Art Journaling
December 23, 2024
No Comments
Planning your week can save time, reduce stress, and help you focus on what matters most. Check out these weekly planning tips to get started:
Quick Tip: Weekly planning isn’t just about productivity; it’s about creating balance. Use this time to schedule work, hobbies, and self-care.
Let’s look at how to create a weekly plan that actually works and helps you get things done.
The key to planning your week is knowing exactly what you want to achieve and putting your tasks in order of importance.
Want better results? Get specific with your goals. Instead of saying "I’ll get organized", try "I’ll clean my desk and set up my filing system by Friday." For writers, skip vague goals like "write more" and go for something concrete: "finish 5,000 words of the Johnson project by Thursday."
Here’s a pro tip: Don’t overload yourself. Pick 2-3 main goals for the week, especially if you’re juggling work and personal life. This helps you stay focused without burning out.
The Eisenhower Matrix – a simple tool that sorts tasks by urgency and importance – can boost your completion rate by 15% . It’s like having a personal task referee that helps you decide what needs attention first.
Start with the non-negotiables: These are your "must-do" tasks. Got a big client presentation on Thursday? That’s your priority – everything else can wait.
Make big tasks less scary: Instead of writing down "quarterly meeting prep" (which sounds huge), break it into smaller pieces:
Now that you know what you’re aiming for, you need the right tool to track everything.
Think about what works for you. The Hobonichi Weeks planner gives you ready-made daily spaces, while bullet journals let you create your own setup with habit trackers or free-flowing lists. Sometimes, mixing both styles gives you the best of both worlds – structure when you need it, freedom when you don’t.
Want to make your planner both practical and fun? Let’s look at how you can mix style with function using layouts, stickers, and handwriting to build a planning system that works – and looks great doing it.
Your layout is like a roadmap for your week. It needs to work well and look good. Here’s what works:
Pick one layout and stick with it. Many Hobonichi Weeks users love putting their schedule on the left page and notes on the right – it just works. Add some color coding for different parts of your life (work in blue, personal stuff in green), and you’ll spot what matters in seconds.
Want to track habits? Pop a small grid somewhere on your page for things like water intake or exercise. Keep it simple – you’re more likely to use it that way.
Stickers and washi tape aren’t just pretty – they help organize your pages and make planning more fun.
Dark Moon Paper gets this right. Their themed kits like Lilac Dusk and Cottage Succulents include both practical stuff (like checklists) and pretty decorations. It’s an easy way to make your pages look put together.
"Our sticker kits are designed to inspire creativity while keeping your planning functional", says Rachael Snow, founder of Dark Moon Paper. "We want users to feel excited every time they open their planner."
Pro tip: Create your own sticker system. Use a clock for meetings, a heart for self-care, and a star for deadlines. It’s quick, clear, and makes your planner work harder for you.
You don’t need to be an artist to make your planner look good. Small touches can make a big difference:
Take 5-10 minutes daily to practice your writing. Try a Pilot Precise V5 RT pen – planners love how smooth it writes. Mix up your style with block letters for headers and cursive for notes. And don’t worry about being perfect – even basic icons like a coffee cup for meetings or a dumbbell for workouts can make your pages more fun to use.
Ready to take your planning to the next level? Let’s look at how different planner formats can work even better with your new personal touches.
Want to make your weekly planning both effective and fun? Let’s look at how different planner formats can help you get there. Whether you pick up a bullet journal, grab a Hobonichi Weeks, or mix things up, finding the right setup makes all the difference.
A bullet journal is like a blank canvas – you get to paint your perfect planning picture. It’s perfect if you need a system that bends and stretches with your changing schedule.
Think of it as your personal planning playground. You can sketch out your week exactly how you want it, add trackers that matter to you, or include space for quick notes and ideas. Many people find that weekly planning tips like adding their own touches – like simple doodles or color coding – makes them more likely to stick with their planning routine.
Here’s a real-world example: Picture a freelance graphic designer using their bullet journal to juggle client projects. On Monday, they might need extra space for project timelines. By Thursday, that space might be better used for sketching client logos. With a bullet journal, they can switch things up whenever they need to.
If you like your plans neat and tidy, the Hobonichi Weeks planner might be your perfect match. It comes with ready-to-use layouts that help you jump right into planning without the setup.
The magic of Hobonichi Weeks lies in its smart design. You get a timeline on one side for your schedule and a grid on the other for notes. It’s small enough (9.5 cm x 18.5 cm) to take anywhere, but mighty enough to hold your whole week’s plans.
Take a marketing manager’s typical week: They can block out meeting times on the timeline, jot down campaign ideas in the grid space, and still have room for personal notes. Everything stays organized without any fuss.
Sometimes one format isn’t enough – and that’s okay! Mix and match to create your perfect system.
Try this: Use your bullet journal for the nitty-gritty daily stuff, while your Hobonichi Weeks keeps track of the bigger picture. Or pair a digital tool like Notion with your paper planner – use Notion for big projects and your physical planner for daily tasks.
The key? Don’t be scared to experiment. Maybe you’ll find that tracking habits in your bullet journal while scheduling in your Hobonichi Weeks works best for you.
Next up, we’ll dive into how to make weekly planning a habit that sticks.
Pick a specific time for weekly planning – maybe Sunday evening or Monday morning. This dedicated slot becomes your anchor for better time management and goal achievement.
Get your tasks in order using tools like Asana or Trello. These platforms help you sort what needs doing first, so you’re always working on what matters. Take regular breaks to stay sharp – the Pomodoro Technique works great for this. Set a timer, work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute breather.
