Does Everybody Need a Planner?

Lisa Hess explores the obstacles to finding a just-right planner. 

Happy New Year! Did you find your planner yet? What’s stopping you?  

I don’t need a planner.  

If this is true for you, then I am both impressed and jealous. I use my planner to keep track of appointments, deadlines, lists, and a host of other reminders as well. Once upon a time, I could keep all of this straight in my head, but that’s a thing of the past. If you can still do that, or if you have another system for keeping track of all those things, I agree — you don’t need a planner.  

I keep everything on my phone.  

Again, if that works for you, that’s fantastic! When I put things on my phone, they disappear not only from view but from memory as soon as I close my calendar app. If you, like me, have an I need to see it personal style or are just a plain paper-and-pencil person, it’s worth trading in that app for an inexpensive calendar that keeps everything visible. 

I’m not sure if I need one.  

There are certain seasons where lists abound, and others that are quieter and less hectic. Undated planners can provide the structure we need during busy times. And, because the pages aren’t pre-printed for the calendar year, we can easily set them aside, only to pick them up again when need them. They’ll still be useful, at least until we run out of pages. 

They’re so expensive!  

They definitely can be. My favorite planner is an undated hard-cover planner that costs more than I ever thought I’d pay for a bunch of paper bound together, but it helps to keep me on track, so it’s worth it. I also have a monthly planner (each month is a two-page spread) that doubles as a lesson planner for my classes; that one is from the dollar store.

Planners are available at a variety of price points. They can often be found on clearance racks and in dollar bins and, now that 2025 is underway, even some expensive planners have been discounted.  

I don’t know what I’m looking for.  

This obstacle is particularly challenging. To find the right fit, consider how much you need to keep track of (volume), where you’re most likely to use your planner/calendar, and whether your preference is more for digital or paper. Answering these questions will help to narrow the field, making selection simpler.  

Lots of things to keep track of? Opt for an app on your phone (room to expand, and it goes where you do), a paper calendar with big squares (can be used at home or tucked into a bag), or a white board you can color code (for home use). Just need something to keep appointments straight? No need for something big and fancy. A small calendar you can easily tuck into your purse or tote bag, or even a small notebook will likely do the trick. 

Choosing wisely 

Choosing the right planner can be time-consuming (ironically) and overwhelming. Taking your styles into account and thinking about how you want to use your planner can save time and frustration, as well as making it more likely you’ll spend your money on the thing you need instead of the thing with all the bells and whistles. Then, you can spend the money you saved to do something fun. 

And jot the date in your new planner.  

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Copyright 2025 Lisa Hess
Images: Canva