Skip to content
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Spots Now Open for Our December Subscription Boxes -Shop Here

Language

  • English
  • Italiano
  • Español
  • 日本語
  • Deutsch
  • français
  • 简体中文

Currency

  • AED د.إ
  • AFN ؋
  • ALL L
  • AMD դր.
  • ANG ƒ
  • AUD $
  • AWG ƒ
  • AZN ₼
  • BAM КМ
  • BBD $
  • BDT ৳
  • BGN лв.
  • BIF Fr
  • BND $
  • BOB Bs.
  • BSD $
  • BWP P
  • BZD $
  • CAD $
  • CDF Fr
  • CHF CHF
  • CNY ¥
  • CRC ₡
  • CVE $
  • CZK Kč
  • DJF Fdj
  • DKK kr.
  • DOP $
  • DZD د.ج
  • EGP ج.م
  • ETB Br
  • EUR €
  • FJD $
  • FKP £
  • GBP £
  • GMD D
  • GNF Fr
  • GTQ Q
  • GYD $
  • HKD $
  • HNL L
  • HUF Ft
  • IDR Rp
  • ILS ₪
  • INR ₹
  • ISK kr
  • JMD $
  • JPY ¥
  • KES KSh
  • KGS som
  • KHR ៛
  • KMF Fr
  • KRW ₩
  • KYD $
  • KZT 〒
  • LAK ₭
  • LBP ل.ل
  • LKR ₨
  • MAD د.م.
  • MDL L
  • MKD ден
  • MMK K
  • MNT ₮
  • MOP P
  • MUR ₨
  • MVR MVR
  • MWK MK
  • MXN $
  • MYR RM
  • NGN ₦
  • NIO C$
  • NPR ₨
  • NZD $
  • PEN S/.
  • PGK K
  • PHP ₱
  • PKR ₨
  • PLN zł
  • PYG ₲
  • QAR ر.ق
  • RON Lei
  • RSD РСД
  • RWF FRw
  • SAR ر.س
  • SBD $
  • SEK kr
  • SGD $
  • SHP £
  • SLL Le
  • STD Db
  • THB ฿
  • TJS ЅМ
  • TOP T$
  • TTD $
  • TWD $
  • TZS Sh
  • UAH ₴
  • UGX USh
  • USD $
  • UYU $
  • UZS
  • VND ₫
  • VUV Vt
  • WST T
  • XAF Fr
  • XCD $
  • XOF Fr
  • XPF Fr
  • YER ﷼
Search
  • 2024 Dated
  • Get Started
  • Subscriptions
  • New Arrivals
  • Shop All
  • Rewards
cloth and paper logo black and white
Account Search Cart
Popular Search Results
A closed Cloth & Paper monthly planning and stationery subscription box sitting against a white background with accompanying shadows.
Left Right Quick buy
Planning + Stationery: Monthly Subscription | 3 Months
$127.99 USD
Beginner Planner Bundle in A5, assembled in the Clear Vinyl Cover, resting on a white background with shadows.
Left Right Quick buy
Beginner Planner Bundle
From $75.00 USD $105.92 USD
Transparent Page Flags, Angora, Cloth and Paper. Page flag displayed on a white background.
Left Right Quick buy
Transparent Page Flags
$3.00 USD
Angora GrayApolloAshAspenAu LaitAvant GardeBeignetBelliniBordeauxBourbonCashmereChampagneChia + Lime FrescaCortadoCottonCrêpeDemureDuskFrench 75GraphiteJuniperLe BlancLecheMoscowMykonosNudeOlivePorcelainQuartzSaddleSorbetStoneVeronaMademoiselle+ 31 more
Uni Pin Marking Pen, 01, Cloth and Paper. Pen turned to the right against a white background.
Left Right Quick buy
Uni Pin Marking Pen
$3.00 USD
Black 01Black 02Black 03
Time Block Sticker Set, Vol 1. Four colors of time block stickers - a dark green, light green, off white, and light grey - are arranged together on a white background.
Left Right Quick buy
Time Block Sticker Set
$7.00 USD
Ash/Fawn/Lagoon/Mykonos Vol 1Saddle/Nude/Linen/Stone Vol 2Crêpe/Cortado/Café Noir/Tuscany Vol 3Angora/Matcha/Vert/Olive Vol 4+ 1 more
Close up of tabs with fossil printed text.
Left Right Quick buy
Monthly Side Tab Planner Dividers | Sans Style | Glass Plastic
From $26.00 USD
Black FoilWhite FoilGold FoilFossil Foil+ 1 more
Digital mockup of the Weekly Schedule Insert.
Left Right Quick buy
Weekly Schedule Planner Inserts | Monday Start
From $12.00 USD
Left
  • 2024 Dated Toggle menu
    • 2024 Dated
  • Get Started Toggle menu
    • Beginner Planner Bundle
    • All Planner Bundles
  • Subscriptions Toggle menu
    • Monthly Subscriptions
    • Monthly Subscriber Exclusive Collection
    • Subscription Unboxing Blog
    • Aesthete Luxury Quarterly Subscription
    • Manage Subscriptions
  • New Arrivals Toggle menu
    • Happy Hour New Arrivals
    • 2024 Dated Collection
    • The Heirloom Collection
    • Monthly Subscriptions
    • Subscriber Exclusive Collection
  • Shop All Toggle menu
    • Best Sellers Toggle menu
      • Gift Ideas
      • Penspiration and Planning + Stationery: Monthly Subscription
      • Cloth & Paper Picks
      • Aesthete Lifestyle Collection
      • Sale
      • Shop All
    • Choose Your Planner Toggle menu
      • Leather
      • The Heirloom Collection
      • Discbound
      • Ringbound
      • Notebook
      • A5 Spiral
      • Planner Bundles
    • Choose Your Layering Toggle menu
      • Planner Dashboards
      • Planner Inserts
      • Planner Dividers
    • Add Your Accessories Toggle menu
      • Pen & Pencil Shop
      • Stickers & Sticky Notes
      • Notepads & Desk Pads
      • Planner & Journaling Cards
      • Printables
      • Other Planner Accessories
    • Planning Resources Toggle menu
      • Layering Size Guide
      • Leather Planner Guide
      • Planner Consultations
      • Planning Blog
      • FAQs
  • Rewards Toggle menu
    • Rewards
FREE VEGAN ZIPPER POUCH WITH $150+ USD PURCHASE
A $39 value. Now through 12.24.23 or while supplies last - See Details
FREE VEGAN ZIPPER POUCH WITH $150+ USD PURCHASE, A $39 VALUE - SEE DETAILS
Access Denied
IMPORTANT! If you’re a store owner, please make sure you have Customer accounts enabled in your Store Admin, as you have customer based locks set up with EasyLockdown app. Enable Customer Accounts
Left Older Post Back to Planning Blog Newer Post Right

