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I’ve been using an Erin Condren Life Planner for over a year now and I couldn’t be happier. This planner has literally helped me organize my life in more ways than one. Over the past year, I’ve really dived into the planner world, experimenting with stickers, trying different planners, and loving every minute of it. Today I wanted to review and share my thoughts with you about the 2018 Erin Condren Life Planner.
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2018 Erin Condren Life Planner Review.
I used my 2017 Erin Condren Life Planner before moving onto my current 2018 planner, so I do have something to compare the 2018 planner too. After using the 2018 planner for just a month, I could see some big differences. First, I’ll explain the good and bad parts of the planner, then I’ll show you a ton of photos of the inside of this year’s Life Planner.
The Good.
I was able to easily pinpoint some great things about this year’s Life Planner and they truly make it one of the best planners I’ve ever used.
The paper is thicker.
All of the pages have a thicker paper which is great when it comes to ink bleeding through. Each monthly page also has an even thicker paper to help keep the tabs from tearing. It’s great to have sturdy pages that you don’t have to worry about.
Metallic Stickers.
This year they’ve included two pages of metallic functional stickers! The normal banner/label stickers were always a great feature, but having the functional stickers makes it all the better. These are a fantastic addition, especially for those that want to start using stickers in their planner.
No More Banners.
A big change to this year’s vertical neutral layout is that there are no longer banners separating the three vertical boxes. Some may see this as a negative thing, but I was happy that the color blocks had disappeared – making my planner even more minimalistic.
The Bad.
There really wasn’t anything bad that I could find about the 2018 Life Planner.
Different Monthly ‘Goal’ Page.
The only thing that I can think of at the moment is that I’d really like to see the Deluxe Monthly Planner and the Life Planner combined. I really enjoy the ‘goal’ page in the Deluxe Planner and think that it would fit well in the Life Planner.
Recap.
There were some great updates made to the Life Planner this year. I think that the thicker paper is my favorite of all the changes that were made, you can really feel and see the difference. I think there’s always room for improvement and I can’t wait to see what the 2019 Life Planner has in store for us! 
2018 Erin Condren Life Planner Layout.
I’ve always preferred my planners to start in January. That being said, Erin Condren releases their new planners in May – selling an 18-month planner starting in July of that year and a 12-month planner starting in January of the next year. I’m pretty impatient and buy the January planner 8 months in advance!
Color Options & Cover Customizations.
Each life planner has two inside color options, Colorful and Neutral. I personally enjoy the neutral color option as it’s more clean and minimalistic.
There are also four coil color options, Platinum, Gold, Rose Gold, and Black. The Platinum coil is included in the price of your planner. If you’d like a different colored coil, then it’s an extra $10.
One of the best things about the Erin Condren Life Planners is that the cover is completely customizable and you can change it throughout the year! They have an abundance of interchangeable covers to choose from. Another bonus is that the covers can be written on. On the inside, there are dashboards where you can use wet erase markers to make lists or keep track of anything you’d like!
Yearly Overview.
Each Life Planner starts with an 18-month overview. This a great area to keep track of vacations, sick days, and holidays. The designer dots or the colorful circles sticker pack would both be great options when keeping track of dates like these.
Goal Setting Areas.
Right after the yearly overview and before the monthly/weekly planning pages start, you’ll find a 12-month goal setting area. Now, these pages could really be used for anything you’d like. But, I personally like using them for my yearly goals.
Each month also includes a one-page goal setting page. This is where I like to narrow down my monthly goals and set benchmarks for myself. You could also use this page to track your expenses, create your budget, plan for a trip, or create a meal plan. Opposite of this page is a monthly quote to keep you inspired throughout the year.
I love using the motivation and celebrations sticker pack trio in both of these areas.
Monthly Pages.
Next up is your monthly spread – this is your overview of the entire month. I really enjoy using this area to keep track of important events or appointments. This is where I note my paydays, when bills are due, and my friend’s and family’s birthdays. There’s also a lined column on the right-hand page where you can leave notes, make lists, and keep reminders. The functional flags sticker pack is perfect to use in the monthly spreads.
Vertical Layout.
The vertical layout is what makes an Erin Condren Planner unique. Each weekly page starts on Monday and goes through Sunday. The left-hand side includes a small note box and a lined column to keep notes, track habits, and set weekly goals. Each day is separated into 4 sections. There are 3 vertical boxes and then a lined area underneath these. This is just one of the three weekly layouts that you can choose from. They also have an hourly and a horizontal layout. There are so many different stickers that you could use for this area of your planner – I highly recommend you check out the Erin Condren Stickers section on their website.
Notes Section.
After all of the monthly and weekly pages, you’ll find a Notes section in your planner. This section includes 4 lined pages, 4 dot-grid pages, and 4 coloring pages. I was pleasantly surprised this year to find the coloring pages, I find them to be a great addition the Life Planner.
Next Year Overview.
Similar to the yearly overview in the beginning of the planner, there is also a 12-month overview for the next year. This a great place to keep track of anything big that will be happening in the future! Vacations, Weddings, and Holidays are just a few.
Sticker Pages.
Next up, you’ll be happy to find some stickers already in your planner! The 2018 Life Planner includes 4 pages of stickers – 2 of labels and 2 of functional stickers. This was the first year that they included the functional stickers, so this was also a pleasant surprise!
Pockets & Perpetual Calendar.
The very last thing in your planner is your pocket page! This is such a handy feature as you’re able to store any loose papers, party invitations, and your Perpetual Calendar. Each Life Planner comes with a Perpetual Calendar, this is a 12-month mini planner that allows you to keep track of yearly events – birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays!
Erin Condren Planner Accessories.
There are a TON of accessories that Erin Condren offers and they really make your planning experience unique. I’ll be doing a whole post reviewing all of the Erin Condren accessories that I’ve used thus far – look for that in the coming future!
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As I’ve mentioned in other planner posts, the Erin Condren Life Planner would be perfect for both Students and Full-Time Workers.
Related Post: How To Organize Your Student Planner
