Kick Off the Year with Intentional Planner Setups

Sally
Jan 1
3 min read

Welcome to 2025, friends! Nothing screams fresh start like cracking open a brand-new planner and letting those blank pages soak up all of your hopes, dreams, to-do lists - and yes, even the chaotic scribbles. Whether you're a seasoned planner pro or just dipping your toes into this wonderfully nerdy world, setting up your planner with intention can truly set the tone for your year.

Check out my latest Plan with Me video on YouTube, where I set up my 2025 planner.

Reflect Before You Set Up

Before diving into stickers and washi tape, take a moment to reflect. What worked well for you last year? Did weekly layouts help you stay on top of things? Did you completely ignore your budget spreads (guilty)?

Here are a few journal prompts to get you started:

What planning habits helped me feel the most organized?
What pages or sections did I never use?
What do I want my planner to help me achieve this year?

Reflection isn't about perfection - it's about making your planner work for you, not the other way around.

Choosing the Right Planner Layout for You

There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to planners. Some people swear by vertical layouts, others need hourly breakdowns, and some (like me) bounce between styles depending on the mood and coffee level.

This year, I'm going with a hybrid setup: part Passion Planner vertical weekly, wrapped up in a repurposed Happy Planner to provide the custombility of discbound planning. It gives me structure and creative freedom. Check out my YouTube video for a flip-through!

Supplies You'll Love (and Actually Use)

Ah, planner supplies - the black hole of joy. I've tested a lot of goodies over the years, and here are some of my ride-or-die faves:

Pens: Pigma Micron 01 and 05, Passion Planner Highlighters, and Zebra Mildliners (the holy grail trio)
Stickers: Happy Planner and Passion Planner books and, of course, my own designs. You can check them out on my Etsy Shop
Sticky notes (for plans I have yet to commit to) and tons of washi tape

Pro tip for my planner newbies: Don't buy everything at first! It's okay to try new things to see what works, but overall, find your faves and stick with them (Pun intended).

Psst... I've the perfect planner boxes for January layouts in my Etsy Shop. Go peek!

Setting Up Key Sections of Your Planner

Start with the basics: monthly and weekly layouts. From there, add in goal pages, habit trackers, budgeting sections, meal plans - whatever helps you feel in control.

This year, I'm adding a self-care list, a gratitude log, and a dedicated space to plan my Etsy launches. Don't forget to leave room for fun spreads like books to read or shows to binge.

Check out my latest YouTube video where I create these pages in my planner.

Making Your Planner Work For You

Look, not every week will be Insta-worthy. And that's okay. The point of planning isn't to be perfect - it's to stay on track in a way that fits your life. So embrace the messy weeks. Laugh at the blank pages. Then, keep going.

Try adding a weekly check-in to see what's working. Adjust. Realign. Repeat. Side Note: The Space of Infinite Possibly on the Passion Planner weekly layout is the perfect spot to create a weekly check-in.

Watch It in Action - Plan with Me

If you want to see my full 2025 setup, including sticker placement (yes, I messed up one corner but made it work), head over to my YouTube channel.

In the video, I:

Walk through my planner choice
Show how I set up a weekly layout
Explain how I modify the planner to fit my needs and likes
Probably make a few planner jokes. (Spoiler: I do.)

Ready, Set, Plan!

You've got your setup. You've got your vision. Now, let's make 2025 the most intentional, colorful, and slightly chaotic (but well-documented) year ever.

Follow me on Instagram and YouTube for weekly tips, real-time planning, and hopefully soon new stickers for my shop!

Next week's post: "How to Set Realistic Goals Without Losing Your Mind"

Let's get planning, friends!