @missengineerdesigns. Please share and repost this blog entry with your friends! All we ask is that you give credit to Limelife Planners and the post author.

Planners make life manageable and planner accessories make the planning arena so much more fun. Stickers have become my newest obsession, but in the beginning, it was all a bit overwhelming. There are so many pretty ones to choose from, but the important thing is to figure out what will work for you. When you are on a budget it can be disheartening having purchased items that do not work out.

In this guide, I offer quick points on the types of stickers and how they can be used. If you are new to the sticker world, this might help you figure out which types of stickers to purchase. If you have already purchased stickers, you might get ideas on new ways to use them.

Functional Icons

Functional icon stickers are my favorite. They add a decorative element to the weekly pages without requiring too much pre-planning. If you are interested in making your first sticker purchase, I recommend starting with these types of stickers. With functional icons, you can mark laundry day with a sticker of a washing machine, study time with a sticker of a stack of books, and leisure time with a sticker of a television. There are sheets dedicated to chores, fitness, academia, and leisure time, which are extremely helpful for day-to-day activities.

Some variety sheets may not be practical for you and that is okay. You might need more of a specific sticker or there may be a sticker in the sheet that doesn’t apply to your life. In these situations, I recommend purchasing sheets that contain one icon in multiple colors. This way you have enough of that specific sticker and you can coordinate it to that week’s layout, and you won’t have unfeasible ones leftover.

Alert Stickers: Page Flags, Teardrops, and Arrows 

Page flag, teardrop and arrow stickers are another favorite sticker type, which I consider “alert” stickers. I love using these types of stickers to draw my attention to important tasks. Page flags and teardrops work almost like icon stickers. You can use these stickers to mark appointments or reminders for “must do today” types of activities. Arrow stickers are long enough that you can write information directly on them. They are decorative and functional at the same time. I use these arrow stickers to mark important events for the day and place them at the top, or if you have an hourly planner, at the time the event or task needs to be taken care of. Limelife Planners has many of these types of stickers to choose from.

Weekly/Monthly Kits

Weekly/Monthly kits can work beautifully if you love the “No-White Space” planning style. You can have all your decorative and functional icons stickers in one set that is gorgeously coordinated. If you find kits difficult to incorporate into your planner because you have stickers leftover that don’t apply to your life, consider buying sheets of half-box stickers or sheets with just checklists, page flags and boxes. There are many shops out there that sell kits designed specifically for certain planners, even your Limelife planner.

At the end of the day, you don’t have to pick just one sticker type to use in your planner. I find that combining all three-sticker types helps make the process easier for me and I end up loving the final product. Get started on the sticker obsession by checking out the NEW Limelife Planners stickers and Welcome to Sticker Heaven.  

This post was written by Sadia Chowdhury for the Limelife Planners Media & Creative Team. For more information about Sadia visit her on Instagram @sadias_ruminations. Please share and repost this blog entry with your friends! All we ask is that you give credit to Limelife Planners and the post author.

If you’re relatively new to the wonderful-world-of-planning, the Internet can be a scary place. Facebook? A nightmare. Twitter? Night-terror fodder.

Instagram? Forget it.

Our planner/planning community can be a magical place, but I liken it to being a kid in a candy store. At first, everything looks great. And then, you know you need to hone in on something, but you can’t pick just one.  …And then…the sensory overload starts to take over, and before you know it you’re sitting on the floor and crying your eyes out.

Okay, maybe not – but you get my point! Looking for “planner inspiration” on Instagram or Pinterest can be a combination of inspirational and overwhelming, which can be either good, or bad. So many ladies – and even some gentlemen! – have achieved what many of us like to call “planner zen.” They know what works for them and run with it - and then some - often filling pages of their planners in sticker after sticker, after sticker – or stamps, colored in with colored pencils or Copic markers, and handwriting that looks like it’s straight out of a calligraphy text book. It all looks incredible – until you realize that you have yet to even put pencil to paper in your planner, and you suddenly are overwhelmed all over again, and self-conscious.

