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How to Choose The Best Daily Planner App for Your Lifestyle: 3 Options to Consider

Max Sinclair on 13/10/2024

In our busy lives, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and get caught up in everything we still need to do. Without a clear system in place, it’s common for people to lose track of priorities and fall behind on important tasks. This is where a daily planner app comes in.

They create balance in our lives by organising everything we need to accomplish in a simplified tracking manner. This makes it easier for people to stay consistent with their daily objectives. It is safe to say that for many busy professionals, planner apps have become essential tools for managing daily tasks, appointments and goals. 

In addition to helping us manage our lives better, planner apps also increase our productivity levels and save us time. According to Brian Tracy’s popular book — Eat That Frog — 10 to 12 minutes of planning can save two hours of your day. 

That said, while planner apps offer many benefits, not all of them are made the same way. Choosing the one that is based on your needs is the key to making it work for you. In this post, we’ll explore how to find the best daily planner app to fit your lifestyle, why you need one, some great options to consider and useful tips to help you stay consistent. Let’s jump in. 

Why Do You Need a Daily Planner App?

The primary reason to use a planner app is that it helps you to stay organised and simplifies your workload. It eliminates the mental burden of trying to remember everything and makes it easier for people to keep track of multiple tasks. In addition, planner apps allow for better time management and improved task prioritisation. 

With individuals actively tracking their tasks and deadlines, it enables them to better manage their time as well as identify the most essential priorities for the day. It also allows them to consistently plan ahead. This creates a more streamlined process and helps them to stay on top of everything. Thanks to this improved organisation system, it decreases stress as well as anxiety and increases overall productivity. 

Another perk of these useful apps is that they help with habit formation. This is where something becomes second nature thanks to repetition. For instance, if you actively try and create a to-do list every morning, eventually you will form that habit. 

Planner apps help to build those initial building blocks that lay the foundation for a habit to form. Thus, they are essential tools for task tracking, reaching goals and time management, making them a good option to consider for anyone trying to get a little more oomph out of their day. 

Key Features to Look for in a Daily Planner App

When it comes to choosing the best daily planner app for your life, there are a few key features you want to look for. Here is a quick rundown:

 

    • Excellent task management: Look for a planner app that allows you to organise and add tasks quickly. Some bonus features you can look out for are task management features like categories, subtasks, due dates and the ability to reorder priorities based on importance.

    • Ease of use: This one is not necessarily a feature but more a quality-of-life benefit. You want the productivity app to have an easy-to-understand interface that does not have an insanely high learning curve. At the same time, you also don’t want the app to be so straightforward that it lacks many crucial features. Look for a planner app that creates a balance between the two — offering you enough features with the appropriate amount of complexity.

    • Goal tracking and to-do lists: Having the ability to set different goals can hold you accountable and allow you to see the progress you have made. As for adding to-dos, it is a simple but effective feature you don’t want to miss out on. 

    • Templates and recurring priorities: Being able to create weekly templates or set recurring tasks is a game changer. Not needing to enter the same objectives every week can help save time. It is a good quality-of-life feature you will want to consider.

    • Reminders: This is another great feature to have as it helps you stay on top of deadlines.

    • Calendar integration: A daily planner app that integrates with your Google Calendar or whichever calendar app you use, ensures that everything is in one place.

How to Choose the Best Daily Planner App for You

The best way to find the right planner app for you is to look at your needs. Make a list of the components you feel the planner needs to have. For instance, if you are a busy parent who has numerous recurring tasks in a week, look for a daily planner that satisfies this need. 

Or if you are a freelancer who relies a lot on your calendar, you will need a planning app that seamlessly integrates with all your appointments/meetings. The point is to think about your non-negotiables and then find an option that delivers on those components. You will also want to consider other factors such as its level of complexity, platform compatibility and pricing. 

Making a list and prioritising all of the features that are important to you, will help you quickly identify the planner apps that will work with your lifestyle. 

4 Tips to Help You Stay Consistent With Your Daily Planner App

Here are four best practices to help you stay consistent with using your daily planner:

1. Start Simple

First, you want to start simple. Begin with adding tasks that are more basic and gradually introduce more priorities. Avoid starting off with several complex tasks or features that can overwhelm you. Keep it simple and focus on tracking your essential priorities before you dive into everything that the planner has to offer.

2. Set Regular Check-Ins

One great tip to get you into the habit of using your daily planner is to set regular check-ins. Schedule a specific time each day/week to update and review all your priorities. You could even set it as a new task within the app that you check weekly. Just remember to add a reminder so that you are notified when it is time to start your planning session. Eventually, this will become second nature and you will check your organiser without the help of a reminder. 

3. Limit Distractions

Another excellent best practice is to limit your distractions when you start planning your day. Close other browser tabs or set your notifications to silent when you are busy with your planning sessions. This will allow you to add all your daily to-do lists to your organiser without something stealing your attention and pulling you away.

4. Adjust as Needed

Try and remember that life is unpredictable and it is okay if you miss a day or two. Don’t beat yourself up about it and just continue where you left off. If unforeseen circumstances keep popping up, just adapt to them as needed. Eventually, you will get to the point where nothing can keep you away from planning your day.

3 Top Daily Planner Apps to Consider

Here’s our top picks of the best daily planner apps available:

1. ZenDays (previously Forzeit)

First up on the list is ZenDays. Now, I have to warn you that there is some bias involved since we created the application. That being said, we love what we have created and truly believe it is an excellent option to consider. 

ZenDays is a weekly planner that evolves around simplicity and efficiency. It employs an easy-to-use template system where users can quickly create their ideal week in a matter of minutes. This system is designed to be a quick process to eliminate the need for constantly creating the same tasks over and over every week, making it easy for users to set their weekly priorities.

