.png)
Here are ten reasons why using a daily planner can help you to manage anxiety, feel good about yourself and reduce the number of worries that spiral into an anxiety attack.
A stronger sense of control
Feel more in control by writing down everything you need to do on one page in your weekly planner. Suddenly, your 'never-ending' to-do list seems more achievable and manageable. From here, you can assess what the priorities are, and even assign your 'top 3 priorities'. You may even decided some jobs simply aren't that important, and can be removed from the list altogether.
The option to diary ahead
The best thing about a planner, rather than just a bog-standard to-do list, is that you can easily 'diary ahead'. You don't need to put all your jobs in you current weekly layout, instead you can push some less important jobs into future weeks and not worry about them for a while. This is a great stress-management tool as it gives you the breathing space to know there is time to do everything, and it doesn't all need to be done right away.
Brain dump
You can stop remembering something the second you write it down in your planner. Remembering stuff, such as the things you need to buy from the supermarket, is stressful. All this cognitive clutter can really build up, leaving you worried you might forget something. By writing everything down in your planner, including shopping lists, errands and other tasks, you can stop using your energy to remember this stuff. Close your planner at the end of the day, enjoy the evening without worrying, and open your planner up again in the morning.
Planner-based therapy
While a planner isn't a replacement for a qualified therapist, that shouldn't stop you using your planner as a place to write down your thoughts and fears. Writing down your worries can provide and emotional vent and help you to evaluate your thought processes. Check out the Thought Correction Stickers from Smooze, which allows the user to completely let loose and write their emotional worry, before responding with evidence. These planner stickers have been design to help you address irrational thoughts, and become calmer in the process.
Self care daily planner
When life feels out of control, self-care activities are often neglected. Yet these activities are vital to help us recharge and feel good about ourselves. Finding time for self care is much easier with a planner, as you can reserve a specific time each week just for you. You're much more likely to wash your hair or removed that chipped nail polish if you have written these tasks down in your planner.
Better cope with a change of plan
When you have a vision of how your week should go, and things don't work out as expected, it can be hard to deal with. Especially in this new COVID-world, plans can change with less than a day's notice. With a planner, you can better manage when things get postponed simply by crossing-out/whiting out the task in the old timeslot, and re-writing it in the new timeslot.
Reach goals, feel good
Goal setting can work wonders for self-confidence and self-belief. All Smooze anxiety planners contain yearly goal-setting pages at the start of the planner (pictured), as well as month-specific goals too. The trick to good goal setting is keeping your goals realistic and achievable. If you are struggling with anxiety, one goal could be something 'small' such as ordering a takeaway over the phone or booking that health check that is over-due.
Stronger routines
Keeping to your routines is good for the soul. Did you know that going to bed at different times each night sends a subconscious signal to your brain that there is something wrong? Use your planner to write down what an 'ideal day' looks like to you. What AM routine activities would set you up for a good day? Equally, what PM routine activities would help you to calmly end the day? Of course, variable work shifts and events might mean you don't always stick to your routine, and that's ok too!
Habit tracking
Hand-in-hand with routines are the habits you develop everyday, without even thinking. If you can develop a set of habits that are conducive to good mental health, the rest will follow. It takes an average of 66 days for a new behaviour to become a habit, so it's important to track your habits daily, and try to be as consistent as possible. Don't worry, these habits don't need to be cold showers, 5am runs and daily spinach intake. They could be as simple as making the bed, getting dressed, getting outdoors and eating a balanced meal. Plus, you get the satisfaction of ticking them off when you complete them daily! Hoorah!
Therapeutic fun
For many people, their favourite time of the week is decorating their upcoming weekly planner spread for the week ahead using stickers, washi tape and marker pens. This mindful and peaceful activity unlocks a part of your brain that may not get enough attention in adult life — the 'fun' part! Did you think stickers were just for kids? Think again! Smooze planners have been designed with plenty of sticker space, so you can use stickers to your heart's content!
Best planner for mental health
If you're looking for a good for mental health or an anxiety planner, check out the range of Smooze planners available here. There is a range of sizes and layouts available, so you're bound to find a planner that works for you! Still not sure? Take the Planner Quiz!