Your Guide to Essential Planning Basics

Sometimes to find our most organized routine, we need to take it back to the basics. But what is essential for planning? In this week’s blog, we’ll explore what “planning essentials” may look like for you as well as the tried-and-true basic planning tips that elevate planning to its most effective. 

Brown planner on desk

GETTING STARTED

What exactly is needed to start planning? Here are the simplified basics:

  1. Space to plan
  2. Tool(s) to plan

That’s it! So, what does this mean for simplifying or refreshing your routine? We’ll need to establish a solid foundation to ensure that our planning routine is actually effective in relieving mental load and making life easier.


Start by establishing the “space” that works best for you. Answer these questions:

Which size planner is most comfortable for you?

Do notebooks or notepads work better for you than planners?

Does digital planning work better for you than physical?

When it comes to your planning environment, do you feel most comfortable at your desk, in your car, in bed, at a cafe, or somewhere else?

What time(s) do you feel most inspired to plan?


Then, the tools you need to plan:

Which writing tools do you need?

Any organizational necessities?

What brings you joy in planning?

What are your absolute favorite planning items?

What parts of your planning routine relieves mental load and brings you organizational relief?

Consider if there are certain accessories that bring you focus and joy in planning. “Tools” can include inspirational photos, videos, and vision boards – or even making your planning routine a social event. 

For example, I function best with sticky notes nearby at all times, along with a folder to organize stray documents. So, my planning basics include: a planner, a pen, a folder set, and sticky notes. These basics are the items that are required as part of my routine each day - I literally would not be able to plan without them.

Now, evaluate your answers to the questions above. Take those answers and file them under two sections:


SPACE


TOOLS

Empty white planner

EXAMPLES


SPACE

Size: HP Mini

Prefer physical planner with discs

Plan best at an empty desk

Plan best at lunch time, after taking medications


TOOLS

I need sticky notes for quick jots

I need folder sets for stray documents and when I don’t have time to organize

Joy in planning: “mini” aesthetics, creative + alternative journaling

Fav products: chunky pens, dashboards that can layer, and unique accessories

Part of planning that relieves mental load: having accessible checklists


Now, I pair methods/products with my answers:


