Are you a daily planner person or a weekly planner person? To be honest, I switch back and forth between the two formats. Often using them both. I even find myself using an entirely separate planner for client work! It helps me segment different projects and lean into the system that works best.
Some days call for space to track everything. While some weeks require room to breathe so you can work on larger projects.
If you’re having trouble deciding between a daily and a weekly planner, this post can help!
A daily planner might be right for you if…
- You have busy and varied days with lots of appointments, tasks, and meetings!
- You like to plan your day in detail.
- You like to time-block your day.
- You want to track meals, hydration, workout, or other habits!
- You like to write EVERYTHING down – notes, to-dos, all of it!
- You have large handwriting.
- You have sticky notes and pieces of scrap paper all over the place.
- You don’t care if the planner is large, you love the space!
A weekly planner might be right for you if…
- You have a regular daily routine or repetitive tasks throughout your days!
- You like having a full view of your entire week.
- You need to track appointments and meetings for yourself.
- You manage multiple people’s schedules – your kids, a partner, or other loved ones!
- You work on projects over days or even weeks at a time.
- You don’t like flipping back and forth between pages throughout the week!
- You only write down what’s necessary, keeping your task and to-do lists to the essentials!
- You need a portable, lightweight planner.
While you don’t have to pick just one planner (like I mentioned, I have both and switch back and forth), maybe people don’t want to keep track of multiple planners. I get it! You want to find a system that works and stick to it. If you’re still thinking through the systems, let’s talk about the benefits of each type of planner.
BENEFITS OF A DAILY PLANNER
A daily planner is great for those with a lot of variable tasks. It’s excessive for those with a consistent daily routine. I’ve found that when I’m in a slower season, a daily planner is just too much.
I’ve successfully used a daily planner when I’ve had busy, busy days, lots of meetings, and so many appointments that I need to keep my schedule in front of me at all times. Otherwise, I have to set 20 alarms on my phone each day to remind myself where I need to be and what I need to be doing.
In busier seasons of life, it’s so much easier to write your schedule out in a daily planner!
BENEFITS OF A WEEKLY PLANNER
A weekly planner is great for those with a lot of appointments OR tasks. It’s not great for those who want to make notes on a daily basis.
I’ve successfully used a weekly planner when I had a static daily routine and a lot of appointments. Right after I sold Day Designer, I found myself with a lot of repetitive tasks, no variable tasks, and a focus on kids’ appointments. The weekly was perfect for this. I didn’t have to do a lot of long-term, big picture planning, and I relied heavily on routines to make our household run.
Weekly planners are best when I’m focused on managing multiple people’s schedules and working on longer-term projects. It’s in these seasons that I want to see my entire week on one page!
Still unsure? Check out our Printable Library that includes sample pages of both our Day on One Page and Week on One Page planners for free. You deserve a planner that fits your needs. Let us help you find the perfect fit!
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