I tried to resist the allure, but it seems I’m not immune to the persuasive pull of trendy products. Sure, I can turn down a round of tequila shots, but when it comes to stationery? I’m a total goner.
There’s something about paper goods, office supplies, and notebooks that captivates me. I may have even embarrassed my husband once at a local store while gushing over sticky notes that were bigger than my face. Eventually, I succumbed to the Erin Condren Life Planner phenomenon, and let me tell you, it was only a matter of time.
What’s not to adore? Attractive designs, an excuse to stock up on washi tape and colorful markers? All while friends proclaim that it will transform your life, lead you to ultimate organization, and perhaps even result in a “My Child is on the Honor Roll” bumper sticker—simply because you decided to plan your life out.
So, I bought one. I caved in to the peer pressure. I found one of those planners at Staples and spent more than I care to admit. I stocked up on accessories—the markers, dividers, stickers, and, of course, the washi tape. I even scoured Pinterest for inspiration on how to utilize this supposedly transformative tool. I carefully selected colors for each family member, jotted them down, and promptly forgot who belonged to which color, ultimately filling in my daughter’s designated hue for everything.
In a moment of desperation, I grabbed a white-out pen, then quickly decided it was easier to abandon the color-coding altogether.
I tried. I dedicated a morning to organize my week. I aimed for simplicity with a small to-do list and a week to tackle it. And then, I put the planner aside and did whatever random task caught my fancy. My to-do list gathered dust; tasks meant for Monday were shuffled to Tuesday, then Wednesday, before I completely stopped referencing the planner.
“But it’s life-changing!” my planner-obsessed friends would chant, eyes wide from too much washi tape. “Just give it a chance! You won’t be able to live without it! You’ll become as infatuated with planning as the rest of us!”
So, I attempted once more. I sat down, created a plan, and took baby steps toward a more productive life. And then? I set the planner aside again, forgetting to check it until I stumbled upon a doctor’s appointment I had scribbled in there but neglected to enter in my phone.
“Maybe I should give the life planner another shot,” I thought, but I never did. It now sits at the bottom of a stack of papers on my desk.
Deep down, I knew this outcome was likely. This isn’t my first time falling for the tempting promise of planners and their supposed power to increase productivity. I’ve never managed to stick with one for an entire year. A pricier planner filled with space for stickers and color-coded family events wasn’t going to magically fix my disorganization.
So, have I learned my lesson? Not really. But maybe next time, instead of being drawn in by the latest shiny option, I’ll make an effort to utilize the planner I already own. After all, there are still 13 months left in this one, 13 months to finally figure it out or let it join the heap of unused notebooks. Place your bets on which scenario is more likely.
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In conclusion, despite my attempts at organization through fancy planners, I remain a delightful mess. But perhaps with a little more effort, I can finally turn this chaos into a more structured routine.