Stationery Talk No. 3: My Planner and Journal Ecosystem

Learning to embrace my love for planner hopping

I want to be someone who uses the same planners and journals all year round. And yet, like clockwork, by the time Spring rolls around, I find myself revamping my notebook lineup.

This year has been no different. I’ve completely reworked my planner ecosystem and added several notebooks to my journal lineup. And that’s okay! As I’ve come to understand my love for stationery, notebooks, and journaling as a hobby, I feel less pressure to stick with one system or set of notebooks. I’ve also realized that I enjoy the process of setting up a new journal and I value flexibility in my planning and journaling routines.

So, with that prelude aside, let’s talk about my current planner and journal ecosystem!

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My Planner Ecosystem

Plotter Binder (Main Personal Planner and Everyday Carry)

I am using a Plotter Binder in the Bible size as my main personal planner and everyday carry. The Plotter binders are known for their narrow 11mm rings. The slim profile makes this an extremely portable option and the narrow rings don’t interfere with the writing experience (which is my main gripe with ring planners). Plotter also sells thin, fountain pen-friendly paper that is delicious to write on.

I use my Plotter for daily task management, ideation, and note taking. I have five sections in here including: 1) collections and trackers (e.g., social media planning, some expense tracking, etc.) 2) daily planning (I use 1 day per page to plan and rapid log my day); 3) reading notes; 4) work notes (as needed); 5) misc. notes and journaling. (I only journal in my Plotter when I don’t have any other journals on hand.)

My Plotter comes with me everywhere. I love that I can take the messiest of notes (to be disposed of later) alongside neater planning, list making, and note taking (all of which I archive).

Hobonichi Weeks Spring Start (Personal Datebook)

I’ve used a Hobonichi Weeks as my main personal planner on-and-off for years. I find such comfort in using a Weeks. I bought this on a whim when the April start Hobonichi planners went on sale, and I’m so glad I did. I’m using the weeks as a dated companion to my Plotter. I use the monthlies to record future appointments, events, holidays, trips, and birthdays. I use the weeklies to plan out my week, for habit tracking, to track my weekly reading, and for content planning. I have a few trackers in the notes pages including a finance and debt tracker, cycle tracking, adulting log, and monthly dashboards (where I goal plan for each month).

My weeks is with me most of the time— I bring it with me to work and when I travel, but I am not as attached to it as I am my Plotter.

LEUCHTTURM1917 B5 Monthly Planner (Work Planner)

I used Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks for years when I was an avid bullet journaler. I bought this B5 monthly planner and notebook on sale to see if I’d like the size. And I love it! I love having the large monthly layout to record due dates and deadlines and sketch out when I will work on various research or writing projects. I’ve been using the notes pages for dailies and some loose paper (from a Midori notepad) tucked in the back pocket for messy notes.

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My Journal Ecosystem

Sterling Ink B6 Daily Planner (My Daily Journal and Archive)

I am using the B6 Daily Planner from Sterling Ink as my daily journal and archive (which is a bit different than how I planned to use this journal.) I journal in here almost everyday. What I journal about varies but ranges from daily recaps and highlights, to anything notable or funny my son said or did, to processing emotions, to thinking through life challenges— both big (mothering) and small (which planner I want to use). I use the dated monthly layouts to record media I’m consuming (books, tv shows, movies, music, and podcast) and the fountain pen inks I’m using each month.

Whenever journaling feels hard, I turn to journaling prompts to help me start writing. (I’ve been enjoying these prompts from the Coffee Monsterz Co.)

Sterling Ink A5 Grid Notebook (Reading Journal)

I use an A5 Sterling Ink grid notebook (520 pages) as my reading journal. I’ve used this same notebook since 2023 and it’s a delight to flip through. I use my reading journal to record everything I’m reading, books I want to read, and statistics about my reading. I wrote all about my approach to reading tracking in a previous newsletter. I also recently filmed a flip through of my current reading journal setup for YouTube.

Traveler’s Notebook (Commonplace Journal)

I’ve long been interested, though intimidated, by the idea of keeping a commonplace journal. Then I came across a YouTube video from Linda Loves Creating and Petya’s Substack post on commonplace journaling for mortals—both of which provided great suggestions for setting up a no-frills commonplace book.

My commonplace book is where I write down poetry that moves me, as well as quotes and excerpts from books and articles I’ve read. I’m using a traveler’s notebook (regular size) with tomoe river paper inserts from GoodInkPressions. I’m using dot stickers to color categorize each entry (blue dots indicate quotes from books, purple indicates quotes from articles, orange indicates miscellaneous quotes, and green indicates poetry). I may adopt a more detailed approach to indexing in the future, but this simple setup is working great for me for now.

LEUCHTTURM1917 B5 Dot Grid Notebook (Junk Journal)

I love the concept of junk journaling, but I struggle with perfectionism. I’ve been itching to create more recently and decided to experiment with junk journaling. My intention is to use this journal as a space to play, to get messy, to create. I’m also hoping this journal will give me a purpose to use my growing stationery stash (of stickers, stamps, inks, etc.).

So far, I’ve only finished one spread— I don’t love it, I don’t hate it. But most importantly, I had fun creating it! (I’m using a B5 Leuchtturm 1917 softcover notebook for my junk journal.)

Hobonichi A6 Grid Notebook (Ink Journal)

I’ve become a fountain pen enthusiast over the last few years and with that comes a growing collection of fountain pen inks. I’m using an A6 Hobonichi graph notebook to keep an inventory of the ink bottles and samples I currently have in my stash.

I started setting this up recently, and it’s been such a fun and relaxing evening project. And it’s helped me remember all the beautiful inks I *already* own!

Sterling Ink N1 Grid Notebook (Self-Care Journal)

Finally, I’m using a Sterling Ink N1 size grid notebook as my therapy and self-care journal. I use this to take notes during therapy and any other telehealth appointments, and for any therapy homework.

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In case you missed it:

I recently posted a quarterly planner and journal update on my YouTube channel. Check it out below!

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Tell me, has your planner and journal ecosystem changed since the beginning of the year?

• If you have documented your planner and journal ecosystem anywhere on the internet, please drop those links below!