Normally I’d write my new planner post in August, but since Blessed is She added an extra month in this year’s academic planner, I’m setting it up a month early. And it’s not a moment too soon since I have numerous things to plan now that Covid restrictions have been loosened and traveling and school activities are back on the schedule.

Photo credit: Blessed Is She

I’ve been using the Blessed Is She planner since Day 1. I’ve switched to various sizes (sometimes mid-year) depending on my season of life. Blessed Is She has three options for us this year: the Standard size, the Mini-size, and the new perfect bound (non spiral) Mini-size. Last year I used the larger Standard size since we were all home-bound. However, this year I am returning to the Mini, specifically the perfect bound. I just love the portability! I need something I can throw in my tote for appointments and meetings and this does a great job.

I like making the planner my own by adding decor. I always add photos of my family to the inside cover of my planner.  They are my inspiration to strive for harmony and order, and they motivate me to conquer my messy tendencies. When there’s some order in the house, it brings more peace into our busy family life.

I also wanted to add a photo of St. Joseph, since he’s my saint of the year, but since the Holy Family has been working alongside of St. Joe, I added all of them in there.

I like to color code the items in my planner. For years I’ve been using five goal categories so I use five basic colors to correspond. Red (Daughter of God) is for spiritual activities such as Holy Hour, Confession, special Masses, Retreats, etc. Orange (Wife) are things like date nights. Green (Mom) are school events, violin and piano classes, after school practice, play dates, etc. Blue is a combo of Homemaker and extended family – work on house projects, shopping/errand days, or activities with extended family members. Purple (Woman) is for me – work outside the home, girls night out, self- care, etc and for BIS (Blessed Is She) activities with other women.

There is a small key on the bottom of my calendar page. It may seem complicated, but I’ve been using the color code so long that it is now natural to me.

After the monthly view, there is a goals page for three main areas: faith, family, and fun. I take some time to think about the things I want to accomplish this month. I find it best to pray about it first. Then I try to be specific and schedule it. For example, in my faith, I’d like to deepen my love of God. As a means to do that I will do a weekly Holy Hour and Monthly confession, which I listed in my goals. Then in my monthly calendar, I scheduled those days and keep them just as I would an appointment.

I use the following notes page as my monthly brain dump. I write down the things I know I have to get done that month. Then I schedule those things on my weekly calendar.

For the weekly view, I divide each day into two sections. The first column is my To Do’s. I use the second column as a schedule for appointments or activities.

Each day has a series of five dots. These are habit trackers. You can chose what you want to track – prayer, exercise, water. You can use all 5 dots for one thing (like cups/jugs of water) or use each dot for a different item. For me I use the dots for the following – morning prayer, water/hydration, vitamins, walk/exercise, bed on time. (I have a lot more leeway on that one since it is summer right now.) Because I am at the beginning of the my planner, I color coded it, but as time goes by I’ll just use one color. And to be honest, on busy weeks, I just leave them blank. It’s okay to use what helps you and to cut back, when you feel overwhelmed.

If there is a day when I have a lot of out-of-the-house activities I will use Erin Condren hourly schedule sticky notes.

There is a space from 6AM to 10PM, although I cut off the bottom part since I didn’t need the evening spaces.

Photo credit: Knock Knock

If I need more space for To Do’s, then I’ll use one of these Knock Knock To Do Sticky Notes and add it to the weekly page.

I also use the weekly spread to keep track of activities or meals for the liturgical year. I subscribe to the monthly Feast Day Liturgical Boxes and the Catholic All Year Liturgical Living Box.

After opening up our boxes (it feels like Christmas!) I take out my planner and mark the days we’ll be celebrating. Below the dinner section of the day, I add the meal, dessert, or activity and the feast/saint we’re honoring. It makes things a lot easier when I am planning the week’s meals and activities. Otherwise, the day may slip by and I’ve forgotten the special meal or activity. (Ask me how I know 😉 )

Other features include a year at a glance page, a notes section in the back, an elastic band closure, and (added bonus) – a pen holder!

There are a lot of great planners out there, but I love all the Catholic aspects in the Blessed Is She planner. The theme of this year’s planner is the Litany of Trust written by the Sisters of Life.

Each month has a line from the Litany to pray about…

…and reflection questions to ponder.

Other Catholic elements include a list of feast days, how to make a Holy Hour, how to pray the Rosary, and an Examination of Conscience.

* * * * *

Your Questions Answered

Whenever, I post photos of my planner on Instagram, I’ll often get the same questions. Here are the most common ones with my answers.

I have the larger Standard-sized planner. Any tips for using it?

Last year I used the larger planner. You can get tips from my previous post – How I Use My Blessed Is She 2020-2021 Blessed Is She Planner. The planner looks a little different, but it has the same basic features.

What kind of pens do you use?

 

When I write in my planner, I MUST be able to erase. I used to use pencil until I found these awesome erasable pens a few years ago – Pilot Frixion Ball Knock Retractable Gel Ink Pen, 0.5mm, 10 Colors Set. I have been using them ever since.

There are various sizes available on Amazon, such as this larger pack of  Clicker Erasable, Refillable & Retractable Gel Ink Pens, Fine Point, Assorted Color Inks, 15-Pack Pouch. I have also seen single colors at Staples and Michael’s.

