Why Aussie? Why Small Business? and Why Paper?
As an Aussie Small business, we at Afternoon Pick Me Up LOVE supporting other Aussie Small businesses. We believe in lifting each other up, celebrating each others offerings and supporting each other by engaging, purchasing and yelling out loud when we love other brands products!
Oh and why paper? I've tried to switch to tech planners after much begging from my husband, but mate, the tech world is not for me when it comes to my diary. I want it infront of me, crisp pages and squiggly doodles. I want to be able to cross things out, stick things in, plan, create and dream. That's why a paper diary is for me.
To help you choose a planner that is right for you, have a think on these questions to find out what's important for you!
- How do I use my Planner? Does it sit on my desk all year? Is it in my bag all year?
- Why do I use my Planner? Do I use it to plan AND document or JUST to plan?
- Do I use it for work or social? Or both?
- Do I need space to take notes and dream?
- Do I need to meal plan or organise other areas in my Planner too?
Consider all these questions about how you use your planner to help you narrow down your search!
Here's how I use mine -
- How do I use my Planner? Does it sit on my desk all year? Is it in my bag all year?
Mine goes with me everywhere, so it has to be durable and ideally not fabric. Fabric tends to soak in stains and ends up looking ratty quite quickly! It also sits on my desk a lot, so i love being able to have a planner that can open and sit flat.
- Why do I use my Planner? Do I use it to plan AND document or JUST to plan?
I use mine to plan my weeks, to create to do lists, to keep tabs of social events, to meal plan, to write my grocery list. Most things end up being planned in my planner.
- Do I use it for work or social? Or both?
Both, I plan appointments, brunches, meetings, to do lists, monthly strategy, parties, and catch ups!
- Do I need space to take notes and dream?
I love being able to take notes weekly, it helps me keep track of what I need to remember. The biggest lie i tell myself is "I'll remember that". I do have a seperate book that I take weekly notes in, but its a bonus when everything is together!
- Do I need to meal plan or organise other areas in my Planner too?
I love being able to meal plan, have a running grocery list for the week and have a notes section each week!
So here's the summary of what I look for in a planner
- Durable cover that will outlast coffee splashes, being bumped around in my hand bag, being walked across by my cat and survive the ever inevitable pen swipes.
- A5 size - I find this is the perfect fit for my handbag as well as being able to actually see everything in one swift go.
- Week to a page - I don't have meetings all day that I need to track by the hour and I love being able to see my whole week at a glance.
- Space for notes/meal planning/grocery list, ideally on each week!
- Multiple Ribbons dividers - the more the merrier to make for easier access to the areas I need.
Without further ado, my top picks for 2020 Diaries (in no particular order!)
