For years, I struggled to find a planner that actually worked for me.

Not just something pretty to look at or structured enough to tell me where to be and when—but something that held space for real life. The messy thoughts. The hard weeks. The moments where simply getting out of bed deserved to be written down and acknowledged.

So I stopped trying to find the “perfect” planner.

And instead, I built my own.

What started as simple journal entries slowly evolved into something much deeper: weekly reflections, monthly check-ins, yearly resets, collages, notes scribbled in margins, and pages added when I needed more room to breathe. Eventually, it became a living record of my life—one I could flip through and say, “I made it through that.”

After finishing writing through 2025—a year that tested me in ways I never expected—I realized I had over 120 pages documenting how I survived it. And that’s when this planner truly became something worth sharing.

Where It All Started: Journaling Without Rules

I didn’t start with a plan.

I started with a pen, a blank page, and the permission to be honest.

Some days I wrote full paragraphs. Other days it was a single sentence:

• “Today was heavy.”
• “I feel hopeful again.”
• “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m still trying.”

That’s the beauty of journaling—it meets you exactly where you are. No expectations. No timelines. No pressure to be profound.

Over time, I noticed patterns in my writing:

• Certain weeks were harder than others
• Certain months brought clarity
• Certain seasons required more reflection and grace

Naturally, journaling began to pair with planning.

Adding Structure: Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly Pages

Once I realized I needed both freedom and structure, I started creating intentional sections:

Weekly Pages

My weekly spreads weren’t about productivity alone. They included:

• A place to brain dump
• A short reflection prompt
• Space for wins (even tiny ones)
• Room to acknowledge what felt hard

Some weeks were filled edge to edge. Others stayed nearly blank—and that was okay.

Monthly Check-Ins

Each month became a pause point.

I’d reflect on:

• What drained me
• What energized me
• What I wanted to carry forward
• What I needed to let go of

These pages helped me zoom out and recognize growth I would have otherwise missed.

Yearly Reflections

At the beginning and end of the year, I added intentional reset pages:

• Intentions instead of resolutions
• Themes instead of rigid goals
• Gentle questions like “Who do I want to become this year?”

Looking back on these yearly pages now feels incredibly powerful. They tell a story—not of perfection, but of persistence.

Making It Visual: Why I Started Adding Collages

Words weren’t always enough.

Some emotions didn’t want to be explained—they wanted to be seen.

That’s when I started adding collages:

• Photos from my camera roll
• Screenshots of quotes
• Color palettes that matched my mood
• Magazine-style layouts that reflected seasons of my life

Collages became a form of visual journaling—especially helpful on days when writing felt overwhelming.

They also made the planner feel more alive. More personal. More mine.

Why Canva Changed Everything

When I discovered Canva, everything clicked.

Instead of being stuck with a fixed, printed planner that couldn’t grow with me, I suddenly had:

• Complete creative freedom
• The ability to add pages as I needed them
• A way to customize fonts, colors, layouts, and spacing

Using Canva allowed me to:

• Duplicate pages I loved
• Remove pages I didn’t need
• Add blank spreads during hard seasons
• Insert collage pages wherever they felt right

Most importantly, it gave me permission to stop trying to make myself fit into someone else’s system.

This planner worked because it worked for me.

Adding Pages As I Went (And Why That Matters)

Life doesn’t unfold in neat, pre-planned boxes.

Some months required extra reflection.

Some weeks deserved more space.

Some moments needed to be documented immediately.

With a digital, editable planner, I could:

• Add pages mid-year
• Insert reflections after big life events
• Expand sections without starting over

That flexibility is what turned this from a planner into a true life archive.

By the end of 2025, I had over 120 pages filled with words, collages, notes, and proof that even in the hardest moments, I kept showing up.

Printing It Was Emotional (In the Best Way)

Recently, I decided to print my completed planner.

Holding it in my hands felt surreal.

This wasn’t just paper and ink—it was:

• Evidence of resilience
• A record of grief, growth, healing, and hope
• A reminder that even on days I felt stuck, I was still moving forward

Flipping through it now, I don’t just remember the pain of that year. I see how I carried myself through it.

That’s something I’ll treasure forever.

Why I Decided to Share This Planner

I created this planner for myself—but I realized I couldn’t be the only one craving something like this.

Something that’s:

• Structured but flexible
• Creative but grounding
• Reflective without being overwhelming

This downloadable planner isn’t about “fixing” your life.

It’s about documenting it.

It’s about giving yourself space to:

• Process
• Reflect
• Create
• Heal
• Grow

And most importantly—to make it completely your own.

How You Can Make It Yours

When you download this planner, you’re not locked into anything.

You can:

• Edit every page in Canva
• Change fonts, colors, and layouts
• Add or remove pages anytime
• Insert photos, collages, or extra reflections
• Print it, use it digitally, or both

There are no rules.

Use it weekly. Monthly. Sporadically.

Write a lot. Write a little.

Make it messy. Make it beautiful.

Let it meet you where you are.

The Details

• Downloadable + fully editable in Canva
• Designed for journaling, planning, and reflection
• Can be customized endlessly
• Print-friendly or digital-use ready
• A tool created from real life, not perfection

🩶Suggested donation: $12.99 — but any amount is appreciated.

This isn’t just a planner—it’s a companion for your year.

Ready to Start Your Own?

If you’re looking for a planner that grows with you, holds your real thoughts, and becomes a record of your journey, this one was made for you.

👇 Click below to download the planner and start creating something that’s uniquely yours.

Support This Project 🤍

This planner was created during one of the hardest years of my life. What started as personal journaling turned into over 120 pages of reflection, planning, collages, and proof that I kept going—even on the hard days.

I want this planner to be accessible without forcing a website upgrade or complicated checkout system. For now, it’s available through a pay-what-you-can donation model.

If this planner resonates with you, supports you, or becomes a meaningful part of your journey, you’re invited to donate in exchange for access to the downloadable, editable PDF.

Your donation helps support:

• The time and emotional energy it took to create this planner
• Ongoing updates and future versions
• Keeping creative, healing resources available without barriers

There is no pressure and no obligation. Give what feels right for you.

Thank you for supporting this work and for being here 🤍

         

Want Help Making This Journal Truly Yours?

If you’d like step-by-step help customizing this journal in Canva—from changing fonts and colors to adding pages, collages, and personal prompts—I’ll be sharing more guidance soon.

By subscribing, you’ll be the first to know when:

• New blog posts go live
• How-to videos are released
• Tips for journaling, planning, and creative reflection are published

This journal was designed to grow with you, and I’d love to walk you through how to make it fit your life, your seasons, and your story.

🤍 Subscribe below to stay connected.