15 Creative Ways To Use Your Old / Expired Dated Planner

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Bullet journaling has become a popular method of personal organization. If you’ve been practicing this method for some time, there’s a good chance you’ll have a collection of beautiful, yet unused planners scattered around your living space.

Today, we’re going to address that issue and give those old planners a new lease on life! We’re going to explore 15 innovative ideas on how you can repurpose your old planners.

These ideas will not only help you declutter your space, but also ensure that those beautifully designed planners serve a new purpose. Whether it’s transforming them into art journals, using them for tracking personal goals, or even turning them into a recipe book, there are numerous creative ways to utilize these old planners.

So get ready to dust off those unused planners and give them a new purpose with these exciting ideas.

I’m willing to wager that if you take a moment to look around your space, you’ll find more than a few unused planners tucked away in corners or hidden in drawers.

Perhaps there’s one that was gifted to you on a special occasion. You had every intention of using it, but somehow it slipped off your radar, and now it’s gathering dust.

Or maybe you have a planner that you began using enthusiastically at the start of a new year, only for your commitment to taper off as January rolled into February.

Alternatively, you might have succumbed to the allure of a particularly aesthetic notebook during a shopping expedition. Its cover design was too cute to resist or its pages were an inviting blank canvas that promised endless possibilities. However, for one reason or another, you never got around to making use of it.

It’s understandable that these planners have been neglected, but it would be a terrible waste to simply discard them. After all, they’re full of unexplored potential waiting to be unlocked.

So, instead of letting them continue to collect dust, let’s breathe new life into them. I’m here to share several fun, innovative, and creative ways you can repurpose those old planners.

These methods will not only help you declutter your space, but also provide a fulfilling and productive use for those forgotten notebooks. So let’s dive in and see how you can transform these unused planners into something truly unique and useful.

And and before we do, let me just mention that you’ll find some freebies and more ideas at the nd of the post, so be sure to keep on scrolling!

This post may contain affiliate links. They will be of no extra expense for you, but I receive a small credit. Please see my Disclosure for more details. Thank you for supporting Masha Plans!

What To Do With Old Planners

It’s a sentiment that many of us share – it feels incredibly wasteful to simply toss out a perfectly good planner just because it’s expired. These planners, often adorned with cute designs and vibrant colors, can still serve a purpose beyond their intended use. They’re not just bundles of paper bound together, but repositories of potential creativity and productivity.

I’m sure you agree with me on this, and that’s why you’ve found yourself here, reading this post. You’re looking for a way to breathe new life into these old, unused planners. And you’re in luck, because in this post, we’re going to explore 15 different ways of repurposing an old planner.

From transforming it into a personal journal to using it as a canvas for doodling, or even as a place to jot down notes and ideas, there’s an abundance of ways to give your old planner a new lease on life.

Perhaps you’ll find among these suggestions that one idea that resonates with you, the one that sparks a lightbulb moment. The idea that makes you think, “Yes, that’s exactly what I could do with my old planner!”

So, let’s dive in and explore these 15 creative ways to repurpose your old planner. With a bit of imagination and enthusiasm, you’ll be surprised at how much value you can extract from an expired planner. Get ready to turn the pages and embark on this journey of transformation and discovery!

Use It Next Year

If you have a planner now but you’re not using it – just start using it for next year! Or use this year a planner you’ve had on your bookshelf for the last 3 years.

It’s all pretty simple, actually. All you need is some stickers to cover up the dates and maybe some washi tape for decoration.

(pssss, if you‘re wondering which washi tape I’m using, it’s from Simply Gilded, and it’s beyond dreamy!)

As you can see, I covered the dates of the week with some date stickers and the big calendar on the bottom right corner with a bigger sticker. And yup! I’m discovering the Animal Crossing world, and it’s pretty much everywhere now, including all my journals.

You can get some printable stickers in my shop that will definitely help you repurpose your planner.

Use It For Journaling

I’ve recently been finding immense joy and satisfaction in the simple act of journaling. It’s become an activity that I look forward to, a therapeutic escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Journaling has this unique ability to provide clarity, evoke introspection, and serve as a tool for self-discovery.

When you put pen to paper and begin to articulate your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, it allows you to observe them from a fresh perspective. You’re not just mindlessly going through the motions of your day. Instead, you’re taking the time to reflect on your actions, your choices, and their outcomes. This act of writing down helps you revisit all those moments, both big and small, that make up your day.

Through this process of reevaluation, you begin to understand the intricate tapestry of your life better. It’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle – each day is a piece that adds to the larger picture. You start recognizing patterns, identifying areas of growth, and learning valuable life lessons along the way.

