Let’s be real for a second: buying a planner feels like a fresh start. You are attracted to the pretty cover and you tell yourself that this is the one that is going to solve all of your problems. You imagine your most productive self, sipping iced coffee and colour coding your goals like you’ve got your whole life together… But fast forward a week and your shiny new planner is already buried under the mess on your desk and you’ve almost forgotten about it entirely. 

Does that sound familiar?

Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. But the good news - it’s not you! It’s how you’re trying to use your planner. So let’s see if we can fix that. Here’s how to actually stick to using your planner (and not get bored or overwhelmed within the week)

Pick a planner that works with your brain, not against it. 

If you’ve ever opened a planner and immediately felt the pressure to fill every single page perfectly… that has got to stop. We’ve all been there, hardly daring to write in a page in case we mess it up, but my friend this is where paralysing perfection can come in. The Oh Laura planner for example, is designed with flexibility in mind. It’s a hybrid between a bullet journal and a classic planner, printed in black and white so you can add your own splash of colour/personality OR keep it clean and simple. 

Dot grid pages? Check. Creative freedom? Check. Zero pressure to be aesthetic 24/7? Triple check! 

Keep it simple. 

You don’t have to write down every meal, mood and moon phase (unless you want to!). The trick is to keep your planner FUNCTIONAL. Here’s a tip on what to jot down:

• One big thing to focus on

• 2-3 smaller tasks

• Anything else that would otherwise live rent-free in your brain. 

Starting small builds a habit - and bonus, you actually do the things. 

Make it yours

Your planner doesn’t need to look like everyone elses! Doodle in the margins, use stickers (like the ones in my shop that were 100% made for this!!), scribble, highlight! Rip out a page if you need to. This planner is YOURS and you don’t need to be precious. And if your style changes, great! Your planner can change with you. 

Reset weekly, but make it FUN. 

Set aside 10 minutes a week for a little planning party. Light a candle, make a nice drink, put on your favourite tunes. Make sure to grab a fun pen that you love to use. Use this time to reflect on what worked last week, brain-dump all the new chaos and then map out the week ahead. Don’t make it a chore - make it a ritual!

Reward yourself for sticking with it!

Use your planner to CELEBRATE what you’ve done! Not just what is left to do. Did you complete a full week of planning? Treat yourself. Crossed off a full bingo line on your Bingo Notepad? That calls for a treat!! Positive reinforcement isn’t just for our puppers and kiddos, we deserve it too.

Some last things to remember…

You don’t have to be perfect

You don’t have to fill in every page

The planner should serve YOU - not the other way around! 

Ready to make a planner your new BFF?

Check out the Oh Laura planner - she’s flexible, low-pressure, and cute as heck. Bonus: you can pair her with planner stickers, memo pads, and a good ol’ brain dump page to keep things ticking along nicely.