It also includes other features like goal tracking, to-do lists, calendar integration and scheduling recurring tasks. Users can group similar tasks together through the help of emojis — essentially a category system. Doing so allows you to view specific tasks from that group, making it easy for you to focus on your most essential priorities.

ZenDays also has artificial intelligence features that help you stay on top of your goals. Ava — the AI system — provides you with valuable reports that allow you to see what areas in your week you can improve upon. 

Think of it like having a personal assistant that keeps track of your tasks but also gives you insights into your productivity habits. It’s especially great if you’re looking for ways to tweak your schedule without manually analyzing everything yourself.

Key features:

 

    • Weekly template creation

    • Goal tracking and to-do list

    • Recurring task scheduling and calendar integration

    • AI feedback reports 

2. Todoist

Next up is Todoist. Todist is a powerful task management tool that has been around for a long time (created in 2007). It expertly handles whatever you throw at it and is great for setting tasks both in a personal and professional setting. 

With this planner app, you can effortlessly plan out your day, set deadlines as well as reminders and organise everything neatly with labels. It also provides you with the ability to perform time blocking thanks to the calendar view. Here you can keep track of everything you still need to do and any upcoming events or priorities for the month.

Todist also allows you to set a priority level for your tasks based on severity. Thanks to this nifty feature, you can easily identify the most important task and prioritise accordingly. If you are looking for a good daily planner tool, Todoist is a great option.

Key features:

 

    • Task tracking and time blocking

    • Ability to create projects and keep track of goals

    • Priority levels and labels

    • Integrates with a variety of tools

3. Any.do

Any.do is an easy-to-use daily planner that makes it a simplistic process to keep track of your tasks. While the planner first got its start on mobile, it quickly established itself in the industry and now also has a desktop version available.

This planner app has all the features you would expect such as task tracking, reminders, calendar integration, to-do lists and many others. One standout perk that this planner app offers is its grocery list. This allows users to quickly add shopping list items and plan out their meals for the day, making it a quick and convenient way to stay on top of grocery products.

While Any.do was initially focused more on personal use, this has changed with several major updates and now works great for both personal and professional use. This planner also makes it easy to collaborate on projects together. This is due to the chat functionality the app offers. If you are looking for the best daily planner app, Any.do is a strong contender. 

Key features:

 

    • Grocery list

    • Chat functionality for collaborating

    • Daily planning reminder

    • Smart task suggestions based on previous tasks

What Works The Best For You

At the end of the day, the best daily planner app is the one that aligns with your unique lifestyle and habits. What works for one person might not work for someone else, and that’s perfectly fine. The key is to identify the features that matter most to you — whether it’s AI insights, weekly templates, task management or calendar integration — and find an app that delivers on those needs.

Remember, staying organized isn’t about using the most popular app, but about finding a tool that helps you stay consistent and productive in your daily life. So take your time exploring the options and choose a planner app that feels like the right fit for your routine. Once you’ve found it, you’ll be surprised by how much smoother your days can run!

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Noel’s experience with Forzeit

Max Sinclair on 20/08/2024

Noel Andrews, founder of JobRack, is a planner. He loves to plan! 

He also felt he could be executing better on his time and perhaps more broadly his existing time management systems just weren’t up to scratch.

So he chose to give ZenDays a try. 

Here’s how it went…

Do you feel you’re not in control of how you plan your time well enough? 

Do you struggle to hold yourself accountable to the plan you set for the day?

How you manage your time is the biggest lever available to getting more shit done. 

So don’t put off for another year upgrading your time management systems and book a call with me today!

BOOK A DEMO

Get on a call with Max, the founder of ZenDays, to see ZenDays in action.

Learn how it can help you execute better than ever on life!

The Best Alternative to Atoms Habit Tracker

Max Sinclair on 05/07/2024

In today’s busy world, creating good habits is more important than ever. Whether it’s exercising regularly, reading daily, or managing time efficiently, our habits shape our lives and contribute to our overall success and well-being. One powerful tool to help manage and develop these habits is a habit tracker.

the importance of having a habit tracker

A habit tracker serves as a visual representation of your progress, helping you stay accountable and motivated. It provides a clear picture of how consistently you’re performing certain activities, allowing you to identify patterns and make necessary adjustments. By tracking your habits, you can:

  1. Stay accountable: knowing you need to mark off a task each day encourages consistency.
  2. Boost motivation: seeing a chain of completed tasks can be highly motivating.
  3. Identify patterns: recognise trends in your behaviour and understand what triggers your habits.
  4. Achieve goals: break down larger goals into manageable daily tasks.
  5. Improve self-awareness: gain insights into your routines and make informed decisions to improve them.

what is atoms by james clear?

Atoms (Atoms.jamesclear.com) is a habit tracker developed by James Clear, the author of the best-selling book Atomic Habits. This app is designed to help you build and maintain good habits by breaking them down into small, manageable actions (or “atoms”). Atoms provide a simple, intuitive interface for tracking daily habits, setting reminders, and visualising your progress over time. It leverages Clear’s proven methods for habit formation, making it a popular choice among users looking to improve their routines.

five alternatives to atoms

While Atoms is an excellent habit tracker, several other tools offer unique features that might better suit your needs. Here are five great alternatives to consider if you want to track habits:

1. ZenDays

ZenDays is a habit tracker, and a whole lot more. More of a holistic time management system, combined with human and AI led coaching. 

Made with a unique feedback loop and accountability at its core to help you execute better than ever.

Key features

  • Weekly templates to help you stay on track.
  • A feedback system to help you find ways of improvement.
  • AI and human assistance

2. Streaks

Streaks is designed to help you build good habits by tracking your daily accomplishments. The app’s minimalist design makes it easy to use, and its focus on creating streaks of completed tasks encourages consistency. Streaks integrates well with Apple Health, making it ideal for health-related habits.

