5 Tips to Set Up Your 2022-2023 Planner for a Great Academic Year

 

If your life revolves around an academic year, it’s a good idea to get your organizational tools and academic planners early, while you have a lot of choices. Then, set up your planner before the school year starts so that you are ready to go.

Doing these two things ensure that you feel ahead of the game. You can have a great summer knowing that when it’s time to fire up, you already have the security of your academic planner holding important dates and TO DOs for you, so you don’t need to hold anything in your head.

AT-A-GLANCE offers so many layout choices, and one will be perfect for you. We have some of the best planners for college students, nursing students, as well as the best teacher planners on the market.

Most of our weekly academic planner layouts are wide open and spacious, and offer all types of weekly structures with days:

• Organized in columns,
• Given horizontal spaces,
• Laid out in unusual open block layouts, and
• Appearing all on the left side with open note space on the right side.

Our covers are flexible, durable, and classic, while our premium paper is thick and smooth, and will stand beside you throughout your whole year. Before the school year starts, and life gets busy, set yourself up for success by taking time to get organized for the school year.

 

Here are five tips to set up your 2022-2023 planner for the academic year.

1. Mark Important Dates to Remember for the 2022-2023 Academic Year in your Planner

Go through the whole year and mark each important date on your academic monthly planner layouts (and on weekly pages as well, if you feel the need). You can add some color and fun with colored pens, stickers, washi tape

Here are some examples of items you may want to signify as important: 

• Holidays;
• Vacations like spring break, summer break, etc.;
• Beginning and end of semesters;
• Teacher conferences or training days;
• Other days when school is not in session;
• Any other special days at school; and
• Your class schedule.

If you are in (or teach) college, take note of:

• Dates to add classes;
• Last day to drop classes with refund/“W,” etc.; 
• Last day of classes; and
• The beginning of midterm and final exam weeks.

If you teach, use your academic year teacher planner to note: 

•            Class list(s);
•            Birthdays and anniversaries;
•            Parent contact information;
•            Communication log;
•            Passwords;
•            Medical information;
•            Seating charts; and
•            Any IEP information.

Also, keep in mind personal dates that are important to you and your family like birthdays, concerts, sporting events, weddings or any other dates you have to remember.

 

2. Write Down Goals in your Planner

This is very important. Goals are not something you think about as resolutions for the new year. In fact, 60 percent of people abandon those resolutions within six months, and 25 percent within the first seven days. You can read more about writing down goals in this great Inc. magazine article. 

People who don’t bother to write down their professional and personal goals rarely achieve them. There is something very powerful about the act of writing.

In fact, did you know that you are almost 50 percent more likely to reach your goals if you simply write them down? Small or large, they should ALL go in your planner, so you see them: Learn guitar, organize photos, run a race, get your next job, get good grades. They all need to be written down. 

 

3. Set Planning Times

Make yourself a priority by setting monthly, weekly, and daily planning times. This puts you in the driver’s seat of your life. Sometimes we feel like we hit the ground running, and the day is over before we get to decide what our own priorities are.

Set a weekly planning time to make sure big goals are broken down into short-term goals and even smaller tasks. Then make sure those important tasks are on your to-do list. Color coding can also help to keep tasks organized.

Add a 5-minute planning time to your morning ritual. Set priorities. Make this habit a part of your morning, and it will change your life.

In terms of daily TO DOs, set manageable goals for the day. Pick only 3-5 MUST DOs for your task list. Don’t overcommit. Make room for impromptu changes. Be realistic and set yourself up for success on tasks and projects. Also, remember to delegate what you can. You can always add to the list as your day unfolds.

Plan goal breaks, too. We all need time built into our hectic lives where we just rest our minds, bodies, and spirits. You don’t want to suffer burnout!

           

4. Commit

Put upcoming events, their little tasks and details all in your planner so you can LET THEM GO.

Be disciplined to ONLY use your planner, and it will free your mind. Gone are the sticky notes, important notes written on random pieces of paper, and details in different places in your phone. Take all your notes in one place so you always have details handy.

Ever scroll through the notes on your phone to find dates and details? That is so stressful. A planner will simplify your life and handle time management. Count on your planner like a personal assistant. It will take some getting used to if you’ve never used one, but you will be happy you stuck with it. 

If you have a lot on your mind, and it’s cluttered with lots of things you need to do, pick a page and write down all of it. You may even want to separate the list into work, school, and personal. 

For example, upcoming events often come with a task list of things that need to be done ahead of time:

• Buying festival, concert, or theater tickets,
• Choosing, buying, and wrapping gifts,
• Sending out invitations,
• Following up on appointments.

By writing them in your planner, you will remember to do these important things, but you don’t have to think about them every minute.

Writing it all in your planner should free your mind. It’s an actual “brain dump,” and has also been shown to reduce anxiety. Once you see it all, you can begin to pick it apart and decide what should be done right away, and what items can be put off a bit. Now that it is all in your planner, nothing will be forgotten. Nothing will fall through the cracks. 

For example, you may have: Pick a subject for term paper or finish department budget in your work/school section; and shop for Mom’s birthday on your personal list.

 

5. Celebrate wins, big or small.

Give yourself a little credit. Often, we reach a goal, big or small, and we simply move on to all the things still left to do. Take time to reward yourself, even if it’s something as silly as dancing to your favorite song. Studies actually show that when we celebrate our small successes, we are more likely to have them more often.

We don’t celebrate things enough. Despite the fact that you feel like it’s a small victory, celebrate it! Allow yourself to feel proud, because little accomplishments add up to a lot.

Now you are ready to use your new planner and step into a great new year.

Don't have a planner yet? 

Shop Now for 2022-2023 Academic Planners

We would love to know…

What are your rituals to start your school year? Are there things you have to have ready on day one?

Share this story for others who may benefit from the tips to set up their own planners for a great academic year.