Transforming your old dated planner into a journal is a fantastic idea, especially if you’re new to journaling. These planners come with pre-made spaces for each day, eliminating the need for setting up your journal from scratch. All you need to do is sit down, pick up your pen, and let your thoughts flow freely onto the page.

Another creative approach to journaling in your old planner is by writing letters to your future self. Imagine being able to communicate with the “you” of tomorrow, next month, or even next year! Use these letters to share your current thoughts, aspirations, worries, or milestones.

These letters could provide them with a glimpse into your life at this point in time, showing them a side of you they might not have known. It’s like leaving behind a part of yourself for future generations to discover and learn from.

Use It For Doodling

Do you know how you get better at doodling? By practicing! And your old planner can be a great canvas for doing that!

Pick a doodling theme for each week and do a doodle or two a day according to the theme.

Or maybe follow a doodling challenge to get daily prompts.

With a premade planner, everything it’s already sectioned out for you, so there’s no need to set up special doodling pages – just go for it!

And if you generally want to learn to doodle, be sure to check the end of the post to get some resources to help you get started with your creative journey.

Use Dated Planner To Take Notes

Isn’t it funny how we all have that one stack of sticky notes teetering precariously on our desks? You know the one I’m talking about. It’s an Everest of ideas, reminders, to-do lists, and random doodles, each note clinging onto the one below for dear life.

These tiny squares of paper are supposed to help us stay organized, but more often than not, they end up creating a colorful chaos. And let’s not even mention the heart-stopping moment when a breeze from an open window sends them flying like confetti. I’ve been there, and I bet you have too.

Now, imagine trying to find that one golden nugget of an idea or crucial piece of information in that higgledy-piggledy heap. It’s like trying to find a needle in a stack of needles, only even more frustrating. Plus, the sticky notes’ notorious habit of mysteriously disappearing just when you need them most doesn’t help either.

This is where your expired planner swoops in like a superhero to save the day. Think about it. This planner might be past its prime in terms of dates, but it’s still a perfectly good notebook. It’s got plenty of pages just waiting to be filled with your thoughts, ideas, and notes.

The best part? There’s no need to worry about making it look pretty or perfect. After all, it’s an old planner. You can scribble away to your heart’s content without feeling like you’re ruining a fresh new page. It’s like having a sandbox where you can play around with your ideas freely.

But the real magic happens when you start using this old planner for everyday note-taking. Suddenly, all those scattered sticky notes find a home. They’re no longer lost in a sea of clutter but neatly organized in one place. That brilliant idea you jotted down in a rush? It’s right there, easy to find, and ready to be expanded upon.

And it’s not just about keeping things organized. It’s about never losing those important golden nuggets again. Every note you take, every idea you scribble down, is safely stored in your repurposed planner.

So the next time you reach for a sticky note, think twice. Your old planner is ready and waiting to step into its new role as the ultimate note-taking tool.

Use It As a Brain Dump

I’ve talked before about the benefits of having a brain dump, so if you haven’t done one yet – be sure to read more about it and try this practice a time or two.

Your old planner can be a good canvas for that! You’ll need to write out your heart somewhere, so it might as well be in your old planner.

If you date it properly, it can also be a good reference point in the future to see how your thoughts and creativity have been changing as time goes on.

As for me, I’m using my dated planner to write down notes for my blog and brain dump ideas for my blog posts.

Use It For Language Learning

Learning a new language can be a heck of a job, but it all starts small. Try starting by learning one new word a day.

Your dated planner can be a great help!

Cover the real dates with some washi tape and use your daily boxes for one new word each day.

Daily boxes should be big enough for you to write down all the information you need about a word. My favorite way to memorize a word is to memorize it in a sentence; that’s why I’m also adding examples to each word.

Anyone else can clearly see by these notes that I was learning my Spanish with Duolingo? haha

Monthly Goal Planning

Have you ever found yourself with a grand goal, brimming with enthusiasm and raring to go, only to realize that your trusty Bullet Journal might not have enough space to accommodate all your planning and tracking needs? It’s like trying to stuff a king-sized comforter into a twin-sized duvet cover – it just doesn’t fit!

Sometimes, our goals are so big, they’re bursting at the seams of our journals. They need room to breathe, to grow, and to evolve. And that’s perfectly okay! After all, we’re not here to shrink our dreams to fit the pages of our journals. Instead, we find bigger pages for our bigger dreams.

That’s where your expired planner comes into play. Think about it as opening up a new annex in your Bullet Journaling home. This additional space gives you the freedom to break down your goals into manageable steps, create detailed action plans, and track your progress without cramping your regular Bullet Journal’s style.

And the best part? Your old planner is already set up for months and weeks, ready to be your goal-setting companion. It’s like moving into a furnished apartment – all the essential furniture is there; you just need to add your personal touch.

