There comes a point in the journey of those who love paper, pens, and organization when a question begins to arise: “Does this method still represent me?”
Changing methods doesn't mean throwing everything away, nor admitting failure. On the contrary, it's often the clearest sign that we're growing, that our pace is changing, that our priorities are shifting. Experimentation is a natural part of the process.
When a method stops working
A method stops working not when it is “wrong”, but when:
- you follow it by inertia
- you fill out the pages without enthusiasm
- you start skipping steps "because they're not necessary anyway"
- you feel like you need a breath of fresh air, to experiment with something new
The truth is, no system is universal or eternal. What worked perfectly a year ago may no longer be right for the person you are today.
Changing is not starting from scratch
One of the great fears is this: “If I change my method, I will lose everything.”
In fact, every system you've ever used has taught you something. Even the one you abandoned after three weeks.
Changing your method isn't about erasing the past, but about taking a step aside : keeping what works, letting go of the rest. Maybe you stick with your weekly schedule but change the layout. Or you add creative space where there wasn't before, or you remove it, making everything more minimal and visually appealing.
Why experimenting is good for you
Experimenting has enormous value, especially if you love analog instruments:
- makes you more aware of how you really work
- helps you distinguish what you like from what you need
- brings curiosity and play back into routine
- transforms organization into a personal, non-rigid gesture
Experimentation doesn't have to be radical. Sometimes it's enough to change a detail: a format, the color of the pen, a different way of using a page.
The right time to change
There's no need to wait for January, a new year, or a new schedule. The right times are often these:
- a change of job or pace
- a more creative or more operational phase
- the feeling of being “tight” in the current system
- the desire for more simplicity (or more space)
If you feel like you're forcing a method to fit in with him, maybe it's time to do the opposite.
The best method is the one that evolves with you
A good method isn't a perfect one, but a living one. One that can be modified, bent, rewritten. One that accompanies you without confining you.
Allowing yourself to change is an act of listening. And experimenting, ultimately, is one of the most beautiful ways to stay in touch with who you are now—not who you were when you chose that method.
Where to start when you feel the need to change your approach
Okay, you've realized something's off. Your current method isn't working for you, or it's simply not as exciting as it used to be. But where do you really start, without getting confused or piling up half-finished notebooks?
Here are some key points that can help you experiment consciously (and sustainably).
1. Start with what doesn't work
Before you even ask yourself “what would I like to try?” , ask yourself:
- What am I avoiding filling out?
- Which pages are always blank?
- What is it that weighs on me to maintain over time?
Change often arises more clearly from something that isn't working than from a desire. Identifying it prevents you from replicating it in a new system.
2. Change only one thing at a time
One of the most common mistakes is to revolutionize everything at once: format, structure, tools, style.
The result? After two weeks, you don't know what worked and what didn't.
Better to choose just one variable :
- same notebook, new structure
- same structure, different format
- same planning, but fewer pages
- same agenda, but with more creative space
Experimentation works when it is readable.
3. Choose a flexible support
When you are in the testing phase, avoid systems that are too “binding”.
Better:
- simple notebooks
- undated planners
- inserts or refills
- pages that you can add, remove, move
The freedom to correct your course is essential: knowing that you can change your mind makes the change less difficult.
4. Give the test a time
A method cannot be understood in two days, but not even in a forced six months.
A good compromise? 3–4 weeks .
Enough for:
- see if you actually use it
- understand if it makes your life easier
- see if it comes naturally to you to open it
If after this time you avoid it, it's not laziness: it's a sign.
5. Notice how you use it, not how it “should” be
Here comes the most interesting part.
Don't look at perfect pages online, look at yours:
- where do you write the most?
- What do you add spontaneously?
- what do you always skip?
Your actual way of using a planner is the best guide to building your method, not the ideal one.
6. Accept the hybrid method
Spoiler: Very few people use just one pure method.
Most create hybrid systems, made of pieces taken here and there.
And rightly so.
A bit of a diary, a bit of a list, a bit of journaling.
A system that changes with the seasons, with work, with energy.
In summary
Changing method is not about finding the definitive one , but about learning to:
- listen to you
- adapt the tools to you
- allow yourself to evolve
If you're experimenting, you're not wasting your time.
You are building a method that feels more and more like you.
And let's face it, experimenting is fun!
In this video on our YouTube channel, I share what I've decided to change for my organization in 2026 compared to the previous year.
