Planner Gal
Nancy
Study No.
Shopping List:
Nancy is the Art Director here at Laurel Denise. Her illustrations can be found everywhere and her editing and video skills are all over our YouTube and social media channels. She wears a lot of hats. Her friends, her beloved pup named Fred, wellness, book club, and partner keep her schedule, well, full (and happy!). She uses washi tape, sticky notes, and highlighters in her horizontal planner to create sections that work just for her.
Tip from Nancy (1 of 2):
When Commitment is Hard
"These tiny sticky notes give me the flexibility to switch things up in my planner. I use them for meal planning and for the ever-adjusting social media plans at Laurel Denise. Plus, they are so cute and perfectly sized that I basically squeal every time I pick up a new one which is always a win!"
Tip from Nancy (2 of 2):
The Magic of Washi Tape
"I could go ON AND ON about the Life Changing Magic of Washi Tape and the many ways I apply it in my trusty Horizontal Weekly. I use it to create vibrant and customizable divider tabs for different sections, making it really easy to navigate and find important information. I also like creating semi-permanent bookmarks for frequently used pages by folding some washi tape right around my page edge. Instant quick reference!"
Planner Gal
Kellen
Study No.
Shopping List:
Kellen uses a digital planner for precise details of her schedule, but part of her wellness routine includes a time for daily reflection and journaling - pen to paper. Because she loves planners and all things stationery, she puts her general plans in her monthly view, uses her weekly pages for her journal, and her notes section for her end of the month reflection. This planner layout allows her to look back on her journal AND what her schedule looked like, allowing her to really reflect on her feelings and what her life was filled with at any given time.
Tip from Kellen:
Add Fun!
"If there were ever a time more appropriate to use stickers just because they make me happy, it would be in my journal! I decorate each month at the beginning of the month, before my reflecting begins, and it brings me so much joy! Laurel Denise has THE cutest stickers - I can combine them or use an entire sheet on just one month. I can't recommend them enough."
Planner Gal
Maya
Study No.
Shopping List:
Maya is a stay at home parent who manages the schedule of her 2 children, while keeping her home organized, meals prepped, and friendships thriving. She's an active member of the PTA and treats herself with weekly self care plans and date nights!
Tip from Maya:
The Perfect Fit
"These sticky notes that are made to fit the Horizontal Weekly planner are life savers! Sometimes I don't want to commit to a plan, I want to call something out so I don't forget, or I want to be able to take just a list someplace (and not the whole planner). I seriously love these sticky notes! 10/10 recommend!"
Planner Gal
Annie
Study No.
Shopping List:
Annie knows that everything is better when you know what to expect. Which is why she uses her horizontal planner as a family scheduler that she keeps right by her front entrance, so her kids can look and know exactly what their day will look like. Annie has a full time job and is also a Planner Influencer (@annie_plans) and life is very full!
Tip from Annie (1 of 2):
Mom, What's For Dinner??
"My kids ask what their next meal is going to be about 20 times a day and this little reference spot makes life SO much easier for me. They know that they don't have to ask me - it's in the planner!"
Tip from Annie (2 of 2):
Check it Off
"The constant routine reminders and staying on top of grocery basics we need is part of the mama mental load. These charts in my notes and monthly task section save the day and my sanity!"
Planner Gal
Jenn
Study No.
Shopping List:
Jenn is a stay-at-home mom to three busy teenagers (and one dog!). She also runs an Etsy shop. She uses the undated horizontal planner to help get all of her to do's and tasks out of her head and organized on paper. Jenn’s planner is sectioned by category so she knows exactly where to look for each task/item category. Between appointments, activities, carpools, laundry, house cleaning and the never ending "what's for dinner?" she knows her planner will help her conquer each day the best that she can (while throwing in a little memory keeping too!)
Tip from Jenn:
Next Month List
"Listen, I love to live in the moment, but I also love to not forget things. My 'next month' list keeps me from slipping on the things that happen early in the following month."
Planner Gal
Laurel
Study No.
Shopping List:
Laurel is the owner and creative director here at Laurel Denise and her Vertical Weekly is basically another appendage. She uses her planner to manage running her small business - from marketing plans, to filming + manufacturing schedules - and to manage her family of 4. Laurel lives by her lists and loves to use her notes section, back pages, monthly to do, and weekly to do for all of her lists.