Your handwriting isn’t that neat. You don’t know how to hand-letter. You have a small stack of planner stickers you’ve borrowed from friends and your three standard colors of pen are Bic blue, Bic red and Bic green. 

What even is a fine-point gel pen that erases from the heat of the eraser?! Those exist?! 

And washi tape?!  Is that… like masking tape? Duct tape?  Is it a fancy word for tape that cleans? (Sorry. Bad, terrible pun..)

It’s easy to get lost in the wide-world of planning, and freeze right up. It can become too much, all at once… And sometimes, it seems like it’s easier to abandon it, than stick with it and figure out what works for you.  

See this? Definitely not the place to start. Too much, all at once. Just don’t do it.

So you’re a newbie – where should you start to ensure you stick with it? First, focus on the essential tools of the trade – and don’t go crazy. This is coming from me, someone who lives a life surrounded by every color of pen, pencil, marker and Sharpie around – even I had to start somewhere! 

The Essentials ~

• A piece of paper
• A sharp pencil
• A ruler
• Some functional stickers (If you have any – they really aren’t necessary)
• A few pens of different colors. Just use whatever pens you like- there’ll be plenty of time to experiment with pen brands later!

The Process ~

Step One: Before you can use any of your pretty colors, or stickers, you have to decide what kind of planning layout works for you. That’s the key to ‘simplifying’ planner zen. It’s also a whole separate issue, so in light of keeping this ‘simple’ – see what I did there? I’m going to show you a couple different layouts. You can also check out fellow teammate Victoria's recent post on choosing a layout. You have to decide which ones you like! 

Step Two:  Make a list of what and who you need to plan for. Are you single? Or are you a mom with a family of six? That makes a big difference!  Using your sheet of paper – or notes page from your planner – make your list of everything you want/need to include in your plans. I usually do this in pencil, which you’ll see below!

Step Three?: Color code! I know it seems a little ‘planner crazy’ to have so many colors, but color coding is a magical thing. You can keep a key of your chosen colors somewhere in your planner and reference it each time you sit down to plan.  Make color your visual best friend. Choose a color for each person, place, and thing you intend to plan for and mark it on your sheet. (You can fix this up nice later for a ‘final’ copy.)

Step Four: Get down to planning! Right about here is where I rely heavily on that sharp pencil and my monthly spread. I’m a ‘weekly spread’ decorator, but there’s not a single color that touches my monthly. Everything goes in pencil, in case it changes, or is canceled. I reference my monthly each week when I sit to do my monthly spread! When you’re ready to plan in your weekly spread, just do what feels right. If your son’s soccer games are supposed to be in red, fill them in where it seems appropriate.

Here are some examples of ‘simple’ layouts. No frills, no crazy decorations – just functional stickers that serve one purpose: to be functional. Is it pay day? Mark it. Is there a bill due? Mark it. Do you need to be reminded of something when you go to your planning happy place at 9:37 am Thursday morning? Mark it. Just make it work for you!

Don’t worry about how it ‘looks’ or if it’s ‘pretty’ – planning is your relaxing time. Not someone else’s joy; going out of your way for Instagram <3’s might not always bring you peace. Remember that! Once you figure out what works for you, you can go back to Instagram for inspiration and start to experiment with stickers, colors, etc.

But, for now? Take it slow and think about you. You’re most important, and your happiness is why you plan. The rest will come.

This blog post was written by Keri Thivierge for the Limelife Planners Media & Creative Team. For more information about Keri visit her on Instagram @steviedplans. Please share and repost this blog entry with your friends! All we ask is that you give credit to Limelife Planners and the post author.

I'm going to be completely honest, not every planner works for everyone. Some layouts just don't work for certain schedules or plans. This post exhibits a chunk of my schedule portrayed in the multiple layouts that Limelife Planners offers in order to give you an idea of what each layout looks like with the same schedule planned in each. If you want to try each layout for yourself check out the Weekly Layouts section of the website where you can download and print a copy of all the layouts Limelife has to offer.

