Hey Reader

Now as some of the newness of the New Year has worn off, you may have found that those best intentions for 2026-you are looking a little neglected.

Our planners certainly can fall victim to this too 😅

While consistency in planning is an all-year problem, around this time of year it's often particularly prevalent.

By this point, the motivation boost we had at the start of January has dwindled.

The planners we eagerly set up, declaring that "this is the one that will change everything!" might be looking a little barren.

Have no fear though!

If you've not been keeping up with your planner, I've got some tips to help you 😊

Let's have a look 👀

The idea - Tactics for planner consistency

Rather than give you a long-winded explanation for each of these, we're going rapid fire today!

While these tips are about keeping up with your journal or planner, they can also be applied to other intentions you may have set for yourself in 2026 but have found difficult to stay consistent with.

Some of the tips are mindset shifts while others are tangible actions you can take to make keeping up easier, but all of them have been selected to help you get in and use your planner consistently 👌

1. Purpose-first planning
​If the planning style we're using isn't aligned with our planner's purpose, planning can feel pointless. What's your planner's purpose?

2. Anchor your planning habit
​Linking developing habits to ones you already have can make new habits stick. What daily habit could you pair planning with?

3. Some is better than none​
Feeling like we need to do a full job all at once can hold us back. Are you letting "all or nothing" thinking keep you from planning?

4. Messy now > Perfect never
​Planning done messy is better than planning done eventually but perfect. Does the planning style you're using fuel perfectionism?

5. Avoid back-filling​
Having previous days to fill in before planning the present turns planning into homework. Can you just turn the page and restart from now?

6. In sight, in mind
​If your planner is tucked away out of sight, you won't have the visual reminder to use it. Where can you store it that's readily visible?

7. Keep it open​
Better than just visible is an open and ready planner; so much less friction to use it! Can your planner be kept open and accessible?

8. Set a reminder
​Alarms aren't just for waking up! We can use them to remind us of anything. Could you have one for using your planner?

9. Stick to your MVPs
​"Minimum viable pages" are the essentials of your planning system; sticking to them keeps planning manageable. What are yours?

10. Simplify your layouts​
People have a tendency to avoid things that are hard. Can your layouts be simplified to make them easier to set up and use?

11. Stick to the same​
We don't have to reinvent the wheel every time with a new page or spread. What consistent elements can you keep in your system?

12. Limit your supplies
​Having too many materials to use can add unnecessary friction. Can you pare down to just one or two pens?

13. Change it up​
Novelty can work wonders for sparking motivation. What could you do differently in your planner to keep it feeling fresh?

14. Lean into joy
​We're more likely to stick to something if we enjoy the process. How can you add more fun to your planning?

15. Change your definition of "consistent"​
Consistency doesn't have to look like fully filled in planner pages of using it every single day. What could it look like for you?

If you wanted a deeper look at some of these planner consistency tips, The Planner Pals Podcast covered that topic in our episode this week 🥳

To check out the tips we shared, jump over and watch the video linked below!

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Let's take action

If you've found yourself falling off with your planner in the past couple of weeks, pick one or two tips from the list to try implementing in the upcoming week 💪

Not all tactics will work for all people, or in all situations, so start by implementing just a couple to see what fits.

I'd be curious to know which ones resonated most with you though 👀

Thank-you!

This newsletter topic was specifically chosen because someone in our community suggested it 😊

If that was you (or even if it wasn't) I hope these consistency tips prove useful.

Got a topic that you'd love to have a newsletter on? Let me know by hitting the button below!

Your suggestions are what helps keep the tips shared in these weekly emails relevant to you, so thanks for helping me out 😄

Until next time!

- Jess

Sick of setting goals that don't get achieved? Learn the system everyday goal-getters are using to make EPIC things happen.