How to Color Code Your Planner
Let's talk about how to color code your planner! I love pretty colors and I love planners, so what could be better than a color coded planner? When it comes to color coding your planner, there's definitely not a right or wrong way. As usual, it's all about what works for you. I'm just here to give you some ideas on how you could use colored pens in your planner, and it's up to you to take it from there and make it yours.
Please note: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are completely my own. As always, I only recommend products that I know, love, use, and would recommend to my best friend.
When it comes to color coding your planner, the first thing you'll need are some good colored pens. I love the Papermate Inkjoy pens from Staples. I'm a total pen addict (that usually comes along with planner addict territory, right?), and these are definitely some of my faves. I've never found a pen that writes so smoothly and vividly, yet does not smear at all! Plus I love the array of colors in the set of 14. It includes some really pretty shades besides just the standard blue/black/red/green. I also love how pretty the pens are. There are two little hearts both on the front and back of the pens.
One of the things I love about using colored pens in my planner is that it really helps it look cheerful without me having to use stickers. That way I only need to keep a few pens on hand, and I can still have a colorful planner.
One of the most common ways to color code your planner is to use a different color ink for each category. For example, you can use one color for work, one for leisure, one for family, and so on. This will allow you to tell quickly at a glance what types of things you are filling your days with. If you do this, I recommend making a little color key. You can even make one like this that you can move from week to week.
One of my favorite ways to color code is by urgency rather than category. Therefore a must do gets one color, a really should do gets another color, and a could do gets yet another color. This way I can tell at a glance one must be done and what could be pushed off to another day if needed.
Another common way to color code is to assign one color to each member of the family, like this:
I hope that gives you some color coding ideas. Let me know in the comments below how you like to color code your planner.
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Merci Joyce Says
LOVE the inkjoy pens!!! Now they have the multi color-in-one inkjoys 🙂
LauraJane Says
Post authorLOVE the inkjoy pens!!! Now they have the multi color-in-one inkjoys 🙂
Wendy Says
I love Inkjoy Pens, and just today found the multi color in one’s. My day was made!!!
Michele Myankazt Says
Great suggestions. Thanks
Cheryl Says
I happen to have the Inkjoy pens and will be using them as you suggest. Thanks
Amy Says
InkJoy pens are amazing, and so is your planner and blog. I’m so glad I stumbled upon you.
Stephanie Says
I use color to indicate context. I have one color for my job, plus another color for freelancing work, plus another color for writing tasks, and another color for tasks around the house. 🙂
Ruth Says
I’ve recently started color coding my paper planner and I’m looking for ideas to keep several different pens organized and accessible in the planner.
Do you have any tips?
LauraJane Says
Post authorI keep my pens in a cup on my desk or in a pouch that I can carry around. I guess it’s not the most efficient because I do have to dig around for the color I need.
Samantha Zuiverink Says
I actually have 2 sets of pens, one on my desk at home and one on my desk at work, Once I decided I liked color coding it just made sense to invest in another set:) I use Green for work, Orange for urgent, Red for really urgent, Pink-oldest (girl), Blue-middle (boy), Purple-youngest (girl), Yellow-hubby (my sunshine) and Teal for spiritual, anything else goes in black
ClClarke Says
That is a great system you use! I think I’ll try that as well.
Rose Says
Do you have access to a pen with 5 different colors in it? It’s fantastic and very handy. I often use it to underline when I’m reading or studying. Sometimes I use it also on my weekly planner.
Cathy Holm Says
I bought a planner with an outside pocket. That’s where I plan to keep my pens. I personally don’t like keeping them in a pouch inside the planner.
Paige Says
I like using red for urgent things in my planner but never thought about consistently using different colors so I can easily see what is urgent and what isn’t, this is a great idea! I am not a fan of Ink Joy pens, I use Pilot FriXion Clicker Retractable Erasable Gel Pens so I can easily erase any mistakes or plan changes, which is perfect for me! Thank you for this post, I will be color coding my planner today!
Laura Says
I use the Frixion pens too. My calendar & planners always need updating so the Erasable Pen really works for me. I have 3 busy teenagers. I color code for each family member and red for church activities that way at a glance I know who needs to be where. This system has worked for me for years!
Maria Says
I have always used color coding in my calendars and phone books. I am also implementing them in my planner. I do several colors, one for birthdays, one for anniversaries, one for my husband’s appointments, one for my appointments etc., one for holidays and one for vacations. I use purple, orange, blue, pink, green, and red. Yellow is for anything of an urgent matter other than stated prior. All other things are either in blue or black regular ink according to what they are for. I do use some stickers also but I don’t go for really decorating my planner. I use it for the function, planning and some Journaling. I like to add weather stickers to each day, note the trash day, laundry, Bill paying day, income due, property taxes, etc. But not big on embellishments. I play a little but don’t care to spend too much money on stickers like some do.
LauraJane Says
Post authorSounds like you have a great color coding system.
Crystal Says
I love that idea. Just started to color code my planner with: birthdays, one for anniversaries, one for my husband’s appointments (light blue), one for my appointments (pink) & monthly cycle (yellow),, financial (green), and important or urgent (red)…Just haven’t figured out the colors for birthdays, anniversaries or holidays….What are the colors you use in your planner?
Renee Says
I do two of your ways. Each family never had their own color, but each category gets a color too. There’s stuff that my son and I do and things my dad and I do, so it’s just easier to have those things is own color.
