Planning to plan: paper or digital planners?

As the year comes to an end, I feel like I'm at a very weird cross road: My planner is almost used up.

I've been using a Lilly Pulitzer planner for about 2 years now, but now that I'm not a student and don't need/want an 18 month agenda, I feel like it is slightly wasteful. But is a paper agenda as a whole just as wasteful?

I have a serious problem.

I like the environment. I like trees. I like living on Earth and breathing air. I like that there may be water on Mars but it's not vital to our existence if there isn't any water there because Earth still has tons.

So, as an adult who is obsessed with their iPad, should I just skip out on the paper planner all together? Think about how many trees wouldn't make me feel guilty. And what do you even do with a filled up planner? Digitally, you can just delete.

The big downside to the digital planner is you have to take whatever it's on everywhere and my iPad is a little heavier than my past planners. Then, you have to sync it to your phone and computer and all that.

So which is better? I like writing stuff down, it's soothing. But seriously, what the hell do I do with a used up planner!? And just how many trees sob as they watch sorority girls scribble on their family members each year?

Are you a digital or paper planner? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Thesis Update: Topics

Drumroll, please.... I've picked the topic for my senior thesis!

I've decided to discuss the pendulum effect of privacy on the internet. How private are the things we post, really? This is sort of my main focus, including a brief history of social networks and privacy laws.

Do you have a big project or paper this semester? What are you writing about? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Plan Positive: Organizing your planner

I recently purchased a new planner recently. I liked my old planner, but it was a little too small and I didn't realize that I would have so much stuff to put in it! So I transitioned into something roomier.

Did you have any doubt that it would be Lilly?

I've developed this system to organize my planners. It involves stickies, highlighters and book marks.

First, I have a highlighting key
Green - Class or Assignments
Blue - Work or Meetings
Orange - Extracurricular Activities
Pink - Phi Mu or Greek Events
Yellow - Fun things

Busy as a bee!

Then, I add stickies for busy days.

 I turn sticky notes into daily to do lists!

I use the larger calendar in the front of each month for special events, weekend long plans and birthdays.

Sometimes I like this view because it makes me feel less busy

Finally, I use two bookmarks. A paperclip in between the large calendar and the week I'm currently on. The second bookmark holds the previous months in place. In theory, I could get one large binder clip and ditch the other bookmark (but first I need to find some pretty ones! Any suggestions?)

Pretty sure I found this clip on the floor of my room. 

It doesn't have to be fancy! But I'd like to find a nicer one.

Do you have a system for your planner? Or do you stay organized a different way? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Desk for Success

I have a thing with desks. I love them, but my desks always look totally crazy.

I like having a specific workspace, but no matter how hard I try it always turns into a crazy mess! I have a love/hate relationship with desk drawers: I love shoving random stuff in them, but I hate not being able to find anything!

I had to come up with a solution... but so far, the only one that works is not using my desk drawers.

And with all of my papers slowly stacking up on the corner of my desk, underneath textbooks and clipboards, I realized it was time for a change.

The 'Desk for Success' Scavenger Hunt

Before... not so bad, but needs improvement!

Find: Things of Sentiment
Yes, I know the little notes your sorority sisters slipped under your door are sweet, but if it just says "Love, Jane" reconsider keeping it. Does it bring you lots of smiles? Consider taping it to the wall or put it on your memory board. Is it a gift tag and you use the gift every day? Toss the tag.

Secondly, is it on your desk because you were sitting there last when you looked it? Probably. Find a new home for your sentimental notes!

Find: Receipts
Remember why you kept your receipt. For online shopping slips, I keep them in case I need to make a return and because I paid with my card. For regular receipts, I keep everything except cash receipts.

I started storing receipts in a little accordion folder to keep them from going everywhere. After a year, I toss the receipts.

Find: Homework and Assignments
These are a challenge, but not with file folders. I simply stuff them into a manila folder with the class labeled on them and forget about it... until I need it. Then, all I have to do is open my desk drawer and rifle through the stack of folders. (Hint: Leave current assignments in a neat stack or paper tray)

A good use for a desk drawer!

Find: Chargers, cables and jump drives, not in use
I got Pinterest-y with this one. I had a fantastic Voluspa candle that smelled like peaches, so it was easy to burn down. I didn't want to throw away the black and gold tin (which just so happens to be my school colors) so I froze it and scraped out the remaining wax.

It looks like a fancy candle... but it's secretly my junky cables and chargers!

Then, I rolled up my cords and squashed them into the jar. Ta Da! A fairly attractive tech keeper. I plan on doing this again with all of my Voluspa candles and the pretty tins they come in!

Find: Cables and electrical cords, in use
This one is tough. Cables are unattractive 99% of the time. I usually just stuff the cables behind my desk and hope for best.

Sigh.

I was given a picture frame early this year and it's just the right size to cover up my surge protector.

Much more pleasing to the eye and still totally functional!

Find: Trash, snacks and bottles.
Sipping fresh juice out of your new Lilly tumbler? Great, but it's still sitting on your desk. Awkward... go wash that sucker and put it with the rest of your dishes.

Got a water bottle from your last work out? Is it empty? Drain it or drink it, then recycle the bottle. Trash from an earlier snack? You know what to do.

Did you find everything? 

Can you find the little whales that surprised me while cleaning? 

Can you also spot the two drinks I haven't finished?

What does your desk look like? Do you have your own organization system? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Back in the swing of things

It's back to school for students all over, as spring semester began on Monday!

It's the last semester of my senior year - I'm so nervous! It's the wrap up of all four years and even though the classes aren't that hard, it feels so much more challenging because it's near the end!

I have to write my senior thesis this semester. So far, all I know is a vague topic: how social media changes journalism. I've got some whittling down to do - it's a bit too broad!

Writing my thesis means I'll have to be super organized and focused. I know I'll need to be even more organized than I already am and I'll need to budget my time exceptionally well. I'm best with tight deadlines (hence why I enjoy journalism!) so hopefully the long process of thesis won't lose my interest.

Are you tackling any big projects this semester? How are you planning on staying organized? Share with me (and give me some ideas!) in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

New Year's Cheer Part 2

I woke up to a wonderful surprise from work today... payroll! And it was a lot more than I was expecting - it actually filled in all of the money I spent on random little things this past week.

Which meant, after putting a little slice over in savings, I could treat myself to a little more New Year's Cheer....

I thought the Jumbo Planner might help keep me busy after graduation.

(And, buying them "late" means getting them on sale for a steal!)

A little Phi Mu love for my future office!

Did you snag any good sales from NYC? Did you go back for seconds, like I did? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson