![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrF1S9oA5JqI6f87JuOvmrJa49qGv56FpVGfM2TKS1fY9RwyYt8wn0YnXnHCPPDM8JQuuKuGnhqo0ZLdXX5ZeDJEM7MUKpTzZKWjZnX_MfgKiC40kdMVebD5lS7wQ7aHrbZJawTDujcQ/s1600/DSC_0010.jpg)
Nope, my love affair is not with the one organizer displayed above. Last year, and the year before, I used a Day Designer. One of my best friends, Emily, found it in her quest for the perfect organization tool. Since I trust her opinion, I immediately bought one as well. Two years ago, I was disappointed with it because I had ordered the large one (pictured here) which proved to be too cumbersome for me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HFD41ctkLj42Ivd3eFFtoVvpO50jNn1OCGd1tJaJ4Df-o9QGXsFD2j23WKgCddlnw3ruPNUjjwy6wEwkvH-aH8XcwR5rbJeaxsl-0mC1jdqs_DSi-pPIRryNfNT2GR70zcYRKt2qIiE/s1600/DSC_0008.jpg)
But last year, 2016, I fell in love. I purchased the "Mini Day Designer" which is truly not so mini. It is the size of a regular planner and holds more than enough space. Contemplating which planner to buy may sound silly, but I have found that check boxes in a planner increases my productivity greatly as I can write my to-do lists and appointments directly.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoAL7Tchmj4ASRmqxBnAC8oyf4KWtOaXjXFtNruGQJUp5Khujc5y6BVAic12aSP24ejGvVlllOnRMa0CRiAUa5Tyaa1pCRMi74sD4d2Tq7n_s94iLn4MYtKck5Q4iDd-xQioLJm1qa8Q/s1600/Whitney+English.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgef4fcVd7CVQc9tNiERhdehRVFkmeuco1sX0Akf03A8MrRYkDsicKq5GnA1lnbd8BKYNEoLYg_Kzhs5ABCcq_Gh3LQurUtqMJ5vS-zGB3vohn7q6A1MJWyo3aCe-KdvqwMdFvbb1k-ukc/s1600/Day+Designer+Agenda.jpg)
They are a bit pricey as far as planners go and the smaller one is less money, which makes it a smarter buy. I may buy the same planner again next year, however, I felt very responsible at the turning of 2016 to 2017 and decided to spend no more than $35 on a planner. Unfortunately, that excludes my dear Day Designer. The Mini Day Designer planners run for $49.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyVl4m9MZi8XbPoVccxw1DCRo4zXdjLD4D-Vt-0yH5hAOd6v1Yqt2Q7NkL6jS7upS3lZ98Ju2HrCYYV6apV-Zy6RAW26qB0kMvq9gtK9OF4koFBsunyhWfY64rmQQyLdbj7K8Ilt5md0/s1600/Rifle+Paper+Co+Agenda.jpg)
Instead, I settled on this one from Rifle Paper Co. ($30) and it has been a real gem so far. I love it. What planners are your favorites? As much as I love the environment and hate wasting paper, I just need to hand write my schedule...I can't get into using Apple or Google's calendars for personal purposes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSr8avPWG2OAP1JheKa44TnEGyuPRUbf1Vf80VW80nPpfuujdr7No5LKdBg9SpGNxTAmYRsdZDVNcpss9btt92TZifh3hOxtwiJj-l1JPB7LJvHc8IYaOvEt0dddhuIPH6nuAKMyn7NeI/s1600/DSC_0105.jpg)
P.S. Happy 2017! It's going to be a good year...at least on a personal level, I can feel it.
![]() |
Illustration via Oliver Jeffers from A Cup of Jo |