Organizers and Daily Planners

You need to clean things up around here. I mean, I never know when you're going to be home, when you're out, whom to call, or what you have to get done. It's total chaos! Can't you do something about it?

In today's world, you have two choices about how to keep track of your life: paper or gadget.  If you want to write things down with your hand and a pen, this is your article.  If you want to write with a stylus (very 2006/3000BCE of you!) on one of those newfangled PDAs, look here. 

Are the technophiles gone? Good. Let's get to this.
There are three things to consider in your planner.

• Look
• Content
• Size

We'll explore each separately.

Looks

Let's Be Honest, Looks Matter
Leather Bound  organizers are classy, durable and fashionable.	Nylon  organizers are durable and cruelty-free.	Fabric  organizers come in many colors and prints.

How To Close
Zippered  closures keep your organizer from spilling everywhere.  (And you can cram in some extra junk.)	Slip-Tab  keeps your books closed.	Open  organizers are streamlined and easy to open.	Snap  personal organizers are exactly that.

Content

What Can You Put In Your Organizer?
Calendars are practically the definition of an organizer. Do you want space broken up hourly? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Yearly? Many calendars come with a day planner section and then a month-at-a-glance section as well. Do you want the days specific to the year or can you fill in your own dates?	Binding is important to some people for their binder. Do you want several rings that open, allowing you to replace pages, or do you want it to stay as is? Maybe you'd prefer no rings at all, but a book binding for the pages. Or have objects affixed to the interior of the book with nothing in the center, or perhaps a spot for a pen?	Pockets may be essential to you as well. Do you want lots of pockets for cards, change, a PDA, safety pins? Or would you like the look slightly sleeker?	Address Book may be the only thing keeping you calling your mother. Do you need one with alphabetical tabs? Should it be comprehensive or just a "To Call" list?	Note Pages are for whatever else you need to write down. Do you need a whole lot of blank space for taking notes or jotting ideas down? Should they be lined?

Size

You Want Total Honesty? Size Matters Too.
Notebook-sized planners (8.5" x 11") are great for taking a whole slew of notes in meetings or classes.	Journal-sized planners (5.5" x 8.5") are a little slimmer for easier travel.	Pocket-sized organizers (3.5" x 6.5") can fit in large pockets.	Compact-sized organizers (3" x 5") are just the basics.

External Links

• Day Planner: This site lets you build your own planner, exactly how you want it.
• WeekDate Weekly Planner: WeekDate is a compact paper planner that offers the conveniences of a high-tech calendar.