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How to Choose a Planner & Planning Strategies

How to Choose a Planner & Planning Strategies


How to Choose a Planner & Planning Strategies

Whether you are starting a new school year or want to get organized at work, keeping a planner gives you control over your time. Paper planners offer you structure for organization while giving you freedom to fit in extra entries and notes. Just as there are different styles of thinking, there are different styles of planning. In this guide, we recommend dated planners as well as undated monthly, weekly, and daily planners. We also run through helpful planning tips to keep you productive and stress-free. Watch our video below to see our tips in action!

How to Choose a Planner
Undated and Dated
Undated planners are easy to personalize around your goals, while dated planners offer structure.
Undated planners are easy to personalize around your goals, while dated planners offer structure.
Since undated planners are mostly blank, it is very easy to personalize them around your goals and work rhythm so that they feel more like companions rather than lists of obligations. These planners stay evergreen even if you do not use them immediately. Additionally, if a day ends up being more action-packed than expected, you can use extra pages without filling up space meant for other days. In dated planners, each passing day becomes obsolete if you skip it. For some, the growing number of blank pages can be an anxiety-inducing experience, which may lead to abandoned planners.

One major benefit to dated planners is that they offer structure and keep you accountable to planning. With undated planners, you may put off filling in daily events. Most dated planners still offer enough space for you to write out tasks in detail.

Frequency
Consider what format you need for your planning routine.
Consider what format you need for your planning routine.
Consider whether you need a planner just for jotting down important events or if you need one for listing out your daily routine. A monthly planner suits the former while a daily planner fits the latter. If you need to plan out daily tasks and consider the days ahead, choose a weekly planner. Many planners combine these features. For example, the Hobonichi Techo A6 Planner offers a monthly layout of the year before delving into daily pages.
Size
Planners, like notebooks, come in a range of sizes. Compare the A4 Midori MD Thin Diary (left) to the A6 Hobonichi Techo Planner (right)
Planners, like notebooks, come in a range of sizes. Compare the A4 Midori MD Thin Diary (left) to the A6 Hobonichi Techo Planner (right).
Most planners come in A5 or A6 size. Your ideal planner size depends on a variety of factors, such as your handwriting style, the level of detail in your planning, and the size of your bag. An A6 planner allows you the space to put in a fair amount of detail but takes up no more room than a small paperback. If you need something a little bigger than A6, try a B6 planner.

A5 planners are the size of a typical hardcover book. They offer more space to work with than an A6 planner since you get twice as much surface area per page.

Many A5 planners are slim and take up more vertical space than horizontal space, such as the TRAVELER'S COMPANY TRAVELER'S notebook Planner. If you prefer ample room, B5 planners are about the size of a composition notebook.

Binding and Cover
Twin ring, stitched and glued, and stapled bindings have different benefits.
Twin ring, stitched and glued, and stapled bindings have different benefits.
Consider if you want a planner with a stapled, stitched and glued, or twin-ring binding. Planners with stapled covers tend to be lightweight since they are usually made out of chipboard or cardstock. Though they are heavier, planners with stitched and glued bindings feel more personal and luxurious. Their sturdy bindings hold everything in place and are often paired with leather or leatherette covers. Some planners with stitched and glued bindings are the Stalogy Editor's Series 365Days Notebook and Hobonichi Techo A6 Planner.

Other planners sport twin-ring bindings, like the Maruman Mnemosyne N197A Today's Act Notebook. This binding makes it easy to flip through the pages. The N197A Notebook has perforated pages, which gives you the flexibility to tear out sheets to store elsewhere or discard. This feature is not present in most planners due to binding constraints.

Planner Recommendations

Monthly Planner Recommendations

If you like to think about the long term and keep your detailed notes in a separate notebook, monthly planners may be for you. They allow you to flip through a whole year and look ahead months at a time. You can use them to quickly determine your general availability for major events and to mark off deadlines.

