Despite my attempts to resist, I fell prey to the allure of peer influence. Sure, I can turn down tequila shots without a second thought, but when it comes to stationery, I am utterly defenseless. My passion for paper goods, office supplies, and notebooks is no secret; I may have even revealed my slightly obsessive side to my partner while bouncing around The Container Store, clutching oversized sticky notes with unrestrained glee. Eventually, I succumbed to the Erin Condren Life Planner phenomenon.
What’s not to get excited about? Adorable designs, an excuse to buy washi tape and markers—all backed by enthusiastic friends promising that it would revolutionize my organization skills, lead to world peace, help me shed pounds, and earn me a “My Kid Made the Honor Roll” bumper sticker—all because I decided to plan my life more intentionally.
So, I bought one. I caved to the pressure and splurged way too much at Staples. I also purchased every accessory imaginable—markers, dividers, stickers, and washi tape—totally convinced that this planner would change everything. I scoured Pinterest for creative ways to utilize this so-called magical tool. I even contemplated a color-coding system for my family, only to promptly forget which color represented whom and ended up jotting everything in my daughter’s designated shade.
In the end, I opted for a white-out pen to correct my missteps, but soon I decided it was easier to abandon the color-coding altogether.
I earnestly tried to schedule a productive week. My to-do list was modest, with a week’s worth of tasks laid out. Yet, I soon found myself setting the planner aside, opting instead to follow my whims. Chores meant for Monday got pushed to Tuesday, then Wednesday, and eventually not at all, as I stopped engaging with the planner entirely.
“But it’s life-altering!” my planner-obsessed friends would chant, their eyes glazed over from the high of marker fumes and washi tape. “Just give it a shot; you’ll adore it! You won’t be able to imagine life without it; you’ll become as hooked on planning as the rest of us!”
So, I gave it another go. I sat down, determined to plan with realistic expectations, taking small steps toward a more organized life. But once again, I set the planner aside, only to remember I had noted a doctor’s appointment that I hadn’t transferred to my phone.
I thought about giving the life planner another shot as I placed it back on my desk. But I didn’t. Now it languishes at the bottom of a pile of other items on my desk.
I anticipated this outcome. This isn’t my first experience being lured in by the siren song of planners touting promises of increased productivity. I’ve never managed to stick with any planner for a full year. Owning a pricier one, which encourages me to decorate with stickers and color-code family events, wasn’t going to magically change my habits.
Have I finally learned my lesson? Of course not. However, next time, I might resist the temptation of the most extravagant option and simply utilize the planner I already own. After all, there are still 13 months left in this one, 13 months where I can either master this life planner or let it continue to serve as a base for my collection of notebooks. What do you think will happen?
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Summary
The author shares her humorous journey of buying an elaborate planner in hopes of transforming her life, only to find it collecting dust as her ambitious planning efforts fall flat. Despite repeated attempts to engage with the planner, she ultimately resigns to the realization that a fancier planner won’t change her productivity habits.