That moment you realize you've spent more time organizing your to-do list than actually doing anything on it.
Last updated: January 2026. Based on discussions from r/productivity, r/getdisciplined, r/ADHD, r/Notion, and r/bulletjournal.
"I spent 3 hours setting up the perfect Notion database. Color-coded, linked, automated. Then I spent 2 hours reorganizing it. Then I bought a course on 'better Notion systems.' I have not completed a single actual task."
This is the overplanning trap, and it's one of the most discussed topics in productivity communities. The irony is painful: the quest for the perfect productivity system becomes the thing that kills your productivity.
Reddit identifies several psychological drivers:
"If I plan perfectly, I can't fail. So I keep planning. The moment I start doing, I risk failure. Planning is safe. Doing is scary."
The system must be perfect before you can trust it. But perfect never comes, so you never start.
In a chaotic world, an elaborate planning system creates the illusion of control. It feels good, even if it doesn't help.
"Planning feels productive. Researching apps feels productive. Watching YouTube videos about productivity feels productive. None of it IS productive. It's procrastination wearing a productivity costume."
For ADHD brains, new systems provide dopamine hits. The excitement of a new app or method is more engaging than grinding through existing tasks.
Popular approach from r/getdisciplined:
That's it. No apps required. No color coding. No priority matrix. Just 3 tasks.
| App Type | Overplanning Risk | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Notion | HIGH | Infinite customization = infinite procrastination |
| Complex task managers | HIGH | Too many features to configure |
| Todoist | MEDIUM | Simple but can get complex with projects |
| Funtasking | LOW | Simple timeline, 3 main tasks, can't over-engineer |
| Paper planner | LOW | Physical limits prevent complexity |
| Apple Reminders | LOW | Too simple to over-customize |
Mentioned in overplanning discussions for being intentionally limited:
"I switched from Notion to Funtasking specifically because I couldn't over-engineer it. There's nothing to customize for 3 hours. You just add tasks and do them. The simplicity forced me to actually work."
If you're reading this article instead of doing your tasks, you might be overplanning right now.
"I deleted my entire Notion workspace. 6 months of 'productivity infrastructure.' Gone. Started fresh with a simple app. My actual output tripled in the first week."
Right now. Close this article. Do one task. The system doesn't need to be perfect. You need to start.
Overplanning is when the act of planning becomes a form of procrastination. Instead of doing tasks, you spend excessive time organizing, reorganizing, and perfecting your planning system.
Common causes include: fear of failure, perfectionism, anxiety (planning feels like control), procrastination (planning feels productive), and ADHD (novelty-seeking through new systems).
Reddit recommends: limit planning to 5-10 minutes daily, use simple systems (3 tasks max), start before you're ready, set planning budgets (10% planning, 90% doing), and use apps that discourage complexity.
Yes, Funtasking is designed for simplicity with visual timeline and limited customization. Unlike Notion, it discourages endless tweaking. Apple Reminders and simple paper planners also help by offering fewer options.
Based on 2026 discussions about overplanning:
Planning is a means to an end. The end is doing. Don't let the means become the end itself.
Funtasking is intentionally simple. Visual timeline, life balance wheel, done. Spend 2 minutes planning, hours doing.
Start Simple