Dated Monthly Planner: Midori MD Diary
Midori MD Diaries combine the structure of a planner with the freedom of a notebook.
Midori MD Diaries combine the structure of a planner with the freedom of a notebook.
The beautifully minimalist Midori MD Diary combines the structure of a planner with the freedom of a notebook. Its monthly calendar spreads have plenty of space for extra notes. The rest of the diary is filled with ruled and blank pages that can be used for detailed journal entries and drawings. The cream-colored MD paper is exceptionally fountain pen friendly, but it works well with pencils and other writing instruments, too. The MD Diary comes in a variety of sizes, from expansive A4 to pocket-friendly A6.
The Maruman Mnemosyne Diary is filled with useful planning tools, like monthly calendars (left) and Gantt charts (right).
The Maruman Mnemosyne Diary is filled with useful planning tools, like monthly calendars (left) and Gantt charts (right).
Fans of Maruman Mnemosyne notebooks will also enjoy the matching Mnemosyne Diary. This planner is filled with useful planning tools, such as a dedicated spread to plan your monthly goals for the coming year, as well as Gantt charts for habit tracking or project planning. The Diary is available individually, or as sets that come with classy leatherette covers and a Mnemosyne N195A Notebook for extra notes.
Undated Monthly Planner: Kokuyo Campus Diary Free Schedule
The Kokuyo Campus Diary Free Schedule is a great option for students.
The Kokuyo Campus Diary Free Schedule is a great option for students.
The Kokuyo Campus Diary Free Schedule is a budget-friendly option that is especially suited for students. Its fourteen calendar spreads are undated, so it can be filled in for each month without the guilt of skipping pages over breaks. The first two pages include a compact, full-year calendar that works perfectly as a project management tool for long-term assignments. In the back, there are seventeen blank memo pages for additional notes. The planner is made of high quality Kokuyo paper—the same found in standard Campus notebooks—that is pH neutral and FSC-certified.

The planner has a cardstock cover that can handle a little wear and tear, but we recommend pairing it with a sturdy Kokuyo Systemic Cover Notebook. It has pockets and an elastic closure strap.

The Laconic Monthly Style Notebook uses calendars to keep you accountable to deadlines.
The Laconic Monthly Style Notebook uses calendars to keep you accountable to deadlines.
The Laconic Monthly Style Notebook helps you stay accountable to major deadlines with its monthly layout. It contains enough calendar pages for sixteen months, plus extra pages in the back for taking notes. Each monthly spread includes a narrow column for creating to-do lists. Try using the planner to jot down key ideas and reminders.
Weekly Planner Recommendations

Weekly planners strike a balance between long-term monthly planners and precise daily planners. They give you an overview of your week while including enough space for planning each day. This keeps you accountable to both your weekly and daily obligations. Some people also use weekly planners to highlight important events without getting bogged down by details.

Dated Weekly Planner: Kokuyo Jibun Techo
The Kokuyo Jibun Techo is a three-in-one planning system with plenty of structure.
The Kokuyo Jibun Techo is a three-in-one planning system with plenty of structure.
The Kokuyo Jibun Techo is perfect for those who prefer an organized weekly format. The pages are divided into hourly rows and include sections to make note of tasks, the weather, and more. Despite its highly structured format, the Jibun Techo gives you plenty of space to track whatever you find important.

The Jibun Techo is available in two Slim sizes: A5 and B6. The Diary booklet can be purchased separately or in a cover set. It also comes with additional booklets for planning and recording other parts of your life. Check out our Kokuyo Jibun Techo guide to learn more about this innovative system.

