The Planner Graveyard: Why Most Systems Don’t Stick
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a drawer — or maybe even an entire shelf — full of planners that didn’t work. Some were too rigid, you couldn't figure out how to use some of the pages that were included. Others were too cute to be functional. I like color and designs just as much as the next person, but sometimes we like things simple and orderly. A few planners started strong… but two weeks in, life got messy, priorities shifted, and suddenly that perfectly pre-formatted system didn’t fit anymore. Or worse, it started to feel like homework that you assigned yourself. *heavy sigh*
The truth is: most planners are designed for a version of life that doesn’t actually exist — one that doesn’t get interrupted by sick kids, changing schedules, new goals, or mental load overload.
That’s why I believe in discbound. It’s not just a planner — it’s a system that adapts to your real, ever-changing life. It's the reason that I started Jane's Agenda over a decade ago, because I wanted a system that could grow with me, and be easily updated whenever my life decided to shift.
The Problem with Traditional Planners
Traditional planners assume your life is predictable. That you’ll want the same weekly spread in February that you used in September. That you’ll never need to add pages or rearrange sections. That you’ll always use your planner the same way, no matter what season of life you’re in.
But if you’re a working mom, a goal-setter, a busy woman trying to do it all — you know that life doesn’t come in a neat, repeatable package. Things change frequently.
You get one week where your to-do list is out of control and needs space to sprawl… and the next, you need to track appointments and move on. You might start a new habit mid-month. Or realize you need a space to plan meals, brainstorm ideas, or track a sudden project.
Traditional planners don’t let you adjust. And when your planner doesn’t support you, you abandon it — not because you failed, but because it stopped working.
When I first started planning, I had a simple planner for my calendar, I had several notebooks for all of the other things going on in my life (a meeting notebook, an ideas notebook, a journal for random thoughts), and a desk pad style calendar so I didn't forget anything big. I had an address book, a budget notebook, a check register, and a wall calendar at home. It was just so much. So much to remember, and what I realized would happen is if I didn't have everything with me at every time of the day it's possible I would forget everything. This is just not feasible, or wasn't, until I created my first discbound planner.
The Power of Discbound: A Planner That Grows With You
That’s where discbound comes in, when you need a system that's more than just calendar. It’s a flexible binding system that allows you to add, move, or remove pages whenever you want — no rings to open, no tearing pages out of a spiral. Just pop the page off and snap it back in wherever you need it.
Think of it like building your own planner from the ground up:
- Want a vertical weekly layout and a daily insert? You can have both.
- Want to add a project planning section for your work goals this month, then pull it out later? Done.
- Want to test a new insert without committing to it for the year? Easy. (I frequently change my calendar pages out, because "summer" me isn't even close to "winter" me.)
Discbound puts you in control. It adjusts when your life does.
Why It Works in Real Life (Yes, Even Mine)
I use discbound in my own life because it gives me structure and freedom — two things I need equally. My priorities shift constantly as a business owner, wife, and mom. I need a system that can shift with me.
This year, I’ve added a content planner to track marketing projects, swapped out my usual weekly layout for a daily one with time slots (hello, packed days), and moved my meal planning insert closer to my weekly spread so I can actually use it.
I’ve built in sections for personal goals, business projects, health tracking, and journaling — all in one place. And if something’s not working? I just remove it. No guilt. No mess.
Your planner doesn't have to look like mine, so if you don't need all those sections, or if you need different ones, that's totally doable!
It’s Not Just About Paper. It’s About Control.
I’ve learned that women don’t abandon planners because they aren’t committed. They abandon them because the planner wasn’t built to handle their real life.
Discbound works because it puts the power back in your hands. You’re no longer stuck in a layout you’ve outgrown. You’re no longer trying to fit your life into someone else’s system. You get to design what works for you, and change it when needed.
That kind of control builds confidence. And confidence? That changes everything.
This is why countless Jane's Agenda customers tell me they've finally found that elusive "planner peace" with a system they can stick to.
Ready to Build Yours?
If you’re ready to stop collecting planners and start building a system that actually works, I’d love to help. At Jane’s Agenda, you can create a planner that reflects your goals, your priorities, and your style.
Start with just the inserts you need. Add what you love. Remove what you don’t. Or, if you want a surprise every month, try our subscription box — it’s full of curated, beautiful, functional pieces that work with any discbound setup.
You don’t need to be more organized.
You just need the right system.
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