The Planner Audit: How to Finally Use the Planners You Already Have
Let’s be honest… most of us have a stack (or digital folder) of planners, notebooks, or templates that started with good intentions and ended up half-filled, barely touched, or completely blank.
It’s not that you don’t want to be organized. It’s just that life gets full, your rhythm changes, and the planner that once felt perfect doesn’t quite fit anymore. Or, also totally okay, you just get paralyzed by a blank page!
If that sounds familiar, you’re in good company. And that’s exactly why I created The Imperfect Planner Audit — a simple, judgment-free workbook to help you make sense of what you already have before adding one more planner (and other stationery) to your cart.
💛 Why a Planner Audit (Especially Now)
Planner season is such an exciting time — new layouts, fresh designs, all those dreamy productivity promises. There’s nothing wrong with buying a planner that makes you feel inspired or hopeful. Truly.
But before you jump into something new, it’s worth taking a gentle pause to look at what you already have. The goal isn’t to feel guilty for past purchases — it’s to make sure your tools are actually helping you in this current season of life, not adding more pressure or clutter.
A planner audit helps you:
See what’s actually working. Some planners support your rhythm — others just look pretty on the shelf.
Cut out the overwhelm. Decluttering unused planners creates space (physically and mentally) for what matters most.
Use what you already love. Revisit those planners that almost worked — sometimes all they need is a small tweak.
Get intentional again. Your life changes, and so should your tools.
This isn’t about shame or minimalism for the sake of it. It’s about creating space for what really supports you.
🪄 How to Do an Imperfect Planner Audit
No fancy system needed — just an honest look at what you’ve got and how it fits your life today.
Step 1: Gather it all.
Grab every planner, notebook, and digital tool you’ve used (or meant to use). This might include your daily planner, a goal tracker, that half-finished bullet journal, or even a planning app.
Step 2: Take inventory.
Write down what you have, when you got it, and what it was meant for. Think of it as a reality check, not a report card.
Step 3: Reflect.
Ask yourself:
Am I actually using this?
Does it fit my life right now?
Why did I stop using it — and what was working before I did?
Step 4: Categorize.
Label each planner as one of the following:
Keep & use actively
Repurpose
Gift or donate
Archive or recycle
You’ll start to see patterns — what types of planners truly support your life and which ones don’t fit your current season.
Step 5: Reintegrate your favorites.
Once you’ve narrowed it down, make a simple plan for how to use your chosen planners moving forward. Maybe you use one for home life, another for content planning, or keep a single notepad as your daily catch-all.
There’s no one “right” setup — just what works for you. And if that means keeping everything on the list, that’s okay!!
🌿 Gentle Reminders as You Audit
You don’t need more. You just need what helps. The best planner is the one that supports your real life — not your ideal one.
Start small. You don’t have to use every section or start on page one. Just open it and begin where you are.
Progress over perfection. Planning is meant to help, not pressure.
✨ Introducing The Imperfect Planner Audit Workbook
If you’re ready to take a thoughtful look at your planner collection, The Imperfect Planner Audit is your gentle guide.
It walks you through an intentional inventory process, helps you reflect on what’s working, and gives you space to dream about what tools you actually want to use — without guilt or overwhelm.
Inside, you’ll find:
📝 Planner inventory + wishlist pages
💭 Reflection prompts
📊 Simple action plans to bring your planners back to life
Because the goal isn’t to have a perfect system — it’s to have one that fits you.
💛 Download your copy of The Imperfect Planner Audit → [https://www.imperfectplans.com/planner-audit-freebie]
🫶 Final Thoughts
You don’t have to buy your way into better planning. Sometimes, the best reset isn’t a new planner — it’s rediscovering the ones you already own.
So this planner season, give yourself permission to start where you are. You’re not behind. You’re building something that actually works for your life — one page, one plan, one imperfect step at a time.