SPACE

Physical planner in HP Mini size with discs: HP Mini Planner

After taking medications, on lunch break, I’ll plan at my cleaned desk


TOOLS

Sticky notes that allow me to create checklists: Memo Sticky Notes

Making my checklists accessible and organized: Sticky Note Holder

Folders for organizing: CEO Folder Set

Organization method: using “To Be Sorted,” “Inserts,” and “Personal” tabs to fit planning needs; CEO Label Stickers

Can journal creatively with customizable layout: Espana Spiral Notebook | CP Petite; very portable; note to take time to find journaling ideas on Pinterest and FB C&P Insider

Prefer “mini” aesthetic: Mini Shape Sticker Set + Clear Ruler Journaling Card; keep clipped in planner rather than in a holder

Chunky pen: Zebra Sarasa Dry Airfit Grip Pen

Layering that fits my style: “Humanism” Renaissance Dashboard under Crystal Clear Inbox Arch Dashboard, and Assorted Journaling Cards between; layering goals: elegant but inspirational

Unique accessories that bring me joy: Leché Cloth & PaperClip, Artisan Paper Tape, Kokuyo GLOO Roller Tape; minimal accessories that fit my aesthetic but are also functional

HP Mini Planner 

And that completes an essential planning kit with a basic routine! I’ll have a full HP Mini Planner to start planning, sticky notes with their holder for my daily checklist, a folder set to organize my desk, a space dedicated to journaling, along with accessories that complete my routine: stickers, journaling cards, a paperclip, and layered dashboards for the front of my planner. I like to call it my capsule planning collection: it has the essential, most necessary items I need to feel organized, joyful, and relieve “mental load.”

FINDING YOUR PLANNING ESSENTIALS

Now that you have an outline of what you require for your essential planning needs, it’s time to transform your planning supplies and routine to fit that. If items/ideas come to mind while answering the earlier questions, note them. Take a look at blogs, YouTube videos, Instagram posts and browse the website to see what sparks your interest (while fitting with your planning needs). For example, you may realize that you plan best with notebooks, but can’t decide which one is best for you. In this case, Choosing Which Planning Notebook is Perfect for You would be a great resource! Or, if you’re having trouble finding which dated calendar design you work best with, the 2024 Dated Insert deep dive video is perfect!


You may have worries about this process, such as: “I’ve created my essentials list, and it’s a lot! There’s nothing 'essential' or 'basic' about 20+ planning items!” In this case, go back through your list. Consider with each item: will this elevate my planning routine? Is it essential to creating space? Is it essential as a tool? If you’re still left with 20 planning items after answering these questions, that is your essentials list!

Planning accessories

Take time to engage with what truly moves you – that’s what will matter most when you’re planning. Your planner is a symbol of manifestation; you are building – manifesting – what your life, goals, and achievements look like. That’s why planning, while fun, is also very personal, and a powerful tool for elevating your present so that you’re prepared for an even greater future.

Still having trouble establishing your essentials or perfecting your routine? Schedule a Planner Consultation with one of our experts and they'll assist you in creating a personalized dream planner!

Share
  • Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Pinterest Pin it
September 08, 2023
Tags: Beginner Resources How To Organization
Left Older Post Back to Planning Blog Newer Post Right

Leave a comment

Please note: comments must be approved before they are published.

Invalid password
Enter
FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING ON ORDERS $75+ or with any subscription purchase. CANADA & UK SHIP FREE AT $75+ USD FOR ALL ONE-TIME PURCHASES.
Press
Gift cards
Planner Consultations
Nice to meet you!

We design leather planners, minimal planner inserts, transparent sticky notes, planner stickers, and more for 2023-2024 calendar planning with a luxury aesthetic. Often voted the best stationery and pen subscriptions, we curate exclusive boxes each month that are highly revered in the planning community.

CLOTH & PAPER
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Customer Service
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Accessibility Menu
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Returns
  • Terms & Conditions
Cookie Preferences
Explore More
  • Affiliates
  • Meet The Founder
  • Layering Size Guide
  • Leather Planner Guide
  • Search
  • Sitemap
  • Wholesale
Visa Mastercard American Express PayPal Discover Elo Shop Pay Apple Pay Google Pay Meta Pay Afterpay
© 2023 CLOTH & PAPER.

Shopping cart

x

Your cart is empty!

Add your favorite items to your cart.

SHOP NOW
You May Also Like
Last Call | C&P Tote
Last Call | C&P Tote
$12.50 USD
Agenda Cover | Large | Smooth Leather
Agenda Cover | Large | Smooth Leather
$120.00 USD
Agenda Cover | Small | Croc Leather
Agenda Cover | Small | Croc Leather
$100.00 USD

SUBTOTAL (0 ITEMS)