How to Personalise Your Planner (So You’ll Actually Use It)

Let’s face it: a planner is only useful if it fits your life. Too many people buy the prettiest notebook or download a fancy digital layout, only to abandon it after two weeks. Why? It’s not personal. It’s someone else’s system, not yours.

Here’s how to fix that. Whether you’re using a paper planner or a digital one, here’s a step-by-step guide to make it your own—and make it work for you.

1.

Start with Your Real Life, Not an Ideal One

Don’t design your planner around what you wish you did. Design it for your actual routines, commitments, and habits. If you’re not a morning person, don’t build in a 5 a.m. workout block. If your week is packed with meetings, don’t pretend you have hours of free time to “get stuff done.”

Action Step: Write down a typical week. What’s fixed? What’s flexible? Use that as your foundation.

2.

Choose the Right Format

There’s no “best” planner style—just what works for you.

• Daily layout: Great for people with packed schedules or lots of to-dos.

• Weekly layout: Ideal for planning the week at a glance.

• Bullet journal: Flexible, but requires some setup.

• Digital planner: Good if you’re always on a device and want search/sync features.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to mix formats. A digital calendar + a paper to-do list can work beautifully.

3.

Create Custom Sections

Your planner should reflect your priorities. Some ideas:

• Goals: Weekly, monthly, or long-term.

• Habits: Track water intake, workouts, sleep—whatever matters to you.

• Projects: Dedicated pages for tracking tasks, deadlines, and notes.

• Meal planning or budgeting: If that’s part of your daily mental load, include it.

Pro tip: Don’t crowd your planner with sections you won’t use. Start small, expand later.

4.

Use Labels, Color Coding, or Symbols

Give your brain visual shortcuts. Color-code categories (work, personal, school), use icons for recurring events, or mark priorities with symbols like ✪ or →. You’ll absorb your day faster with a glance.

Bonus: It can also make your planner more fun to look at, which increases the chance you’ll keep using it.

5.

Add a Personal Touch

This is where you make it yours. Add:

• Stickers or washi tape (if that’s your thing)

• Motivational quotes (real ones, not cheesy fluff)

• Photos or artwork

• Doodles or mind maps

• A playlist of the week, a gratitude list, or a mood tracker

It’s not about being artistic—it’s about creating a space that feels like a reflection of you.

6.

Review and Adjust Weekly

The most effective planners evolve. Set aside 10 minutes at the end of each week to check what worked, what didn’t, and what you need to shift. This is key to avoiding “planner guilt” and making your system sustainable.

Bottom Line

A personalised planner isn’t about making it pretty (though that helps). It’s about making it practical, relevant, and motivating. When your planner fits your life—and not some Pinterest ideal—you’ll actually want to use it. And that’s when the magic happens.

Your Turn:

What’s the one thing your planner must have to keep you on track? Start with that. Build around it. And ditch everything that doesn’t serve you.