Time management is crucial for a smooth-running office and workday. With so many tasks, meetings, to-do lists, personal goals, overviews and random notes of things you might need to remember, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and end up forgetting something important. This is where work planners come in handy to help increase both your organisation skills and productivity.
From digital planners to paper planners, we believe that every office should have a planner for work. If you’re considering investing in a planner for your employees, we’ve written this guide which includes everything you need to know about work planners, such as the different types, how to choose one and the top benefits of regularly using a work planner.
What is a Work Planner?
A work planner is exactly how it sounds – it helps to plan your day effectively so you can make the most of your working hours. A work planner allows you to roadmap your day/week/month, to help stay on top of important tasks, prioritise, organise and create a feeling of being in control, which will, ultimately, help to reduce stress.
With your work laid out in front of you in a clear, easy-to-read format, you’ll know exactly what needs to be done and when to get the most out of your day – even if you’re not feeling on top of your game.
What are the Different Types of Work Planners?
When it comes to work planners, you can choose either an online planner or a paper planner. For example, online planners can include:
- Asana
- Notion
- Todoist
- Trello
These platforms are very often multifunctional time and project management tools that can be used company-wide for employees to work collaboratively and productively together. With features such as tasks, sub-tasks, meeting calendar schedules, easy-to-use to-do lists, digital notebooks, organised folders for documents, notifications and priority settings, they’ll quickly become an essential tool for the day-to-day.
If you have a start-up or a smaller company where there are no defined teams as of yet, then paper planners may work better for you. Some great paper planners include:
- Moleskine
- Papier
- Circle
- Filofax
While paper planners don’t have the same kind of functionality as digital planners do, they are still filled with useful features that will help your employees work to the best of their abilities. Paper planners often feature 12-month planning sections, to-do lists, goal setting, habit trackers, space for notes, finance tracking, dividers, contacts pages and even a mindful section, too. They’re perfect for those who prefer to work old-school and like to keep their planner with them at all times.
How to Choose the Best Work Planner
Choosing the best work planner for your employees will largely come down to personal preference. If you work in a mainly digital environment with many remote workers, then a digital planner will likely be best. However, if you have employees that are always on the move, heading from meeting to meeting, then daily planners will likely be easier to use.
Many digital planners offer a free trial period, so we suggest making the most of this and testing out several until you find the one that works perfectly for you and your employees. Make sure you get honest and constructive feedback from employees, so you know exactly what features they would find most helpful before you invest in a platform.
Top Benefits of Using a Work Planner
Still unsure if a work planner is suited to your office? Here are the top benefits of implementing an office work planner:
1. It Can De-Stress Staff
Writing down daily or weekly tasks, as well as any notes or other things to do, that may come to mind, helps to free up space in employees’ minds and de-stress them, knowing that everything is in one place and can be referred back to at any time. With a good planning system, staff will find themselves more relaxed and motivated to complete tasks.
2. Increases Focus
By encouraging employees to spend an hour at the start of every week planning tasks, they’ll be able to spend the rest of the week focusing on the completion of those tasks rather than trying to figure out where to start or worrying over remembering the smaller details. Your work planer will help keep everyone’s minds centred on the tasks at hand.
3. Easier to Prioritise
An effective work planner will not only help create a to-do list but also prioritise tasks and schedule deadlines to complete them. This means that instead of employees wondering what they should be doing each day, they’ll be able to look at their planner and know exactly where to get started.
4. Helps Achieve a Healthy Work-Life Balance
It’s no secret that we tend to dedicate a huge part of our lives to work, and many find it difficult to switch off – especially those working from home. Having a healthy work-life balance is essential for employee mental wellbeing and work productivity. Having all of their work under control within their planners will help ease their minds outside of their working hours. Plus, depending on the features of the planner, they can also schedule regular breaks and ensure that they clock out on time every evening.
5. Track Goal Progress
Everyone has their own personal work goals. Whether it’s a pay rise or a promotion they’re aiming for, a work planner will help keep track of those goals and break them down into smaller, more manageable tasks. This will, in turn, keep employees more motivated to continue working toward their goals.
6. Boosts Productivity
Lastly, a work planner will undoubtedly boost productivity within the office. With tasks, to-do lists, schedules, ideas and deadlines all in one, easy-to-see place, you’ll start seeing results in no time. Work will be completed in a timely manner, focus will increase, and employees will feel a sense of satisfaction when checking off the completed task. A work planner makes it easier than ever to accomplish goals and objects in the most productive way possible.
Want to invest in a work planner for your team? Take a look at our office supplies and stationary solutions and contact our team today to discuss your needs. Also, if you’re in the market for a digital planner, check out our business software solutions to learn what type of software tools will be best for your office.