Karen Says
That’s similar to the system I use, but I use highlighters instead of pens. I have a rainbow array of highlighters.
kirsten nagel Says
Are the gel pens you use fine point or medium point? I’ve been using staedtler. pens. They are fine line and are great. I love the colors, but they do bleed through sometimes. If these are medium points, can you write fairly small with the pens? I add a lot of content in my planners and therefore need to write pretty small.
Thank you, Kirsten
LauraJane Says
Post authorThey are a medium point – 0.7 mm.
Jerri Says
I have Inkjoy that are fine. (0.5). They work great!
Pam Says
I love color coding, too! We have a big dry erase calendar hanging in our kitchen and I used to use a different color for each person. Then I could just glance at the calendar and know who had what going on. Worked really well. Thanks for the additional ideas!
LauraJane Says
Post authorSounds like a good plan! Love the big dry erase calendars.
Kristine Says
I am always on the hunt for a good pen…I will definitely give these a try!
Aubrey Says
I love the idea of color coding but I never could figure out a way that worked for me. I love the idea of the urgency thing. Makes me want to do a stop light and then anything else that goes into the planner (like random events that happened, or quotes I want to write down) can be in non-stoplight colors!
Kelly Says
Love the post! I know I am late with this comment, but I also love the inkjoy pens. I color code by the different “roles” I have in my life. For the most important things I perceive in my identity (wife, mom, Christian, financial advisor, personal health) I have a different color, so I can tell from week ahead planning whether I am short-changing myself on any of my roles (not planning for the most important things). Thanks again for your site! Love it!
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Nefeli Says
I absolutely love your site. I love everything about planners. You are giving great tips. 🙂
http://www.lovebeinginspired.net
Denise Says
I desperately need to create a planner but have no idea where to begin or how to put it all together. I bought an adorable paperboard striped binder and that is as far as I have gotten.
Any suggestions on where to go from here; what to download and print to be included; type of paper to use, etc. etc.
HELPPPPPP!!!!!
Tara Says
I think I’ve finally got it figured out. I was using colored pens and different colored highlighters and I had NO idea what I was doing. Use the colored pens for categorizing work, family, chores, life things. Use the highlighters to denote the importance! LOVE YOUR BLOG! 😀
Sarah Says
What kind of planner is this!
LauraJane Says
Post authorI printed it myself and put in a discbound notebook – it’s the vanilla edition inside the Sweet Life Society (http://www.sweetlifeplannerclub.com)
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Shweta Says
Hi! Laura
I have tried using category color coding but it did not work for me. So I was in search for another idea. And here it is! I liked priority-wise color coding and that too with single shade colors. I really think this will work. Thank you!
Kristin Says
I have a friend that uses washi tape from the dollar isle and writes her tasks on it so if they need to be moved or removed she can do so easily.
kristi Says
i have a very complex color coding system that has worked well for me in business and home for many years.
I use so many different color pens (as long as they are a certain size), and tombow dual brush markers. I also have color coded ring binders.
my system is so complex that even my family has no idea what my coding is. you would think green would be for just finances, but its not…i use it for trash day too and you would laugh if you knew why. (ok, ill tell you why trash is green….oscar the grouch is green and lives in a trash can…lol)
oh the strange coding i do.
Rose Says
I’m a newbie so what planner do you suggest for someone who’s on a budget? What do I do to start? Tips? Tricks etc?
LauraJane Says
Post authorI think for planning on a budget creating your own planner is a good idea. Here’s my advice for budget printing: https://www.getorganizedhq.com/2015/03/20/print-full-color-budget/
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Patty Says
I love the weekly layout you have pictured. Did you make that yourself or purchase it somewhere? I’d love to try it out in my own planner!
Karen Says
Thank you for the post. I am basically a newbie to planners. I will start one, but am very inconsistent in keeping up with it physically and organizationally. My handwriting is pitiful, no matter how much time I take in trying to make it look nice. I am left handed and tend to smear ink or pencil all over my arm and my planner. I have tried many different pens with basically the same results. I also tend to write very small – especially if I get in a hurry, it seems like my hand won’t move. I end up writing the letters on top of one another and have no clue what it is when I go back to read it. Does anyone else have these problems? Has anyone come up with any solutions?
Cori Beasley Says
I use a different color for each category. Example: Purple School/Blue Work/pink Personal etc. then I use highlighters for importance. Example: Yellow Very Important/ Blue Kind of Important but could be moved/ Pink If I have time.
Beth Says
I love the ideas. I usually stick to pencil, because I like to erase. I just bought a pack of erasable colored pencils I want to try. Maybe some of those shuttle pens from childhood would solve the problem of carrying around multiple pens! 🙂
Sabrina Says
Where did you find the pink 360 iQ create notebook? i have the large brown one but im looking for another color.
LauraJane Says
Post authorI’m not sure what a 360 iQ notebook is. The Pink binder is from staples several years ago.
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Karen Says
Really enjoyed your post on color coding your planner. Will be giving it a try. Thanks
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Jennifer Karlen Says
I ABSOLUTELY love the Fixion pens! They come in click style and in multiple colors. The best thing about these pens is that they ERASE! They actually erase completely! I could not live without them as a K-12 music teacher. This is a great post! I love the idea of color coding by way of priority! Thanks!
Beverly Culp Says
I love the color coding idea! I can’t wait to start using it.
Patrina Says
This is a great idea. I sort of started this today but decided to come look for ideas on how to best implement it. Thank you!