I tried to resist the allure of the latest planner craze, but it seems I’m not entirely immune to the influence of my peers. When it comes to social situations, I can easily sidestep the pressure, but when it involves beautiful stationery? I’m a goner.
I have a deep appreciation for all things paper—stationery, notebooks, and office supplies. My husband has witnessed my enthusiasm firsthand; I may have gotten a bit too excited at a local store while clutching oversized sticky notes and squealing in delight. So, it was only a matter of time before I succumbed to the charm of those highly talked-about life planners.
What’s not to adore? Delightful designs, an excuse to splurge on washi tape and colorful markers, all wrapped in the promise from friends that this magical planner would revolutionize my life. They insisted that with it, I would finally master the art of organization, achieve balance, lose weight, and even earn a “My Child is on the Honor Roll” bumper sticker—all simply by planning my days.
So, I gave in. I purchased one of those planners at a local office supply store, probably spending more than I should have. I didn’t stop there; I also snagged all the accessories—markers, dividers, stickers, and washi tape. I even scoured Pinterest for inspiration on how to use this supposed life-altering tool. I brainstormed color codes for my family members, but somehow ended up jotting down everything in my daughter’s assigned color.
Frustrated, I bought a white-out pen, only to abandon the color coding altogether. I genuinely tried to make it work. I dedicated a morning to planning my week, carefully curating a manageable to-do list. Yet, as the days rolled by, I ended up neglecting the planner altogether, opting instead to do whatever I felt like at the moment. My to-do list became a distant memory, with tasks shifting from Monday to Tuesday, then Wednesday, until I just stopped referencing the planner entirely.
“But it’s life-changing!” my planner-addicted friends would echo, their eyes glazed over with excitement. “Just give it a chance; you won’t be able to live without it! You’ll become as addicted to planning as the rest of us!”
So, I attempted once more. I sat down, mapped out my tasks, and tried to take smaller, more manageable steps. But inevitably, the planner ended up back on my desk, untouched until I remembered an important doctor’s appointment I had scribbled in it.
Maybe I should give this life planner another shot, I mused as I set it down yet again. But instead, it now languishes at the bottom of a pile of other notebooks on my desk.
Deep down, I knew this was how it would turn out. This isn’t my first rodeo with planners promising a more organized life. I’ve never managed to stick with one for an entire year. Spending more on a fancy planner with stickers and color coding wasn’t going to magically alter my habits.
Have I learned my lesson? Not quite. But perhaps next time, I’ll resist the temptation of the latest model and focus on the one I already own. After all, there are still 13 months left in this planner, providing ample opportunity for me to either finally figure out how to use it or let it collect dust beneath my other notebooks. Place your bets on which scenario will likely unfold.
If you’re interested in more tips and stories, check out this post on Modern Family Blog—it might inspire you in your own planning journey. For those considering at-home insemination, Make a Mom offers a reliable selection of products, and if you need support, Drugs.com has excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, while I had high hopes for my fancy planner to transform my life, it remains untouched on my desk, just another item in my collection of stationery dreams.
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