 Layout A 

Layout A is definitely my style. I like the idea of vertical planning, and I have ever since I was a student. I usually separate the boxes by morning, day, and night, but sometimes it doesn't quite work out that way. The absence of the labels allows users to put whatever they want in whatever box, or create their own (like I did at the bottom). I love the list column down the left side because it gives me a space to...uh...list things: to do, to go, etc. Also, there is a lot of room to decorate with this layout, especially with the amount of space that I use.

Layout B 

I have never been an hourly planner. Maybe I could have been in college, but I didn't really think about it. My schedule is just too monotonous: go to work, go to the gym, go to church. Yes, I do have other plans occasionally, but the limitation of the 7AM-7PM hours really restricts the space I can utilize. I love the idea of being able to block of chunks of time with washi tape or layer stickers for events or appointments. Sadly, Layout B is not for me.

 Layout C 

Layout C is definitely my favorite, which is why I chose it! The multiple boxes are great for the different aspects of my life that I chose to highlight: work, appointments, fitness, television, and my to do list. I could also see this layout working well for a student with multiple classes or clubs. There is lots of room to decorate and personalize this layout for exactly what you want. I promise I'm not biased (even though I own this one).

Layout F 

Layout F is the one "horizontal-style" planner than Limelife offers (other than the A5 inserts in Layout G). This was the layout that I bought for my lil' sis because I knew it would work for her as a student. The lines on the right are perfect for writing lists. Sadly, my schedule doesn't have me making any lists, so I put my work schedule up there. I also used it for appointments. I used the larger area on the right for thoughts and other plans that could change, or just things to remember. This layout leaves lots of room for decoration, especially at the top. If I was a horizontal planner, this would be great for me, but I'm not. 

Layout K 

If you are a simple "week-on-one-page" type planner, then Layout K is for you. One thing that I liked about Layout K was that with all my plans it looked full. The downside? There wasn't really any organization or structure to each box as I filled it in. There were no lines to keep my text straight. Stickers are in different spots on different days. Also, I feel like sometimes there might not be enough room for everything I have going on. There definitely isn't any room for many decorations in this layout.

What layout do you have (or what layout are you considering?) What do you look for when choosing a layout or a planner? Let me know!

This blog post was written by Victoria Lee Werth for the Limelife Planners Media & Creative Team. For more information about Victoria visit her on Instagram @missengineerdesigns. Please share and repost this blog entry with your friends! All we ask is that you give credit to Limelife Planners and the post author.

I’ve always been a spiral planner girl, but this year I’m trying out the binder system. You can’t beat the customizing options and organizing capabilities of ring-bound planners. Let me tell you, my Limelife A5 planner inserts have me seriously approaching planner peace! Limelife designs are vibrant, their layouts are straightforward, and everyone knows their quality is top-notch! Here’s how I’ve set up my binder system so far.

GETTING STARTED

My approach has been pretty slow and steady. My creative heart wants to deck my planner out with cute clips and page markers, stuff the pockets with more pretty page flags than I can ever use, dangle fluffy and shiny charms from the strap, and line the page edges with all things adorable. But I have other planners for that! My yellow Kikki K is strictly (okay, mostly) for getting things done and keeping my life in order. I need to be able to focus on my tasks and access information without getting distracted by shiny things. I’m using a few extra planner accessories, but my Limelife inserts provide a good fix of decor so that I won’t feel bored with my simple set-up.

FRONT POCKETS

• Quality page flags for long-term notes
• Cheapo page flags for quick throw-away notes
• A few paper clips
• A simple mini notepad
• A couple of sturdy note cards
• Some washi for taping down miscellaneous notes and bits
• Inspirational art card handmade by a dear friend
• SECRETARIAL POCKET: Dottie Mini Notebook and paperwork/mail collected throughout the week. I try to clean it out weekly.

