Article: There are many different kinds of day planner, suited to different tasks and personalities. Some day planners are very simple lined notebooks; other day planners have different sections for different kinds of tasks. Take a few moments to think about why it is you want to use a day planner and what you would use it for. It is very important to consider these questions because you will be more likely to use your day planner if it becomes your sole planning tool: keeping more than one day planner at a time will be confusing and will defeat the purpose. Ask yourself:  Will I need a section for phone numbers? Will I use it primarily for remembering appointments? Do I want a day planner that lasts for more than one year? Do I want my day planner to replace another organizing tool (such as my to-do lists)? Do I want a simple, plain notebook, or one with lots of different features and sections? Would I rather have a day planner that is small enough to fit in a pocket or one that is large enough to handle notes from my meetings?  Do I want a day planner that provides more space for weekdays, or will I need my day planner primarily for weekend activities? Day planners can be purchased at a variety of stores, such as office supply shops, stationery stores, calendar stores, and online. They can cost anywhere from just a few dollars to over $50. While the aesthetics of your day planner are important, pay attention first and foremost to the layout and sections of the day planner. Make sure that the day planner you purchase is organized in a way that you find pleasing and that makes sense given your lifestyle and responsibilities. Even though function is the most important thing, you will be more likely to get in the habit of using a day planner that you find attractive and pleasing to the eye. Some day planners are very simple, with just a plain black leather cover. Others are bright and whimsical, with lots of designs and elaborate patterns. Any aesthetic is fine as long as it accords with professional decorum in your workplace. Pay attention to the aesthetics of the inside of the planner as well as the outside. Some people prefer unlined pages to lined pages, for example. Some people like symmetry; others might like more dynamic layouts. You might also prefer certain typefaces to others. Make sure that you find your day planner pleasant to look at--inside and out--in order to further incentivize your daily use of it. Your day planner won't do you much good if you can't write anything down in it. Be sure to keep lots of sharpened pencils and working pens in places you are most likely to use your day planner. These include:  Your briefcase or work bag Your purse Your work desk Your desk at home Close to your landline phones If you are someone who consistently loses pens and pencils, consider storing an emergency pencil inside your day planner itself. Some day planners even have a little bit of storage space you could use for a spare pencil.

What is a summary?
Consider what you would use a day planner for. Purchase a planner that suits your needs. Consider the aesthetics of your day planner. Have a ready supply of pens and pencils.