You Don't Need a New Planner to Start Fresh

Quick confession: I have wanted a new planner for two reasons—either I’m bored with the one I have, or I feel like I need a fresh new start. Sometimes it’s not even “new planner energy”… it’s curiosity. Like wanting to try something different for 2026, such as Franklin Covey Day on Two Pages.

The truth: a new planner won’t magically make you a different planner person

This one took me a while to accept: no matter what planner I use, my planning style doesn’t really change. The cover might change. The layout might change. The paper might be nicer. But I’m still me.

That’s actually good news. Because it means you can start fresh without spending money, waiting for shipping, or feeling like you “failed” because you missed pages.

My motto: Progress, not perfection.

Why you’re craving a new planner (and what’s really going on)

If you’re like me, the “I need a new planner” feeling usually means one of these is happening:

You’re bored. The pages look the same and your brain wants novelty.
You want a do-over. You missed pages and it feels like you “ruined” it.
You’re curious. You saw a layout (hello, Day on Two Pages) and it looks fun.
You’re overwhelmed. A fresh start feels easier than fixing what’s messy.

None of those are wrong. But none of them require buying a new planner either.

The missed-pages guilt: “Did I waste money? Can I still use these pages?”

This is a big one. You skip some days (or weeks), and suddenly the planner starts to feel like a reminder of what didn’t happen. Then the thought creeps in: “I wasted money… and now I can’t use it.”

Here’s your permission slip: You can still use it.
A planner is a tool, not a grade book. Blank pages are not failure—they’re space.

If you want to use the pages you missed, you have options. And if you don’t want to, that’s okay too. But you don’t have to throw the whole thing away just because life happened.

12 ways to start fresh without buying a new planner

Pick one. Do it today. Let it count as a reset.

Turn the page and declare “Today is the start.”
No dramatic explanation needed. Just start where you are.
Create a “Reset” page.
Title it: Right Now. Write: (1) What’s weighing on me (2) What matters this week (3) One next step.
Use a sticky note as a clean slate.
If your pages feel messy, put your “fresh start list” on a sticky note and move it day to day.
Make a one-page “Week at a Glance” insert—just for this week.
Print a simple weekly sheet (or draw columns). You’re not changing planners—you’re changing your view.
Try the new layout you want… as a test, not a switch.
Want to try Franklin Covey Day on Two Pages? Print 7 days of it (or sketch it for one day). Test before you commit.
Cover the “old” pages with a divider.
Put a bookmark, tab, or divider at today. Out of sight, out of shame.
Label the missed section: “Life happened.”
Seriously. Write it once. Close it. Move on.
Do a “catch-up checkpoint” instead of backfilling everything.
Write 5 bullets: What happened, what changed, what I learned, what I’m handling now, what can wait.
Switch your planning focus, not your planner.
If you’ve been tracking everything, try tracking only: appointments + top 3 priorities. That alone can feel brand new.
Use highlighter rules for one week.
Highlight only what matters most (appointments, deadlines, health, family). Everything else gets lighter attention.
Start a “Done List.”
When you feel behind, write what you DID do. It builds momentum fast.
Choose one small daily anchor.
Example: “Write tomorrow’s top 3 before bed.” One habit can make any planner feel fresh again.

So… should you ever buy a new planner?

Yes—if you enjoy it and it’s within your budget. I’m not anti-new-planner. Sometimes a new layout really does fit better. Sometimes you just love beautiful paper and it motivates you.

But here’s the key: don’t make the new planner the price of starting fresh.
Starting fresh is free. You can do it today—right where you are.

My simple reset question for you

If you started fresh today without buying anything, what would you do first? Would you turn the page, make a reset list, test a new layout for one week… or something else?