diff --git a/src/the_way/cli.rs b/src/the_way/cli.rs
index 5870303..9e4925a 100644
--- a/src/the_way/cli.rs
+++ b/src/the_way/cli.rs
@@ -17,8 +17,11 @@ global_settings = & [AppSettings::DeriveDisplayOrder]
 /// Record, retrieve, search, and categorize code snippets
 pub struct TheWayCLI {
     /// Force colorization even when not in TTY mode
-    #[structopt(short, long, global = true)]
+    #[structopt(short, long)]
     pub colorize: bool,
+    /// Turn off colorization
+    #[structopt(short, long, conflicts_with = "colorize")]
+    pub plain: bool,
     #[structopt(subcommand)]
     pub cmd: TheWaySubcommand,
 }
diff --git a/src/the_way/mod.rs b/src/the_way/mod.rs
index 2bcabe1..4c2c53d 100644
--- a/src/the_way/mod.rs
+++ b/src/the_way/mod.rs
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ pub struct TheWay {
     highlighter: CodeHighlight,
     /// colorize output even if terminal is not in tty mode
     colorize: bool,
+    /// don't colorize output even if terminal is in tty mode
+    plain: bool,
 }
 
 // All command-line related functions
@@ -65,6 +67,7 @@ impl TheWay {
             highlighter: CodeHighlight::new(&config.theme, config.themes_dir.clone())?,
             config,
             colorize: cli.colorize,
+            plain: cli.plain,
         };
         the_way.set_merge()?;
         the_way.run(cli)?;
@@ -73,6 +76,7 @@ impl TheWay {
 
     fn run(&mut self, cli: TheWayCLI) -> color_eyre::Result<()> {
         self.colorize = cli.colorize;
+        self.plain = cli.plain;
         match cli.cmd {
             TheWaySubcommand::New => self.the_way(),
             TheWaySubcommand::Cmd { code } => self.the_way_cmd(code),
@@ -165,6 +169,7 @@ impl TheWay {
             )?,
             false,
             self.colorize,
+            self.plain,
         )?;
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -273,7 +278,7 @@ impl TheWay {
                 )?,
             );
         }
-        utils::smart_print(&colorized, false, self.colorize)?;
+        utils::smart_print(&colorized, false, self.colorize, self.plain)?;
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -403,6 +408,7 @@ impl TheWay {
             &[(self.highlighter.main_style, input.to_string())],
             false,
             self.colorize,
+            self.plain,
         )?;
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/src/utils.rs b/src/utils.rs
index cdd2673..753e833 100644
--- a/src/utils.rs
+++ b/src/utils.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::io::Write;
 use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
 use std::str;
 
-use chrono::{Date, DateTime, Utc, MAX_DATE, MIN_DATE};
+use chrono::{Date, DateTime, Utc};
 use chrono_english::{parse_date_string, Dialect};
 use color_eyre::Help;
 use dialoguer::{Confirm, Editor, Input};
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ pub fn parse_date(date_string: &str) -> color_eyre::Result<Date<Utc>> {
 pub fn date_start(from_date: Option<Date<Utc>>) -> DateTime<Utc> {
     match from_date {
         Some(from_date) => from_date.and_hms(0, 0, 0),
-        None => MIN_DATE.and_hms(0, 0, 0),
+        None => Date::<Utc>::MIN_UTC.and_hms(0, 0, 0),
     }
 }
 
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ pub fn date_start(from_date: Option<Date<Utc>>) -> DateTime<Utc> {
 pub fn date_end(to_date: Option<Date<Utc>>) -> DateTime<Utc> {
     match to_date {
         Some(to_date) => to_date.and_hms(23, 59, 59),
-        None => MAX_DATE.and_hms(23, 59, 59),
+        None => Date::<Utc>::MAX_UTC.and_hms(23, 59, 59),
     }
 }
 
@@ -240,11 +240,18 @@ pub fn highlight_strings(inputs: &[(Style, String)], bg: bool) -> String {
 }
 
 /// Print with color if stdout is tty else without
-pub fn smart_print(inputs: &[(Style, String)], bg: bool, colorize: bool) -> color_eyre::Result<()> {
+/// if colorize, always uses color
+/// if plain, doesn't use color
+pub fn smart_print(
+    inputs: &[(Style, String)],
+    bg: bool,
+    colorize: bool,
+    plain: bool,
+) -> color_eyre::Result<()> {
     write!(
         grep_cli::stdout(termcolor::ColorChoice::Auto),
         "{}",
-        if grep_cli::is_tty_stdout() | colorize {
+        if !plain & (grep_cli::is_tty_stdout() | colorize) {
             highlight_strings(inputs, bg)
         } else {
             inputs