I’ve been spending some time looking into the Franklin Covey (FC) planning method, and this weekend I put together a week’s worth of test pages to see how they might work for me. I recreated the original layout—minus the green background, because I’m not printing all that color—just to give myself a trial run. What stood out immediately wasn’t the schedule or the layout, but the daily notes pages.
I’ve always kept notes here and there, but these FC note pages are on a different level. They’re designed to capture anything you don’t want to lose track of: phone call notes, a holiday shopping reminder, the list of medications I need to request, even sermon notes on Sunday. Instead of scattering information or hoping I remember where I wrote something down, FC gives you a built-in way to index what matters. Their system lets you mark an important note and then record the date and page number in the monthly index so you can find it again later. It’s simple, but honestly, it’s brilliant. Here's a post I wrote about note pages several years ago: [18 Ways to Use a Note Page With Your Daily Page]
I’ve also discovered that I genuinely like the daily pages themselves and the way they encourage you to prioritize your tasks. I do rank them, though I won’t pretend I actually follow the order perfectly yet. What I do appreciate is having a place to capture anything that pops into my mind as I move through the day. Sometimes it becomes a mini–brain dump where I decide what needs to be done, what can wait, or what belongs somewhere else. Sometimes it’s just a small reminder I don’t want to lose. I don’t have many appointments, but I still enjoy time-blocking my day—Bible, Email, Blog, Creative, and so on—just to see how my time is spread and what the shape of my day actually looks like.
I know I’m not going to carry a full year of daily pages—that would be way too bulky—but three months at a time might be perfect. What I still need to work out is how FC handles future planning when you’re not carrying the full set. There has to be a method for capturing dates and tasks that fall beyond the pages you keep in your binder.
I’m also trying out the Week on Two Pages layout. It’s fine, and I can see the purpose of it, but I’m not completely sold on the Compass Card (sometimes called the compass bookmark). In the FC system, you write out your different life roles—Mom, Homemaker, Business Owner, and so on—and then set weekly priorities under each role. The card moves with you throughout the week so you can keep those priorities in front of you.
I understand the idea, but if I’m honest, I’m not at a place where I want to sit down every week and map out all my roles and responsibilities. It feels like I would end up inventing things to do instead of focusing on what’s actually important. I do like the concept of identifying a few top priorities for the week, but I’m more likely to handle that with a simple sticky note or a small list I can move from week to week.
Overall, I can see why the Franklin Covey method has stayed popular for so long. It’s structured, thoughtful, and very practical. I’m still figuring out which pieces fit my life and which ones I’ll leave behind, but this first round of experimenting has already helped me understand my own planning style a little better.
Here are some YouTube videos that I have found particularly helpful in learning the system. Some of them are several years old, but the system is the same. Enjoy:
Use of the Franklin Planner - My System after 25 Years of Use
How to Use Your Planner to Prioritize
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Welcome to Planner Fun Plus! Here I share planning inspiration, printable tools, and faith-filled encouragement. From homemaking to empty nest life, you’ll find ideas to help you stay organized and live with joy. I also design printable planners and sticky notes — many of which are available in my Etsy shop — so you can bring a little extra planning fun into your own life. 
