Planner guilt is very real. When I began to explore the planner community, I didn’t understand what people were talking about when they mentioned having planner guilt. I thought how is that possible. Everything is so beautiful and functional. Now I understand.

Over the years I have used, off and on, various planners.  Very little ones that only show a monthly view or planners that were either a day on one page or a week on two pages. They were adequate and they sort of worked when I remembered to use them.

Then I came across the bullet journal. You know the story, I fell in love and it lasted for a really long time. Then I couldn’t figure out how to have it grow with my changing work schedule and life.

I knew that my inability to make my chosen planner conform to my needs was an issue and it was affecting my productivity. I didn’t know how to feel about adding another planner to my current system or completely changing my way of planning.  I was finally consistent!! I was doing so well.  Why was this happening to me? I plan every day and accomplish my tasks,  but I didn’t have time to do a load of layouts before I started to plan out my schedule.

Why couldn’t one planner do it all for me? Why would I need multiple planners? Did I think I was special? My life and job are so time constricted that I need every tool available?

No, I wasn’t being a diva or spoiled. I just need to do what works for my life in the present. No, no one was judging me, but I was judging me and the subconscious can be very brutal.

I had to step away from the idea that my system was perfect and so I was flawed.  Once I stepped back from the idea that this works for so many people so it should work for me and remembered that I was an individual, it was easier to change.  My plans are ever evolving and I need to work with my planners, however many that may be, to be my most productive self.

Once I realized that I was only hurting myself.  I slowly changed.  After all, I started planning to get organized and accomplish my goals. Things change as you become a better version of yourself.  So I changed and grew.