Okay. Full disclosure: I’ve ghosted my planner more times than I care to admit. Like, we had a solid morning routine going-matcha latte, sunbeam on my desk, lo-fi playlist whispering productivity-and then poof. One skipped day became five. Life happened (don’t ask). And suddenly, my perfectly aesthetic bullet journal? Looked like it had been abandoned in a time capsule from a past version of myself.
But here’s the kicker: coming back to it felt like home. Like wiping fog off a mirror and finally seeing what’s been underneath the chaos all along.
So, yeah. Let’s talk about how to stick with it. Imperfectly. Emotionally. Honestly.
1. The Brain’s a Sucker for Lists (Weirdly Enough)
There’s this thing-dopamine, right? Apparently, every time we write down a task and check it off, our brains throw a microscopic party. You ever feel weirdly satisfied scratching through “take vitamins” like you just saved the world? That’s it. That’s dopamine doing cartwheels.
Plus, there’s something almost romantic about journaling. Pen to paper. The faint scratch of ink. You versus the void. Thoughts you didn’t know you had spilling out like marbles across the floor. Unfiltered. Ugly. Freeing.
Anyway. It works.
2. Turn It Into a Ritual. Or, at the Very Least, a Habitual Hug.
You don’t need incense or Gregorian chants (unless you’re into that, which-respect). Just consistency. Repetition with intention.
Here’s what worked for me last fall, during a season that felt like one giant ‘pending’ email:
- Before coffee? A page of gratitude scribbles.
- Sunday night? Brain dump and binge-watch. (Ted Lasso reruns. Fight me.)
- Mid-breakdown Tuesday? Planner + blackout poetry = clarity.
Find what sticks. Then let it be messy. Let it be yours.
3. Planner Paralysis Is Real. And Honestly, It’s Kinda Dumb.
I used to be scared of blank pages. Like, legit anxious. What if I ruin it? What if it’s ugly? What if I skip a week and the journal judges me?
Here’s a radical thought: it doesn’t care.
Planners are like gym memberships. They’re only useful if you actually use them. Doodle in the margins. Misspell “Wednesday.” Write with a crayon. Who’s watching? Literally no one.
Pro tip? Use undated pages. Start over any day. Time is fake anyway-ask any millennial with a Google Calendar addiction.
4. Steal These Micro-Habits (They Actually Work)
You know those TikToks that scream “this changed my life” and then it’s just…a clean sink? They’re onto something. Tiny shifts. Big feels.
- 2-Minute Rule: Don’t overthink it. If it’s fast, just do it.
- Brain Dump Mondays (or whenever): Write down everythingfrom “reply to that email” to “buy oat milk.”
- Themed Days: Structure without rigidity. Think: “No Meetings Friday” or “Chaos-Free Wednesday.”
Yes, it sounds silly. But honestly? That’s the point. Structure doesn’t have to suffocate.
5. Make It Weird. Make It Work.
I once printed out a photo of my 8-year-old self and taped it to the front of my journal. Every time I opened it, I’d think-what would she need to hear right now?
Your system doesn’t need to make sense to anyone else. Color-code with highlighters that don’t match. Use washi tape. Turn your goals into haikus. Or memes. (One of mine was literally: “Rest. Or be forcibly rebooted.”)
Also, hot tip: the combo of Google Calendar + a chaotic paper planner? Surprisingly unstoppable.
6. Self-Compassion > Consistency. Every Time.
Here’s the thing: people fall off the wagon not because they’re lazy-but because their system didn’t allow them to be human.
Track wins. Not just progress. Didn’t finish the list? Cool. Did you breathe? Win. Did you cry and then text a friend? Double win.
Check in with yourself. Not like a micromanaging boss-but like a soft-hearted project manager who brings snacks to meetings.
Closing Loop (Kind Of):
Consistency is not the holy grail. It’s a compass. It points you back to yourself after the detours. And there will be detours. Trust me-I’ve journaled in an Uber pool, during a hurricane (don’t ask), and while eating cold leftovers at 3 a.m.
So yeah. Forget perfection. Just start again. The page is waiting.
P.S. from Ascent Co.
If you’re craving a journal that doesn’t guilt you into hustle mode-but instead holds space for growth, grounding, and glow-ups-our One Day at a Time 2025 Journal is your girl.
She’s soft but structured. Like your favorite friend who texts you affirmations and also budgets like a CFO.
Slide over to Ascent Co’s One Day at a Time Journal and give future-you a gift they’ll actually use.
Because spoiler: your transformation doesn’t need to be tidy. Just real.
