Summary:
When I first asked other therapists about their favorite planners, the Erin Condren Lifeplanner came up again and again. It is a complete planning system that is designed with room for creativity. So I was thrilled when they set me a box full of goodies to review.
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What we love:
My favorite thing about the Erin Condren Lifeplanner is the space to decorate my schedule and notes. Somehow when my calendar is more aesthetically pleasing, I feel less overwhelmed.
Another benefit to these planners is that you can choose the format of your weekly calendar. I keep client appointments online so I don’t need an hourly schedule in print but that option is available. You can also choose between vertical or the horizontal option shown below.
I’ve used this format of planner with clients before who want to start journaling or adding some kind of creative outlet into their lives but feel overwhelmed. The relatively small space of allotted to each day can be used to jot down notes about their emotions or filled with a small drawing. In my experience, this has worked as a great gateway into self-care.
My favorite thing about the Erin Condren brand is the variety of add-ons. I love the coordinated stickers because they make adding color easy without requiring any real talent or much time. I used them in my journal too. There are also wet erase pages that can be added for planning menus, trips and daily tasks.
Grab your own Erin Condren Lifeplanner here.
What we didn’t:
My biggest complaint with the Erin Condren Lifeplanner was its bulkiness. The paper is thicker to prevent bleeding through, which is nice, but it makes the final product bigger than I might have liked. I also wished that it had a goal system, or at least goal pages, like some of the other popular planners.
Clinical Use:
This planner is great for keeping up with busy schedules while adding color and creativity. It’s easy to quickly customize which made a surprising difference in how stressed I felt when looking over my day.
This post is one in a series of planner reviews to help you get ready for 2019. You can find the roundup of all the planners I reviewed here.
If you know of another planner or a book we need to review, let us know here or tell us about it in the comments. Make sure you’re also following The Therapist’s Bookshelf on Facebook and Instagram.
Many therapists enjoy recommending books to their clients to supplement the work they are doing together. We also use books to help ourselves grow as people and practitioners. Remember though that books are never a replacement for real human connection or for therapy when it’s needed. If you find yourself needing a therapist, a great place to start is Psychology Today. If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
Erin Condren Lifeplanner
55.00
Pros
- Colorful
- Coordinated System
- Customizable
Cons
- Bulky
- Missing Goals