Key features

  • Clean and user-friendly interface.
  • Integration with Apple Health.
  • Up to 12 customisable tasks to track at a time.

3. HabitBull

HabitBull is a versatile habit tracker that allows you to track multiple habits simultaneously. It offers detailed statistics, reminders, and motivational quotes to keep you on track. HabitBull’s powerful data visualisation tools help you see your progress clearly and make informed adjustments.

Key features

  • Detailed habit tracking with flexible schedules.
  • Statistical analysis and progress graphs.
  • Customisable reminders and motivational quotes.

4. loop Habit tracker

 

Loop Habit Tracker is a simple and free habit tracker app that focuses on the core aspects of habit tracking. It’s lightweight, free of ads, and highly customisable. Loop’s strength lies in its straightforward approach and robust analytics, making it a great choice for those who prefer simplicity.

Key features

  • A clean, ad-free experience.
  • Advanced statistics and charts.
  • Completely free and open-source.

5. habitica

 

Habitica turns tracking habits into a fun, game-like experience. By treating your goals like quests and your daily tasks like battles, Habitica transforms your productivity journey into an engaging RPG adventure. You can earn rewards, level up, and even join forces with friends to complete challenges together. Through this, you can eliminate bad habits and implement new habits and healthy habits. 

Key features

  • Gamification elements to keep you engaged.
  • Social accountability with group tasks and challenges.
  • Customisable avatars and rewards.

conclusion

Choosing the right habit tracker is a personal decision that depends on your specific needs and preferences. While Atoms by James Clear is a fantastic tool, the alternatives listed above each offer unique features that might better suit your lifestyle. 

Whether you’re motivated by gamification, simplicity, detailed analytics, or professional coaching, there’s a habit tracker out there for you. Start exploring these options and find the one that will best support your journey toward better habits and a more fulfilling life.



Everything You Need to Know About the Best Alternatives to Asana

Max Sinclair on 05/07/2024

In the digital age, staying organised and on top of tasks is more crucial than ever, and digital planners have become indispensable tools in achieving this. Unlike traditional paper planners, digital planners offer unparalleled flexibility, accessibility, and customisation options. 

They seamlessly integrate with our digital lives, syncing across devices to ensure that our schedules, to-do lists, and important notes are always at our fingertips. With features such as reminders, collaboration capabilities, and endless personalisation, digital planners not only streamline our daily routines but also enhance productivity and efficiency. 

When it comes to professional planning, Asana is a go-to digital planner, and while it certainly is a great platform, it’s not perfect for everyone. In this blog, we’ll explore some alternatives to Asana, in case you feel like you need to switch up your digital planner.

What is Asana?

Let’s start with what Asana is so that we know what we’re comparing the other apps to. Asana is a versatile and powerful project management tool designed to help teams and individuals track their work and enhance productivity within a work environment. 

It provides a platform where users can create tasks, assign them to team members, set deadlines, and monitor progress in real time. With features like project timelines, task dependencies, and customizable project views, Asana facilitates efficient collaboration and ensures that everyone stays on the same page. 

Additionally, Asana integrates with numerous other tools and applications, allowing for seamless workflow automation and improved communication. Whether managing simple to-do lists or complex projects, Asana offers the structure and flexibility needed to keep work organised and on track.

asana alternative #1: ZenDays

ZenDays is a dynamic time management tool designed to help individuals plan and execute their weeks with precision and efficiency. At its core, Forzeit uses a powerful weekly planner that combines AI assistance and human coaching to help users template their ideal week. This system continuously adapts and improves based on feedback, aiming to help users achieve their goals more effectively.

ZenDays emphasises simplicity and efficiency, allowing users to create and duplicate weekly templates quickly. It integrates personal and professional tasks into one cohesive plan, making it easier to find a balance between work and personal life. Features include goal setting, daily dashboards, and motivational elements like emojis and quotes​.

ZenDays aims to be more than just a to-do list; it’s designed to be a comprehensive time management hub where users can track their goals, set up recurring tasks, and reflect on their progress. The tool promises to increase productivity and help users live their best weeks repeatedly.

asana alternative #2: evernote

Evernote is a comprehensive note-taking and organisational tool designed to help users capture, organise, and access information efficiently. It allows users to create notes, notebooks, and tags, making it easy to categorise and retrieve information. 

With features such as web clipping, document scanning, and audio recording, Evernote serves as a central system for all types of content. Its powerful search functionality, which includes handwriting recognition, ensures that users can quickly find what they need. 

Evernote also supports collaboration by enabling users to share notes and notebooks with others. Available across multiple devices and platforms, Evernote ensures that your important information is always at your fingertips, enhancing productivity and organisation.

asana alternative 3: monday.com

Monday.com is a robust work operating system designed to enhance team collaboration and streamline project management. It offers a highly customisable platform where users can create workflows that suit their specific needs, enabling teams to manage tasks, projects, and processes with ease. 

With its intuitive, visual interface, Monday.com allows users to track progress, set deadlines, assign responsibilities, and visualise data through various views such as boards, timelines, and calendars. The platform supports integration with numerous other tools, facilitating seamless workflow automation and communication. 

Additionally, Monday.com provides real-time collaboration features, making it easy for teams to stay aligned and productive. Whether for simple task management or complex project coordination, Monday.com’s advanced project management capabilities make it an invaluable tool for improving efficiency and organisation.

asana alternative #4: trello

Using Trello as a planner offers a visual and flexible approach to managing tasks and projects. Trello utilises boards, lists, and cards to organise information, making it easy to track progress and prioritise work. 

Each board represents a project, with lists for different stages or categories and cards for individual tasks. Users can add due dates, labels, checklists, attachments, and comments to cards, ensuring all relevant information is easily accessible. 

Trello’s drag-and-drop interface allows for effortless updating and reordering of tasks. Additionally, Trello integrates with various tools and offers automation features, enhancing its functionality. Whether for personal planning or team collaboration, Trello provides a straightforward and efficient way to stay organised and on top of your schedule. Despite not actually being a planning app, it’s a very popular project management tool.

asana alternative #5: omniFocus

OmniFocus is a powerful task management and planning app designed to help users organise their personal and professional lives with precision and efficiency. OmniFocus allows users to capture tasks and ideas quickly, organise them into projects and contexts, and prioritise them effectively. Its powerful project management features make it one of the best Asana alternatives out there. 

The app offers a range of features such as custom perspectives, tags, and due dates, enabling users to tailor their workflow to their specific needs. OmniFocus’s robust syncing capabilities ensure that tasks and projects are always up-to-date across all devices. Its clean, intuitive interface and powerful search functionality make it easy to stay on top of even the most complex task lists. Regardless of whether you’re managing daily routines or long-term projects, OmniFocus provides the tools necessary for meticulous planning and enhanced productivity.

asana alternative #6: tickTick

TickTick is a versatile task management and productivity app designed to help users organise their daily activities, manage projects, and achieve their goals. It combines to-do lists, calendars, and reminders in a single platform, allowing users to capture tasks quickly, set deadlines, and prioritise their work. 

TickTick’s intuitive interface and powerful features, such as subtasks, recurring tasks, tags, and location-based reminders, enable users to customise their workflow to fit their needs. The app also supports collaboration, allowing users to share task lists and work together seamlessly, making it one of the go-to project management tools out there. 

Additionally, TickTick offers integrations with various other tools and platforms, enhancing its functionality and convenience. Available across multiple devices and operating systems, TickTick ensures that users can stay organised and productive, no matter where they are.

asana alternative #7: useMotion

UseMotion is an innovative productivity tool that combines task management and scheduling into one cohesive platform. It automates the process of organising your day by dynamically scheduling tasks into your calendar based on their priority, deadlines, and availability. Its project management tools are much more advanced than the average planner. 

This approach helps users make the most efficient use of their time, ensuring that important tasks are completed and that there is a balanced workload. UseMotion’s intuitive interface allows users to quickly input tasks and adjust schedules as needed, with real-time updates that reflect any changes. By integrating with other calendar and productivity tools, UseMotion provides a seamless workflow, helping users stay focused and productive while reducing the stress of manual scheduling.

asana alternative #8: atoms

Atoms, developed by James Clear, is a habit-building app inspired by his best-selling book Atomic Habits The app is designed to help users create and maintain positive habits through personalised guidance and support. 

It focuses on identity-based habits, encouraging users to start small and build habits aligned with the type of person they want to become. Atoms offers features like customisable habit reminders, progress tracking, and daily lessons from James Clear to keep users motivated. 

The app also includes engaging elements such as logging progress with fun, interactive actions, making the habit-forming process enjoyable and effective​. It’s not a great project management system, but it helps you create checklists to ensure that all the tasks you want to do daily are performed. 

asana alternative #9: notion

Notion is a versatile and powerful productivity tool that excels in planning and organisation. It combines note-taking, task management, and database capabilities into a single platform, making it ideal for individuals and teams looking to streamline their workflows. It offers a comprehensive solution for those who want all their things in one spot.

Notion’s planning abilities are particularly noteworthy, offering users the ability to create detailed project plans, set goals, and track progress with customisable templates and views. Whether you’re managing a simple to-do list or a complex project, Notion’s flexibility allows you to tailor your workspace to fit your specific needs. 

Its collaborative features enable real-time updates and communication, ensuring everyone stays aligned and on track. With its intuitive design and extensive functionality, Notion is an essential tool for effective planning and organisation. It has all the features you need for personal projects or pre-made project templates.

asana alternative #10: todoist

Todoist is a versatile task management app designed to help individuals and teams efficiently organise, prioritise, and track their tasks and projects. With its intuitive interface and cross-platform compatibility, Todoist allows users to create tasks, set due dates and priorities, categorise tasks with labels and projects, and collaborate with others through shared projects and comments. 

Its seamless integration with various productivity tools, along with features like recurring tasks, reminders, and productivity tracking, makes it a powerful tool for anyone looking to streamline their workflow and stay productive.

conclusion

I know the world of digital planners can be vast and intimidating, and with so many options out there, it can be really difficult to choose the right one for you.

The truth is that the only way you will know which planner works for you, is to actually try them out. I hope that this post gave you a starting point and narrowed down your list of options for finding the perfect planner for you!

How to Make a Weekly Planning Template: Everything You Need to Know

Max Sinclair on 11/06/2024

In our busy modern lives where we need to balance our home, work, and personal life, it’s important to have some form of organisation to help you keep track of everything.

For most people, this comes in the form of a weekly planner. However, there may come a time when simply setting up your week takes out a big chunk of your day. This is where weekly templates come in. I’ve made a whole post about why templates are important if you want your life to be organised.

Now, in this post, I’m going to dive into how you can turn this idea into a practical reality.

why template your weeks?

Before I dive into all the nitty gritty details, it’s important to figure out if templating is actually for you. For example, if you are someone whose weeks differ from each other all the time, coming up with a template might not be for you. Similarly, if you have just three tasks to do each day, a template might not be necessary.

But if you thrive on routine and structure and have a lot of events and tasks that recur every day or week, a template can help you keep track of these tasks and prevent you from having to write out the same tasks for each of the seven days of the week. Because let’s be honest: that’s way too time-consuming. 

Plus, here are some of the benefits you will experience when you template your weeks:

  1. You will easily prioritise tasks and realise which tasks can wait a while
  2. You can track your progress by comparing one week’s template to the next 
  3. You can balance your tasks by making sure that your template includes time for rest

so, how do you do it?

If you’ve now decided that templating is, in fact, something you want to try, here’s how you should go about it.