Now, you might be thinking, “But the dates are all wrong!” Well, that’s where a little creativity comes in. Those dates can be easily changed with stickers, much like these ones. These stickers are like little time-traveling agents, helping you repurpose an old planner into a brand-new goal-setting powerhouse.

So, don’t let the constraints of space limit your dreams or your planning prowess. Embrace the possibilities of repurposing an expired planner and watch as your goals find a new home. Remember, in the world of Bullet Journaling, every page holds the potential for greatness.

Use It As A Dream Journal

Dreams are when our brain shuts out the rational part and starts flowing pure creativity so that you might get very interesting and creative ideas from your dreams.

The catch here is that we forget them pretty soon after we wake up.

Unless we write them down in a dream journal!

It’s also really helpful in a different way – when you sleep, your brain works on problem-solving, and often, your dreams give you solutions to your real problems or help you understand better your anxieties and worries.

Using a dated planner will be very convenient since you’ll see the progression of your dreams, and later, you’ll be able to compare it to events happening to you at these moments.

Use It As A Fitness Tracker

Are you gearing up to embark on a fitness journey? Perhaps you’re aiming to shed a few pounds, build some muscle, or just improve your overall health and well-being. Whatever your goals are, your old planner can be a powerful ally in this endeavor.

Think about it. You can repurpose your old planner into a dedicated fitness Bullet Journal. It could serve as a one-stop shop for tracking workouts, logging calories, monitoring water intake, and so much more. This isn’t just about recording numbers; it’s about creating a visual representation of your progress over time.

Imagine being able to flip through the pages and see how far you’ve come. It’s like having a personal fitness diary where you can chart your successes, acknowledge your challenges, and celebrate your milestones. Moreover, it serves as a tangible reminder of your commitment to your health and fitness goals.

The act of writing things down can have a profound impact on your motivation and accountability. It makes your goals feel more real, more concrete. And every time you fill in a workout log or jot down your calorie intake, you’re reinforcing your commitment to your fitness journey.

Now, let me be honest here. As I sit here finishing up that party-sized pack of Reese’s cups at 1 am, I can’t claim to be a fitness guru. I’m more of a chocolate enthusiast who occasionally dabbles in fitness. But hey, we all start somewhere, right?

But that’s exactly why I find the idea of a fitness Bullet Journal so appealing. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about making progress. It’s about setting realistic goals and taking small, consistent steps towards achieving them.

And the beauty of it is that it’s completely customizable. Maybe you want to track your daily step count or keep a record of your sleep patterns. Or perhaps you’re interested in noting down your mood after each workout. Your fitness Bullet Journal can be as simple or as detailed as you want it to be.

Just remember, it’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey. And every step you take, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction. So here’s to your health, your fitness, and your journey towards becoming the best version of yourself.

Use It As A Memories Journal

Nowadays we tend to preserve our memories on our phones, but let’s be honest – how often do you actually flip through your camera roll? I probably only do it when I’m out of space and need to delete some pictures.

We take thousands of pictures for every occasion, and we end up forgetting about most of them almost immediately.

So I decided to create a memory journal, where weekly, I’d make little pages with memories of sweet little things happening to me.

I know these last few weeks can feel like nothing has happened, but when I pushed myself to create these weekly pages, it surprised me how many things were actually going on.

Your dated planner can be a great place to record your memories, and it doesn’t even have to be a very big project!

Just write one good or important thing that happened each day. Believe me; each monotonous quarantine day always brings a little something!

Plus, these pages are a great way to reflect and be creative.

Use It For Scrapbooking

Speaking of creativity, let’s dive into a world where your old planner can become a canvas for your artistic expression. Yes, you read that right! Your planner can also be a medium for scrapbooking or crafting collages.

Now, I can almost hear the wheels turning in your head, “Scrapbooking? In a planner?” And to that, I say, “Why not?” After all, what better way to breathe new life into something old than by transforming it into a work of art?

So, pull out that box of craft supplies that’s been gathering dust in the corner of your closet. You know the one I’m talking about – the box filled with untouched pretty papers, stickers, washi tapes, glitter pens, and a whole lot more. It’s time these supplies see the light of day and get put to good use!

Let your creativity run wild as you mix and match different patterns, textures, and colors. Don’t worry about messing up or not following a specific theme. This is your project, and there are no rules here. The goal is to have fun and create something that’s uniquely yours.

And the best part? No one will ever know what was originally on those pages. All they’ll see is your beautiful artwork, your personal expressions of creativity. Each page could be a unique collage, a mini scrapbook layout, or even a mixed media piece. The possibilities are endless!

Use It As A Meal Planner

Eating healthy is not a very easy thing, at least it never was for me. 

