The new year is just around the corner, and now is the perfect time to look back at your planner habits and prepare for an organized and productive 2025 with time spent on a planner review. Reviewing your planner is more than just flipping through pages and noting completed tasks; it’s about understanding what worked, what didn’t, and how to fine-tune your system for the year ahead.
If you’re a busy woman juggling family, a job, self-care, and maybe even a direct sales business, a planner isn’t just a tool – it’s your lifeline. And the key to making it work is to keep it manageable, not overwhelming. A good planner system builds consistency, keeps you on track, and helps you accomplish more without adding stress.
One effective approach to planner review is the WANT Analysis. This method focuses on identifying your Wins, Aversions, Needs, and Things to Try, giving you a clear picture of how to optimize your planner for the new year. Let’s dive into each step of the WANT Analysis and other tips to help you make 2025 your most organized year yet.
Planner Review Step 1: W – Wins
The first step in using the WANT Analysis for your planner review is to start by reflecting on the Wins you’ve had with your planner this year. Wins are those moments when you felt like your planner system truly worked for you.
- What sections or formats helped you the most? Maybe your daily or weekly layouts helped you stay on track, or a habit tracker kept you consistent with personal goals.
- Celebrate small wins. If you’ve used your planner consistently, stayed on top of deadlines, or checked off daily tasks, these are all wins worth noting.
Tip: Write down these wins in a dedicated notes section in your planner. Acknowledge what made them effective so you can keep or improve on these elements in 2025.
Planner Review Step 2: A – Aversions
The next step in your planner review, think about the Aversions – the things that didn’t work or that you actively avoided using in your planner. The good thing about using a traveler’s style notebook planner like the ones that Tula XII shares makes this step very easy. If you don’t use it, you don’t need it.
If you have a bound planner make sure you take stock of what pieces of your planner you are not currently using that make it feel like wasted money or space.
- Were there sections you left blank? If there’s a particular part of your planner that you never filled in, ask yourself why. Perhaps it felt redundant, unnecessary, or too time-consuming.
- Did any layouts feel overwhelming? If the weekly spread felt like too much detail, consider switching to a more simplified format for 2025.
Tip: Identifying what didn’t work will help you let go of features that aren’t serving you, freeing up space for new methods that support your goals better. There is no need to continue to force yourself to use something in your planner if it doesn’t make you happy. Planning and using your planner should bring you joy, and at the very least calm and consistency.
Planner Review Step 3: N – Needs
Moving unto step three of the planner review, the Needs – things you want your planner to do better for you in the coming year. This is a time to really shoot for the moon. Making a list of things you wish your planner could do for you. Don’t analyze how you are going to make it happen, just write down what you need your planner to do for you.
- Is there something your planner was missing? Maybe you need a section for meal planning, budgeting, or self-care tracking.
- Consider time management improvements. If you found yourself consistently rushing through tasks, you might need more time-blocking options or clearer priorities in your daily spreads.
Tip: This is the time to think about new inserts or layouts that might meet these needs. Look at options that simplify tasks rather than add complexity, keeping your system as streamlined as possible.
Planner Review Step 4: T – To Try
The last step of your planner review using the WANT Analysis is to look at the Things to Try in the new year. This is your chance to explore ideas and techniques that could make your planner even more useful.
- What new layouts or techniques have you heard about? Consider experimenting with habit trackers, gratitude logs, or goal-setting sections if you haven’t tried them before.
- Think about flexibility. Try a more flexible planner layout that allows you to adjust as needed, especially if you have a busy or unpredictable schedule.
Tip: Don’t feel pressured to use every new feature at once. In fact, even as a brand ambassador with Tula XII, I would not recommend that you start your journey with more than one or two inserts. If you are not great at planning right now and you are working to get better, adding too much will become overwhelming and then you won’t use any of it. Incorporate one or two ideas at a time and assess whether they’re helpful or add unnecessary pressure.
Additional Tips for a Successful Planner Review
1. Reflect on Your Values
As you review your planner, ask yourself what truly matters to you. Are there specific goals or routines you want to prioritize in in the new year? This is particularly valuable if you’re balancing various roles, such as being a parent, an employee, or a direct sales consultant. Identifying your core values will help you set more intentional goals and choose planner layouts that support them.
2. Keep it Simple
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by elaborate planner setups, but remember: simplicity is key. A planner that’s too complex can quickly become a burden. Focus on layouts and inserts that help you stay consistent without taking up too much time. Consistency is what truly helps you get things done.
3. Set Quarterly Reviews
Planning shouldn’t be a once-a-year event. Schedule quarterly reviews to make adjustments as needed. This can help you stay aligned with your goals, especially if you have a dynamic work-life balance that requires flexibility. These shorter reviews also keep you from straying too far off track.
4. Prioritize What Brings Joy
A planner shouldn’t feel like a chore. Personalize it in ways that make you want to open it every day. Use colors, stickers, or inspirational quotes that reflect your personality and bring a bit of joy to your planning routine. If you enjoy looking at your planner, you’ll be more likely to use it consistently.
5. Test Before Committing
If you’re thinking about trying a new layout or insert, give it a trial run before fully committing. One way that you can do this is make up a mock layout in a notebook, journal or blank piece of paper. With Tula XII inserts, most daily inserts last for just shy of a month, and weekly layouts for a 13 weeks. This give you ample time to try out a layout and decide if it is something that will work for you. This is a low-stakes way to test if it truly helps with your daily routine and goals.
6. Organize by Categories
For those juggling various aspects of life – family, work, self-care, and direct sales – consider categorizing sections in your planner. Dedicate specific areas for each role, so you can keep your tasks and goals organized and accessible. This will prevent different areas of your life from overlapping and getting lost in the shuffle.
Implementing What You’ve Learned
As you complete your WANT Analysis and reflect on your planner, take a moment to note down actionable insights you can carry into the new year. Remember, your planner should be a tool that adapts to your needs and helps you build consistency. It’s not about perfection but about finding a system that grows with you.
The goal is to simplify, not complicate. When we keep our planner system approachable and manageable, it becomes an essential tool rather than an overwhelming task. A little consistency each day adds up to big results over time.
With your review complete, you’re now prepared to step into the new year with a clear plan and a supportive, functional planner system that meets your needs. So grab your planner, a cozy cup of tea, and take a few moments to make your review as rewarding as possible. Cheers to a productive, intentional, and consistent new year!
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