There’s nothing better than the feeling of starting a new, clean, and crisp physical diary, with the intent of writing down your tasks, deadlines, and goals.
We spoke to Maritoni Renaghan, Category Manager – Office Products, for her best advice on maximising the use of your physical diary.
Find a diary structure that meets your needs.
There’s more to consider than simply picking your favourite cover for a physical diary.
When selecting a diary, it’s essential to consider how you plan to use it. Are you looking for a straightforward way to organise your work tasks based on daily, weekly or monthly overviews. If not, you may consider the need for a more flexible diary that can accommodate personal reflections and creative ideas. Therefore, it’s critical to choose the one that suits your mental workflow and needs.
The most common diary is the traditional diary, which follows the classic format of dated entries. It includes sections on daily activities or sometimes weekly, a yearly calendar overview, some pages for personal notes at the back and a date placeholder to easily find where you are up to.
“Diaries offer a variety of options and provide plenty of space for brainstorming, planning, and note-taking. Writing down goals and to-do lists can keep you inspired and motivated,” says Maritoni.
“My top recommendation is to choose one that is simple to use and makes you feel confident about organising your work life.”
Colour code your diary for maximum productivity.
Did you know that colour coding can help make your schedule more effective? In fact, colours can impact us both biologically and psychologically, influencing our moods and feelings. There’s even a world of online resources available online to help you implement colour coding rules, so it’s best to find a system that works for you.
“Colour coding your diary according to categories helps distinguish between different types of activities such as internal, external, individual actions or personal tasks. This practice will help you stay on top of your priorities and reduce the overwhelming nature of a packed diary,” says Maritoni.
Include your personal leave or out of office dates.
Your diary enables you to plan for more than just work-related tasks. Adding your personal or out of office dates can serve not only as a motivational tool but also help you plan, preventing overdue tasks or colleagues contacting you for work while away.
Maritoni self-attests to this trick, highlighting how it keeps her organised. “I love having casual reminders of what leave I have upcoming. It powers me through the week to work towards a goal and be rewarded with some well-deserved time off. It works for appointments too,” says Maritoni.
Adding personal events and appointments to your diary helps ensure your awareness across both professional and personal commitments.
Keep it open and by your side.
By keeping your planner open on your desk throughout the day you maintain a constant visual reminder of your tasks, enhancing your productivity. It also helps review what you achieved for the day and in some professions, can help with record keeping or reflecting on when action on an activity started. “It can be the first thing you see in the morning, helping you start your day productively. Additionally, a diary helps you to immediately cross items off your to-do list, providing a sense of accomplishment as you make progress and capture spur-of-the-moment ideas,” adds Maritoni.
Winc offers a wide range of diaries and planners so you can stay organised and productive, no matter where you’re working. Check out our full range online. Order now and receive 10% off all 2025 range diaries!*
*Diaries Pre-Sale 10% Off:
Prices as marked, 10% off already applied. Final prices as displayed (exclude GST where applicable) are valid from 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024, unless withdrawn or terminated earlier at the sole discretion of Winc Australia Pty Limited (‘Winc’). Custom printed diaries are excluded from the 10% off pre-sale offer. Pre-orders will ship when products become available. Products available whilst stocks last. Products styles, brands, colours and sizes may vary. Not all products are available in all areas. Only authorised recipients can take advantage of the products and pricing contained herein. For government departments, eligibility is subject to departmental guidelines.
All purchases are subject to Winc terms and conditions of sale, for details please visit https://www.winc.com.au/services/about-us/terms-and-conditions-of-sale/.