1. choose your medium

The template is a base, but you need somewhere to place it. This is, of course, what your weekly planner is for. Do you prefer a physical or digital planner? If you’re not sure, I have a whole post about the topic, so give that a read here. 

Of course, deciding between physical and digital planners is only the first step. You will also need to decide which physical or digital planner you want. Keep in mind that it’s often easier to have a template when using a digital planner since you can copy and paste things very easily, making it a useful online tool.

2. have a weekly overview

Setting up a weekly template can feel overwhelming, so start by writing down some tasks that occur on the same day of each week. Maybe you go to the gym on specific days, have a date night every Friday, or take your kids to soccer practice every Wednesday. 

Write these down as they are already cemented, which means they will repeat each week. Having your schedule set up in advance can make it much easier for you to start your morning by just having your schedule with your tasks already set up.

3. think about daily tasks

Next, think about tasks you like to do every day and add them to each day of the week. For example, you may want to walk the dog every day or do a load of laundry. Adding these daily tasks and habits to your weekly template will already give you a clear picture of what your weeks look like, and which days are busier than others.

4. organise your template

Once you have a list of ongoing to-dos, you can organise each day by priority or time, so that you can start at the top and work your way through specific tasks on your weekly planner template without accidentally missing something important.

5. use your template

Once the bones of your template are ready, you can then copy it to your weekly planner either by pasting it (if you use a digital planner) or by writing it down if you have a physical one.

Then you can check your calendar and other to-do lists to add any tasks that are specific to that week. This includes things like appointments, deadlines, and assignments, which don’t always occur every week. 

Depending on the week, you may need to move some things around. My planning app, ZenDays, makes it easy for you to not only create templates but to move tasks around within these templates.

The entire point of templates is to make weekly schedules easier, but that only works when you use this tool.

6. edit your template

Your template is just that – a template. You don’t need to stick to it all the time. If there’s a busy week where your template won’t help you, skip it, and use it when you need regular weekly schedules again. 

And also remember that your template is flexible. You can reflect on it each week and see what worked and what didn’t, and make changes as needed.

final words

I hope that this post gave you some inspiration when it comes to not only why you should template your weekly planning but also how you can do it. 

Of course, this is only some advice – play around with templates and change things until you find something that works for you. And if you’re eager to try a weekly planner that already has a built-in templating system, consider giving ZenDays a try. 

How to Find the Top Weekly Planner for You

Max Sinclair on 06/06/2024

In today’s world, where hustle culture and a productive mindset mean we are constantly being shown new ways of planning our weeks, it can feel like we’re being overwhelmed by options.  

There are thousands of different weekly planners and planning apps out there, so how the hell are you supposed to know which one to pick? Here’s the thing: you shouldn’t just try to find the best weekly planner. You should try to specifically find the best weekly planner for you. Think about your life, your needs, and what you want from a planner, and then select a planner that aligns with that. Not sure how to do that? You’ve come to the right place.

digital or paper?

The first step to making a decision is to narrow it down, and when it comes to planners, the easiest way to eliminate a whole bunch of options is to decide whether you prefer to do your planning digitally or on paper. 

If you’re on the fence about this as well, give this blog post a read, as I share some tips that you may find helpful. But perhaps you already know that you prefer paper planners so that you can use planner stickers. Once you’ve made this big decision, the rest should come easily.

what's your planning style?

Next, you need to figure out your planning style so that you can find a planner that aligns with this. Are you a very detailed person, or do you just need somewhere to jot down ideas? Do you want your planner to be basic and practical, or a place where you can express your creativity?

Figuring out how you like to plan can help you determine what to plan with. Some people love cracking open a new planner and going to their favourite craft stores so that they can decorate their weekly pages.

But others like a simple monthly planner that they can then use to break down their weekly pages in an undated planner. You may enjoy the creative aspect of bullet journaling or want to try your hand at habit tracking, in which case you may need a weekly planner that allows for this, rather than a basic weekly lifeplanner that only has space for a few daily tasks. Your planning style determines your perfect planner.

Do you have any specific requirements?

You also need to think about anything that is an absolute must in a planner. Most planners have some standard inclusions like monthly calendars and to-do lists for your weekly tasks, but sometimes, you need something extra. 

Maybe you want a planner that has time slots so that you can keep track of appointments. If you use a digital planner, you may want to choose one that syncs with different apps, or one like ZenDays, which allows for templating. 

Or maybe you want pages dedicated to note pages. Or some time management element. Some people want to have a monthly calendar included in their paper planner or look for a specific weekly layout in their weekly planners so that they have enough writing room to plan ahead.

Everyone has some non-negotiable things that they look for in their planners, so look for a weekly planner that offers you what you need.

which size is right?

If you select a physical planner, you need to think about which size suits your lifestyle. If you have a lot of stuff to get done and your planner has a permanent home on your desk, then a bigger planner might be better.

But if your planner is always coming with you, you may want a small planner that’s easy to transport – or a digital one, since you can simply bring your phone with you to access it. Similarly, if you just need a place to keep your to-do lists, a small notebook may be the only “planner” you really need.

does it suit your aesthetic style?

Yes, planners are there to be practical and help us be productive, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be fun.

There are thousands of planners out there to match any aesthetic, from minimalist to colourful and everything in between, so choose one that sparks joy and inspires you to actually use it.

what do the reviews say?

Finally, look at what others have to say about the planner. What do they like, and what don’t they enjoy? Use this to guide you in selecting the perfect planner for you, and don’t be afraid to ask loved ones for recommendations!

final words

In conclusion, there are many weekly planner options out there, and the key is to find one that works for you. Because the thing is, the “perfect” planner for one person might not be the perfect planner for you. In the end, as long as you have a planner that allows you to get stuff done and that you enjoy using, that’s all that matters. Finding the top weekly planner for you really doesn’t need to be as hard as it seems!

