It feels like yesterday that I was at home with my two littles and looking for ways to be more organized at home. In this post, we’ll dive into the best planners for stay at home moms to help with this!
Being a stay-at-home mom is so very rewarding and fun … and it can also be challenging to put together a routine to stay organized, yet flexible.
Sometimes it can feel like no two days are the same and other weeks, it’s a bit like groundhog day. Whether it’s taking care of the kids or juggling alll the things that need to be done around the hours. And let’s not forget that endless pile of laundry!
I found that having a loose structure to the day helped me to stay on top of things. It wasn’t until I found a great planner that things really started to feel better though.
There’s a misconception that you need to be organized to use a planner but that’s the wrong way around! One of the best ways to stay organized is to find and use a planner.
However, not all planners work for all people – and I’m here to help YOU find the best planner for stay at home mom life.
Or, if you’re looking for a great gift for a stay at home mom, I have you covered here.
Choosing the Best Planners for Stay at Home Moms
Let’s first look at how a planner can really help you to stay organized. The kind of things you can organize in your planner include:
- keeping track of appointments
- your to-do lists
- meal planning
- grocery shopping
- school activities
- birthdays or other family ends
- and more!
Maybe you’ve already tried a planner or two and have found one that perfectly fits your needs. Don’t worry as there will be one that’s great for you!
I know firsthand that being a stay-at-home mom doesn’t mean you have endless hours in the day to get everything done. In fact, I had to be a ninja some days to maximize the minutes.
There were many times I’d get to the end of the day and feel sad that the house wasn’t taken of and I just needed help.
How a Planner Can Help Stay at Home Moms
You’ll save time
When you plan your days and week in advance so you always know what’s coming up and what you need to get done, you’ll have more time to focus.
Creating a to-do list for every day is helpful to keep you on track in completing your tasks in order of priority.
You’ll feel less stressed
When you’re getting the things done that are important to you and becoming more organized, you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed.
Plus, you’ll always know where you’re up to so there will be less worried about having to remember everything from memory. It took me years after having kids for my memory to feel somewhat normal again!
You’ll get more done
Using a planner really helps you become more productive with the time that you do have.
I found that once I became aware of my priorities and started using a proper to-do list, I got so much more done each week instead of wandering aimlessly and feeling overwhelmed.
You’ll be able to communicate better with the family
When you have a better grasp of the family’s plans, appointments and tasks, you can let other family members know what to expect.
You can also start to ask them for help with more specific things and they’ll likely be grateful to lend a hand.
You’ll have more time for YOU
I get it, the thought of having time to yourself when you’re taking care of the kids can seem out of reach. Especially when your day is already so busy.
That said, having time for yourself and taking care of yourself is so very important and should be as high up on your to-do list as it can.
Now it’s time to discover how to choose the best planner for stay at home mom like you!
How to Choose the Best Planner for Stay at Home Moms
Here are some of the key things to look for when you’re choosing a planner that’s perfect for you:
How big is it?
Yup, matters! If you’re out and about with the kids a lot and you want to take your planner on the go with you, you’ll need to choose one that’s easy and light to carry.
Does it fit into your bag? How heavy is it? Will you take your main planner with you or having a purse-sized one for when you’re out?
How do you plan best?
The layout of the planner your choose is important and if you’ve struggled with using a planner in the past, it could be that it had the wrong layout for you.
Would you prefer a daily, weekly, or monthly planner? Or would you prefer to plan by the hour? There are so many different varieties of planners these days to choose from!
Will you decorate your planner?
How much “white space” do you need and do you prefer to write lists or longer sentences?
Do you doodle? Or do you want to use planner stickers or plan to decorate your planner in other ways?
I LOVE to decorate my Erin Condren LifePlanner!
What about customization?
Many planners allow you to customize the pages to fit your needs – and this can be so fun! E.g. perhaps you could add a fitness section, a meal planning section or a place to track your family budget.
Think about the things you’ll like to use your planner for and if the planner you’re considering has the right space and functionality.
What’s your budget?
Choosing a planner that fits your budget is important and lucky there are many different kinds of planners available now at every budget from everyday to super luxe!
