Starting your journal with a calendar for the year is an easy way to look ahead and plan for the next year.
Supplies needed : Pen or Pencil, and a ruler, and perhaps some fun stencils You’ll notice I use stickers and washi too to add color and seasonal decoration.
I like to use different colors for each month, most often I use the color of the birthstone for each month.
Here are some different ways to create your calendars…
Let’s start with the simple calendar, this one uses a simple calendar layout, just the month days and leaves room for appointments or events. Something for the planner with no fluctuating work schedule, no crazy list of birthdays.
This one can be offset as you see, or done in a row, like columns, leaving one side of the page for events.
As you see I used different colors, there is also the option of using some washi tape to separate and give some color if you decide to use black pen.
Another option with the ability to have a few months per page is this, split the page into three, and as you see I used washi to separate the month's and added lines for appointments, birthdays and holidays. I used stickers to add some holiday and seasonal fun.
This next option gives you some space to write events on the day. Again not a lot of space, but enough to write in if you keep track of bills and birthdays and appointments.
Again I used colors, but using black ink keeps it looking simple. Adding washi tape would be another way to break up the space between the months, and add some color if using black pen and wanting a little color.
This uses the full page for the month. This is one of the layouts I use as it is easier to write schedules, and appointments as I use it to keep track of both my work schedules as well as my boyfriends, and any appointments for myself, my boyfriend, and his son.
Again I use color, but it is not needed.
This layout offers trackers and goal setting as well as giving you space to input events and schedules into the calendar. Those weekly chores, cleaning and laundry, even writing and blogging, its nice to be able to check those off each week.
This spread takes up two pages, and is the spread I use most of the time. This gives you more space for daily schedules and appointments. This is definitely the best space for more than one or two schedules. It still gives you the space to add in goals and a weekly checklist if you decide.
If you want to have some fun with your calendar, then using stencils to create areas for each day then something like this can be fun and still give you the space to add in schedules and appointments, while adding an air of fun to your planning.
This is the last and one of the simple options. If you have a notebook with enough lines, then a line per day is easy to do. You’ll see I added washi at the top and used a brush pen to write the month on the side.
Please feel free to comment, post photos of your calendar layouts, I love to see what others are doing.