I Just Can’t Help Myself. I Always Go Back to My Favorite Daily Planner.
I found the Bullet Journal method of planning at the beginning of this year and fell in love. I set up my planner and went to town. I shared all about it here.
And I still have my Bullet Journal, but … I went back, again, to my daily planner around mid-year. I got a little tired of setting up my own “at-a-glance” calendars in my Bullet Journal, and I really depend on those for our family’s master calendar needs. Plus my doodling skills are dismal. Just sayin’.
And, and this is a big AND, the Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner made some tweaks to the 2017 Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner which will most likely bridge the gap for me between my Bullet Journal and my Daily Planner.
So, if you’ve been following me for long, you’ve noticed that I waffle back and forth between planning tools from time to time. Some might consider this annoying, and it might make my perfectionist prone readers a little twitchy. I understand. I do.
But I hope that by sharing my journey it helps you realize that no one planning tool is the “fix all” for many of us. Various seasons and needs of planning call for different tools at different times. It’s okay to get a planner and set it aside only to come back to it a few months later.
Letting go of perfection has been so helpful in keeping me consistent in planning my time faithfully. Even if the methods by which I plan are a little variable.
The Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner Made a Few Tweaks:
As I thumbed the pages of the new 2017 Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner, I noticed some changes that got me just a wee bit excited. So I’m going to walk you through my planner and point out some of the changes that have been made and how I think it will bridge the gap between my planner and my Bullet Journal!
Here we go …
Simple, No-Fuss Design
One of the main things that I love about this daily planner is how simple and completely uncomplicated it is.
The Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner is a tool, not a distraction from your day-to-day needs. It’s not something else you have to make “Pinterest-perfect.” It’s designed for the no-fuss woman who just wants to do her job well without having to make sure she filled out her planner perfectly.
I like the predictability of how the planner is divided into seven sections:
- Yearly Calendar
- Monthly Calendar
- Weekly Planning
- Tasks List
- Projects & Events
- Information
- Shopping Lists
This makes the planner easy to use “at a glance,” which is what made my Bullet Journal a little frustrating. I never could get my Bullet Journal usable “at a glance” to fit my on-going needs.
Yearly Calendar
Behind the Yearly Calendar tab, Sue added several lined quadrant sheets. This is exciting because it’s what I think will bridge the gap for me between my Bullet Journal and the Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner.
Monthly Calendar
I didn’t notice anything different about this section except that I like the fonts used this year better than last year.
Weekly Calendar
Each section starts with a scripture about time. It’s always good to be reminded of God’s word, and I love that this is part of my weekly and daily planning.
The thing I noticed different this year was that the notable dates and holidays are already written into the planner in this section. So, not only are they already in the Yearly Calendar section, Sue went ahead and put them into our days as well!
I love this because I always write in “Ground Hog Day” or “Valentine’s Day” or “Good Friday” or “Daylight Savings Time” and it’s nice to have that already taken care of for me. One less thing for me to do, yes please!
Tasks, Projects, and Info
Nothing new or different in these sections.
Shopping
The shopping lists can be found toward the back of the planner and each list is perforated for you to be able to easily tear off and take with you to the store. It’s just the right size to tuck in my pocket (or in my husband’s pocket, ahem…) and head out. Oh, glory!
Sue also added several new pages in this section!
A page for:
- Clothing sizes (an ever present problem in my house!)
- Gift ideas
- Master Shopping Lists
- Checklists (my personal favorite!)
Overall, I’m really excited about the changes that have been made to this year’s planner.
I’m continually amazed by the work Sue puts into making the Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner great (and dare I say, the BEST?). She loves encouraging fellow homemakers in the daily work of ministry in their homes, and her tweaks and changes truly reflect her heart to serve those who frequent her store each year.
Regardless of whether you work outside the home, from home, or at home, this daily planner is worth considering. The Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner is just flat out well-made. Plus it’s small enough to throw in my bag while not so small I have to strain my eyes or adjust my handwriting size to fit in all I need to accomplish each day. And the color pallet definitely jives with me. Coral, how I love thee!
If you’re buying a daily planner from the local box store, then I see no reason you don’t switch to the Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner. If you’re looking for a daily planner to help get your planning on track, then please check out the Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner. It is simple, easy to use, and filled with scripture to encourage your mundane days, helping you to maximize fully the life God has given you!
Click here to get your Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner!
Other posts you might be interested in:
- I Always Go Back to My Favorite Daily Planner
- How I Use My Daily Planner to Help Me Menu Plan
- Get Organized for the New Year Before You Get Busy
- Planning 101: My Planning Tools
- What is It That Makes the Homemaker’s Friend So Special?
Take your planning a step further:
If you want to learn more about planning your time, check out my eBook, Planning 101: How to Be More Intentional with Your Time. I will take you step-by-step through planning your year, month, week, days, and more! Click here to learn more.
This post contains my affiliate links. See my full disclosure policy here.
I already have my BuJo set up for the year.
(I miss my Homemaker’s Friend Planner–but I think my hubs would strangle me if I tossed another planner.)
I think I can make my BuJo work. But if I’m still not a thousand percent on it by the end of this year, I’m going back. The Homemaker’s Friend was like an extension of my arm.
I use both. 🙂 I totally get it!
I had an Amazon gift card. After I looked this over and went to the website and looked it over some more, I ordered one for this year. *hangs head in shame* Why can’t I just find something and stick with it??
My BuJo, much as it’s changed things for me journal-wise, was more of a toy than a piece of necessary equipment. I spent more time worrying about what to PUT in it, than actually using it. Which is not the point at all. I’m tired of worrying about it. I have enough to worry about. “Like my old Gaffer used to say”–if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
Thanks for the ideas! I have one but wasn’t sure how to use some of it…bullet style helps.