Something that took me a while to realize was the benefits of a planner. Planner were my nemesis for a while. It seemed that I purchased them, printed them, and even designed them and a week later they were no longer working or forgotten. I just couldn’t get them to work. What I discovered is that I was trying to do too much with them – expecting too much. But after realizing the benefits of a planner and figuring out exactly what I needed the planner to do, I have had much more success.
So, in order to help you organize your homeschool day, you need to realize the benefits of a planner and then find the one that will work for you. Here are some things to think about when choosing a planner.
1 – Figure out what the purpose of your planner will be. Do you need it to organize your day, your kids to do list, or be a recount of the day for transcript purposes? Whatever it is, once you figure out what you want it to do, just start with that and find one that works. If you can’t find one for that purpose then make your own and start using it immediately.
2- Don’t get something too complex. The biggest mistake I made, I think, was getting a complex planner and expecting myself to use it all immediately. And then I get upset with myself for not making it work. I found that once I figured out what I needed in a planner and only got a planner that did that, things worked much more effectively.
3 – Get everyone their own planner. If you have children that can read then they are ready for their own planner. Whether it’s a sheet or paper or a full planner, again, figure out what each person needs their planner to do and get one that does that and doesn’t have extraneous pages. Keeping it simple and to take keeps it less confusing. This is important, especially for those that have not used a planner before or are younger and may be confused by extra pages that they don’t need.
4 – Have it accessible. Decide the best place or medium for your planner. Maybe you need one that you can carry in your purse or just need it to lay out on the desk. You may do better with a computer-based or smart phone-based planner. Decide what you will use most faithfully and choose that medium to help you be better at using the planner regularly. You may need to experiment with different mediums to decide.
Whether you choose a deluxe household notebook planner, a day planner, an online calendar or just a regular calendar, finding the right planner for you and using it faithfully can help you stay in control of your schedule, your kids schedules, and all the tasks we busy moms have to do. You may find learning to use a planner can help you free up time and feel more in control of your daily life at home and in your homeschool.
Do you have a planner you prefer? Share what works for you.
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