Our generation seems to be pretty busy nowadays! We have schoolwork to tend to, habits to cultivate, tasks to get done, and more. With that many task boxes to check, we certainly need to find a way to stay organized and get things done efficiently.
Influencers and successful people have introduced several organizing methods to help you be more organized. The problem is, there's not only one perfect one that suits everyone. So, how do you find yours?
In this article, I will walk you through my experience with each of these three organization systems: planner, bullet journal, and digital. I will discuss each method's pros and cons and grade each one based on how convenient, customizable, and functional it is. Lastly, recommended resources will be listed to help you better understand each system and how to make the best out of it.
Ready to get organized? Let's go!
Planner
A planner is a kind of notebook that has basic things you need already designed and printed, such as calendars, days of a week, and lines for notes. Planners come in various sizes and designs, typically inexpensive.
Using a planner is pretty self-explanatory as each space already has its designated use. There are basic things you can do, like jotting down tasks or checking the calendar. Planners are typically small, so you can toss one in your bag without losing much space.
However, planners are not customizable. You will have to follow its layout and format.
Convenience: 4/5
Customizability: 1/5
Functionality: 3/5
My overall satisfaction: 2/5
Planners are sold in almost every bookstore and supermarket you can find. Here's a video for you to learn more about how to use a planner and how to set up one.
Bullet Journal
Bullet journaling is an amazing system for scheduling, tracking habits, monitoring tasks, and whatever organizational tasks you need to get done. It's incredibly functional and customizable, helping people be more productive and finish tasks more efficiently.
Unlike planners, bullet journaling requires you to have an empty notebook and sketch your own system to suit your own needs. A bullet journal is typically the size of an A5 paper and dotted, but it's up to you. The price of notebooks specifically designed for bullet journals varies from $10 to $50.
You have lots of choices in customizing your system. You can put in and design your own calendar, index, habit tracker, future log, and so much more! If you're artistic, you can incorporate creative drawings to make the pages more aesthetically pleasing, or glue paper goods to make it look like a scrapbook.
The customizability is amazing, but it also means you will take time every start of the year and month to create your layout. Moreover, the pages can get messy if you make mistakes, art supplies can be expensive, and several more problems you can think of when you monitor your life with a tangible notebook.
Convenience: 3/5
Customizability: 5/5
Functionality: 4/5
My overall satisfaction: 4/5
The amount of resources you can find to help you start bullet journaling is massive! However, here are a few that have helped me.
- A guide to minimalist bullet journaling
- An incredibly artistic bullet journal Youtuber
- Affordable supplies for bullet journaling
Digital
Google Task, Todoist, Notion, you name it. There are many apps out there, on laptop and mobile, designed for productivity purposes.
When using an app, you don't need to buy supplies or worry about messing up when making mistakes. It's incredibly convenient when you have a little planner right on your phone or laptop.
Another great thing is the variety of options, lots of which are free. If you just want a simple app for a to-do list, Google Task or Todoist will do the job. If you like to include different functions and elements, such as a journal and images, Notion is for you. Take some time to experiment to discover which best suits your liking.
This is an example of a Notion page
Convenience: 5/5 (2/5 if you don't work on digital devices often)
Customizability: depends on the app
Functionality: 4/5
My overall satisfaction: 4/5 (I use Notion)
Most productivity apps like Todoist are pretty self-explanatory, so I'm sure you'll figure it out. Here's a link if you want to learn how you can organize on Google Calendar.
I'm using Notion as my primary organizing system, and I love it! It's customizable, functional, and aesthetic. Here are a few resources to help you set up your Notion dashboard if you'd like to try:
Conclusion
Above is my experience and grading on three organizing systems. I hope you enjoy reading my article and maybe find one method that will suit your needs.
