As someone who struggles with anxiety, I am going to share the ways that using a planner on a daily basis helps to alleviate my symptoms, and how it can help you too.
Peace of Mind
Anxiety can affect memory. As someone who can easily forget dates, times, or deadlines, knowing that all of my important info is written in my planner is such a relief. I know that I can reference it when needed so that nothing gets forgotten or overlooked. This keeps my mind free of clutter and makes space for whatever needs my full attention. A planner can also be used to brain dump anything and everything that comes to mind. Doing this before bed can help calm a racing mind and aid in sleep. I love being able to plan ahead for weeks or months at a time and keep track of my tasks on a daily basis. I can also look back and reference when projects were completed.
The Therapeutic Act of Writing
The physical act of writing can be extremely therapeutic. As stated before, it is a way to get everything out of mind and onto paper. It is also a way to process your thoughts. Instead of having your thoughts spiraling in your head, writing them down helps process them and helps you be able to move forward from them. This allows you to group and organize your thoughts into your monthly, weekly, or daily plans.
Physically writing information is also proven to help you remember it. I am no expert, so here is a link to a study if you’re interested.
During college, I used to re-write my notes because it helped me memorize the information. It was my main way of studying. There’s something about the connection between the visual word and the process of writing it that makes it stick in my brain.
Creative Expression
I use my planner as a means of creative expression. Just because it’s functional doesn’t mean it can’t also be an extension of my passion for visual art and design. Being creative also helps ease my anxiety by giving my mind something productive to focus on. It lifts me out of negative thought patterns and reinforces a sense of purpose. I love designing planner inserts and considering the functionality of them and how they work within a system.
Summary
Planning helps remind me of what I have to look forward to and is a record of all the things I have completed this year. A physical planner may not work for you, that’s okay! You could also plan digitally on your phone’s calendar or notes app. Maybe keeping a journal works better for you. Find what works and stick with it. I really do think consistency is key. I hope this post was helpful for you!
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