Using Milanote to Brainstorm my Setup

In my previous blog post, “Mid Year Planner Check-In,” I shared that I’ve been experiencing a planner funk, and I’m still trying to overcome it. Recently, I came across Milanote, thanks to this fantastic video by Rachelle in Theory, and it has been a game-changer for me. I set up a board inspired by her video to plan a trip for next year, and it proved to be an incredibly useful tool.

To combat my planner funk and gain clarity, I decided to create a Milanote board to visualize what I want my planner to look like and what I wanted it to evolve into. This board will also serve as a guide for future setups at the beginning of the year, month, and week.

My Milanote planner hub

I started the process by setting clear goals and intentions for this board. Then, I created additional boards to gather inspiration, review my current sections, and set up to-do lists that will aid me in future planning.

To maintain a calming and fresh aesthetic, I chose a new color scheme that I plan to use in 2024. I also use the same hex codes on my Google calendar to keep everything cohesive.

One of the most beneficial aspects of this planning journey has been my “Sections” board. It allowed me to critically evaluate how I organize information in my planner. I realized that some of my current 12 sections are underutilized, so I decided to consolidate and divide them into six more meaningful sections.

My Sections board

I had an idea to keep contact information in a small field notes style notebook, securely placed in one of my planner pockets. To make it even more functional, I’m considering adding an adhesive pocket to store stamps. This would eliminate my underused Contacts tab.

I have combined my Create and Fiction tabs by creating a Personal section where I keep lists for things like art ideas, movies to watch and TV release dates.

My meal planning and food-related information will be moving to my Home Management section, and I’ve combined Month and Week sections into a broader Schedules section.

I decided to remove my Notes section altogether, as all notes I make will undoubtedly fit into one of the other sections.

If you’re feeling unsure about your planner setup, I highly recommend brainstorming tools like Milanote or even traditional pen and paper. It has helped bring clarity to my mind, but I’m not done refining my setup just yet! There’s more to explore and improve.

(This post is not sponsored.)