Dentist appointments, project deadlines, and dance recitals have to be corralled somewhere if you hope to stay on top of your hectic schedule. Prepare to get organized as we approach the new year with this handy array of workhorse planners and do-it-all calendar keepers. The only thing they can't do is prevent you from being late.
1 | Clean slate.
Ditch the restrictions of a standard block format and give yourself license to creatively plan your day, record your thoughts, or sketch out the world around you. Local paper artisan Deb Hallacher creates one-of-a-kind, handmade blank books just like these. The possibilities? Endless. Handmade blank journal, $18 and $30 as shown, GoggleWorks STORE, 201 Washington St., Reading, 610.374.4600. goggleworks.org
2 | Charged up.
If your life, including your social calendar and meeting schedule, are kept securely inside your phone, you never want to risk a dead battery making you miss out. This unisex wallet — with a built-in high density lithium ion battery tucked away in the slim spine — keeps all your necessities within easy reach. Nomad iPhone Wallet with charger, $116, It’s a Gift! Woman’s Exchange of Reading, 720 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 610.373.0960. itsagift.org
3 | Customized calendar.
This is the little black dress of planners. Leap into the new year with the ARC System, then tailor it to your needs no matter what life throws at you. Pages are re-positionable; there's a handy pocket for stowing loose scraps, and a sheet of neon sticky-note flags slips right into place along the spine. Staples ARC System 2017 Academic Year Weekly Planner, $16.96, Staples, 4711 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading, 610.406.9780. staples.com
4 | Garden party.
Lilly Pulitzer obsessives can now add a touch of the famously brilliant and bright patterns to their day-to-day life. A strip of gold elastic keeps things tidy, but it's anything but buttoned-up. Lilly Pulitzer 17-month Exotic Garden agenda, $30, Coventry Corners, Berkshire Mall, 1665 State Hill Rd., Reading, 610.376.0445. coventrycorners.com
5 | Sweet idea.
Never lose your planner again. A bold cobalt hue with golden accents makes this appointment-keeper easy to spot even in the depths of your favorite carry-all. And three sizes give you plenty of options, whether you're in the market for a nearly-pocket-sized planner or a standard file to slip in your laptop bag. Sugar Paper, $10.99 to $19.99, Target, various locations in Berks. target.com
