My Secret Life As A Planner Nerd

Have you ever nerded out on something so hard, that it’s borderline embarrassing? Well, at the beginning of 2016 I entered a new realm of nerd, and “joined” the planner community. But before I tell you about that, let me backtrack for a moment and give you some context for this nerdy obsession of mine.

I’m a hardcore Type-A introvert who seeks comfort in schedules and orderliness. My life is scheduled, and I like it that way. My work meetings, my meals, my free time – all mapped out and documented. That’s how I roll, son!

The problem with being so time-focused is that I seem to attract people who aren’t. My romantic relationships, friendships, family, and business relationships are filled with individuals who have no concept of time. I believe they call that balance or opposites attract, but I call it insanity.

Take yesterday, for example, I am in DC with my man for a week-long trip that is jam-packed with appointments. He is the “go with the flow” type, and I am, well, you know what I am.

Here is how our day was supposed to go: Wake up at 5am, LAX to IAD, land at 4:10 pm, stop to change, eat a snack, drive off to DC at 6:00, attend movie screening at 7:30, eat dinner at 9:00, go grocery shopping, and go to sleep.

Here is how the day actually went: Woke up at 5 am, LAX to IAD, landed at 4:30, drove to DC at 6:30, sat in traffic for an hour and a half due to an epic thunderstorm/tornado (yep, you read that correctly), arrived to the screening as the credits were rolling, attended a post-screening  panel until 9:30, networking until 11:00, ate dinner at 11:30 pm, went grocery shopping at 12:30 am, and finally went to sleep around 1:30 am.

What actually happened is my actual version of hell. My whole body fills with anxiety, and I want to explode when my schedule doesn’t go as planned. Is this something I need to loosen the reins on a bit, sure? Is it hard? Fuck yeah, it’s hard.

But let me be clear on this, I’ll never change my planner ways because dammit the world needs order!

Now, back to the planner community …

Back in January, I was shopping for a 2016 planner and quickly decided on the Day Designer because I used a version of their calendar (their Target collab) in 2015. After I hit order, I Googled “Day Designer review” and clicked on a video review of the very planned I had just ordered.

Little did I know, that video would take me down a rabbit hole and into this crazy world of planner nerds.

I watched video, after video – for HOURS. Two days later I had a collection of Washi tape, stickers, markers, pens, inserts, paper, oh and a SECOND planner. Yes, I have two planners – a Day Designer and a Chanel personal agenda. I vowed that I would never tell a soul about my obsession, but then I confessed to one of my besties. After she had finished laughing at me, she joined in on the planner fun too.

If you are a Type-A freak like I am, then maybe you’ll enjoy knowing how I plan my life. Let’s go inside my Chanel planner:

1.) My Habit Tracker: I keep a habit tracker so I can keep track of new habits that I am building for myself. Current habit: eating based on a paleo diet. I’m on week 6 of no sugar, grains, dairy, peanuts, and processed foods.

2.) My Calendar: I keep my hardcore calendar on my phone, BUT I have a monthly calendar in my planner for major events, birthdays, and trips.

3.) Work Meetings: I like to take handwritten notes during work meetings, that way I can’t get distracted by my phone or computer. I include who attended the meeting, the date, the topic, and the location.

4.) To Do: Any Type-A freak worth their salt keeps a to-do list. Nothing feels better than marking something off the old to-do list.

5.) Meals: Yep, this freak plans her meals too. I jot down all of the recipes I want to make, my grocery list, and a calendar of my meals for the week.

6.) Passwords: I never remember my passwords – so I keep those written down for all of the many sites I need a password for.

7.) Expenses: Perhaps the scariest of the tabs … I keep track of my credit card balances, bills, etc.

8.) Inspiration: Ideas, magazine tears, and anything that gets my mind going goes here.

So there you have it, my planner nerd confession and how I organize my life. How do you organize your life?