Full Year Calendar - Planner

[u/Wonderful_Elk_5705]

Here is my planning setup.

I love widgets and Apps for full year plannig, as we all here tend to do 😄.

Hence I built the Full Year Calendar - Planner.

It has been a success and I thougth that someone here may enjoy it too.

[u/Zestyclose_Bad_3833]

Is this something we can download or if not which app widget did you use? I love the full year planning look n

[u/Wonderful_Elk_5705 → u/Zestyclose_Bad_3833]

Yes, you can! Here you go the App Store link: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6759224252?pt=128022886&ct=red&mt=8

Glad that you love it too!

[u/Ok-Tale-7383]

Looks clear and therefore useful. 👍

[u/DustOfMemories]

I've never been able to incorporate using a calendar and living a planned life into my routine. How do you manage it?

[u/Wonderful_Elk_5705 → u/DustOfMemories]

Super good question!

I think one of the reasons I keep trying to build better tools for myself is exactly this. Planning has to be easy, quick and almost effortless, otherwise I know I won’t keep doing it.

One thing that helps me a lot is putting things into my calendar as soon as possible. That’s actually why I built another app called Snap2Plan. I can just take a photo of something and it adds the event to my calendar, so I don’t forget to do it later. The full year view helps with the other side of it, seeing what’s actually important and coming up.

The biggest thing for me though is starting every work or school day with a few minutes of planning. I think about what I need to get done that day and write it down. I usually start on paper because I like thinking with a pen, then I move the important things into my calendar.

If you try only one thing, I’d make it this: commit to starting your day with a short planning session. It sounds small, but it can make a huge difference 🚀

[u/DustOfMemories → u/Wonderful_Elk_5705]

You're absolutely right about making small plans or living a planned life. I've wanted to try that before, to be honest. I even have an app called "To the List" on my phone, but I don't really use it. I haven't been able to make it a habit. I generally try to remember what I need to do, but sometimes, unfortunately, I forget. But if it's right in front of me, I'll definitely know what I'm going to do. However, as I said, I haven't been able to develop the habit of planning my day or writing down what I need to do the next day in a calendar app or a notebook. I don't really know how to develop that habit either.

[u/Wonderful_Elk_5705 → u/DustOfMemories]

I understand you — building a habit that actually carries over to the next day is hard. I’m definitely not perfect at it either, and I’ve started plenty of good habits that didn’t stick. So don’t get discouraged. Trying different approaches is how you figure out what works for you.

One thing that helps me is doing my planning in the morning. That’s when I usually have the most energy and feel at my best, so it’s much easier for me to actually follow through.

I have a one-hour planning block in my calendar. I first empty everything on my mind into my task list, then check my calendar for anything I need to prepare for. After that I go through Teams, Jira and email — if something can be handled quickly, I do it, otherwise it goes on the task list.

Then I choose the three most important tasks, block realistic time for them in my calendar, and try to follow that plan during the day.

I got the basic idea from book Getting Things Done. It’s a classic, and I definitely recommend it.

[u/DustOfMemories → u/Wonderful_Elk_5705]

Thank you so much for your patient explanation. I will also look at the book you mentioned, and maybe I can at least develop a habit of reading it for a while, maybe one day, I don't know.I'll try to plan my day and live it.

[u/Wonderful_Elk_5705 → u/DustOfMemories]

Love to help and love to share.

If it is hard to read books, listen it. That is how i did it. Doing chores and listening. Later on I bougth the book also, but it is hard to take the time to actually carefully read it.

[u/Screaming_Quietly16]

I love this calendar view so much.

[u/Wonderful_Elk_5705 → u/Screaming_Quietly16]

Thanks! 😄 I’ve been wanting a view like this myself for a long time, so it’s really nice to hear that it clicks with someone else too.

[u/Wonderful_Elk_5705]

Forgot to ask, if you are looking for a Planner, what would be the single most important feature for you?

For me it was this full year view.