Tip from Laurel (1 of 2):
Divide Your Day
"The amazing thing about our planners is that you can truly customize them so they work for you. My visual brain needs to see time blocked plans and I absolutely live by my lists, but I need those two things to be in the same place. I use our washi tape or our highlighters to divide my page into a few sections - tasks at the top, time blocking at the bottom, and the schedule for my girls below that."
Tip from Laurel (2 of 2):
Big Picture View
"I use my monthly view as the big picture plan of my month. I don't include the details for my plan (like tasks or times associated with those plans). I put deadlines, birthdays, and my marketing plans there and the details go on my short page. I know this is a little different from how many people use a monthly view and wanted to be sure to point it out!"
Planner Gal
Aline
Study No.
Shopping List:
Aline is a new mom and has a part time job (as the Queen of Customer Service at Laurel Denise!). She is task focused, but also knows she needs flexibility in this season. Her priorities are keeping her new baby happy and healthy, providing and organizing her home and meals, and keeping up with friends.
Tip from Aline (1 of 2):
The Freedom of Flexibility
"These sticky notes are basically magic and I use them to jot down random tasks that need doing and keep them in my notes section because, well, I never really know when I'm going to be able to do them. Moving them to my day I can get them done gives me a sense of completion and I can re-use them each week and month!"
Tip from Aline (2 of 2):
My Favorite List
"My 'next month' list helps keep things that are coming up in my mind so that I can feel prepared. Out of sight, out of mind, and some things next month need to be prepared the month before. I keep this little sticky on the lower right corner of my planner."
Planner Gal
Sarah
Study No.
Sarah loves to organize her life by subject, rather than time or with a long task list. This requires a little bit more set up, but that’s nothing a good playlist, a delicious latte, and a Laurel Denise highlighter can’t fix. She keeps her detailed appointments on her digital calendar and uses her Laurel Denise as her very own task and list master!
Tip from Sarah:
Quick Checkboxes
"A huge to-do list can be overwhelming, so I divide my tasks into categories and use a quick dash of a highlighter to...well...highlight each task. Bonus points given because it is even more satisfying to check off when I've completed something!"
Planner Gal
Rachel
Study No.
Shopping List:
Rachel keeps busy with a part time job, two little ones with plenty of activities, and a pup! She meal plans and preps each week, is a faithful book club attendee, has some volunteer work, and plenty of at-home management that keeps life full and fun. Her Vertical Weekly Planner gives her the perfect view for balancing all of the details and plans in her life!
Tip from Rachel (1 of 2):
Color Coordinate
"I would lose my mind if I didn't color coordinate in my planner. Each person (or pup), my work hours, and our family plans get their own color. This gives me a quick visual reference for who is doing what at any given time. Pro Tip: You can use erasable highlighters in case plans change!"
Tip from Rachel (2 of 2):
Habit Town
"Having my habit tracker right there in the notes section, where I can see it all the time, means I will actually DO the habit. I love using the notes space for this!"
Planner Gal
Emmie
Study No.
Shopping List:
2024 Vertical Weekly Planner, Lollipop, Sticky Note Set, General
Emmie balances a lot any given day, but her schedule is never super firm. That's why she organizes her tasks and appointments by the section of day they are happening - Morning, Afternoon, Evening! This helps her to take small bites of her tasks and not get overwhelmed and it helps her from over scheduling!
Tip from Emmie:
Divide Your Day
"My tip is really just how I organize my day! The vertical columns are so great because you can really split them up however you want. I love that there is even enough room for my priorities and meals in the columns, too!"
Planner Gal
Tamia
Study No.
Shopping List:
Tamia is a travel nurse in her mid-20's and her favorite way to practice self-care is working out! She's currently training for a marathon and uses her Mini Weekly to schedule and keep track of her fitness routines and to jot down exercise and meal inspiration. The mini is the perfect size for her on the go life!
Tip from Tamia:
Weekly Planning Column
"As soon as I figured out that I could use this little column for whatever I wanted, I realized it's the absolute best spot for my daily meal plan! That's such a huge part of my fitness goals and I wanted to make sure it was in an area I could easily reference."
Planner Gal
Jack
Study No.
Shopping List:
Jack is a mother of two and works somewhere in-between full and part time, depending on the week. Since she’s part of a team, all her work planning is done digitally. However, she still needs a place to keep track of her talented kids' activities, as well as her own appointments, errands, and meal planning for the family. The mini planner is big enough to keep her monthly, weekly, and daily to-do lists, while small enough that she can bring it with her when dropping the kids off at orchestra. Not to mention her daily priority space. This way she can make sure at least one thing will get done!