NON-DASHBOARD

Dashboards are pretty popular in the planner community. A typical dashboard is a sort of title page that houses sticky notes, inspirational quotes, or photos. I decided a dashboard would be redundant since my pockets have all of that. Instead, my first page is always my right-now planning page, usually a daily planning insert. It’s front and center, with no searching or section flipping to distract me. I use several different inserts depending on my needs. This Checklist Add-On insert is perfect for me, since I naturally tend to categorize my to-do lists. The add-on comes with 30 pages in two colorways. Check the Limelife site out for other layouts that might also work for you, and for the digital version of the checklists.

CALENDAR

I’m using Limelife A5 weekly planner inserts with the Elizabeth design. My weekly layout is a classic horizontal week-on-two-page format. Limelife has tons of designs from floral to stripe to watercolor, and several different layouts to choose from. This set is more than just calendar inserts. Here’s a rundown of what’s included:

• Monthly pages, including tabbed dividers for each month
• Weekly pages, with your choice of layouts
• Accounts/passwords
• Contacts
• Holidays/special dates
• Goal-setting
• Lined note pages
• Customizations:  3-hole punched, 6-hole punched, or unpunched; start month of your choice; layout format of your choice

One of the best features of Limelife is that ALL of their planners (A5 and spiral), are customized with your choice of start months. So, if you’re ordering in March, you get your money’s worth with no wasted months. I only include a couple of months at a time in order to minimize binder bulk. My “Calendar” section houses my monthly overview, and the monthly tabs house the weekly spreads.

SECTION TABS

The Decorative A5 Planner Tab dividers come unlabeled for you to use how you choose. I adhered clear labels from my label printer to the front of each of my tabs. Since I no longer need my past months, I’m borrowing the January divider from my calendar inserts. A strip of thin washi hides the original wording so I can re-purpose it.

I use an oversized divider to block off the rest of the sections that I access less frequently. Onto coordinating yellow cardstock, I traced around one of the original dividers that came with the planner and added a little extra width. This cuts down on the visual clutter to minimize distraction.

MY SECTIONS

I allowed myself a few weeks to use a temporary setup to really figure out my organizing needs. Hand-labeled mini page flags were a great solution for that. I stuck them onto my unlabeled tabbed dividers until I knew what I wanted to label them. I ultimately determined the following sections would work for me:

• Business—for info that I access frequently, or that I will transfer to my dedicated business binder later on
• Look Up—for book/podcast/app titles I want to look into, wish lists, websites to research, etc.
• Friends & Family—contact info, birthdays, important things about their lives that I should remember but tend to forget, date ideas, etc.
• Social Media—content ideas, design team details, tips
• Personal—health, journaling, self-improvement, travel
• Inserts & Stickers— I’m using A5 punched sticker sheets and varying inserts (lists, charts, graph paper, etc)
• Notes—Blank/lined note pages (I’ll be absorbing my inserts into this section soon).

SUBSECTIONS – When I accumulate several pages of the same topic, I like to create subsections. Narrow page flags are great temporary tabs. They can be hidden behind the main section tab to reduce the visual clutter—see the little blue subsections under the red Notes tab?

THE PEN!

I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you about my pen! My favorite pen to use on Limelife paper is a black Staedtler Triplus Fineliner. It writes on Limelife paper with no bleeding and dries instantly.

Limelife A5 Planner Inserts, coupled with their Decorative Tab dividers have been a huge factor in helping me develop a planner system that works. My binder setup is still a work in progress, but I’m sure planner peace is just around the corner.

This blog post was written by Meka Allen for the Limelife Planners Media & Creative Team. For more information about Meka visit her on Instagram @yespleaseplanning. Please share and repost this blog entry with your friends! All we ask is that you give credit to Limelife Planners and the post author.

I live in a world of books, makeup, stationery, fitness, coffee, and of course planners. Why limit one’s self to only one interest, right? The best scenario occurs when these passions can be combined. 

I have been a bookworm since I was young, but I couldn’t make time for this hobby during college. Recently with the help of my planner and planner goodies, I have fallen in love with books again.

Delving into a book is a great way to escape the chaos, to learn new things, to reduce stress, and to improve concentration and focus. For me, reading is a fun activity; the books I choose to read are just as diverse as my other interests. 

