Paper to pixels: a love letter to my planners

My planning system is quite literally the hallmark of my existence. Without it, I’m pretty sure I’d be a whirlwind of anxiety and “productive” panic. For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt the need to be everywhere, do everything and master every habit. If it isn’t written down, then it doesn’t exist, and if it isn't organized, my brain isn’t either. Over the years, I’ve realized that my obsession with layouts and trackers isn’t just about being “anal”; it’s a form of my meditation. It’s the one place where I have total, beautiful control.

The OG days

My journey started in 6th grade with a classic pink “Michael’s” dotted journal. I was 12 years old, watching Amanda Rach Lee on repeat and scouring Pinterest for the perfect “key” and bucket list. What started out as an innocent hobby turned into a four-year high school ritual. Every year began with the satisfying crack of a new spine, labeling the inside “Property of: Eesha Bellad.” Before planning began, I’d map out my new year’s resolutions, favorite songs, book trackers and, of course, a dedicated “doodle page.” Each month had a theme: snowflakes for January, hearts for February, butterflies for June. Every spread was a coordinated dream of fonts, stickers and shades. 

But more than anything, the best part of a Bujo is the personalization. I developed my own 4x2 column grid that turned into a mental sanctuary.

• Mon–Fri: Individual boxes for my tasks.
• The weekend box: a catch-all for tasks that didn’t have a specific home quite yet.
• The deadline tracker: for the big projects that loomed in the distance. 
• A look ahead: An inch at the bottom of the page that peeked into the next week and what that had to entail. 

Moving to college, and moving digital

Transitioning to college meant that my time was finally mine, but it also meant that I was constantly on the move. My system was evolving, so I eventually swapped my journal for my MacBook — while still keeping the cover pink of course!

Currently what keeps me sane

• Google calendar: My master map. Every exam, class, coffee, meeting and deadline is color-coded in various shades of pink. 
• The “Admin” tab group: Here I house my Outlook, Google Calendar and planner open in a permanent living group so they are never more than a click away. 
• The living Google Doc: This is my modern day Bujo. It features an “Upcoming” header that stays at the top of the page so headlines can’t hide from me, followed by an 8-block grid for my daily tasks.

Finding your own peace

Whether it is a $30 notebook or a Google Document, the “best” system is the one that keeps you grounded. My highlighted unfinished tasks and my pink-coded calendars are a little window of my life that tells me everything is under control, even if it isn’t. So, when I pop open my pink laptop, it’s not just a silly document, or just another email — I’m creating peace and harmony in my world. 

Eesha Bellad is a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience from Orange County, Calif. She is a Copy Editor for The News-Letter.