Andrea Dekker

131 Comments

My Daily Routine + Free Printables!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure here.

It’s no secret that I absolutely LOVE my weekly planner!


I carry it with me everywhere I go and reference it at least 27 times each day — seriously, I do.

And even though my daily planner is super helpful for remembering and tracking my weekly, monthly, and other long-term appointments and activities; I was still struggling to find the perfect “planner” for my busy, BUSY daily activities.

I like small planners, but small planners mean I don’t have enough room to write everything I do on a daily basis…so I resorted to lots of lists and sticky notes shoved inside my planner.

It worked, but I knew I could come up with something better!

I started looking around the web to see what I could buy or find for free, but I really didn’t come up with anything that I absolutely loved. There are a lot of other great daily planner worksheet and printables out there, but they never seemed to fit my life.

So I created my own!

I sat down and figured out exactly what I needed and wanted in a daily worksheet, and THIS is what I came up with…

— I also created a blank worksheet that you can download for free, so keep reading! —

Here’s a little explanation for each category in my worksheet.

Top 5 List:

Sometimes I have really productive days, other times I hardly get anything accomplished — can you relate?

However, even on my “bad days” I still make a good effort to complete my Top 5 List — or the MOST important things for the day. If my Top 5 List is checked off, I’ve done what needed to be done and the rest can wait until tomorrow!

Meal Plan:

I put the meal plan right next to the Top 5 List because I want to start thinking about any food I need to cook, bake, or defrost right when I wake up. This saves me a lot of stress around 5:00 pm!

Exercise and Water:

I don’t know about you, but I am REALLY bad at making time to exercise every day, and I never drink enough water. So I put these 2 items on my daily worksheet because I’m much more likely to do something if I need to “cross it off my list”. Seriously, this really works!

Other Boxes:

The left column below is pretty self explanatory — I think!  I wanted a place to write all my other daily to-do’s, appointments, things I need to buy, and notes — so I created a good-size box for each category. And the appointments box even has a place for the time!

Daily Routine:

The right column below is my personal daily routine. I obviously don’t do everything on this list every day; but on days when I’m working from home all day, I try to check every box! {I’m really competitive so it’s a great motivational tool for me!}

Double Planner:

I also created a Double Planner so I can print 2 sheets on the same page {I also print them double sided} and put it inside my purse or inside my monthly planner.

This simple document has helped me be more productive, more efficient, and better manage my time each day.  Plus, it’s always rewarding to look back and see everything I’ve accomplished in one day!

I almost love it MORE than my weekly planner… almost!

.

Print your own FREE Daily Worksheet:

My Daily Planner — SINGLE This is the worksheet I use every day. The daily routine column is already filled in.

My Daily Planner — DOUBLE This is a double version of the worksheet I use every day {see picture above}

Blank Daily Planner — SINGLE This is the same as my worksheet but the “daily routine” column is BLANK.

Blank Daily Planner — DOUBLE This is a double version of my worksheet with BLANK “daily routine” columns..

UPDATE {as of 8/14/2012}

You can now download a customizable version of my daily planner here! 

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Comments

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  3. Tammy Freeman says

    I would like to learn more about how to make my own daily planner. Because I have so much to do in the day time. I need a schedule going. I have add a few more to my week. I need to make something that I can keep on top of them. By the way, I like the one you did for yourself.

    Reply

  5. Stephanie says

    Thank you so much for the customizable planner sheets! They’re wonderful! However, I want to use the double one for my planner, but I can’t type on it. The single, full sheet works. Any ideas???
    Thanks!

    Reply

  9. Susan says

    Here is what I hate about planners and most tablets (the paper kind): they are not made for left handed people. I have to drape my arm over the spirals to write on the right side! When I was going to college I had to buy spiral notebooks with the spiral at the top. Loved them! They need to make planners like that!

    Love your site btw!

    Reply

  11. Melissa says

    Hi there,
    I was wondering if you had a customizable version of My Daily Routine that was a “double”(two on a page)?

    I really enjoy your blog and all of the great information, encouragement and wisdom. Keep up the good work.

    Thank you so much!
    -Melissa

    Reply

  13. Kristan says

    This is great! I’ve tried Planner Pads and the Franklin Covey system but this layout fits with how I live my life. I’m a busy mom with a full time job trying to start my own business. I’m up from 6am to 10pm every day. Most calendars and planners start their numbered hours at 7am and stop at 8pm. That just doesn’t work for me who does so much outside of those hours. Now if I can get it to print two on one 8.5″ x 11″ sheet and hole punch it into my datebook…

    Reply

  15. Melissa says

    I absolutely love your planner(s)! I can’t wait to print them out and get organizing! Lol tysvm

    Reply

  18. Meredith says

    Hey!

    Thank you so much for your fabulous idea and for sharing it!! I was wondering if you could tell me what you use to store your pages in. I was thinking a three ring binder but then it may be too clunky to carry around.

    Reply

    • Jamie says

      I was wondering that also. Do you just tuck them into your planner, or do you use a small binder?