Having a healthy meal means finding healthy recipes and specifically shopping for those ingredients without buying the whole candy stand. 

It’s really a lot of bother and energy that I usually don’t have, working 12 hours a day like I do.

But you know what helps? Have a plan! Sit down every Sunday, plan out all the meals and grocery shopping, and just like that, it’ll be so much easier to eat healthily.

I feel like now that we are in quarantine, it might be the best time to start working on that, so it becomes a good habit by the time we are free to go outside again.

Use It As A Work/Study Planner

Whatever your situation with the quarantine is, chances are, you still have to work or study.

Working from home can be extra difficult, so that you might need some more organization, and your good old dated planner will be there to help you.

Even if you’re not facing new working conditions – you could use your planner as a project management journal or maybe just manage your staff.

For example, given that I’m self-employed and my work consists of how well my social media goes, I use an old-dated planner to track my statistics – blog visits, Instagram views, email subscribers, income, and so much more.

If you’re in school, it can be helpful to you as well – record your deadlines, assignments, and projects.

Use It As A Sticker Book

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably faced the unique conundrum of sticker storage. I mean, who hasn’t? You acquire these delightful little pieces of joy in all shapes and sizes, and before you know it, they’re everywhere!

You try to organize them in a folder, but then you find yourself leafing through countless pages, searching for that one perfect sticker you know is hidden away somewhere. It’s like playing hide-and-seek, only you’re always ‘it.’

But guess what? There’s an ingenious solution to this sticky situation right under your nose. Drumroll, please… your planner! Yes, you heard that right. Your trusty old planner can double up as a sticker book.

Now, you might be wondering, “How on earth do I turn my planner into a sticker book?” Well, let me tell you, it’s as easy as pie. All you need is a bit of adhesive, and you’re good to go!

Start by using the adhesive to attach your sticker sheets to the planner pages. You could dedicate different sections of your planner to different types of stickers – think categories like ‘nature,’ ‘quotes,’ ‘animals,’ ‘celebrations,’ and so on. This way, you’ll have a place for every sticker, and every sticker in its place.

Once you’ve done this, navigating through your sticker collection will be a breeze. Instead of rummaging through a folder, you’ll simply flip through your planner. Each page will present a clear view of your sticker sheets, making it easy to spot exactly what you’re looking for.

Use It For Decorative Elements

This is probably the most wasteful way to use a planner, but if you were about to throw it away anyways – you might as well use it like that!

Each planner (usually) comes decorated. Amy Tangerine’s planner, for example, comes with a beautiful quote page at the beginning of each month.

What you can do is cut out the decorations you like and use them in your next planner.

It might be a bit time-consuming, but if the doodles are pretty, it’s totally worth it! With adhesive tape, they will easily turn into pretty stickers in your next planner.

Bonus: Use It To Plan With Printables

You see, printables are a fantastic invention. They come in all shapes and sizes, covering a wide array of themes and topics. From daily planning sheets to specialized collections, there’s a printable for practically everything under the sun. And guess what? You can use these versatile tools to breathe new life into your old planner.

Here’s how it works: Take your pick from the plethora of printables available out there. It could be anything that resonates with you – maybe a set of habit trackers, or a collection of gratitude logs, or perhaps some decorative doodles.

Once you’ve made your selection, simply stick these printables onto the pages of your old planner. Especially if you use high-quality paper like this HP Premium Paper, nobody will see even a hint of your old planner pages.

And voila! Just like that, you’ve transformed your old, forgotten planner into a brand-new, customized one that’s tailored to your specific needs and preferences.

It’s like having a bespoke planner, but without the hefty price tag. Plus, you get to enjoy the satisfaction of creating something unique with your own hands. How cool is that?

And speaking of printables…

Free Bullet Journal Printables

Printables are a great idea for planning, and the best part is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on them since there are plenty of free printables available.

Already in the Resources Vault you’ll find 50+ FREE Bullet Journal printables and printable stickers for all your planning needs.

If you don’t have access yet, you can always sign up in the form below.

Once you confirm your subscription, you’ll get the password to get 50+ free Bullet Journal printables, stickers, and worksheets to use right away.

If you’ve never used printables before, be sure to check my post How To Use Printables In Your Bullet Journal.

It’s pretty basic, and you can find all the supplies you need in my post Supplies For Using Bullet Journal Printables.

More Resources

There are, of course, more ideas on what to do with your planners and notebooks out there, and I have plenty of more resources for you to check out.

Read these posts next:

• 50 Ideas To Fill Your Empty Notebook
• What To Use A Lined Notebook For: 15 Ideas
• Bullet Journal VS Planner: Which Is Right For You

>>> How do you use your old planners? Share with us in the comments!

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And always remember! Keep Bullet Journaling, and don’t be a Blob! 

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