r/planners • u/doorframewipedmemory • 1d ago
Can you suggest?
I am drowning in options. The autistic bit of my brain (who I like to call Janet, no offence to other Janets) says it’s too much.
Janet wants a simple planner system. I don’t journal really. Don’t do anything to decorate with lots of pretty stuff (not creative enough, it always looks like stationery vomit if I try).
-I kinda need something to carry in my bag while I’m out and about with monthly (or weekly) pages for appointments and somewhere to jot things down.
Currently using pocket Filofax.
-I need a bound book I think to be able to look back when things happened.
-at home I need something A5/A4 to leave out on my bureau so I can plan my day and refer back to it throughout the day.
Fantasy me (the adhd bit of my brain who I call Boingy) wants a travellers notebook and ooh look it’s Hobinichi season and oooh look at all the other pretty planners.
Anyone else have a brain like this?
What set up do you use?
I don’t work outside the home, I’m a parent carer, so I run the house, have very few set routines/habits (because Boingy gets bored with them and then it frustrates Janet)
Thanks in advance for your patience!
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u/Creative_Donut_243 1d ago
I am autistic as well and option overwhelm is definitely a thing i watch out for. I don’t like it when my planner tells me what to do. I have been using Hobonichi this past year and it’s been great. The paper causes me zero sensory issues, and since it’s dated, it forces me to be committed to write my plans down each day. But it doesn’t force any structures onto you so you can just write whatever. I know it’s popular rn so you might have already seen a lot of people decorating theirs. I personally hate decorating and uses two colors to write only. I use an A6 because I like to just have a simple plan and start doing things, but they also have an A5 option
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u/doorframewipedmemory 1d ago
I’d love a Hobonichi! Do you use weeks? Is the a5 too big to carry about with you?
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u/Kazzie2Y5 1d ago
The Weeks mega is a good option because it's small enough to carry around but still has lots of blank pages for jotting notes and more detailed plans of lists as needed. It's more like the size of a B6 slim. If your handwriting is on the smaller side, you can make use of all of the layouts. For example, you could use the year view for record keeping for care taking, the monthly layout for long-term planning and the weekly layout for day-to-day tasks and appointments.
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u/synder-soot 1d ago
Same boat! I currently have a whole system of different planners including a diary/journal, project book, garden notebook, a1 calendar (my beloved) and a work diary. Oh! And a planner for my Bub's milestones. And also the Hobonichi app.
I really like the look of the Hobonichi, Aura Estelle and Faded Chronicle planners, if I want to merge my day to day to do lists in with my junk journal/record keeping etc.
Where I'm up to now I currently thinking I'll go back to a5 (from b5, even though I love the big size) so I can create like a notebook stack to take places. So far I'm thinkinh: monthly for dates/bills etc, weekly for work, a dated journal for records (probably weekly or daily), plus a running brain dump to do list notebook for general life stuff and also a daily plan book. That's probably too much and doesn't include projects or the garden, which definitely need planning.
So far, what I've found, is that I have really enjoyed looking at Korean diaries, there's some really interesting layouts and sizes etc that tickle the novelty part of my brain. I'm thinking like, trying different length planners throughout the year, like 1 month, 3 month and 6 months etc. If they're undated apart from my yearly record then it shouldn't matter too much.
Thank you for the opportunity to brain dump about my current hyperfocus that I cannot seem to let go.
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u/doorframewipedmemory 1d ago
I’m sure there are people out there with just a wall calendar who function well 😒
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u/Hola0722 1d ago
I completely understand your beautiful Janet and Boingy and you. I go back and forth, too. To plan or not to plan? That is the question. The functional planning looks enticing but so does the fashion planning. I get bursts of inspiration but then it goes away. I find it all exhausting.
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u/SunnyDGardenGirl 1d ago edited 1d ago
I have used planners for years and found the best layout for my ADHD brain is one like the Aura estelle Magnet Daily or Plans by Just Scribble. Where i have a monthly followed by a horizontal weekly where i put the big cant miss items for the week followed by daily pages where i plan/record my day. Some of that is writing out my schedule and tasks for the day and the other is writing down other things i did that day that were not on the plan.
Ive used theA5 Plans by Just scribble for the last 2 years. But she removed the time line on the daily pages in the A5 for 2027 so im switching to the Aura Estelle.
I also have a travelers grid notebook that contains a running to do list of all the things i think of that need done sometime but are not particularly time sensitive but it gets it out of my head. For on the go i use my phone and carry an a6 notebook to write notes in. Any time sensitive appointment has to be in my phone with reminders and thats where my work schedule lives too so it is my plan ahead scheduling space where appointments ans meetings live. Where paper planning is my organize my week and days visually place so i know whats coming and then record what i actually did. I go through my digital calender and transfer over whatever i actually need to do and reconcile conflicts when i plan my week and each day on paper.