      Reply

  19. Kate says

    Andrea, finding your planner was literally an answer to prayer! I have been using the worksheet for about 3 weeks now, and it is just perfect for my learning style. I am a visual person, so the way a planner is visually set up is instrumental in whether or not it works for me. Most planners I try, I am never able to stick with because they just aren’t detailed (yet flexible) enough. I can’t tell you how much I love this worksheet! Anyway, for whatever reason, I hadn’t noticed it before, but today I came across your double page version. This would work wonderfully for me because nearly every day I end up taking the day’s page out of my binder and folding it up in my wallet so I can have it with me. This half-page size would be perfect for running around with. I already have visions of creating a mini-planner with it! The only problem is that it isn’t customizable like the larger one. 🙁 Since you are so kindly offering this free of charge, I really hate to ask, but if it’s a simple request, I would be remiss if I didn’t… is it possible to get the smaller size in the customizable version too? Thank you SO much for using your gift and talent to bless others, especially a “S.H.E.” like me who really struggles with keeping an organized, orderly home and lifestyle for my family. If I could, I would give you a really big hug! 🙂

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      Thanks Kate. Glad it’s working so well for you 🙂
      Unfortunately, I don’t have a way of making the double planner customizable — without totally remaking the planner from scratch using a different program (and I don’t plan to do that right now!) Sorry I can’t be of more help this time!

      Reply

  22. Karen Johnson says

    Thanks so much for sharing HOW and WHAT you use to organize your very busy life.

    I love to write things down, but I have a hard time discarding the pages which can become a nightmare if not managed. I was just wondering what you do with your Daily Routine pages after the day is over.

    Do you archive your Daily Routine pages? If so, how?
    Or do you just toss them?

    Thanks!

    Reply

  24. Joy says

    I get easily overwhelmed with paper… So i transferred your basic set up onto a dry-erase board with a permanent marker. In the evening I reset the board for the next day. Its also helpful for days I work… Whoever is watching the kids already has snacks & meals, appointments and activities written down. Thanks for helping me figure out what I need to know every day 🙂

    Reply

  25. Cait says

    Um, this is COMPLETELY perfect. This is exactly what I was looking for. Plus 1 on the drinking water…I will definitely keep that part. I also have a different task organizer, but every day I am constantly kicking myself for things like not having put my eye cream on the night before, forgetting to charge my phone, not filling the dog’s kong with peanut butter so it’s ready to go (haha), etc….Things that I would never dream of putting on my actual to-do list but that I need a visual cue to remember.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  26. Kathy Carter says

    I absolutely love your daily planner sheets. They have made my life so much simpler. I also use more than one planner and having this one to incorporate with the bigger one has been a blessing. I cut them in half and made a little cover for the front, stapled it together and now it goes where ever I go. I am really happy you made a blank one too since I don’t have a dish washer 😉 YOU ROCK!!!!!

    Reply

  27. Sharon Weidemann says

    This is such a blessing! I have 7 kiddos… 3 of them being foster & 2 kiddos with medical needs. This is going to help me unclutter my mind with all of the details. Thank you thank you thank you!

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      Wow — sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now Sharon. So glad my daily routine printable is helping you sort out your crazy, busy life 🙂

      Reply

  28. Kristia says

    Andrea – What did you use to create your daily planner? Was it Word? Excel? I really like the layout, but I want to change somethings around for my needs.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  29. Joanne says

    Hiya, I am a little planner obsessed mostly looking for the perfect one when I am over tired!
    My question is how do you deal with repeating things, ie weekly, monthly, 4 weekly, twice a year? Do you go through Your planner and write in every occurance? Am a little distracted by it all today, as you can tell!
    Regards Jo x

    Reply

    • Heidi says

      Hi Joanne, a trick I’ve used for entering weekly classes into my planner is to print them out on small labels and stick them on the correct dates.

      Reply

  30. krisna says

    Thanks lot andrea! you know, i have been visiting your site for only a week …but i really really love it. indeed, i find your ideas better (because they’re live-able and do-able) than real simple, as much as i also like that magazine. Now, I look forward to your new posts. Count me as your newest fan! Thanks a lot.

    Reply

  31. Ellen says

    I just printed off a weeks worth of the daily routine sheets to give it a trial run. One thing I thought would be handy- I printed on pre-punched 3 ring binder paper and I will keep the old & unused forms in a binder. Thanks for sharing such a valuable tool.

    Reply

  32. Liz says

    I always was wondering what people put on a daily planner. I never had one, was not taught how to use one and now in my mid 50’s would like to try to get more organized. I keep things to do in my head, but never wrote a “To Do List”. Now I know and would like to try it. I am a little overwhelmed and ready everything from….planning meals/cooking/freezing/couponing…where does one start? can you help?

    Reply

  34. Kristie says

    I was wondering if you had found out a way for others to customize your daily agenda. I love it and have been looking for a long time for something like it. But would like to type in my own daily routine.

    Reply

  35. Sarah Jane says

    Love this but do you happen to have the excel file to share? I really like it but don’t use some of the sections and would love to customize!!!

    Reply

  36. Heather says

    Hi! I love your blue daily planner sheet. Is there a way I could buy a customizable version of it? Thank you!!

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      Thanks Heather,
      Why don’t you email me and I’ll see what I can do {aldekker@gmail.com} I’m not sure if it will work, but I have a couple ideas!

      Reply

  37. LOVE THIS POST says

    THANK YOU! this is PERFECT and exactly what I needed. I think I will adapt this for my own day. LOVE IT.

    Reply

  38. Kate says

    THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH I have been looking for something like this for a good bit I cant tell u how awesome this is!!!!!

    Reply

  39. Amy says

    I love this but I only use my ipad instead of a planner. Do you know how I could use this with my ipad?

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      Sorry, my printables aren’t that cool 🙂 They are just for printing. I don’t have any fancy software or programs (just Excel) but that’s why I’m able to offer them all for free.

      Reply

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