Also Consider: Hobonichi Techo Weeks
Stylish Hobonichi Techo Weeks planners are easy to carry around and provide plenty of space for notes.
Stylish Hobonichi Techo Weeks planners are easy to carry around and provide plenty of space for notes.
The stylish Hobonichi Techo Weeks is a slim planner that can be tucked neatly into a messenger bag or purse. Unlike the Jibun Techo, The Weeks uses a horizontal format that allows for a looser style of planning. The left hand page is split into seven rows for each day of the week. There is plenty of room for extra notes, too: in the weekly pages, the right side of the spread is gridded, and extra memo pages are included in the back. Choose from the standard Weeks or the Weeks Mega, which includes three times as many memo pages.
This notebook refill contains six months of pages. The left pages display boxes for the seven days of the week, and the right pages are blank for notes. The beginning of the notebook has a quick summary of the year over four pages, each with three columns of 31 numbered lines. The notebook uses luxurious MD paper, which is bleed resistant, feather resistant, and fountain pen friendly. It is meant to be paired with a TRAVELER’S notebook, which can fit multiple refills. The Keep A Notebook Transparent PVC Notebook Cover is a slimmer alternative that protects the cover of your refill.
The Midori Stand Horizontal Weekly Block Memo Pad is a handy way to keep a to-do list at your fingertips.
The Midori Stand Horizontal Weekly Block Memo Pad is a handy way to keep a to-do list at your fingertips.
The Midori Stand Horizontal Weekly Block Memo Pad is a useful way to keep track of your to-do list while at a desk. The memo pad is divided into seven columns for each day of the week. It has a cardstock backing that can be converted into a stand for easy viewing, and it takes up very little space on your desk. When it is time to add more tasks, the stand folds down flat so it is easier to write on. The sheets tear out cleanly from the pad for effortless disposal.
Daily Planner Recommendations

Daily planners allow you to jot down and compartmentalize whatever is on your mind for the day. This is convenient, especially if you write down detailed steps to complete for every task. Many daily planners have subtle guides that indicate the time of day so that you can plan by the hours. They also work for those who like ample room for sketching ideas.

Dated Daily Planner: Hobonichi Techo Planner
The Hobonichi Techo Planner includes many features that make it convenient to use.
The Hobonichi Techo Planner includes many features that make it convenient to use.
The Hobonichi Techo Planner includes many features that make it convenient to use. The stitched inner pages are made of thin, bleed-resistant Tomoe River paper that works well with fountain pens. The daily pages feature the date, a timeline, and the current moon phase. The pages are faintly gridded and have a subtle vertical axis. The Hobonichi also includes extra helpful features, like monthly calendars, blank memo pages, and fun reference sheets. The daily Hobonichi Techo comes in two sizes: A5 and A6. The A5 Cousin is larger, and also includes weekly vertical pages at the beginning of the planner.

No matter which size you choose, the planners are available as stand-alone books or as Book and Cover sets that come in new and charming designs every year. Most covers come with a pen loop, two ribbon bookmarks, card slots, and pockets. Learn more about the Hobonichi in our in-depth guide.

The Kokuyo Jibun Techo DAYs Diary is a daily version of the weekly Jibun Techo.
The Kokuyo Jibun Techo DAYs Diary is a daily version of the weekly Jibun Techo.
Kokuyo brought its planning philosophy to the Jibun Techo DAYs Diary, a daily version of the original Jibun Techo. The planner’s pages include a vertical hourly timeline that splits the page down the middle, so those who prefer to keep personal and work-related tasks separate can easily visualize the difference. The DAYs Diary also includes monthly overview pages to help you set goals, look back on accomplishments, and consider what needs to be worked on in the future. Be sure to view our translations guide to get the most out of your planner.
The Stalogy Editor's Series 365Days Notebook is a minimalist planner.
The Stalogy Editor's Series 365Days Notebook is a minimalist planner.
The Stalogy 365Days Notebook is a minimalist planner designed for editors. It sports a soft, flexible cardstock cover and has thin, bleed-resistant paper. The ruling is printed in a subtle gray that can be used to keep notes orderly or ignored for sketches. The graph notebooks have the hours of the day marked on the vertical axis, and the month and day at the top of the page that can be marked as needed. Since the pages are not date-specific, you will not waste paper if you do not plan some days. The dot grid and blank notebooks do not have these hourly and dating features, but they are still great to use as free-form planners.

If the notebook's 368 pages weigh down your backpack too much, consider picking up the slimmer 1/2 Year Notebook.

