Picking the right planner from the huge assortment out there is no small feat, though. These planners each have their own pros and cons, plus pretty covers—a must for anyone who plans to bring her planner with her everywhere she goes. Part of picking the right planner is finding the time frame—say, based on a calendar year for professionals or based on the school year for students, teachers, or parents—that serves any scheduling or listing needs best. Some planners are undated, which is helpful for freelance or contract workers who may not work every week or month of the year; still more allow you to pick your preferred date range to ensure you’re not wasting any pages. Layout is also important. Sketchers, doodlers, or bullet journal fans should look for a planner with plenty of white space or grids, while list-makers should seek out an agenda with plenty of lines and checkboxes. Always be sure to look inside any planner before purchasing it to make sure the layout—plus any extras, such as stickers, bookmarks, or folders—are helpful and practical, rather than distracting. (Fortunately, most online stores will include pictures of a planner’s inside pages so you can pick the best planner for you.) Gone are the days where you have to settle for a basic notebook or overly structured planner: More and more custom planners are available (and at affordable prices, too), and even off-the-shelf planners increasingly offer extra features, layouts, and tools to make planning everything you need a breeze. Breathe deep and know that the best planner for your life is out there (and probably even in this list). 2021, here we come. This planner doesn’t have dates or full monthly calendars, so its usefulness for schedule management is limited. The lack of dates could be helpful to those who don’t work standard weeks or who work as freelancers with on-and-off phases of work, though.
