For as long as I can remember, I have loved stickers. I can vividly remember the excitement of going to a craft shop with my grandma and choosing out a brand new pack to add to my ever growing collection. Some to hoard, some to use - I would always keep one of each design in my sticker book so I had a complete record of my collection!
8-year-old me would be SO impressed by 29-year-old me's sticker collection.
I used to shy away from telling people that I still play with stickers as an adult, but honestly it isn't that surprising of a hobby. "Grown up life" can be stressful, if there's a way to inject some fun into planning and staying organised - then why not let yourself enjoy it? There are so many therapeutic benefits to creative planning - it's a fantastic way to get your thoughts down on paper, improve your mental health and wellbeing, and as an artistic outlet!
The Psychology Behind Sticker Planning
There's a bunch of childhood nostalgia attached to using stickers! I'm brought back to fond memories of collecting and trading them with friends - which I still do now! The simple act of peeling a sticker off a sheet and placing it in my planner adds a little bit of order to an otherwise chaotic week.
Having a creative outlet can greatly improve our overall wellbeing and mental health - a dedicated journal for your thoughts can help you process your feelings alongside being a relaxing activity. I keep a separate notebook for this so I don't feel like I need to keep up with a schedule for journaling, as this would take the relaxing benefits away from me pretty quickly!
Stickers are also great for enhancing productivity. Many tracker stickers exist to give you a motivational boost towards your goals - a bit like the sticker reward chart you might have had as a child, but for adults. We're all just big children aren't we?
Choosing sticker designs
My tastes have changed a bit since childhood. Back then, I would have chosen the sparkliest, brightest stickers I could get my grubby little mitts on. I still love brights, but stickers for adults come in a huge range of designs and colours - there's pastels, muted colours and minimalist aesthetics, just to name a few.
With options for purely decorative or practical stickers, the choice is truly endless. I love vertical sticker kits for a mix of both, dotting decorative full boxes between my plans to balance the busy-ness of a spread. With a constant stream of new designs being released, there's a kit for every occasion. Literally.
Stickers can also make planning more efficient, you can choose to use dedicated shapes or designs to make specific activities, making it quicker to see groups of tasks at a glance.
The social side of planning
The planner community is growing rapidly with like-minded people who all enjoy using stickers! We're all over social media so it's never been easier to connect with planner lovers online - I've made so many friends this way. This translate to IRL friends through planner meet ups and events!
I'd highly encourage you to get involved with planner groups and communities, it's a great place to seek out tips and inspiration for your own planners.
Plannerface Facebook Group
Planner Friends UK
Planning is such a wonderful hobby that truly enriches my life. It's so accessible with easy to find supplies and is a great mood booster for my mental health. I look forward to decorating my planner every week and can't imagine life without it! If you're just getting started on your planning journey, you'll like this post about using stickers for memory planning.