Tip from Jack:
Keep It Simple
"I know lots of people love a good color-coded system, but I find it easier to keep everything just black and white. Color sort of comes in with my sticky notes, but that's just because those are the only color options I had. I hereby give you permission to keep it simple in your planner!"
Planner Gal
Giovanna
Study No.
Shopping List:
Giovanna uses her planner to help make sure she's taking good care of herself and finds that writing that information down (instead of using an app or two) helps keep her accountable. She likes to track moods in the monthly view and she uses the weekly pages to keep a journal, daily and weekly reflections and a gratitude list. Her goal in using her Mini Weekly is to look for patterns and how they positively and negatively effect her life as she strives to be her best self. This planner has already helped her see how time in nature helps her nervous system settle and she'll never go back to the apps.
Tip from Giovanna:
Gratitude
"Listen, I know keeping a gratitude list is nothing new. There are journals and apps and everything else and I promise I have tried them all. You know what makes me actually KEEP a gratitude list? When it's in the thing I use every single day! I could go on and on about this layout and how incredible it is, but that's my simple number one tip!"
Planner Gal
Terrence
Study No.
Shopping List:
Terrence is in charge of the cooking in their house, but between all their other responsibilities, it can be hard to remember the recipes and meals their family loves! They need a place where they can plan breakfast, lunch and dinner for the whole month, with categorized lists to remind them what their meal options are. By keeping their grocery list on a sticky note right next to their meal plan, Terrence can make sure they don’t forget anything during the weekly shopping trip.
Tip from Terrence:
Highlighter + Ruler
"My color code system helps give me a quick reference for what meal I'm planning, prepping, or making! I use a ruler and a highlighter to create quick lines on the monthly spread. Such a simple tip, it doesn't seem worth sharing, but it helps make what could be a tedious process go by quickly!"
Planner Gal
Bella
Study No.
Bella owns a small business and is in charge of all of the creative: photography, marketing, illustrations, and the youtube channel. This can sometimes feel like trying to gather and tidy a bunch of buzzing and ever changing bees into a letterpress tray! Things are always moving, her days are always shifting depending on what fire needs to be put out, and she needed a planner with enough space in the monthly to jot down her schedule and a few running to-do lists, organized by category. The running to-do list is handy because she never knows if she has 15 minutes to get something done or a few hours, so when she has a minute she can pick and choose the project to work on.
Tip from Bella:
Charts Are Friends
"Clearly, I love a chart. And, yes, there are digital spreadsheets for this type of thing, but the chances that I'll actually use those sheets are very, very, very low. Creating these quick charts helps me see where I am in certain projects which is insanely helpful as I will often break up parts of multiple projects and batch them together. I love that my Project Planner keeps my charts in full view!"
Planner Gal
Imani
Study No.
Shopping List:
2024 Project Planner, Lullaby, Workout Stickers, Highlighter Set
Imani is here to make 2024 her year! She is all about mixing up her workout days, focusing on different areas so she can be the strongest she can be. She loves having a planner where she can see when she’s traveling during the month so she can plan her workouts accordingly. She broke up her categorized lists so she won’t forget the exercise sequences, and even has space to track her health. You go, Imani!
Tip from Imani (1 of 2):
Customize It
"Just because the Project Planner comes with 4 columns doesn't mean you can only make 4 lists. I put in lines to divide the columns and create the sections I need for that month and I love it!"
Tip from Imani (2 of 2):
Proud Parent
"I'm just ridiculously proud of this chart I made and want to feature it just in case it inspires another gym rat out there!"
Planner Gal
Catalina
Study No.
Catalina manages the social media accounts for three different businesses in town. Managing the needs, special events, sales, random ideas, and whims of three different small business owners can make her feel like she’s constantly dropping the ball. This Project Planner helps her feels like she has a handle on what needs to get done. She uses her categorized to-do lists to keep track of each client's contract, special events, and ideas. She’s even able to plan her own social media, allowing her to expand her client base!
Tip from Catalina (1 of 2):
Divide + Conquer
"I assign a client to each column of the Project Planner and put all of the to-do's, specials, marketing call outs, and notes for that client in their column. This system helps me keep track of time and stay focused on the client I'm working on at any given time."
Tip from Catalina (2 of 2):
Bring on the Color
"I use color coding so that I have a super quick reference in my monthly view without having to write out the client's name! Saves space and time."
