If Planning Feels Hard Right Now, Read This
If opening your planner makes you sigh instead of feel relieved, I want you to hear this first:
Nothing is wrong with you.
You’re not bad at planning.
You’re not lazy.
You’re not failing some invisible productivity test.
Planning feels hard right now because life is heavy, and heavy seasons require different tools. Believe me, I’ve had this problem happen many times throughout my life, and this post is about how I fixed it.
Let’s talk about what’s actually going on and what to do instead of pushing yourself harder.
Planning Feels Hard When You’re Carrying Too Much
Planning works best when your brain has room to think.
When you’re overloaded, planning can feel like:
another decision
another reminder of what’s not done
another place you feel behind
So instead of feeling supportive, your planner starts to feel like a mirror you don’t want to look into.
That’s not a planner problem. That’s a capacity problem.
And the solution isn’t more pages, prettier layouts, or stricter routines.
Related Post: What to Do When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
Why “Just Get Organized” Isn’t Helpful Advice
When life is full, advice like “plan better” or “get more disciplined” misses the point.
You don’t need:
more systems
more structure
more rules
You need less friction.
Planning should reduce mental load, not add to it. If your current system requires a lot of energy just to maintain, it’s working against you.
The Real Reason You’re Avoiding Your Planner
Most women don’t avoid planning because they don’t care.
They avoid it because:
it feels like homework
it reminds them of everything they haven’t done
it assumes a level of energy they don’t currently have
So they wait.
They restart later.
They promise themselves they’ll “do it right” next week.
But planning isn’t supposed to be something you earn once you’re caught up.
It’s supposed to help you get unstuck.
Related Post: Why Your Routine Never Sticks (and It’s Not Your Fault)
When Planning Is Hard, Shrink the System
This is the most important shift you can make:
When planning feels hard, make it smaller, not more impressive.
That might look like:
one page instead of a full spread
three priorities instead of a long list
a five-minute reset instead of a full overhaul
You are not lowering your standards.
You are matching the system to your season.
That’s smart planning.
What to Do Instead (Right Now)
If planning feels hard today, try this simple reset:
Put away anything that feels overwhelming
Close the tabs. Ignore the extra pages. You can come back later.
Write down everything that’s rattling in your head
This is a brain dump, not a plan. Get it out so you can breathe.
Choose one thing that would help tomorrow feel easier
Not perfect. Just easier.
Stop there
You don’t need momentum. You need relief.
That’s enough for today.
Related Post: The Sunday Reset that Makes Mondays Easier
Planning Is a Support Tool, Not a Personality Trait
You don’t have to love planning.
You don’t have to be consistent.
You don’t have to do it the “right” way.
Planning works when it:
meets you where you are
adjusts when life changes
gives you clarity instead of pressure
If your current system doesn’t do that, it’s allowed to change.
You’re allowed to change.
A Reminder You Might Need Today
You don’t need to start over.
You don’t need a new planner.
You don’t need to fix your entire life.
You just need a plan that fits right now.
And right now might look slower, simpler, and smaller than you expected.
That’s not failure.
That’s how real planning works. Give this a try and let me know in the comments how it worked for you.
Happy planning!
