STYLE Savvy: Planner Promises

 Lisa Hess pushes back against a too-good-to-be true tool. 

Earlier this week, I was scrolling through Facebook and I came across an ad for a planner that essentially promised to cure users of their procrastination if they simply bought the planner and followed its three-step process. 

These are the kinds of ads that make me want to shake my head (or scream, depending on the day). Just as no amazing tool will solve all our organization woes, no planner will "cure" us of procrastination!  

First, procrastination is not an illness and second, that's not how procrastination works. In fact, taking the time to write down a bunch of stuff you a) don't intend to do b) don't want to do c) don't have time to do and/or d) are avoiding doing is procrastination. Procrastination typically has roots that are emotional in nature and require more than a planner to solve. 

Don't get me wrong, I think planners are good. I love planners. In fact, I swear by mine. 

But planners, no matter how wonderful, won't do the work for us. And, while processes (three-step or otherwise) are also good (and useful and helpful), they're just scaffolding. We have to do our own building, and that takes time and effort. Finally, just as no one blueprint creates a plan for a home that works for every family, no one process (or planner) works for every person.  

Misguided Messaging 

Ads like this are a big part of the reason I wrote Know Thyself. The underlying message of these ads is "You're broken, and we can fix you" — a message that hits me on a visceral level. 

You're not broken. You don't need fixing. And you most likely don't need a magical planner with a whimsical three-step process. 

Will this planner and its process work for some people? Absolutely. But, if you're not one of those people, you're not the problem. You just haven't found the right tool or method. 

Yet.  

Finding a Fit 

So, before an ad sucks you in with empty promises, think of how you work as a means of deciding if what's being advertised is the right tool for you. Here are a few questions to get you started.  

• Does this tool align with the way I think?  
• Does its design feel intuitive? 
• How is it better than what I'm already doing?
• Is there a problem I'm struggling with that this tool might help me solve? 
• Do I have time in my day to incorporate this tool and its methods?  
• Can I picture myself using this tool for more than a week? 
• Is it worth the price in time and/or money? 

During this season of fresh starts and new planners, beware of promises and magical cures. We all want to use our time (and spend our money) wisely. The simpler the tool, the easier it is to keep up with, and the more aligned the tool is to the way you think and organize, the more likely it is that it's a good blueprint for a more organized future — one that fits you. 

And if it's not the right fit, chances are good that there's something else out there that will be. 

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Copyright 2026 Lisa Hess
Images: Canva