It’s that time of year again when we start to receive our gorgeous planners. Yes, you heard right – planners, not the black journals.
But of course not all of us utilise these incredible pieces of paper in the same ways. After all, “efficiency” has a different meaning for everyone.
So, unless you are Year 7s and 8s who actually ensure their planners are kept *tidy*, you may be wondering how a tiny diary, entailing calendar dates and the occasional school guideline, can have such a range of uses.
Let’s start with the *star student* (definitely not targeting anyone here)
You worship your planner. It is also simultaneously the bane of your existence; you will have a panic attack if you forget it or lose it. Now, before you start to use what you call your “treasure”, you will 100% read all the school rules, dress codes and teacher/student contacts in the front. In fact, filling in the details on the page which reads out “Who can you turn to?” is not an obligation, but a must. If your history teacher gives you a history essay to write, you will not fail to jot it down perfectly on the lines, with the right due date. And, most importantly, you are a ticker. Crossing out finished work is just too messy, and you look down with disgust on the ones who actively do it. When you need a map during geography, why Google it from the convenience of your laptop sitting right in front of you?! No, you will take your planner out of your bag, flick to the back, and set out the tiny map on your desk whilst squinting aggressively to find where Bora Bora is. No, no, it’s fine – you have principles, and I respect that.
Next is the *artist*
To be honest, “artist” is quite an ambitious word to describe you – maybe we should downgrade you to a “passive-aggressive doodler”. Your goal is to ultimately ensure that everything already in your planner is abstract and that your pieces of “art” (also known as lines, zigzags, flowers, hearts and others) serve as entertainment for you when you’re about to fall asleep during class. It definitely acts as some sort of expression for your rebellious attitude. The periodic table is no longer legible and if you ever write a piece of homework or important event down, it will be in bubble writing. Your mantra is “sharing is caring”, hence allowing you to doodle all over your friends’ planners as well. Smiley faces are your favourite symbol to scribble on other people’s planners, and when you do this on the *star student’s*, well, you barely make it out alive. Maybe you even preferred the journal?
The *aesthetic* one
The harsh reality is that everyone pretends they like your aesthetic approach, but truly they judge you enormously when you come to class with your pastel highlighters and perfectly ordered gel-pens. Your planner is your artbook. If your handwriting ever goes astray (which it hardly ever does), you will flash out in anger and may throw a tantrum. When a teacher gives you homework, you’ll wait until break so you can take your own sweet time and neatly write it down – in calligraphic handwriting. If you come across a *doodler*, you won’t hesitate to hurt them. Everything in the planner is ugly to you and demands a serious makeover as it simply doesn’t fit your *vibe*. Of course you will never ever throw away your planners. When the academic year is over, you store it in your drawer so you can have a sneaky peek at your beautiful talents when you’re feeling down.
The *organised* one
Orthodontist appointment. Essay deadline. To-do lists. Your brother’s birthday dinner. You jot absolutely everything down, be it work-related or personal. Your planner goes everywhere with you, and you need it to be on top of your schedule. You write it on the correct date, with the time, location and duration – your time-management is something you take pride in. Crossing finished items is just so satisfying and makes you feel better about yourself, especially when it’s a piece of homework; “out of sight, out of mind” is your mantra, and you won’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
The one who *just doesn’t care*
I have to admit, you’re an interesting character. Your best friend is the *doodler*, and you view everyone else as too intense. You didn’t even notice the dress codes and important information at the front of your planner, as it isn’t a priority for you. Of course, organisation is key, but you would rather casually write things down on your hand or on the sticky notes app on your laptop. Remembering to carry around a thin planner is too much effort for you and most of the time it lies at the bottom of your bag or has been the victim of many water spills. Occasionally, you’ll use the periodic table for that chemistry homework, if need be, but you can’t really be bothered to actively fulfil its true purpose. If ever used, it is only because you’ve been forced to write down a reminder to bring in that forgotten trips consent form the next day.
No judgement (except by teachers) but you’re definitely one of these people – there is no in-between I’m afraid. So just own it!
