If you’re new to using planners, journals and other organizational tools, you might wonder: “Are day planners worth it”? Planner enthusiast here to tell you: investing in a planner is absolutely worth it! Using one can be a game changer regarding productivity, organisation and stress reduction. Also known as an agenda, calendar organizer and calendar journal, a planner keeps essential information in one place, which can help you prioritize day-to-day tasks, manage time better and lessen mental clutter by releasing brain space for you.
There are several planner types, including daily and weekly options. Choosing the right one can be tough, whether you’re a planner enthusiast or only starting out planning. You might even need different types of planners at diverse stages of your life since different seasons call for distinct systems.
Daily vs Weekly Planner: an Age-old Dilemma for Organized People
Planners come in daily, weekly, and monthly layouts. I used all three formats in one planner at one point, thinking it was the key to perfect organization. From experience, I can tell you it’s total overkill, turning out to be a complete disaster. Using the daily and weekly planner formats can be especially helpful for beginners. Choosing only one format will help you find the perfect planner for 2024! Let’s look at the benefits of the two options to help you decide which would be better for you, so you can better organise your life.
Benefits of a Daily Planner
A practical 2024 daily planner is ideal for those with many variable tasks but might be overkill for those with a consistent daily routine. During slower periods, I find a daily planner too much. However, I’ve used a daily planner successfully when my days were packed with meetings and appointments, requiring constant schedule checks. Without it, I’d need 20 phone alarms daily to remind me where to be and what to do. Writing out your schedule in a 2024 daily planner will make your life much easier if the rest of 2024 is a busy season for you!
Benefits of a Weekly Planner
A weekly planner is great for managing many appointments or tasks but isn’t ideal for daily note-taking. A weekly planner was perfect when I had a consistent daily routine and numerous appointments. After closing my business, I had repetitive tasks and focused on my daughter’s appointments. The weekly planner was just right; I didn’t need extensive long-term planning and relied on routines to keep our household running smoothly. Weekly planners are best for managing multiple schedules and long-term projects. During these times, I prefer seeing my entire week at a glance.
How to Decide Which Planner is Right for You?

You should consider using an aesthetic daily planner if:
- You have busy days with many appointments, tasks, and meetings.
- You like detailed daily planning.
- You prefer time-blocking your day.
- You want to track meals, hydration, workouts, or other habits.
- You enjoy jotting down everything, including notes and to-do lists!
- You have large handwriting.
- You have sticky notes and scrap paper all over the place.
- You don’t mind a large planner and love the space.
You should consider using a schedule for the coming week if:
- You perform repeated chores or follow a set daily schedule.
- You like viewing your entire week at once.
- You need to track appointments and meetings.
- You manage multiple schedules – kids, a partner, or others.
- You spend several days or weeks working on a project.
- You dislike flipping between pages throughout the week.
- You only write down essentials, keeping task lists minimal.
- You need a portable, lightweight planner.
Which Sounds More Like You?
A weekly planner generally helps to plan and manage multiple schedules and projects over time. A daily planner helps track every detail, manage time, and note tasks and habits. If you’ve found yourself in both options, consider investing in a few different planner pieces. Find a reputable store that offers flexible planning options. Some sets allow you to move smoothly from a daily to a weekly planner. In other words, you don’t have to choose between daily and weekly planners. You can use both!
Still Not Sure?
If you still can’t decide which planner would be the better option, try sample pages for each format! Spend a few days or weeks with each system, taking note of your favourite aspects of each planner style and determining which one helps you feel more at ease or organized. Focus if you have enough room to write everything down.
Remember, different seasons call for different systems, and those seasons can change quickly. Use a daily planning tool for a task or month that is exceptionally hectic. Use a weekly planning tool for long-term projects or a busy week of appointments. Don’t be afraid to mix and match planners, notepads, and accessories. Customization is what gives a planning system its power!