I’ve been gone for awhile because I fell in the trap of the planner addict. I started in a Franklin Covey classic and used the same planner and layout for nine years. Then I went to the Erin Condren. I loved it, but I hated that it wasn’t portable.
Then I started my search for a new system. I started out in a modified bullet journal. It was simple and it worked. Then I when to a personal Filofax. I liked it, its customizable, but oh, how I hated the rings. Then I started using a Midori Passport. I loved it and it worked. However, I couldn’t resist all the other cute travelers notebooks out there, and I discovered Field Notes. So I ordered the pocket traveler’s notebook and started my Field Notes color subscription and I was ready to roll. Then I discovered Jenny Penton’s Planner Perfect System.
I started using the Planner Perfect System in May. I used Field Notes as my monthly plan books and BohoCottage monthly inserts. I purchased many pocket traveler’s notebooks (Chic Sparrow, FoxyFix, Sojourner, and Naked Cow) trying to find the right fit. I felt like Goldilocks. They are all great notebooks and deciding the one you want depends on how you want your leather to feel and look. This method worked really well and it allowed me to truly see what my planning needs are. I learned it didn’t matter if I used a plain notebook, bullet journal, Filofax, or Traveler’s Notebook, because now I have a system that works.
Monthly Calendar using BohoCottage printable inserts from Etsy
My System Needs
I must have a monthly calendar for at least 12 months. I also need daily pages. Anything else is bonus or confusing. The monthly calendar allows me to keep track of my schedule. Now I have a separate system for work that I will review in the future. So my planner includes only items that affect me when I am not at work. Sometimes works does cross into home time, so you will see those items on my planner. My daily page is how I design my day (using the Planner Perfect system). It isn’t full of ToDo’s and tasks, it is a list of how I would like my day to be. At the end of the day, it is a representation of how my day was. I don’t worry about decorating, format, or rules. Sure you will see similar layouts. Of course I like to add cute washi or doodles. However, none of this is required. Even the plain pages in the course of a week tell their own story because they are plain. I love flipping through my old monthly books because I am able to see at a glance, what was my life like this year.
My Plan for 2016
I plan to keep doing the Planner Perfect Method. However, I will be moving to the Hobonichi. The only drawback I experienced with the monthly books is when I needed notes from previous books. Now I have them conveniently stored, so it wasn’t a deal breaker, but when preparing a list recently from my notes in my monthly books, I had three laying before me. Also, I’ve had to grab a book from a couple of months ago to reference my work hours. Again, none of this was truly a problem, but I really like the idea of one year in one book. That is how my planners have been until May 2015, so it was something I missed.
Hobonichi Planner on left 3 months of Plan Books on right
My daily pages and monthly layouts will be used the same as my monthly plan books. I also got the separate weeks booklet. I hate duplication, but I like the weeks booklet because it lets me see busy vs. less busy days. This helps me plan what I will do at home.
Trailing the daily page in the Hobonichi Planner
Special Events and Days
One of the beauties of the Planner Perfect System is planning for special occasions, a trip, Christmas, a birthday, the big game, etc. The Hobonichi won’t really allow for layouts for these occasions. Sure, the back has extra note pages, but I’m afraid I would run out of pages before Halloween and my brain couldn’t handle that. I saw a post in one of the Facebook groups about using a notebook for each big event: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, etc. Really, I do the same thing each year. Sure, minute details may change, but the big picture remains the same. So I am going to use separate Field Notes books for each occasion. Then I will move them in and out of my Traveler’s Notebooks as occasions occur.
Collections
One of the things I adore about the Bullet Journal is collections. Random thoughts collected, then gathered in one place. As a companion to my Hobonichi, I have a Field Notes book that houses my book of lists collections). I will capture these random thoughts on my daily pages, then migrate them to the appropriate list.
Collections
I know this is a lengthy post, but I learned a lot from my time and expense this year. I plan to take this knowledge and share it with you. My goal is these posts will reinforce what you are currently doing or help you find your way if you were lost like I was. I know I have planned this before, but now I feel like I have really learned what works for me. There are many beautiful planners and wonderful systems that can be found on the web and on social media. What is important is finding a system that matches how your brain works. No matter how pretty or organized, it will not be useful if it doesn’t match how your brain thinks. Enjoy looking at other planners and systems, then enjoy developing a system that works for you.
Merry Christmas!
Danyel
My organized life 