(One note: It has been said that the ink of these pens disappear in extreme heat, but the ink will reappear if book is placed in the freezer. I have never had an issue, but I also don’t live in extreme heat.)

Where do you get the planner stickers in you planner?

My favorite regular planner stickers include the Happy Planner sticker pads. You can find them at Amazon or craft stores like Michael’s. They are expensive so I wait until they go on sale or I have a coupon/ gift card.

Photo credit: Bloom

I also found some cute year round stickers from Amazon like these bloom daily planners New Holiday Seasonal Planner Sticker Sheets – Over 250 Stickers that cost about $10.

Photo credit: Zicoto

However, I just discovered these – Aesthetic Greenery Planner Stickers – 1100+ Stunning Gold Foil Design. Talk about happy mail! They come in a cute cardstock envelope and there are So. Many. Stickers. You get 12 sheets of monthly themed stickers and another 13 sheets of various planner stickers. They are so lovely! Most remarkable is the price. All of that for only $13! Sorry if I sound like an infomercial, but the sticker collecting nerdy girl inside me is geeking out. 😉

Where do you get Catholic planner stickers?

I love these Catholic planner stickers from Blessed Is She. So pretty!

The other day I received the Catholic Planner Sticker Set from the kind and generous Jessica of the Sweet Little Ones Shop. Talk about a Catholic treasure trove! The planner pack has so many pretty Catholic stickers for the liturgical year, as well as saint quotes, Scripture, and much more. The set has 70 2×2 stickers, a 5×7 Liturgical Living Calendar print, and the option of adding square rosary stickers. I’m so pleased with them and the other goodies from her shop!

Photo Credit: Un Corazon Que Arde

I love these Catholic planner stickers from Un Corazon Que Arde. I ordered the first and third sheet since the middle one was in Spanish. They are so pretty!

Photo credit: Oh Hello Paper & Gifts

Oh Hello Paper & Gifts has numerous planner stickers that anyone can use, but she also has a sheet specifically for Catholic planners. What I like about these is that they are small, so they’re perfect for Mini-sized planners!

I asked on Instagram for suggestions of shops that sell Catholic planner stickers. I have not tried these shops myself, but they were recommended to me. Go check them out! (Note: There are numerous shops that sell single Catholic stickers. I was looking specifically for paper planner stickers sold in a sheet or package.)

• The Hopeful Planner (most frequent response)
• Blue Scooter Press
• Mourning Dove Co
• Elizabeth Clare Shop
• Jefferson and Company
• La Petite Fleur Goods
• Catholic Sistas
• Graceful Aspirations

Do you have a favorite shop for Catholic planner stickers? Let me know!

Where did you get the planner book marks I saw on your Instagram?

I like to use magnetic book marks, such as these…

…and cute paper clip book marks such as these. (Note: I love these, but the shorter metal loop of the paperclip pops out just a bit. I’d wish it had been straight as the other loop is.)

The perfect bound planner comes with a ribbon bookmark. However if you are using one of the spiral bound planners, then I highly recommend the Avery Spiral Slide-In Plastic Bookmark Divider. It can be used full size with the regular planner.

If you have a mini planner, you can easily cut off the end as I did in the photo above. They come in a pack of three, colored red, yellow, and aqua blue.

Where did you get the Catholic washi tape?

This awesome Catholic washi tape is from Tisa Mui Co. Right now some of the products are sold out, but if you sign up for the newsletter you’ll know when the are restocked.

When do you find time to decorate and update your planner?

Ideally, I try to do it on Sundays. I go over the week’s schedule, make my meal plan, my grocery list, and plan out my week (with room for unexpected changes.) I listen to music or watch a favorite movie to make it more relaxing. If I can’t do it on Sunday, then I’ll take time on Monday morning instead, but it is usually more hurried.

How do you keep yourself motivated to use your planner?

This is part of the reason that I decorate my planner. I’m more likely to use it when I put a little extra time into decorating it. Plus it calms me and brings me joy to add a little personality to the blank pages. But, honestly, there are weeks when I don’t have the time or energy to do anything with it and I’m okay with that. Plus, some people hate all the busyness of stickers and washi so decorating is definitely not a motivation for them!

Whatever your preference, I recommend keeping your planner close. For me, I keep it open on my desk or in the kitchen because I must write things down or I just forget. This way I can jot items down when they come to mind.

If the planner isn’t within my reach, I make a note (audio or typed) on my phone. Later (usually in the evening) I add those notes to the planner. The more I do this, the easier it is to keep the habit of using it. Plus, when I don’t do this, something inevitably falls through the cracks and that’s just no bueno!

I also try to see the spiritual side of writing things down and planning my day. My life can get busy and I can get stressed over it, but saying the prayers in the planner and repeating the lines of the Litany of Trust reminds me that I have one life and I don’t want to waste it getting stressed, or being disorganized, for that matter.

A planner won’t magically change my life, but it can be used as a tool to help me be a more efficient wife, mom, friend, and daughter of God. And if it looks cute as it’s doing that, all the better. 😉

Well, I think that covered the basics! If you have the Blessed Is She planner, which version do you have? What’s your favorite feature or best planning advice/hack/accessory? Let me know!

Happy planning!

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(NOTE: Revolution of Love is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I purchased these items on my own and am sharing my honest opinion about them.)