The Maruman Mnemosyne N197A Today's Act Notebook includes boxes to easily number and check off your tasks.
The Maruman Mnemosyne N197A Today's Act Notebook includes boxes to easily number and check off your tasks.
List connoisseurs will love this small, cleverly designed notebook. Each sheet includes boxes to easily number and check off your tasks or ideas. The notebook is versatile and allows you to focus on whatever the day calls for, whether it is a simple grocery list or the detailed parts of a project. The reverse side of each sheet is blank so you can jot down notes. The N917A Notebook contains eighty perforated sheets of acid-free, fountain pen friendly paper that feels buttery smooth. The sleek black cover is made of durable plastic, so you can take the book everywhere without worrying about it getting damaged.
Planning Strategies
Prioritize Your Tasks
Prioritize your tasks by highlighting the important ones.
Prioritize your tasks by highlighting the important ones.
List out your tasks and prioritize them so that you can stay focused on time-sensitive, high-output assignments. Suatelier Checklist Planner Sticky Notes come in three formats: To Do List, Weekly, and Daily. You can mark important tasks with a highlighter or number assignments by importance.
Create a Schedule Template
Create a schedule template that you can use from week to week.
Create a schedule template that you can use from week to week.
Maximize your time by identifying recurring tasks on your weekly or daily to-dos. This helps you establish a rhythm and form a better understanding of your time. List your repeating tasks on a memo and place it in your planner. When the week is done, simply peel off the memo and place it on the next weekly spread. In this example, we placed a Midori Journal Weekly Log Sticky Note over a page in the Hobonichi Techo A6 Planner.
Don’t Overplan
Overplanning makes your planner difficult to read.
Overplanning makes your planner difficult to read.
It might be tempting to overplan, but leave space in your schedule to stay sane. Overfilling your planner can make it seem impossible to finish your tasks and can derail your focus from important projects. Stay focused on your primary daily tasks and put details in another notebook or on a sticky note to reference later.
Schedule Breaks
Schedule breaks, like doing yoga or avoiding screens for fifteen minutes.
Schedule breaks, like doing yoga or avoiding screens for fifteen minutes.
Schedule breaks so that you can refresh your mind. This can be a day out of the month where you are taking a trip, or an hour in the day where you are not thinking about work. Mark your time off with cute accessories, like Midori Planner Stickers, to remind yourself.
Use Visual Cues
Use visual cues such as stamps to help you recognize tasks quickly.
Use visual cues such as stamps to help you recognize tasks quickly.
Take advantage of highlighters, stamps, and page markers to create visual cues for separating different tasks. Denoting your tasks helps you see where the bulk of your work lies and keeps tasks compartmentalized. Visit our planner accessories guide for more tips on sprucing up your planner.
More Resources
Conclusion

There are many different planners to choose from depending on your personal style of thinking and approach to scheduling. Once you find a planner that fits how you think, you are on your way to more efficient and low-stress days.

Planner Undated / Dated Frequency Size Binding / Cover
Hobonichi Techo Planner Dated Daily A5, A6 Stitched / Cardstock
Hobonichi Techo Weeks Dated Weekly Wallet (7.4 inches x 3.7 inches) Stitched / Bookboard
Kokuyo Campus Diary Free Schedule Undated Monthly Semi B5, A5, A6 Stitched / Cardstock
Kokuyo Jibun Techo Dated Weekly A5 Slim, B6 Slim Stitched / Cardstock
Kokuyo Jibun Techo DAYs Diary Dated Daily A5 Slim, B6 Slim Stitched / Cardstock
Laconic Monthly Style Notebook Undated Monthly A5 Stapled / Cardstock
Maruman Mnemosyne Diary Dated Monthly A5 Twin Ring / Plastic
Maruman Mnemosyne N197A Today's Act Notebook Undated Daily A6 Twin Ring / Plastic
Midori MD Diary Dated Monthly A4, A5, B6 Slim, A6 Stitched / Cardstock
Midori Stand Horizontal Weekly Block Memo Pad Undated Weekly Medium (8.3 inches x 3.9 inches) Glued / Cardstock
Stalogy Editor's Series 365Days Notebook Undated Daily B5, A5, B6, A6 Stitched / Cardstock
TRAVELER'S COMPANY TRAVELER'S notebook Refill 019 Undated Weekly A5 Slim (8.3 inches x 4.3 inches) Stitched / Cardstock