Hello Gorgeous,

Welcome to this week’s topic on planner funk. But, what is a “planner funk”?

Generally, a planner funk is a phase in which we are feeling like our planners, or our planning systems are no longer serving us in the ways in which they did before. (Definition is my own).

Once in a while, this happens to the best of us.

 For a while, maybe like a couple of weeks, I was feeling this planner funk. I enjoy planning, it’s one of my favorite hobbies. I love to plan. I love everything about my planners, using the available space I have to put cute deco cards, dashboards, dividers, stickers and sticky notes, among other stationery things, but something was missing. My planner wasn’t giving me what I needed to get out of it, and I suddenly felt unmotivated to use it.

But I wasn’t alone. Many of us felt it when COVID began and our lives were changing drastically and so too went our plans. Life slowed down. Being forced to stay home made me rethink my entire planner system, the planner size I grew accustomed to using, and no longer needing and EDC.

 And that’s okay. Planners are meant to help us stay on track and focused. They are supposed to work for us, not against us. They’re a tool to help us throughout the day, to keep lists, or jot down things to reference for later, to remind us to call our loved ones, to keep track of our finances, etc.

So, what should you do if you are also on the planner funk boat?

First of all, stay off social media, or at least your planner account for a week. This helps because in this way, you are not easily influenced by others. While it can be helpful to get ideas from others, your planner should tailor to your needs first.

Step 1

Take a moment to look through your current planning system and see what it is about this planner or planning system that is no longer working for you.

 For example, maybe the size is too big, because you are finding that you do not have as much to do. -In this case, you can try a smaller planner size. If you have an A5, you can try personal size.

Step 2

Reflect on the things you have to do throughout your day that are important and any other priorities you may have.

For example, (school) classes, making dinner, working, etc.

Step 3

Print freebies! Try before you buy! There are a ton of amazing freebies that you can print and test out the size before you fully commit to buying a new planner.

 Schedule the things from Step #2 in a mock-up version of your planner in a new size and see how they fit. In this way, you can see if going down a planner size is the right choice for you.

There is no one-size fits all answer. Sometimes all we have  to do is change the rings in our planners because 19 mm is too small, so we add 25- or 30-mm rings. Maybe the solution is to not downsize but change the cover. Maybe we want to try dated inserts versus undated. Or maybe all we need is different deco and washi tapes. Maybe spiral-bound will work for a work planner.

Whatever it is, make sure your planner works for you and your lifestyle.