How to actually finish a planner in 2027 (and not leave it in a drawer by February)

By Claire Mitchell, The Girls Mean Business · 26 October 2026

You’ve done it. I’ve done it. We’ve ALL done it. A brand new planner in January, full of good intentions... and by February it’s in a drawer, three weeks blank, making you feel guilty every time you see it.

Here’s the thing: it isn’t because you’re disorganised or lazy. It’s because most planners are built for the January version of you, not the busy, tired, life-is-lifeing version in February. So here’s how to make 2027 different.

1. Make it easy to open

Keep your planner where you’ll see it: on your desk, by the kettle, in your bag. If you have to go and find it, you won’t. An A5 size helps, because it actually comes with you.

2. Answer questions, don’t face blank pages

A blank page asks you to be brilliant. A question just asks you to answer. “What are my customers thinking about this month?” is so much easier than a page headed “Notes”.

3. Write what you DID, not just what you planned

Emailed my list. Posted. Did a video. Had a win. Little ticks. Then you look back at the end of the month and think, “Oh, I did quite a lot actually!” That feeling is what makes you open it again.

4. Give yourself a Monday moment

Ten minutes every Monday morning to plan the week. Same time, same cuppa. A habit you attach to something you already do is a habit that sticks.

5. Get a nudge from outside

Willpower runs out. A reminder doesn’t. A weekly email, a phone notification, a friend who asks “how’s your week looking?”: something outside your own head that taps you on the shoulder.

6. Don’t do it alone

When other people are using the same planner, sharing their wins and asking the same questions, you keep going. Nobody wants to be the one who stopped!

7. If you fall off the wagon, just climb back on

Missed three weeks? Don’t fill in the gaps and don’t start again. Turn to THIS week and write one thing. No guilt. That’s it. You’re back.

The Bum Kick Machine, ready to deliver a friendly kick up the bum — The Bum Kick Machine, for when you need it most 👢

I built the 2027 planner around these seven things

I’ve made marketing planners since 2017, and I know exactly where people get stuck. So the 10-year anniversary edition isn’t just a book. It’s a whole system, built to keep you going:

The Awesome Marketing Planner System 2027: the hardback planner and its pages, the Planner Portal on a laptop and the planner app on phones

📖 The printed PlannerA5 hardback with gold foil. Each month asks you a few simple questions, and the pages for when you’re stuck or fall off the wagon are built in.
🎓 The Planner PortalMy training for every page, so you’re never staring at a page wondering what to write.
📱 The planner appYour marketing streak (like Duolingo, but for your marketing) and a nudge every Monday.
👭 The Facebook groupOther women in business using the same planner, cheering each other on.
👢 The Monday Bum KickAn email from me every Monday with one thing to do that week.
🖍️ The ExtrasWorksheets, resources and colouring sheets for the days you need to slow down.

Want to see how it compares with other kinds of planner? Read 2027 planners compared.

Love, Claire x

Your questions

Why do I always give up on planners?

Usually because the planner asks too much (blank pages, long to-do lists) and gives nothing back: no reminder, no help when you’re stuck, and nobody noticing if you stop. Fix those and planners stick.

What if I miss a few weeks?

Just pick up where you left off. Don’t go back and fill in the gaps, and don’t start again. Turn to this week and write one thing.