How Do I Find the Best Weekly Planner for Me?

Max Sinclair on 05/06/2024

Once you reach a certain age and have responsibilities and a lot of other stuff on your plate, planning your weeks becomes essential. 

After all, we may like to think we’re superhuman and will remember everything, but that’s not the case. You need to have what I like to call a “second brain” – a place where you can store your thoughts, ideas, and to-dos. 

I’m probably preaching to the choir here. Most of us have already realised the importance of a good weekly planner. The issue, however, is selecting a weekly planner that works for you. With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to try and wade through all the life planners, which is why I’ve put together a list of tips that should help you narrow down your options to find the perfect planner for you. 

digital, physical, or both?

Ah, yes. The big debate of whether digital or physical planners are best. I have a whole post about this, so I won’t go into too much detail. 

What it comes down to is this: there isn’t a right or wrong answer. Both options have their pros and cons. You need to decide whether you prefer the convenience of digital planning or the traditional method of paper planning. And don’t forget that you can use a combination of them both!

what are your needs?

Some people only need a planner to write down big events or time-related things like meetings, whereas others love having a planner that contains every detail of their lives, from their meals to their elaborate morning routine and everything in between.

You may also need a planner that has space to write down your children’s activities, or one that has a space for daily reflection. Think about what you will be using the planner for, and look for one that meets your needs. Your planner needs to fit your weekly schedule as well as your daily schedule, so be sure to keep that in mind when perusing weekly planners. The right planner for you is the one that effortlessly fits with your daily habits.

Do you have any specific requirements?

Once you’ve narrowed down what you want to use your planner for, you need to get into the nitty-gritty details. This will help you decide which planner format is the best option for the current stage of your planning journey. 

Think about any specific details you may want from your planner, and eliminate any planners that don’t have those things. Maybe you want an undated planner so that you have more flexibility when you use it. If you use a digital planner, perhaps you want one that gives you reminders or that syncs with other apps. Thinking about your non-negotiables will help you weed out any planners that won’t give you what you want. 

Some ideas of extra features you may want include a monthly budget, an ongoing to-do list, a monthly calendar alongside your weekly layouts, or a fun cover image. Also, keep in mind that many companies offer custom planners, so if you’re on the market for something specific in your weekly planning pages, that could be a good solution.

what does your research say?

Do your research! Look up reviews for physical planners, read the reviews for planning apps, and talk to your loved ones about which planners they use. 

What do people like about specific planners, and what drives them mad? I’m willing to bet that once you start looking into some planners, you will easily be able to tell whether they’re worth it or not. Also, think of your personal priorities in a planner and try to focus on planners that align with that. 

can you do a test drive?

When you use a planning app, you can try various apps – either at the same time or switching between them from week to week – to get a feel of which ones work for you and which ones don’t. This can help you narrow down what to use for your own planner. 

This is a bit harder when it comes to physical planners, of course, since no one wants to buy ten planners if they will only end up using one.

what's your budget?

The price range for planners is very broad. You could technically buy a small notebook and use it as your planner, or even type your weekly plans into your notes app. 

But there are very beautiful and elaborate planners out there that cost a lot, and there are also many paid planning apps that offer you great benefits that free versions don’t always get. Again, it comes down to what you’re looking for in a planner. In the end, you need to know what you want in a monthly planner and how much you’re willing to pay for it.

quick shoutout to ZenDays

Before I close this blog post, I would like to shout out a new planning app (and yes, I made it myself, so I am a bit biased). It’s called ZenDays, and it has everything that I myself look for in a digital weekly planner. Also, it’s not just weekly – you can use it for literally anything you want. The sky’s the limit. 

If you’d like to give ZenDays a try, click here.

the end

There you go! This was a nice and short post because in the end, it doesn’t really matter that much which planner you use, as long as you have a planning system that works for you. I get that it can be overwhelming, though, so I hope that this post gave you a bit of clarity and a starting point to help you figure out which planner to use for you.

You can use a combination of both, or use one for a while and then switch to the other as your planning needs change. In the end, your planning system should work for you, and that’s all that matters.

 

Are Digital Weekly Planners the Right Move for You? Here’s What You Need to Know!

Max Sinclair on 04/06/2024

In today’s fast-paced and tech-driven world, it’s no surprise that more and more people are leaning towards doing things digitally. It’s easy. It’s convenient. And it doesn’t use as much space as keeping stacks of paper everywhere. 

However, one area where people seem to be on the fence when it comes to digital versus physical products is planning. Some people have easily migrated to a digital setup, whereas others are die-hard physical planner fans. 

You might be ready to test the waters when it comes to digital planning but feel unsure of whether it’s the right step for you. That’s what this post is here for.

the pros

When it comes to breaking things down, a good place to start is to look at the pros and cons and use that as guidance. Let’s start with the positive elements of digital planners. 

  1. Accessibility and portability: you can access your digital planner on your phone, your laptop, and other devices since most digital planners make it easy for you to sync across multiple devices. Therefore, you can easily access your planner no matter where you are, and there’s no reason to worry about forgetting it at home since we all always have our phones on us anyway. 
  2. Customisation: while most digital planners do have some structure to them, you may still be able to customise yours to suit your needs, depending on what you choose. You can often select your colour scheme, add images, and even customise the font and layout. Of course, if you want to use it for business planning, this likely doesn’t matter much, but if you want to get creative, there are digital sticker packs you can purchase for that extra personalisation..
  3. Integration: another benefit of digital planets is that you can easily integrate them with other apps such as your Google calendar, creating a cohesive hub between your digital items. This way, important dates and events will automatically be added to your planner without you needing to manually add them, which eliminates the risk of missing something important. 
  4. Searchability: if you need to find something in your digital planner, you can easily search for it without having to remember where you wrote it down. Going hand in hand with this is the fact that digital planners can have passwords, making them a good option for those with privacy preferences.
  5. Eco-friendliness: of course, digital planners don’t use paper, which makes them much more sustainable. 
  6. Templating: some digital planners also allow you to set up templates and then duplicate them into your weeks, which is very helpful if you don’t want to spend hours setting up your week.

the cons

For anything that has pros, there will inevitably be cons as well. So, what are the downsides to digital planners?

