Have you experienced this before? It’s the start of a new year, and you’ve purchased a brand new planner. You start out determined to stick with it and plan out your year to make the most of it, and to help you relieve stress. 

But then the months go by, and your planner has started gathering dust as early as February. March or April comes faster than you anticipated, and you’ve got so many plans in your head that it’s hard to keep the dates straight, so you reach for your planner, only to realize that you need to skip way too many pages to catch up to today’s date. What a waste, right? Maybe next year…

That’s where undated planners come in handy. 

Traditional dated planners are awesome, but they aren’t for everybody. Some of us don’t need or want to use a planner all year round; some of us want something a little more flexible. 

So, is an undated planner right for you?

What are the Benefits of Undated Planners?

There are many reasons to use an undated planner over a traditional one. Naturally, the undated planner has one key feature that traditional planners don’t have; you guessed it, they’re undated! This makes the undated planner far more flexible and adaptable than traditional dated planners. An undated planner is ideal for:

People who don’t want to be constrained by a rigid traditional planner.

An undated planner gives you complete control over when you use it. You can start your planner in January or July or start scheduling mid-month. You can also choose whether to start your week on a Monday or a Sunday.

There’s less pressure to use an undated planner every day. With dated planners, skipping days or weeks can lead to feelings of guilt over wasted pages. Undated planners allow you to skip days or weeks without having any visual reminder of missed days or wasted pages.

People with inconsistent schedules.

 It’s common for students, teachers, seasonal workers, etc., to have blocks of time when they’re ‘on,’ such as during the academic trimester, and when they’re ‘off,’ like during the holidays. Often, using a planner every day or week is unnecessary during these off periods. Undated planners are flexible to these inconsistent schedules and don’t waste as much paper. You can simply pick it up and put it down at any time of the year as your schedule or motivation changes.

Undated planner with scheduling and coloring. there is also tombow markers and colored pencils.

People who want a planner tailored specifically to them.

Undated planners are unmatched in their ability to be customized specifically to your needs. You can plan as much or as little as you like. Each section can be used to write down anything you want, such as notes, goals, reflections, habit trackers, or event lists.

They let you use any layout or structure according to your needs. This allows you to design your planner to suit daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly planning without being limited by preset formats. It can also be adapted for different uses. You can start the year using it as a daily planner and then later transition to using it as a weekly planner or even a project planner without any issues. 

They are great to personalize. Without any strict dates or formats, you can let your creativity flow into your planner and make it completely your own. Add sketches and journal entries, or use a few pages here and there for scrapbooking. The possibilities are endless.

People who don’t want to wait until the start of a new year to begin planning.

Undated planners meet you exactly where you’re at in the year, no matter when that is.

Purchased your planner in July? There is no need to worry about the first half of your planner being wasted blank space. You can simply start dating your planner from the day you get it.

Those who don’t want to purchase a whole new planner every year.

If you don’t schedule all year round and your yearly planner ends up being filled with only half a year’s worth of planning, then you don’t need to worry about purchasing a new planner at the start of the year. You can continue using your undated planner through and into the new year.

What Does an Undated Planner Look Like?

Like traditional planners, undated planners come in various formats and styles designed to meet your specific needs. 

Daily undated planners have a page or section dedicated to each day, breaking it down into hourly segments. They are useful for those who need detailed planning for each day, including tasks, appointments, and notes. Weekly undated planners (probably the most common undated planner) usually show an entire week on a single spread, giving you an overview of your week at a glance. Each type of planner will usually have individual sections for daily and weekly tasks.

Undated planners sometimes come with extra ‘fun’ elements that can add that extra bit of enjoyment to your planning. For example, my Undated Coloring Planners are designed for both planning and coloring. Each page is designed with all your regular planning needs in mind whilst also giving you the opportunity to color something on every page. They come with all the features you would usually expect to find in a typical undated planner, such as yearly goal sections and monthly reflections; the opportunity to have fun, color and create is just a welcome bonus!

If you’re interested this kind of fun & colorful undated planner, you can find my range of planners here.

undated coloring planners that can come in large (Classic) or smaller (Compact) sizes.

Getting Started with an Undated Planner

As we’ve already mentioned, the best thing about an undated planner is that you have total control over how it looks and functions. The risk, however, is that without strict dates, it is possible to put off setting up your planner and not using it altogether. But if this happens to you, no worries! An undated planner can be set up at any time.

Here are some ideas of what you might like to include in your planner to get you started:

Dates

You may want to date your planner a week or even a month ahead. Be careful not to overdo it, though, as you might turn your undated planner into a traditional one by accident . Be aware of your personal preferences and date your planner accordingly.

Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly Spreads

Weekly spreads let you plan the details of your week. Depending on how much space you need for your day-to-day plans, you could choose to spread your week over one or two pages. With an undated planner, you could even switch back and forth between single- and double-page spreads depending on what you need on a given week. Some undated planners might not be suitable for both formats, however, so be mindful when planning.

By adding monthly spreads, you gain an overview of the goals and tasks you wish to complete and when. These can be good for noting due dates for important projects or tracking progress on long-term goals. 

Should you decide to include one, a yearly spread will help you plan out your mid to long-term goals, birthdays, and holiday plans. It provides a convenient overview of the year, helping you stay organized and prepared for upcoming events.

Learn to use undated planners instead of traditional dated planners

To-do Lists

Including to-do lists in your planner is usually a good idea to keep you focused on your immediate tasks. There’s nothing quite like crossing an item off your to-do list to give you motivation and a clear sense of accomplishment. 

Habit Trackers

From daily fitness to medications, habit trackers make it easier to maintain healthy daily activities. Having a visual representation of your progress can help you stay organized and on track and will help you stay accountable. 

Stickers

Often overlooked, stickers can add decoration or function to any planner. 

Adding stickers to your planner provides visual cues that help highlight important dates, tasks, or events. One idea is to use different-colored stickers for different types of activities, such as blue for family events and red for urgent due dates.

Stickers don’t only enhance your planner’s functionality, but they also make planning more enjoyable and can help keep you motivated. You can get creative with your stickers to make your planning more fun and visually appealing. Decorate your planner pages to match your style and personality. 

Not sure where to find planner stickers? check out my Functional Stickers, which include checkboxes, flags, reminder and appointment stickers, icons, and more. Or check out my Coloring Essentials Sticker Book for stickers ready to be colored in, including butterflies, indoor and outdoor plants, desserts, speech bubbles, and more. (All my stickers are 50% off with any planner purchase.)

Tips for your undated planner

Like many things in life, you’re likely to get out what you put in; your planner is no different. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you use your planner to the fullest:

Set Realistic Goals

Don’t stress yourself out by planning to carry the world on your shoulders. Be compassionate with yourself by setting realistic and rewarding goals. 

You can do this by breaking down your larger goals into smaller, more manageable ones, prioritizing your tasks so you know what to focus your energy on, setting a realistic timeframe for your goals, and making sure your goals are specific and measurable so that you can stay on track. 

Remember to stay flexible and update your goals when needed. Remember to reflect on why your goals matter to you, and always remember to celebrate your wins, big or small.

Be Flexible

The undated planner’s strength is that you have the flexibility to make changes to your planner as they come up. If you haven’t used your planner in a while, try not to let it get to you. Remind yourself that undated planners can be picked up and put down at any time. Simply pick up where you left off.

Journaling

You may be interested in journaling but find a completely blank notebook daunting. For those who would like a little more structure, an undated planner offers the opportunity for daily journaling.

Make it Fun! and Get Creative!

Remember that this is your planner. You can be as wild or tame as you like. Add color, stickers, sticky notes, washi tape, or pictures of friends, family, or pets. There are no right or wrong ways to use an undated planner. By being creative and making your planner uniquely yours, you’ll help yourself stay motivated. And it’s fun!

A Beginner's Guide to Undated Planners

Undated Planners are Awesome

Choosing an undated planner offers many advantages over traditional dated planners. They give you the unmatched ability to be creative and personalize your planning experience. They offer the flexibility to start and stop at any time, allowing you to skip days or months without wasting paper. Their versatility supports changing schedules, short and long-term usability, and sustainability.

Whether you’re a seasoned planner or just starting out, the freedom and adaptability of an undated planner can enhance productivity and organization in your daily life. Ultimately, undated planners give you the freedom to plan on your own terms.

Which planner is right for you? Check out my full planner range here.

My Planner Range:

Undated Coloring Planner

Whether you like to start your year in July, or your January resolutions never quite make it past March, an the Undated Coloring Planner allows you to get organized and get creative, with less guilt or wasted paper if you forget to plan a week or month.

Our Undated Coloring Planner also now comes in both the Classic and Compact sizes!

2025 Coloring Planner

If an undated planner is not your style, we do have the 2025 Coloring planner, in both Classic and Compact sizes. This beautiful 2025 coloring planner is built with premium-quality art paper, a gold coil, monthly colored tabs, and something to color on every page. Lovingly crafted to be both fun AND functional, this planner will help keep your schedule and goals on track while giving you the opportunity to get creative every day.

Build Your Own Planner Bundle

Get everything you need for your 2025 Coloring Planner with this Build-Your-Own Bundle that you can mix and match to get the biggest discount possible!

Choose your planner, (includes digital and printable 2025 Coloring Planner), choose your sticker books, and your preferred journal style and then you have everything you need to get your “new year, new me” vibes off to a great start!