7 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Planner for Fall

In my last post, we talked about getting organized for the season ahead and taking a little time to figure out what needs your attention before September arrives.

Once you've figured out what's coming, your planner can help you keep track of it all.

Before your fall schedule gets busy, take a little time to clean up and prepare your planner. You don't need a complicated new system or a perfectly decorated planner. A few simple updates can make it much easier to use.

Here are seven ways to get your planner ready for fall.

1. Clean Out Your Planner

Before you start adding anything new, take a look at what's already in your planner.

Remove old notes, scraps of paper, lists you've finished, and anything else you no longer need. Cross off completed tasks and move anything unfinished to the appropriate place.

If you've been using your planner throughout the summer, you may have accumulated quite a bit of random information.

Now is a good time to clear some of it out.

You don't have to reorganize every page. Just remove the things that are no longer useful and give yourself a clean starting point for the new season.

2. Set Up Your Fall Pages

If your planner has monthly or weekly pages that aren't filled in yet, take a few minutes to get them ready.

You might add seasonal headers, choose a color scheme, or simply make sure your pages are easy to find and use.

If you use a planner with different sections, think about which ones you'll be using most during the fall.

The goal isn't to create a perfect planner spread. It's simply to make your planner ready when you need it.

3. Create a Few Dedicated List Pages

One of the easiest ways to make your planner more useful is to give your frequently used lists their own space.

Instead of having shopping lists, ideas, and reminders scattered throughout your planner, create a dedicated page or section for them.

Some ideas for fall include:

• Books to read

• Recipes to try

• Fall activities

• Movies or shows to watch

• Home projects

• Things to make

• Places to visit

• Gift ideas

• Shopping lists

You can add to these lists throughout the season without worrying about where to put each new idea.

4. Give Your Brain Dump a Home

We all have those random thoughts that show up at the most inconvenient times.

Something you need to look up.

An idea for a project.

A reminder to call someone.

Something you suddenly remember you need to buy.

Instead of grabbing whatever piece of paper happens to be nearby, give those thoughts a dedicated place in your planner.

A brain-dump page doesn't need to be organized or pretty. It's simply a place where you can put things down so you don't have to keep trying to remember them.

You can sort through the list later.

5. Create a Holiday Planning Section

September may seem a little early to think about the holidays, but they'll be here before you know it.

You don't have to start buying Christmas presents or planning your entire Thanksgiving dinner right now.

Just give those future plans somewhere to live.

You might create pages for:

• Gift ideas

• Christmas shopping

• Thanksgiving planning

• Holiday events

• Recipes

• Decorations

• Cards

• Gifts that need to be mailed

• Holiday projects

Then, when an idea pops into your head in October or November, you'll already know exactly where to write it down.

6. Add Useful Reference Information

Your planner can be more than a calendar. It can also be a handy reference book.

Think about the information you find yourself needing regularly.

Depending on your planner and your comfort level, you might include:

• Important phone numbers

• Addresses

• Measurements

• Clothing or shoe sizes

• School information

• Appointment information

• Emergency contacts

• Recurring dates

• Other information you frequently need

Having these things in one place can save you from searching through old emails, your phone, or random notes every time you need them.

7. Make Your Planner Yours

And finally, make your planner something you actually enjoy using.

Choose your favorite pens. Add a few stickers. Use colors you love. Add seasonal decorations or a favorite quote.

Maybe you enjoy sitting down with a cup of coffee and spending a few quiet minutes planning your week.

Maybe you prefer a completely simple, functional planner with nothing extra.

Both are perfectly fine.

There is no right way to make your planner look or work. The best planning system is the one that makes sense to you and fits into your actual life.

Your Planner Is Ready— Now Use It!

Getting your planner ready for fall doesn't have to become another project on your to-do list.

Clear out what you don't need, set up the sections you'll use, create a few helpful lists, and give yourself a place to put all those random thoughts and ideas.

Then let your planner grow and change with you throughout the season.

You don't need to have everything figured out in September. You just need a place to keep track of what matters as you move through the next few months.

And if you're looking for a simple way to continue your fall reset, I'll be sharing a free Fall Reset Checklist later this week.

For now, grab your planner, find a comfortable spot, and spend a few minutes getting it ready.

Happy planning!

Before you go:

You might also be interested in…

• Free September Planner Printables for a Fresh Start to Fall

• September Reset: 5 Things to Organize Before October

• Q4 Planning Checklist: 3 Steps to End the Year Strong

• 5 Cozy Planning Rituals to Embrace the Fall Season

• Fall Favorites: Amazon Essentials for a Warm and Cozy Home
  

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.)

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