Finishing what I started, even if it is a year later!

 I first started keeping what I call a "successful" journal in 2017. I deemed this a victory because I filled nearly every page. Prior to this I had tried a couple of traveler's notebook covers + inserts. I'd given an A5 from Chic Sparrow a shot and for a very short time, I used a personal size from Foxy Fix. I also landed in pocket sizes covers, which I used the longest because they were the most portable, you know back when traveling was easy. 

I loved the idea of carrying a journal with me. Usually when I didn't have something to write on, that's when inspiration would flow through. I would always intend to bring a journal. I diligently filled in my calendar and to-do list. I had inserts for my brain dumping and memory keeping. Then life would get busy and I'd revert to sticky notes. I traveled a lot so I ditched a big bulky purse and switched to a wristlet. Back then I journaled when it was convenient. I was also a lot more free flowing (scattered and unorganized). 

Graduate school, working full time and raising my three children changed that. By 2017, I HAD to have my ducks in a row. It was imperative that I get organized with the many items I was juggling. That fall I started using a 5 x7 notebook and EVERYTHING went in that baby. Monthly calendar, daily task list, memories, a bit of journaling, ephemera, small pictures, etc. It was a damn mess and... I proved that I could capture my life on the go, coffee stains and all.  (I no longer carry my Kleen Kanteen inside any bag. Lesson learned!)

By the spring of 2018 I had explored, tested and discovered many insights about planners, sizes, functions and styles. I certainly have enough content to write a guide to planners, covers, papers, rings and string. The piece would document the continual shifting sands of planners for me. While I'd love to find one book that holds everything, I've come to the realization that my life is full and fast, ever-changing and dynamic, how would I get it all into one planner? Maybe someday, but not right now. 

Instead of belittling myself for not fitting into one kind or one style of planner, maybe I can celebrating my flexibility, creativity and ease at which I can adapt, experiment and try something different? Figuring out what planner to use seems to be based on my needs in the moment, my daily schedule, responsibilities and routine. Instead of fitting myself into a planner I "think" I should be using, I've fit the planner to the lifestyle I have. The planner does not make the woman, the woman makes the planner work for her.  

What's working for me right now? Hobinichi Weeks Mega, in Twinkle.  I'm still a bit in shock as I write this!

I never thought I'd use one of these again and..... here it is for 2021. CRAZY. What made me return? Interestingly, I was doing a monthly review in my very chunky, A6 and I realized that I prefer to have some sort of overview of the month and week--all on one page, all  in one place. One of the downfalls for me in using a bullet journal is the continual flipping. Of course I use tabs but still.... that little action was annoying to me. I need something that I can quickly turn to and reference. (Probably why I jumped out of strings last spring and started using rings for the compartmentalization. Rings really don't allow me to free flow so I only use then when my brain needs the distinct separation of tasks and schedules.) 

I pulled out my 2019 Weeks Mega and realized I really loved having the documentation in one spot. I also liked having the calendar view and weekly view open all the time. Here was the reference I needed (and it was a mess ) but it was MUCH easier to read!  I LOVE, love, love love to journal, decorate and document in an A6, but man, I have a hard time reading it and finding information that I know I wrote down...somewhere. My handwriting isn't horrible, but I pack the words on and make them count. I enjoy flipping through my journals, if I have time to reminisce, but it was frustrating to me when I wanted to look at a certain date and see how much I paid or what we did for a birthday or the name of the restaurant we ate at on one of our trips. That's when I realized the...... "Power of the Weeks!" 

Mind you, I do have some restraint (only a little most of the time!) So instead of ordering a 2021 version, I finished the 2019 that I had. I wanted to make sure this wasn't just a boredom move. Remember in the previous post I shared that my goal is completion? This was my word of the year back in 2017 when I finished my Master's Degree; since that time, I've extended it to several other life aspects, including journals. I had a lot of unused journals and when I did a big purge I made a pact that if I started a journal I would finish it. I didn't put a timeline on when, I just had that agreement. I've since completed several and now, having an unfinished journal drives me crazy!

I kept the 2019 Weeks Mega up until October 13th. That was my last entry. That was also a very emotionally rough time in my personal life. It's one of those examples where I stopped documenting because even doing that, was too much. I was in survival mode and when I go into that mode, I do the absolute bare minimum. When I started documenting again, I pared down to a pocket sized cover with Field Notes inserts and a B6 planner for my daily/monthly/weekly organization and projects. 

Interestingly this fall I returned to the 2019 Weeks, right around the time I'd left off before! I grabbed white out and adjusted the page, wrote 2020 at the top and started using the Weeks as my weekly overview. I wasn't going to spend any money on this unless I knew I would use another one. I also didn't care how messy it got. Completion. I wanted to complete this book and the timing was right. What I learned was this size is GREAT for a weekly overview and identifying events that are coming up. I open it up and set it on my desk so I have a visual reminder. What it doesn't work for is daily tasks. I have a load of those. There are two options for task tracking

1. Use the ample pages in the back for a daily summary 

2. Add a pocket size insert for daily summary. 

The Hobinichi Weeks Mega has quite a lot of extra paper in the back. I had blocked out two pages for each month, a book list page, gifting page, travel page, wish list and expenses page. I found that I could easily document my day and identify tasks.  This is what had made me jump into a different size of journal/planner--I hadn't utilized the back pages. I needed to have a space for the to-do's, the things that my brain dredges up during the course of a day and a space for documenting sweet surprises, memorable moments and when I paid what bill. I started adding those in the back of the planner.

It's now December and I've proven to myself that this system will work. I've purchased the "Twinkle" Weeks Mega and I'm slowing starting to fill it in. I have a drawer pouch that I'm carrying it in. I've ordered a cover for it that includes strings for inserts. These inserts will be my to-do supplement and an everything booklet. (I always carry a small pocket journal to write on the go--it's an even larger mess than my other journals!) 

My current Planner System is a Hobinichi Weeks + Log and Jotter insert with this dashboard decorated with Michaels holiday paper. The Weeks Cover is from Lauren Phelps Desgins

I consider my planner system different from my journal system. My journal system includes a cover, wallet insert and notebook. A6 is my favorite site right now. I do have A LOT of pocket sizes (I really should sell some!) These are great for travel. For right now though I'm loving the A6 size. The system is always the same: cover + wallet inset + notebooks.  I am using a Chic Sparrow A6 cover and Keely Reichman's Odd Girl Journals Wallet Insert (I LOVE THEM!!!) and Stinson Paper Company  inserts. For the month of December, I'm keeping my 30 Days of Lists in a Cocoa Daisy Insert

This month I am completing an A6 Stalogy. This was another that I started using in 2019 and then abandoned. I returned to it this summer. I started using it for a weekly layout and then added in daily to-do's, notes, journaling, lists, etc.  If my calculations are correct, the last page will be December 31st. (I like the timing a lot. I sure didn't plant it that way!) I believe my next step will be to keep daily documenting and journaling in an A6 insert. 

I type that, but who knows how long I'll stay in any given system?!? I'm still very deep inside of the rabbit hole of planners. I'm not sure that I will make it to the surface, there's much more to explore while I'm down here. If you're in the dark and would like some company with planner dynamics, please reach out! I'm happy to have a chat about planners!