While some people have moved well into the digital age when it comes to their calendars, I am one of those people who will forever prefer a paper planner. It all started back in sixth grade, when I was handed my first ever planner by my homeroom teacher. In an effort to get kids to be more responsible with their assignments, my school (district?) made them mandatory for all students. It was love at first sight.

Alas, now there are about a million different planners you can choose from, which makes things a little bit trickier. It took me years to find my perfect planner, and I hope these reviews will help you find yours.

2018 At-a-Glance Planner

Like most moms in America, Target is one my of favorite places in the world. And, outside the always magical Bullseye’s Playground (formerly known as the Dollar Spot), one of the best aisles houses an assortment of notebooks and planners. This At-a-Glance “Painted Love” planner caught my eye, and as one of the most readily available planner brands, I decided it would be a great one to take a closer look at.

• Dated January 2018 to December 2018
• 4 7/8″ x 8″ (also available in 12″ x 15″)
• Quality white paper containing 30% post-consumer waste
• Monthly/weekly spreads

Unlike my beloved Erin Condren Life Planner, this is a much smaller, more lightweight option. It’s easy to toss into just about any bag, with enough space in the weekly spreads to keep track of regular appointments.

The monthly and weekly spreads are fairly traditional, using two pages for each. I find the monthlies too small for much (maybe birthdays?), but still enjoy having them even if only for reference. The weeklies are surprisingly spacious in comparison. While each day has just one section, there are plenty of lines to accommodate a somewhat busy lifestyle. Plus, you know I appreciate all seven days having equal billing.

In addition to a couple of lined pages for notes, the back of this planner also includes space for important contacts and a perpetual calendar for noting birthdays, anniversaries, and the like.

While I personally prefer a planner with a little more space and some more extras, something like this would be a great option for someone wanting to keep things more simple.

This handy little planner is available on Amazon now OR… you could win one free from me! Leave a comment here or on the corresponding Instagram post for your chance. I’ll send it out at the beginning of the year so you can start 2018 off right. Happy Planning!