Planners & Beyond

It’s easy to glance at each day in your planner, and forget about all the wonderful activities you did over the course of a week.  Worse, it may feel like you are simply checking off a list before the day is over, without appreciating where you have been.  Fortunately for planners, there is a fun and easy way to start acknowledging these moments without letting them be forgotten.  Memory planning gives you the opportunity to keep track of special events and activities, while still planning according to your needs each day.  It helps you transform your planner into a miniature scrapbook, with the freedom to plan your way. Memory planning is all about keeping track of the fun adventures that you want to remember, without having it become another line or bullet point in your journal.  It could be anything from a weekend hiking trip to a birthday celebration.  This is a great opportunity to showcase photos in your planner, which can be added in the memory section for display.  With photos and memorable descriptions of each activity, your planner becomes a reminder of all the fun you had. Most planners are generally customizable to your needs, allowing you to add a memory section almost anywhere you choose.  In a weekly spread with sections for each day, your memory planning space can be added below your regular list of chores and appointments.  This gives you room to write notes about the activity you would like to remember, or add a fun picture of you and your friends.  This is a space that’s just for you to include information that you may want to remember about your activity.  Quotes and stories can be used, giving a memorable caption for the photos you have chosen. To include photos in your memory planner,

Organizing your thoughts and entering tasks in your planner can be a challenge.  It is confusing to have lists of chores mixed with your to-do list, or homework assignments written next to your work schedule.  In order to make sense of all this information, it helps to organize it systematically.  One of the most effective ways to do this is through bullet journaling, which has become an extremely popular organizational method.  Through bullet journaling, your planning can also be a way to track your thoughts, schoolwork, and projects with a system that is consistent and easy to understand. Bullet journaling was devised by Ryder Carroll, author of The Bullet Journal Method.  He describes this style of journaling as a way to practice mindfulness, leading to a more productive and less stressful day.  Each journal entry is customized to your needs, reflecting individual tasks and how they make you feel.  With bullet points and other symbols to represent each category, it is easy to swiftly distinguish individual entries from one another.   To organize your thoughts with bullet journal, it’s best to start making a list of your goals for the week, month, and year.  These can be organized into separate lists known as “collections,” which help you distinguish by category.  Next, choose symbols that help you distinguish each collection from the others.  The system is highly customizable, allowing you the freedom to choose symbols and organize collections according to your own needs. Many organizational systems are focused on simply keeping track of chores, appointments, and other information.  Bullet journaling is different, in that it allows you to notice how different tasks and responsibilities make you feel.  It encourages you to reflect on each task, responding to it by journaling about your feelings on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.  This

Hobonichi Techo planners are known for their minimalism and exceptional design.  With sturdy binding, elegant functional layouts, and thin Tomoe River paper that is resistant to ink bleeding, Hobonichi notebooks make planning fun and enjoyable.  There are several great options to start planning with a Hobonichi, but Weeks is one of the best choices for those new to using one of these planners.  It’s small size and intuitive layout make it a great resource to start out your planning journey. Weeks is one of the easiest to use of all the Hobonichi Techo planners.  With its compact size and versatile design for weekly scheduling, it makes a great companion to a larger planner.  Weeks is also an excellent journaling tool when used on its own.  Journaling in one of these planners is simple.  It gives you the space you need for creating a spread that reflects your individual interests.  Having the ability to customize in a variety of ways is one reason that Weeks is such a wonderful option for planner lovers. Of the four main varieties of Hobonichi planner, Weeks is one of the most beloved around the world.  When it was introduced in 2011, it was made to be a smaller and lighter version of the full-size Techo planner.  The layout includes a vertical column on the left page, with sections for each day of the week.  On the right page, there is gridded space for drawing, journaling, and notes.  This simple approach is one of the reasons that Weeks has become such a popular option among those who love Hobonichi planners. Decorating and creating an attractive spread is an easy process with the Hobonichi.  Weeks is formatted so that a vertical layout fits easily into the daily sections, giving you an effective tool for planning each day.