Symbols or Color Coding in Your Planner?

Though each has its virtues and drawbacks, the choice is up to you and what fits best in your life. Does color make you happy and inspire you, or do you hate carrying around extra pens and highlighters? For me personally, I'm in the latter camp. So, I use symbols to notate quickly what category everything in my daily columns is in. Here are some symbols I use:

Task Symbols

⚬ Task

The following three symbols are marked over the "⚬"

/ Completed Task

→ Forward Task

-- Canceled Task

---

Other Notation Symbols

@ Event or appointment

- Note

" Quote I love

! Important Reminders

> Repeated daily task

The first couple of weeks using these notations, I wrote them in the "Notes" section in my weekly planner. Eventually, I had them memorized, and it became second nature to me, making reading my weekly tasks as simple as a quick scan!

Using Colors for Catagories

If you choose to use the color coding method, it's easy to use a different color of the pen for each category: Tasks, Events/Appointments, Notes, Quotes, and Important Reminders. You could use a different color highlighter for each task action: completed, forward, or canceled.

Keep Your Weekly Columns Organized

Find what works best for you! Use a combo or switch from week to week. Remember, it is what works best for you, is the easiest to maintain, and makes sense in your mind to keep your weekly schedule organized. Is there another category you use? What symbol do you use with it? Are you a color or symbol person? There are no wrong answers!

Pictured above: All-in-One Life Planner: https://a.co/d/0ASBLvG

Your planner should be functional. Use every space! Doodle, if that's your thing, this is your space to love! Write in the margins, make notes, make up new categories (please share!), Track your goals and habits! Be as messy or neat as you'd like! This is a typical week; it's not beautiful, but it's very functional for me! I can't wait to see your weeks and hear your tips!