Are you a creative planner or a functional planner? Does it even matter? Is one type of planning better than the other?

Here’s a chart of pros, cons, and attributes for both types of paper planning. Take a look and decide whether you’re team functional, team creative, or both.

Functional Vs. Creative Planning

Team Functional (Productive)	Team Creative (Decorative)
Schedule your time in a no frills way.	Schedule your time in a visually pleasing way.
A straightforward system can keep you returning to use your planner.	Joyful, happy planner vibes can help keep you motivated and encourage you to keep using your planner.
Keep track of important dates, events, and tasks.	Track and celebrate important dates and events, as well as the everyday tasks that make up your life.
Brings order. Helps you organize your life’s information.	Brings order and organizes life’s information—but with aesthetics, creativity, or artistry in mind.
The process can relieve stress. The result can help you see how all the pieces fit into the big picture.	The process can be meditative and relieve stress. An organized layout can help you see the details and the big picture.
Lack of décor implies an efficient planning system.	Adding décor takes more time, and the result can be visually distracting. A clear system for decorating can also be efficient.
Typical supplies: Pens, highlighters, sticky notes	Typical supplies: Pens, stickers, markers, colored pencils, stickers, highlighters, sticky notes, page flags, stickers, washi tape, scrapbooking paper, paint, stickers, die cuts, stamping, doodling, handlettering, stickers, and miscellaneous craft supplies.
Can also be a fun (because #plannernerd) creative outlet.	Can also be used to get stuff done.

If I were to draw out a Venn Diagram, there’d be a pretty healthy middle section. Both styles of planning can be an efficient (or inefficient) use of time, a fun way to relieve stress, and help you keep track of information.

So which team will it be, friend?

This is such an unnecessarily polarizing subject in (and outside of) the planner community.  I think some of us could stand to be more open minded and accepting—especially of things that don’t affect us (like other people’s planners).

Grrr! Why is this even a debate?!

We all want to be validated. The problem is that we falsely equate personal validation with doing something “the right way,” or being correct. We sometimes think anything other must be wrong in order for us to feel right. We justify our rightness by constructing their wrongness.

That way of thinking serves no one. What vibe do you feel when you think stuff like this?– “Ugh, another one of those layouts. That’s so– [insert critical, judgy descriptor].” Here, lemme help– busy, messy, sloppy, scattered, overwhelming, time-wasting, juvenile, dull, empty, plain, anal, boring… C’mon! It can’t possibly feel good to think that way!

Try thinking this way instead– “I can appreciate their style even though it probably wouldn’t work for me.” “Interesting layout. I think I’d prefer more…” “That took a lot of time, effort, and dedication. I simply choose to use my time in other ways.” “You do you; Imma do me.” “Hey, whatever floats your boat.”

Doesn’t it feel just a little better to think of it like this?

Here’s the thing. Validating difference doesn’t require a value judgment. You don’t have to like it. But don’t make it wrong in order for you to feel right. Your way works for you, so it’s right. Their way works for them, so it’s right. Simple as that.

The more we validate others, the greater validation we feel within ourselves. When we see others as “also right,” we become less self-critical and overall happier.

So, Meka, which team are you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Meka (@yespleaseplanning) on Mar 15, 2019 at 4:01pm PDT

I am a full spectrum planner girl with a penchant for creativity.

I’m Team Whatever I Feel Like Today. My planning style depends on the amount of time and energy I have, my mood, my mental space, and how much creative energy I feel like exerting. Am I cranky and hyper-focused today? Functional it is! Need some sunshine in my life? Creativity to the rescue! Wanna knock out my to-do list AND be creative? Functional first, then do the things, then get creative – OR – slap a piece of washi on it and keep it movin’.

TLDR: There’s no right or wrong way to plan. Productivity and creativity can overlap. I love it all and I appreciate that, as grown ass women (and men), we can each use our planner as we see fit.