In my planner each month, I set a goal for the number of books I’d like to read. I write this goal in the monthly section, usually when I’m working on the monthly spread. This allows me to set a realistic goal based on the events going on during that specific month. In the notes section of my Limelife Planner, I keep a list of all the books I have read each month.

If you’d like, you can dedicate a page to each month and list the books accordingly. You can also jot down your thoughts on the book underneath. There are plenty of pages in the planner and this is just another way to make use of those pages. 

Each week, I like to carve out some time for reading in my planner. If I plan to do something and write it in my planner, there’s a better chance it will happen, right? There are so many cute book-related stickers, and I love to use some in my weekly spreads. I also love to use the mini notebooks by Limelife Planners while reading to jot down my feelings.

I take a couple of minutes to critically think about the characters and events, and write down my thoughts. You can skip this step, but for me I find that this keeps the critical-thinking and analysis skills sharp.

Reading has always been a fun activity for me and it can be for you too. Give it a try. Browse the New York Times Bestsellers list or take a trip to a local library to find some interesting books. There’s no rule that says you have to choose between being a planner nerd and a bookworm. If you want a more structured way to track your reading list check out the free Book Lists printable in the FREE! section of the Limelife Planners website!

This post was written by Sadia Chowdhury for the Limelife Planners Media & Creative Team. For more information about Sadia visit her on Instagram @sadias_ruminations. Please share and repost this blog entry with your friends! All we ask is that you give credit to Limelife Planners and the post author

You’re a planner girl, so I know you understand me when I tell you that I just had to play “fitting room” with my new Limelife A5 planner inserts. They’re absolutely gorgeous!  They’re special—I mean, one does not just toss these beauties into any old planner and go about her day! Come hang with me as I try on a few of my A5 binders.

MY INSERTS

There are a host of insert designs to choose from on the Limelife Planners. I got the fun and funky “Elizabeth” pattern, with Layout G weekly inserts-- a clean, classic horizontal week on two pages format. The binder section dividers are the Decorative A5 Planner Tabs. They’re a mix of Limelife design favorites.

The colors and overall feel of these elements are energetic, confident, and tastefully colorful. I needed a binder that would match the vibe of my inserts – not overly serene or too serious; something that would both animate me and inspire me to get things done.

TRYING ON A FEW BINDERS:

I’m a confessed planner addict, so of course I had no shortage of options at the ready. My light teal striped Webster’s Color Crush has a great neutral colored interior that wouldn’t compete with the vibrant designs of my inserts. But the mellow exterior color made me put it back on the shelf; it was just a bit more calming than what I had in mind.

Either of my Filofax Domino Patent lovelies could have won the prize. The Turquoise Filofax is the perfect shade of boss-lady-meets-dreamer. And, seriously, all the heart eyes for the floral Jane design paired with the pink Domino Patent!  Despite the color win, I wanted this to be my everyday planner, so I needed to fit in much more than my Limelife stickers, so a few more front pockets were in order.

JUST RIGHT

What spells lively, self-assured, creative professional more than this bright yellow Kikki K?

It’s substantial when held, and has classy gold hardware. The insides have a subdued striped pattern that echoes the feel of the Limelife designs without overpowering them. There are just enough pockets to stuff with the essentials. There’s even enough room for my Dottie mini notebook. Really, just… perfect!

The no nonsense side of me wants to pretend that planner peace has nothing to do with aesthetics. But the truth is, I’m multilayered, and I like a balance of both form and function. I love all of my A5 binders, so I would have managed just fine with any of them-- Limelife Planners inserts are a shining star no matter what! But hey, what good is being a planner addict if you can’t take your planners out and try them on for size every now and then? 

Stay posted for my follow up post to see how I set up my A5 binder!

This blog post was written by Meka Allen for the Limelife Planners Media & Creative Team. For more information about Meka visit her on Instagram @yespleaseplanning. Please share and repost this blog entry with your friends! All we ask is that you give credit to Limelife Planners and the post author.