This is the time of the year when I start looking at paper planners. While I have some favorites, I’m open to new possibilities that I didn’t see last year. Sometimes I’ll come across new layouts that I’ve never seen before, while others are just . . . more of the same with an updated cover.
I do have some non-negotiable features: vertical columns for the time of day, weeks that start on Sunday, and generous margins or space for notes. These are personal preferences, and if you’re a paper planner, you should decide on yours. Non-negotiables, a category of heuristics, simplify the planner-vetting process and conserve your mental energy.
Does this sound like you?
Through my work as a Concentration Coach, I hear from people who have given up. They have stacks of paper planners from years past. They’ve tried every time hack on Instagram. They’ve turned off notifications, closed their email, and deleted all the social media apps from their phones.
And they still feel like . . .