Let tech handle the small stuff. Set up automation for routine tasks so you can focus on bigger things. Look at your calendar each week and make room for both work and life. Here’s a smart move: block off your weekends for family time. It keeps you from taking on too much and helps cut down stress.
Take a quick look back each week. The Winning The Week Method shows how just 5 minutes of reflection can make a big difference. What worked? What didn’t? Use these insights to stay on course with your bigger goals.
Keep an eye on where your time goes. If you notice you’re spending too much time on emails, set specific times to check your inbox. Good planning sets things up, but checking in regularly keeps you on track and ready to shift gears when needed.
Pick a planner that feels right to you. Some people love the structure of Hobonichi Weeks, while others prefer the freedom of bullet journals. Make it yours – add stickers or decorative tape if that’s your thing. Planning should feel good, not like a chore.
Start small and build up. Break big goals into smaller steps you can actually do. Create your own little planning ritual – maybe with your favorite coffee or tea nearby. It’s about making this time something you look forward to.
Don’t chase perfection – aim for showing up regularly. Take it from Hailley Griffis, who uses her Sunday sessions to check goals and set priorities. It’s this regular practice that makes planning stick .
Weekly planning doesn’t have to feel like a chore. By mixing smart organization with your personal touch, you can create a system that gets results AND feels good to use.
Start with the basics: pick your goals for the week. Maybe it’s finishing that big project at work, squeezing in some me-time, or getting ready for next month’s event. Then choose tools that match how you think and work.
Love clean, simple layouts? The Hobonichi Weeks planner might be your perfect match. Want to get creative? A bullet journal lets you design your own pages from scratch. And hey, there’s nothing wrong with jazzing things up with stickers or little drawings if that makes you more likely to use your planner.
Keep track of what matters most with to-do lists and digital calendars. These tools help you sort out what needs doing now versus later, so you don’t get buried under a mountain of tasks.
Take 15 minutes each week to look back at what happened. The Winning The Week Method helps you spot patterns – like those tasks that keep getting pushed to next week (we all have them!). Maybe they need to be broken down into smaller chunks, or maybe they’re not as important as you thought.
Here’s what the Week Plan Academy says about this:
"Weekly planning gives you an overview of the tasks at hand and provides you with control over it"
Make planning part of your routine. Mix it up with digital tools for scheduling and paper planners for the fun stuff. Turn it into "your time" – put on some music, grab your favorite drink, and make it something you look forward to
Your planner should feel like YOU. Whether that means fancy lettering, color-coding everything, or keeping it super simple in black and white. The goal isn’t to copy someone else’s system – it’s to build one that helps you get things done while putting a smile on your face.
Want to make your planner both fun and functional? Stickers are your secret weapon. Happy Planner offers themed sticker books packed with over 1,000 options – from meeting markers to self-care reminders.
Here’s how to put them to work:
Pick specific stickers for your regular activities – maybe a green dot for gym time and a blue star for work stuff. It’s like creating your own visual language. Need to spot your vacation time quickly? Slap on a big, bold sticker or decorative strip. No more squinting at tiny writing!
Plus, make it yours! Add stickers that speak to you – maybe some quotes that fire you up or seasonal designs that match your mood.
Going digital? Apps like GoodNotes and Notability let you do the same thing with digital sticker packs on your tablet.
Make your planner a place you actually want to hang out with! Here’s how to jazz it up without going overboard:
Washi tape is your best friend – use it to create borders or highlight those can’t-miss dates. Try gold foil tape for the big stuff, and soft pastels for everyday charm.
Pick a weekly vibe – maybe fall leaves in November or power quotes when you need that extra push. Grab some Tombow Dual Brush Pens for those eye-catching headers, and pair them with Micron pens for crisp writing.
Need some quick fixes? Pop on some sticky notes for those "maybe" tasks. Want that pro look? Midori stamps are perfect for adding clean, simple icons and dates.
Remember: whether you’re into clean and simple or bold and busy, it’s all about what works for YOU.
Creating a weekly routine doesn’t mean planning every minute – it’s about finding your sweet spot between structure and wiggle room.
Start by picking your planning weapon of choice – old-school paper or digital tools, whatever feels right. Then zero in on your top three priorities for the week. Maybe it’s crushing that work project, hitting the gym, and quality family time.
Turn those big goals into daily action steps. Block out specific times for your must-dos using something like Google Calendar – it helps you see the whole picture and avoid double-booking yourself.
Here’s the key: don’t forget to pencil in some chill time! Maybe that’s your Sunday afternoon reading session or a walk in the park. At week’s end, take a quick look back – what worked? What didn’t? Tweak things for next week and keep rolling.
Stickers Made for Planning
Our custom stickers are a fuss-free way to brighten up your planner pages with perfectly-sized designs that add a spark of personality to every layout.
Why use planner stickers?
Planner stickers make organizing easy, fun, and personal! Add color, creativity, and structure to every page, transforming your planner into a tool that reflects you. Perfect for tracking, decorating, and staying inspired daily!
Hello and welcome!
I’m Rachael Snow, a lifelong artist and entrepreneur, and I started Dark Moon Paper to blend my love of art, technology, and the mysterious beauty of the world around us. My sticker kits are meant to set the mood, tell a story, and give you a little escape from the ordinary.
I work from my cozy studio tucked away in the beautiful woods of Oregon, surrounded by nature and a dark night sky full of stars.