Many of us have at least one planner to keep us in check day-to-day. But when you enjoy planners creatively it’s very easy for the planner collection to grow. And maybe keep growing! Who doesn’t have an extra planner or two?

For example, there’s always such a buzz when new planners are released. Do you give in to temptation? Or do you already have an extra planner and you’re not sure what to do with it? In this post I’ll share 10 uses for an extra planner.
I hope you find something new to try.

1. Home management

There are many ways to put together a home management planner and this one is definitely on my list! This could include:

• Schedules for chores or tracking when these were last completed
• Meal planning
• A section to house important information you might need to reference. For example, how to claim on insurance policies or who to contact in an emergency
• Bill suppliers and when contracts are due for renewal
• Pet information
• Car maintenance information
• Packing lists for trips
• Home improvement tasks or projects
• Wish lists for things to buy or do

2. Content management

Do you have a blog, youtube or instagram account and find it hard to keep on track with managing them? With 2 blogs, 2 instagrams and a youtube channel I definitely do! A content management planner could help you with:

• Planning what and when to post
• Tracking analytics
• Keeping track of new ideas
• Planning posts or videos
• A place to house research
• Keeping information for reference (eg colour codes or sizing for images)
• Remembering your favourite suppliers

3. Planning a special event

Do you have a special event coming up? I was lucky enough to receive a wedding planner as a gift when I got engaged and it was really useful in my planning, and also made a great souvenir! In a special event planner you could keep:

• A vision board for inspiration
• A timeline running up to the event with key dates
• A schedule for the event itself
• Tasks to be completed
• Research
• Guest lists
• Budgets
• Contact details for suppliers
• Copies of contracts

4. Memory keeping

There are so many options for memory keeping. It can make a good hobby, as well as a gift for someone else. For example, you might chronicle your child’s life and give them the planner as a gift when they are older. Here are some ideas of things to include:

• Journal or diary entries
• Photos
• Souvenirs
• Favourites from the time, such as music, food, films or toys
• Things you are grateful for
• Drawings
• Things said by other people
• Important events happening in the world

5. Health and wellness

I have a health and wellness planner which has been so useful for my wellbeing. I am also considering setting up a separate planner for a particular health treatment. You might use this type of planner for:

• Dates of appointments and notes from these
• Appointment letters
• Reflection and journalling
• Information about health conditions
• New things trialled and any feedback
• Track items such as water and food intake, sleep, exercise, weight, and mood
• Exercise plans
• Medication and prescription orders

6. Project management

Do you have a big project that will take a lot of planning? This could be home-or work-related. It might be a house purchase or renovation. Perhaps you’re planning a trip. What you keep in this planner will depend on the specific project, but you could keep:

• Images for inspiration
• Budget
• Timeline
• Research
• A breakdown of tasks to be completed
• Things to buy
• Key information (such as dimensions of rooms for a home project, or flight times for a trip)

7. Goals

Goal setting has been important for me since I started using my Just 90 Planner. Now I have come up with achievable goals for myself, I need to make sure I am working towards them. A goal planner might include:

• Breaking down large goals into manageable steps
• Key deadlines
• Scheduling daily, weekly and monthly tasks
• Images or text that will motivate you and remind you why you set these goals in the first place
• Reviewing your progress
• Reviewing your goals and considering whether you want to make changes

8. Learning

Are you completing a course? Do you want to learn something new? Are you improving a skill? Or perhaps you just want to keep track of things you’re learning day-to-day? You could use a learning planner for:

• Recording what you have learned, eg making notes from books or other sources
• A place for practicing things that use writing or drawing (eg maths, lettering)
• Setting goals for yourself
• Planning how, when and what you will learn
• Tracking learning completed
• Ideas of future things to learn or try
• Noting your achievements

9. Recipes

This is also on my list of to-dos! Why not use a planner to house all of your favourite recipes so that they’re easily available for reference? You could keep:

• Recipes you have created or ones from other places
• Grocery lists
• Meal planners
• Quick meals
• A list of ingredient substitutes (eg if someone has an allergy or follows a specific diet)
• Ideas for healthy snacks
• Take-away menus for emergencies!

10. On-the-go planner

I am setting this one up for myself at the moment. My idea is to use a smaller planner that I can easily move around the house with me and take with me wherever I go. Mine will include:

• An inbox – eg incoming items such as mail or messages that need to be dealt with
• A place to capture notes and ideas when away from my other planners
• A quick-check calendar
• A space for receipts
• Errand lists
• A gratitude diary

Final thoughts

I hope this gives you some ideas of ways to use an extra planner. Do you have any other ideas? Please leave them in the comments below.