Beginners' Guide to Undated Planners

Are you tired of constantly buying new planners every year, only to find that your planning needs change and you stop using it? Unlike traditional planners, which come pre-dated for a specific year or time period, dateless planners allow you to start and stop whenever you want, making them a versatile option for anyone who wants to take control of their schedule with more flexibility and less pressure than a traditional planner.

Who is an Undated Planner For?

There are many benefits with dateless planners , and we think that if you relate to any of the following points you might want to consider trying one yourself!

• You don't want to feel constrained by the traditional planner format.
• You don’t want to wait until the start of a new year, you want to start planning at any time of the year, whether it's in January or July, or even in the middle of the month.
• You want the flexibility to completely tailor your planner to your unique needs and schedule.
• You have inconsistent planning needs and don’t need to plan every day, and you want to be able to stop using your planner without wasting pages.

What kind of Undated Planners are there?

Undated planners come in a variety of formats, including daily, weekly, and monthly planners. Some undated planners are also designed specifically for certain types of tasks or goals, such as fitness or budgeting. When choosing an undated planner, it's important to consider your specific needs and goals, as well as your preferred format and style.

Undated planners typically have a variety of sections and features that allow you to organize your life. For example, many undated planners have goal-setting sections where you can set long-term and short-term goals, as well as action steps to help you achieve them. They may also have space for daily, weekly, and monthly planning, allowing you to break down your tasks and priorities in a way that works for you.

How to set up a dateless planner

The beauty of a dateless planner is that you have complete control over how it looks and functions. Here are some things you may want to include:

1. Monthly and Weekly Overviews: Start by creating an overview of the month and week ahead. This will give you a high-level view of what you need to accomplish and when. You can use sticky notes or washi tape to create sections for each day of the week.
2. Task Lists: Write down all the tasks you need to complete for the week, month, or even year. You can categorize them by work, personal, or any other way that works for you. Keep in mind that you can always add or remove tasks as needed.
3. Habit Tracker: Consider including a habit tracker to keep track of your daily routines, such as drinking enough water, exercising, or meditating. This can help you establish healthy habits and stay on track.
4. Goals: Write down your short-term and long-term goals, along with actionable steps to achieve them. This will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the year.
5. Decide what tools you’re going to use. Be it stickers, specific highlighter and pen colour, or Washi tape, having tools that you’re excited to use every day will help keep you motivated to use and review your planner often.
6. Since your planner is undated, you might want to add your own monthly tabs when you start a new month to make reviewing things in previous months easier.
7. Fill in the dates based on your personal preference. Whether you plan a month at a time or day-to-day, knowing what works for you will ensure that you’re getting the most out of the flexibility of an undated planner while not over planning, which can lead to wasted pages.

How to use a dateless planner

Now that you have your planner set up, it's time to start using it! Here are some tips for ensuring success:

1. Stay consistent and turn planning into a habit. 
2. Review Your Planner Frequently: To ensure that you're staying on track and making progress toward your goals, it's important to review your planner regularly. Whether it's daily, weekly, or monthly, take some time to review what you've accomplished and what still needs to be done. This will help you stay focused and motivated.
3. Set Realistic Goals: When setting goals and tasks, be realistic about what you can accomplish. Don't overload yourself with too many tasks or goals, or you may become overwhelmed and discouraged.
4. Make It Fun: Customize your planner with colorful pens, stickers, or washi tape. This will make it more enjoyable to use and help you stay motivated.
5. Be Flexible: Be Flexible: One of the benefits of a dateless planner is that you have the flexibility to make changes as needed. If you miss a day or week, don't worry about it - simply pick up where you left off. You can also adjust your goals or tasks as your needs and priorities change.
6. You can even use your undated planner for journaling, particularly if you choose a daily format. People who want something to motivate them to journal regularly, but need a little more structure than a blank notebook might benefit from an undated daily planner! Journaling for just 20 minutes a day has positive benefits such as, reducing stress, solving problems, and getting to know yourself better to name just a few. Source: https://www.communityofmindfulparenting.com/curriculum/week7/S7-Articles-TheHealthBenefitsofJournaling.pdf

In conclusion, a dateless planner can be a great tool for organizing your life and achieving your goals. By setting it up to fit your unique needs, reviewing it frequently, making it your own, and staying flexible, you can ensure success and stay on track throughout the year.

See if it’s for you

You can try out Hemlock & Oak’s Undated Daily and Undated Weekly planners for free to find out if undated planners work for you!