Is a durable cover important to you? A replaceable cover? High-quality planner page paper? What other additional features could drive up the cost?
Speaking of budget, if you want to know how to make money for a stay at home mom, check out this post on home business ideas for moms!
Here are some of the best planners for stay at home moms I’ve discovered:
| Name | Image | Info | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper Planner Club |  | A huge range of printable planners and planner stickers. | BUY NOW |
| Erin Condren LifePlanner |  | A customizable planner in vertical, horizontal or hourly layout. | BUY NOW |
| The Happy Planner |  | Huge range of paper planners that lets their customers be creative in their planning. | BUY NOW |
| Moleskin Notebook |  | Vast range of planners and notebooks in multiple sizes and colours. | BUY NOW |
| Kikki K Planners |  | The range is vast, beautiful and make great gift options. Choose from an array of pads, filofaxes and hardbound books. | BUY NOW |
| Leuchtturm1917 |  | Practical range includes daily, weekly, monthly and academic planners. | BUY NOW |
| Panda Planner |  | Undated daily planners. | BUY NOW |
| Ban.do |  | Quirky range and great for gifting. From notebooks to weekly planners to wellness planners. | BUY NOW |
| Leanne Baker Daily |  | Includes personalized printed planners in a range of sizes, including A4, A5, and A6. | |
| The Day Designer |  | Beautiful and visually appealing planner. | BUY NOW |
| Plum Paper Planner |  | Customisable and interchangable planners. | |
| Lime Weekly Planner |  | The Lime Weekly planner is simple, functional and so versatile. The unique weekly layout gives you the freedom to be creative. Designed by a sticker creator so the coil is spacious to allow for sticker expansion. | BUY NOW |
How Stay-at-Home Moms Can Use a Planner
If you’re not already clear on the kind of planner that’s perfect for you, here are some ideas of how you can use and get the most out of a best stay at home mom planner:
Set goals and stick to them
Setting goals every week is a great way to stay focused and motivated to get more done. In your planner, you can write down a list of tasks that you want to achieve each day, prioritize them based on importance and check them off along the way. By setting achievable goals, you’ll be more likely to stay on track and feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.
Use color coding to make planning easy
Whether it’s colored pens or beautiful stickers, you can use different colors for the different tasks or activities that are important to you.
Color coding is a great way to stay organized and make your planner looks pretty too! E.g. you could use one color for appointments, another color for household chores, and a third color for family events.
Start a planning habit you’ll love
I get it, starting a new planning routine can be hard to stick to, especially if you’re using a planner as a beginner. To make using a planner a habit you’ll do every day, set aside a specific time each day to review your planner and update it as needed.
When it becomes a part of your daily routine, you’ll be more likely to stick with it and get all the benefits of being organized. More on sticking to a planning routine here.
Prioritize self-care
Taking time for YOU is so very important, even if only for a short time each week. As a stay-at-home mom, it’s super important to take care of yourself, as well as the kids.
You can include some self-care activities in your planner, such as rest, exercise, meditation, or a relaxing time reading in bath. When you schedule in these activities, you’ll be much more likely to actually make time for them and prioritize your well-being.
Stay on track … long term
When you regularly review your planner, you’ll be more likely to stay on track with your goals, to-dos and tasks. You can be flexible and rearrange your plans when you need to and even more importantly, celebrate your successes on the way!
Summary of the Best Planners for Stay at Home Moms
So now you can see that finding the perfect planner can be much-needed help for stay-at-home moms who want to be more organized and stop feeling overwhelmed.
When you find a planner that’s perfect for you, has the right functionality, is the right size, layout and price, you’ll feel the benefits above in no time!
I would love to know what your fave planner is so share it in the comments below!
Read next:
- BEST Planners for Moms
- Bullet Journal 101: Bullet Journaling for Beginners!
- How to Use Planner Stickers to Increase Productivity
- Erin Condren Planner Review 2023 (Sizing & Dimensions)
- Podcast: Why Less Choice Makes You More Productive
I hope you found this article on the best planners for stay at home moms super helpful.