  1. Screen fatigue: most of us spend all day, every day, staring at a screen. Physical daily planners will give your eyes a bit of a break from digital devices and allow you to disconnect for a while. 
  2. Battery-dependent: of course, another factor to keep in mind is that, since your planner is on a digital device, you can only access it when your device is charged, so you may miss out on important events if your battery dies. Similarly, some apps even need to be connected to the internet, so that’s another factor to consider.
  3. There’s a learning curve: since digital planners use apps and software, you will need to learn how to use them, which can be frustrating and time-consuming, especially if the interface isn’t very user-friendly or if the app keeps glitching. They may also work with marketing and advertising partners, meaning you may be spammed with targeted ads. 
  4. You’ll be faced with distractions: using a digital planning app on your phone or laptop means that you will need to be on those devices all the time, which means you will likely get distracted by emails, social media, and other apps on your devices.

some digital planner options

So, you’ve decided to make the switch to a digital planner (or to at least give it a go) . . . and what now? There are countless digital planning apps out there, so the chances are good that you will find something that works for you. In case you’re feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start, I’ve put together some options for you. 

  1. Goodnotes: this is a very popular option among iPad users since it allows you to import PDFs and customise your planner to your needs. You can also use your own handwriting in it, which is good for those who prefer that extra personalisation. 
  2. Notion: Notion is a workspace that can be used for nearly anything, thanks to its blank interface which you can design however you want. It has epic features like databases, calendars, to-do lists, and more. You can make it as simple or as complicated as you want. 
  3. Trello: Trello uses boards, lists, and cards to help you organise tasks. It’s great for work planning as you can add tasks to their relevant board and even collaborate with your team across boards and tasks. 
  4. ZenDays: ZenDays is a newer planning option that aims to revolutionise planning. It has everything you need, from links to weekly feedback to templates, to emojis, and more. You can give it a try here.

how to pick the best digital planner

Maybe one of the options above immediately jumped out at you, or maybe you read the description and you were like “hell no”, making it easier for you to eliminate. But maybe you just feel like you still have no idea what will work for you. I’ve been planning my weeks for years, so I have some tips to help you pick the right digital planner. 

  1. Device compatibility: some digital planning apps are only accessible on certain devices, so if they don’t work with your devices, that’s an easy way to know an app isn’t for you.
  2. User interface: as mentioned, there are digital planning apps catered to everyone, so you need to look at it to see if it meets your needs. Do you want something super basic, or a gorgeous planner that is very detailed? Once you’ve decided, select an app whose interface meets your goals. 
  3. Features: are there any features that are very important to you? Maybe you need to be able to use it offline, or perhaps being able to sync it with other apps and devices is non-negotiable. Figure out which features you want and look for apps that offer those. 
  4. Cost: some digital planners are free, others are paid, and some have a free and paid option. You need to consider your budget when selecting a planner, and also consider whether it’s a once-off purchase or an ongoing subscription. 

digital versus physical planners: a quick comparison

Perhaps you’re still not sure of whether digital planners are for you, or maybe you’re feeling overloaded with information, so here’s a quick comparison of digital versus paper planners to help you decide which one is for you.

digital planners

  • Flexibility: you can easily move tasks around and delete them, as well as create multiple templates which isn’t as simple in a physical planner. 
  • Space: digital planners have unlimited space, unlike paper planners, where you may be confined by limited space. 
  • Backup: you can also find a digital planner that offers a backup option so that you never lose your information.

paper planners

  • Tactile experience: some people simply enjoy the act of putting pen to paper and writing, and digital planners don’t offer you that experience. 
  • Focus: paper planners are free from digital distractions, which can help you to stay focused. 
  • Creativity: you can draw, doodle, and add other fun elements to your paper planner to make it a productive and fun experience. 

conclusion

There was a lot of information here, but I hope you found it helpful in your quest towards determining whether digital or physical planners are the best option for you. That being said, you should also keep in mind that it doesn’t need to be one or the other. 

You can use a combination of both, or use one for a while and then switch to the other as your planning needs change. In the end, your planning system should work for you, and that’s all that matters.

 

How to Find the Best Weekly Planning App for You: A Comprehensive Guide

Max Sinclair on 22/05/2024

In today’s world, where nearly every aspect of our lives has been migrated to the digital realm, it’s no surprise that more and more people are making the switch from paper planners to digital planning apps. 

It just makes sense! There’s much more flexibility when it comes to digital planners, not to mention the convenience of being able to access your synced planner on any device, at any time. 

That being said, there are countless digital weekly planner apps out there, so how do you find the right one? I think the important thing to note is that you need to find a planner that works for you, your needs, and your lifestyle. One planner might be perfect for someone and a nightmare for another. I’ve put together a few things that I hope will guide you in this decision.

1. assess your needs

As mentioned, your planner needs to fit your life, not the other way around. So, figure out what you need from a planner. Do you want it for work? Personal life? An all-encompassing planner that includes everything you could ever need, from meetings to meal planning and more?

There are basic planners to complex ones, ones that do a lot of the work for you, and ones that allow complete customisation. Figuring out what you need will help you to eliminate any planners that don’t fit those parameters. From task management to something that helps you manage projects and track time spent, there’s certainly a planning app that has it all.

2. think of specific requirements

You also need to think about any additional features you may want from your planning app, and whether they are must-haves or whether you are willing to compromise on them. Maybe you want reminders, or the ability to sync your app with your Google calendar. If any of these things are a necessity in your life, be sure to look for a weekly or daily planner app that has them. 

