Red is a bold color that is often associated with intensity and urgency. In planners, using red can signify tasks or deadlines that require your immediate attention. It creates a sense of alertness, which makes it a great choice for highlighting important due dates or reminders.

How to use red in your planner:

• Mark high-priority tasks or urgent deadlines.

• Highlight areas that need special caution or extra attention.

• Add red flags for “stop” reminders, signaling that you need to pause or re-evaluate a task before moving forward.

Orange is a color that oozes warmth and enthusiasm. It’s a great choice for highlighting brainstorming or creative sessions, making it ideal for marking out times when you need to generate ideas or do tasks that require creative thinking.

How to use orange in your planner:

• Timeblock for creative events with orange.

• Highlight goals that require energy and enthusiasm.

• Add orange to sections dedicated to personal growth.

Not sure where to start?

Use Zebra Mildliners or your favorite markers to create a key at the front of your planner. For example, use red for deadlines, green for completed tasks, and blue for meetings and continue through. This helps with both consistency and clarity!

Yellow most commonly symbolizes caution, but it can also represent optimism and focus. In your planner, try using yellow as a gentle reminder to slow down and focus on certain tasks without rushing.

How to use yellow in your planner:

• Use yellow for “caution” - a.k.a. tasks require thoughtful consideration or planning.

• Highlight sections for deep work or study blocks that need undivided focus.

• Add yellow to areas that emphasize self-reflection or time for pausing.

Green symbolizes growth, success, and a sense of progress. It’s often associated with feelings of achievement and motivation to move forward. Green can be an empowering color to incorporate in your planner, encouraging you to set goals and track your progress.

How to use green in your planner:

• Mark completed tasks to give yourself a visual representation of progress.

• Assign green to goal-setting sections or success milestones.

• Highlight any accomplishments or rewarding activities.

Blue is a color associated with peace, focus, and relaxation. Blue is perfect for areas in your planner that emphasize stability and mindfulness. It can help create a sense of calm, which is ideal for high-stress days or tasks that require mental clarity.

How to use blue in your planner:

• Schedule relaxation, self-care, or breaks to recharge.

• Highlight important meetings or discussions that need a calm, collected approach.

• Incorporate blue in sections where deep thought or concentration is required.

Historically, purple has symbolized royalty, luxury, and introspection. In a planner, purple can indicate mindful activities, moments of inspiration, or personal reflection. It adds a touch of intentionality and reminds you to stay connected to your values and inner thoughts.

How to use purple in your planner:

• Use purple for journaling, mindfulness exercises, or reflection time.

• Highlight tasks or goals that align with personal growth or spiritual well-being.

• Integrate purple in sections for vision planning or long-term aspirations.