Last blog post, I said I'd share some information about my writing planner situation for 2026.
There are two blog posts earlier in 2025 with information about my original writing planner ideas. Post One. Post Two.
The planner I bought was an 18 month planner and I cut out all the 2025 pages so that all that I have in the coil now is 2026 pages. I'm still using this, but not to the extent that I thought I would when I started using it. I realized that I wasn't keeping track of as much as I thought I would.
I still like coloring in a circle for every 250 words written. I'm very results oriented and checking off boxes or filling in circles gives me a little dopamine boost, but I haven't been using the Monthly Goals or Monthly Reflection pages. I haven't used the dashboard pages and I barely use the notes page each week.
Since I am so word count focused, I am trying out a new writing planner alongside the first planner. Or maybe I should say to complement the first planner because this one doesn't have any circles to color in.
I picked up a pocket-size horizontal weekly planner. Here, I keep track of words written in which chapter. Total written that day. Total written in the book. And a brand new category--total words written this year.
I actually really like this smaller size, and if I can figure out how to add circles to the monthly calendar page that are large enough to color in, I think I'll be switching to this smaller size in 2027. At the moment, the two planners are keeping track of similar, but not identical, things, so I'm running both okay. I usually have trouble with duplicate planners.
From what I've read, a lot of people with ADHD have trouble with planners, but for me? It's literally the only way I can stay on track. My issue is being strategic about the number of planners I have. I learned in 2025 that the fewer the better, but I also learned that I like having my writing separate from my daily life.
