Planner Peek: Nina

Today we get to look at another fantastic and very creative DIY planner in the Planner Peek series! I don’t know about you, but I just LOVE being able to sneak a peek inside other people’s planners. I love to see how they use them, how they decorate them, what type of planner they use, etc. I have asked my readers to submit photos of their planners and to tell us a bit about how they use their planning system. (You can submit your planner by filling out this really short and easy form. If you’re selected, you’ll get a free copy of the digital Sweet Life Planner worth $35!) All of the Planner Peeks in this series have been so fun to see.

Nina has used several different planners over the last couple of years, but none of them gave her what she needed. So, she started looking around on the internet, but even then she could not find the right planner. What do you do when you can ‘t find the right planner? You make your own! Right now Nina is still figuring out what she really wants, so she uses a plain notebook. Nina designs her own planner printables and puts them into her notebook. When she likes a printable she keeps it, and when it just doesn't work out, she redesigns it. Hopefully she will create the perfect planner this year.

The cover of Nina's planner has always been very important to her. Nina says, “Somehow I can't work with planners which covers aren't inspiring or pretty. So, when I came across this quote on the internet I decided to keep this in mind when I wanted to accomplish something.”

Nina is a student at the University of Utrecht (in Holland) and she says she has so many choices to make and so many opportunities. But, understandably, sometimes gets scared when some opportunities take a lot of time to accomplish so she ends up giving up on them (for example being an exchange student in another country). Looking at this quote everyday makes Nina aware of the fact that she  should just do it because the time will pass anyway. Nina hopes next year to be studying in Sweden!

Nina said she could never find any use for the back of her planner, so she kept it empty.  However,  a few months ago she  felt the need to have a clear view of the month that she could easily check,when needed. So, Nina cut  off a piece of a punched pocket and put it on the back of her planner. Now she can slip in monthly overviews that she can easily check whenever she wants. I love this very clever idea!

As Nina goes on to describe in detail her very unique and impressive DIY Planner, she says: “Every week I use three different planners which I put together on two pages of my notebook. I tried colorcoding systems, but I always forgot the codes or forgot to take the colored pens with me so my planner became a complete mess. Using three different sections per week is a much more organized way for me. On the left hand of the page I write down my lectures, exams and meetings (basically every appointment and place I have to go to).  I divided the right hand of the page into two different sections. The left side is the ‘due today'-side and the right is the ‘to do today'-side. This only involves university related tasks. Every semester I take out my course guide and write down all the tasks and reading I have to do on the ‘due today'-side. Every Friday I look at my ‘due-today'-side for the next week and start filling in the ‘to do today'-side for that week. That way I can easily see when something is due and when I planned on doing something.  Using three different sections every week makes it easier for me, because I can see when I have time to study and do things, when tasks are due and when I will do them.”   I am so impressed with this planner system

Not only is Nina a full-time student, but she also works part-time. She does not have a fixed work schedule because her school schedule changes every semester.  Therefore, she likes to keep track of all the hours she has worked and every month she adds it all up to see how many over-time hours she worked.

In the past, Nina has  tried several daily planners but they just don't seem to work for her. Nina prefers weekly planners. Sometimes; however, Nina has days with a lot of meetings, lectures and tasks. On those days Nina does use a daily planner. Nina has even created her own daily bookmarks. It's just a simple bookmark ranging from 7 o'clock in the morning till 9 o'clock in the evening.  This helps Nina keep her mind clear and she only has to rely on the power of writing it down.

This was an absolutely incredible DIY planner. I love all of Nina's unique ideas that work great for her busy life as a student.

I just love taking these planner peek tours.  For even more inspiration with your planner, check out all the Planner Peeks in this series.

Do you want your planner featured in this series AND have a chance to get the Sweet Life Planner worth $35 for free? Just click here to fill out the super short and easy form to have your planner considered for the series.

Leave a comment and let us know how you liked the planner peek and how it’s inspired you.