3. research

Don’t just choose the first planning app that you find, but rather do your research. Read reviews, talk to friends, and try to gather a few possible options. While researching, make sure that you add apps that are compatible with your devices, and also be sure to check if the app is paid or not. 

4. test drive some apps

Also don’t feel like you need to confine yourself to one app from the get-go! Try different apps for a few weeks to see which ones you prefer. Remember that many apps have both a free version and a paid version, so that’s another factor to keep in mind. 

Take note of the pros and cons of each, and even consider using different apps for different purposes if you can’t find one that ticks all your boxes. Even if you’ve found an app that you like, there’s no reason why you can’t try other apps to manage your upcoming tasks.

5. look for cross-platform compatibility

As stated earlier, one of the biggest benefits of a weekly planning app is the fact that many apps can sync across multiple devices, so you can use it on your laptop while at work, or on your phone while out and about. 

Some people even like to share their planners with coworkers or spouses for better communication. If this is something that’s important to you, be sure to select apps that can sync.

6. consider integration with other tools

You may also want to sync your planner with your calendar or other tool so that you don’t need to constantly keep manually adding appointments, reminders, and meetings to your planner. You may want to sync Google Calendar events so that your monthly planner and weekly planner are integrated, or have it access your note-taking apps to help you manage various to-do lists.

7. think about the user experience

You also want an app that is intuitive to use, that doesn’t have a million ads, and that doesn’t keep crashing, so user experience is another factor to keep in mind when it comes to selecting a planning app. You need to be able to use it without constantly trying to figure out where things go or how to use certain features. 

Of course, there will always be a learning curve, but in the end, a planner should make your life easier, not harder.

8. don't feel stuck

You may find a planning app that works perfectly well for you, but that doesn’t mean that it always will.

Life is always changing, so you need to allow yourself the grace to find a new planning app if needed. It’s easy to feel like you’re stuck with one app, but that doesn’t need to be the case! If something doesn’t work for you anymore, try something new!

bonus: my favourite weekly planning app

Allow me to quickly shout out my favourite tool: ZenDays. This is a weekly planner that I believe has it all. It has emojis to allow you to mark similar tasks. It has templates you can use so that you don’t need to set your week up from scratch, and it also syncs with your calendar. 

You can move tasks around, use various shortcuts to mark them as done or partially done and have task lists to help you focus on what your next priorities are. If this sounds good and you want to give it a try, click here to sign up for ZenDays.

final words

If you are considering switching to an app to do your weekly planning but feel overwhelmed by the choices, I hope that this post made it easier for you to select one that works for you!

Essential Weekly Planning Tools and Strategies to Help You Master Your Week

Max Sinclair on 21/05/2024

In today’s busy world, proper time management is even more important than it ever was. The issue, however, is that most people don’t know how to actually implement the proper time management strategies. 

I’m a bit obsessed with weekly planning – so much so that I created my own weekly planning app slash weekly schedule planner, called ZenDays – so I’ve tried all the tips and tricks, and gathered my favourite ones here to share with you today. Of course, everyone’s life is different, so their planning needs will be different. Feel free to take what resonates with you and leave the rest, and adapt as needed!

1. a calendar

Having a calendar is essential to help you keep track of certain things like birthdays, appointments, and other time-related things such as due dates or bills. If you have a calendar, you can easily glance at it at the beginning of each week to see what you have planned. You can then transfer these events from your calendar or monthly planner to your weekly planner. 

Some people love having a physical monthly planner like a whiteboard or paper calendar stuck to their fridge so that they see it every day, and others love digital planners like Google Calendar that sync across their devices. Try both and see what works for you!

2. ongoing task lists

If you have a thought like “I need to remember to do this”, don’t actually rely on yourself to remember it. You won’t. You think you will, but you won’t. Instead, make sure to write it down. Keep a to-do list of everything that needs to be done, and have a look at it each week to pick some essential tasks and write them down in your weekly planner. 

3. an actual planner

I’ve mentioned a weekly planner a few times now, and of course, this is a key element when it comes to effectively planning your weeks. There are thousands of weekly planners out there, from a paper planner to a digital one, catering for all your needs. Whether you need a small box to write important events, or a two-page daily spread to help you write down dozens of tasks, you’re bound to find one for you.

If you like being creative in your planning, look at paper planners that you can decorate with planner stickers, and if you prefer structure and simplicity, maybe opt for a digital planner!

4. templates

I’ve made a post before about the importance of having templates when it comes to your weekly planning. They help you save time and effort on your weekly planning, and also help you ensure that you don’t forget any important weekly tasks. Of course, templates are much easier when you do digital planning.

5. collaborative tools

If you work in a team, whether in a professional setting or at home with a spouse, having synced tools for collaboration can ensure smooth sailing. Sending digital calendar invites to all necessary members for meetings will help make sure that everyone knows when they are expected and where in both your professional and personal life. 

Shared calendars between parents can help them coordinate things like school pickups or even grocery shopping. Of course, this isn’t really possible with a paper weekly planner, so you need to figure out if this is important to you.

6. time block

Time blocking has also become quite popular in recent years, and if you are someone who struggles to focus and get things done, assigning a particular task to a specific time of day can help you stick to a schedule. Do be sure to allow some flexibility with this though, as some tasks may take longer than planned. 

That being said, most weekly planners come with some time-related element, so feel free to use this to visually plan your weekly tasks based on how long they will likely take you.

final words

If you weren’t convinced about how passionate I am about weekly planning, I hope this post convinced you, and I also hope that it gave you some insight into how you can organise your own week using tools to make organisation easier. 

Of course, planning differs for everyone, so don’t get stuck in a rut. If your planning strategy isn’t working for you, try something new! And if you are in the market for a new planner, may I suggest trying ZenDays?