My Personal Life Planner Setup for 2026
What my insert line-up looks like for the new year ahead
This post is a look at how I’m setting up my personal life planner for 2026 as a part‑time working mum, juggling family life, work, and creative projects. It’s not a finished system, and it’s definitely not a declaration that everything is decided. Instead, it’s a snapshot of where my planning life is at right now, based on how I’m really living, working, and managing my energy.
It’s also a chance to let go of things that aren’t working so I can introduce and test new things.
If you enjoy planner chats, setups, and planning that supports real life rather than ideal life, you’re in good company here.
Current Snapshot of 2025
By looking back over the last 12 months of my planner setup, I’ve learned there are a few things I’m just not using, or using as I initially intended, and those insights are shaping what stays and what goes for 2026:
Quarterly inserts for future logging
As I keep a full set of monthly overview inserts in my planner setup, I tend to log important events straight on those rather than doubling up on entries in two places.
That said, I do still want some sort of quarterly or yearly logging insert for noting when certain tasks have been completed so it’s easy to check when I last deep cleaned the oven, or got the car valeted for example.
Inbox inserts for tracking
I started the year strong using an inbox for logging all the incompletes: emails I’m waiting for a response on; orders I’m waiting to receive; phone calls I need to make; items I need to purchase.
For whatever reason, life had become full, and I can see that during the last quarter of 2025 I haven’t utilised my inbox as consistently.
I’m not going to ditch it, yet, but instead think about how I might get back on track with the inbox habit as it’s such an essential tool for getting things done!
Weekly inserts for actually organising my time productively
I started the year in a vertical weekly schedule on two pages, which was great for time blocking so I could see exactly how to fit all my tasks in around the hours of my part-time job.
However, as my part-time job got busier, I made less use of the weekly schedule for my personal life. After all, I was already using a schedule in my work planner, so maintaining two started to feel draining.
I’ve switched to a horizontal week on one page for personal life planning as it made the most sense for this season of life. I have enough space to note down events, commitments, meal plans and to-dos without feeling overwhelmed.
Planning with real life, energy, and capacity in mind
Reflecting on what feels supportive versus what feels heavy allows me craft a streamlined system that works with me rather than guilt tripping me.
The Inserts I’m Using for 2026
With that reflection in mind, this is what I’m intentionally carrying forward into 2026.
Rather than building a huge system all at once, I’m focusing on the inserts that I know I’ll naturally turn to on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. I’m giving myself permission to adjust these as the year unfolds. Nothing is locked in.
Year at a Glance Calendar
I always think this insert is redundant, but I like having a year at a glance calendar at the front of my planner and use it for logging my cycles with tiny drop stickers.
Yearly Log
I’m really excited to use this one, it’s a streamlined version of my quarterly insert that I was using for future logging. However, with this yearly log I’m noting when certain tasks happened for easy reference.
Monthly Overview (featuring a calendar grid and monthly log on one page)
This monthly is my all-time fave! I can call-out important dates or items in the calendar grid with mini icon stickers, shape stickers, highlighters, or text. Underneath, on the monthly log, I can get a bit more granular with details.
Monthly Tracker
This monthly tracker insert is something new I added during the second half of 2025. My plans this in 2026 are to log:
Health related items (such as sleep score, steps, headaches, etc.)
Productivity items (such as content creation, product ideation, work out-putted)
Habits completed for my “12 week year” goal (more on that to come in the new year!)
Inbox Half-Page Tip-In (a test for now)
My full page inbox kinda wasn’t working for my after the second half of 2025 (or rather, I kinda wasn’t working on it). So, I’m thinking something a bit smaller might feel like less pressure? We’ll see how it goes.
Horizontal Week on One Page
This style of horizontal weekly insert has worked out well during my “low-bandwidth season” in the latter half of 2025, so I’m continuing with it for 2026. The only addition is a pack of cute sticky notes for making daily to-do list. These are for when I need extra space to plan on my days off which naturally tend to be busier when it comes to personal life stuff.
Inserts I’m Still Thinking About and Designing
There’s a couple of insert I’m still in the ideation phase for, these will be coming soon to the shop…
12 Week Yearly Quarterly Insert
Work in progress as I think about I might incorporate the “12 Week Year” philosophy into my planning routine (affiliate link). I’m currently re-listening to the audio book on Audible.
Bucket List Bingo
A little idea I’m working on in Canva. In the past I noted my bucket list for the year in the front of my journal for the year, but it started to feel like a set it and forget it exercise. So now I’m going to have something either towards the front of my planner, or I’ll slot it in the current month so it’s front of mind!
A Planner That Supports Real Life
As I look ahead to 2026, my main question isn’t how can I plan better?
It’s:
How can my planner support the life I’m actually living?
That means planning gently, making space for rest, and choosing systems that reduce friction rather than add to it.
This Is Just the Beginning
This setup is a starting point, not a conclusion.
Like the snapshot I shared at the beginning of this post, it reflects where I am right now, not a final answer. I expect it to evolve over the next six months, and that’s the point. Planning, for me, is an ongoing experiment rather than a fixed decision.
I’ve learned that when I hold a rigid position around the what or the how, and it doesn’t work, I tend to blame myself and abandon the whole thing. Framing my planner as an experiment instead gives me permission to notice, adjust, and carry on.
If you’re also starting to think about next year, I’d love you to reflect on:
What feels supportive right now?
What feels heavy?
What do you want your planner to make easier?
There’s no deadline for clarity.
Wishing you space to plan gently,
Chloe x