Stuck in a Planning Rut? Here’s How to Get Back on Track

Look, we’ve all been there. One day, you’re living your best Planner Life™, color-coding your tasks, setting ambitious goals, and feeling like an unstoppable productivity machine.

Then suddenly… poof.

Your planner collects dust. Your digital dashboard looks like a wasteland of abandoned checklists. You stare at your empty calendar like it personally betrayed you.

Welcome to the Planning Rut. Population: Us.

I recently found myself in one of these slumps, despite being someone who literally plans live on Twitch every week. (Oh, the irony.) But after some trial and error (and a little existential despair), I found ways to pull myself out—and now, I’m passing those tips on to you.

If you’re feeling stuck, uninspired, or just over it, here’s how to shake off the planning funk and get back in the groove.

1. Take a Step Back & Figure Out What’s Not Working

Before you try to brute-force your way back into planning, ask yourself: What changed?

🔹 Are you overwhelmed with too many tasks?

🔹 Did your system stop fitting your lifestyle?

🔹 Have you been using a planner that looks great but isn’t functional?

For me, I realized my rut happened because my system felt too rigid. I was overloading my planner with tasks that made me feel stressed instead of motivated. So instead of planning for success, I was planning for burnout.

Once you pinpoint the problem, it’s easier to fix.

2. Refresh Your Planning System (Without Overhauling Everything)

When you’re in a rut, the temptation to burn it all down and start over is real. (Trust me, I’ve been one impulse buy away from a whole new planner setup more than once.)

But before you do that, try small changes first.

 Switch up your format. If you’ve been digital-only, try writing on paper for a while. If your paper planner feels too rigid, test out an erasable Rocketbook like I do.

- Make it fun again. Add stickers, change your color scheme, or try a different layout in Zinnia to bring in some fresh energy.

- Go minimalist (temporarily). If your planner feels like an overwhelming labyrinth, simplify it. Just focus on three key tasks per day and build from there.

3. Set Up a “Reset” Planning Session

One of the best ways to break out of a rut? Set aside time for a fresh start.

- Pick a day (I do mine Sundays on Twitch!) to sit down and do a reset session.

-  Review what’s working and what’s stressing you out.

-  Make a new plan—but keep it light, simple, and realistic.

This isn’t about making the perfect plan. It’s just about getting started again.

4. Start Small & Build Momentum

You don’t have to go from zero to full-blown planner guru overnight. If you’ve been in a rut for weeks (or months—no judgment), start small.

• Day 1: Write down just one thing you want to accomplish.
• Day 2: Add a second task.
• Day 3: Plan your whole day, but keep it flexible.

The goal is to rebuild trust with your planning system. Show your brain that using your planner actually helps instead of feeling like another chore.

5. Give Yourself Permission to Change Things Up

Here’s the thing: Planning is supposed to work for you, not the other way around.

If your old system isn’t cutting it anymore, it’s okay to tweak, adapt, or totally switch things up. I’ve changed my own approach multiple times—from Erin Condren to MetaMoji to Zinnia to Rocketbook—because life changes, and so do our needs.

Your planner isn’t a contract with the universe. It’s a tool. Use it how you need to, and don’t feel guilty for evolving your system.

Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This!

Getting out of a planning rut isn’t about doing more. It’s about finding what works for you right now.

Start small. Keep it simple. Make it fun again. And if all else fails… come hang out on my Twitch stream while I try to wrangle my own planning chaos. We’ll get through it together. 😅