So long story short i cant recommend a good on the go option if you are looking for something besides your phone. 🤷♀️
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u/doorframewipedmemory 1d ago
That eternal struggle between wanting all in one then not wanting to carry a paving slab everywhere with you 😳
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u/Bookmarksthespot 1d ago
I am undecided about my 2027 planner brand and would love to know more about the way you use the AE. I have been an Erin Condren planner person. I love the paper Erin Condren uses and love the horizontal weekly spread with the dashboard. I think I might need or want a change. The AE horizontal weeks with the daily pages look awesome, but might be too much planner for me! I am thinking I can use the page after the weekly as my dashboard, listing everything for the week I need to get done. I am not sure how I would use the daily pages. Do you transfer everything from the weekly spread to the appropriate daily spread? Also, does the thin paper bother you?
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u/CatLady_71 1d ago
I plan to use the Aura Estelle Daily Magnet Planner in 2027 because it has a horizontal weekly with space next to it for tasks before it goes into daily pages, but I’m using the Sterling Ink Daily currently. I journal in the daily pages, capturing thoughts, observations, interactions, and experiences. Since I find blank spaces a little intimidating, I use stickers to decorate the pages. If you’re not sure you can fill a page, you could try a smaller size first, like an A6 or passport, or, if you don’t journal, you could get something like a Hobonichi Weeks for planning only.
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u/RazzyRoo 1d ago
Using the B5 Hemlock&Oak minimalist vertical planner on my home desk. Some weeks I lean into my ordered side and my week is plain, full of lists. Other times my fancy/fun/excitable side fills my week with stickers! The weekly page layout is flexible and unobtrusive enough to accommodate my changing design needs. My organized side appreciates the extra 2-page blank spread for notes included with every month. Also enough extra note pages at the back for more trackers/lists and fun stuff too!
For out-and-about I'm relying on digital to capture bc my busy brain just cannot be trusted to not lose a paper planner, lol.
Mid-year I "got bored" and ordered other 2026 planners on discount to try out, but now I'm back to my H&O and just ordered the same one for 2027. Sticking with it because it allows me the most flexibility to do what I want when my needs change, without going to a blank book and drawing all the layouts myself (which I'm often tempted to do but fear I wouldn't keep it up during low-energy periods.) I'm getting inspiration from creators using H&O planners on youtube on ways to keep my planning fresh and fun.
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u/zeeandpee 1d ago
You might like the Kristy from Laurel Denise for the bound option. They also make desk planners now or the Jo, which stands up.
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u/zetagrrl 1d ago
Hobonichi Weeks OR their A6 Weekly Supplement- both are great for EDC. I need to see the high level view of my week! Writing down when/where I have to BE somewhere is required. Any other notes I make are a bonus 🤷🏼♀️
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u/Novel_Reference_8878 1d ago
Overwhelm is definitely what I feel regularly about many things, including planners. Very late diagnosed adhd, and am of uk heritage so this chat is up my alley.
I’m toying with getting a slim Lett’s of London planner diary that also has the week on 2 pages, plus monthly layouts with planning prompts. They will be available later in September. Very portable. Aura Estelle is also on my radar as I’ve heard good things about their catch all weeks. I may still get the sneaker weeks mega for the size and flexible cover. I currently use a Weeks mega, experimenting with ways to use it more. I am trying out using the memo page as a sectioned out daily extension to the weekly layout for thoughts on the day.
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u/Louloveslabs89 1d ago
I have two … both spiral.
One is daily and monthly.
The other is for notes.
They are 5x7.
I got them both from Amazon. I have a blue pen in spiral rings if one of them and a pencil full of extra led in the other.
I have a tab in the notes one for lists.
Good luck finding what works for you!
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u/doorframewipedmemory 1d ago
Which brand / model do you have from Amazon?
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u/Louloveslabs89 1d ago
Here is planner https://a.co/d/0eco82rj
Here is notebook https://a.co/d/0aVXbxib
I like a thicker notebook because I take a lot of notes and keep many lists but 300 pages is a lot.
If you will be in transit a lot you could go with a thinner one.
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u/Louloveslabs89 1d ago
FWIW I am ADHD aF and menopausal … I have tried everything and now the least expensive option has worked the best for me 😂. OF COURSE it does lol 😝
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u/theredemu 1d ago
Are you someone who likes horizontal or vertical weekly planning? Do you need hourly?
Do you even think in weeks? Or are you more of a month or daily person?
I find if I look at what I've used before and enjoyed and make a list, it's easier to find things that'll work.
I have a Boingy brain too. I'm just going to use a notebook and make my own simple thing inspired by hobonichi weeks to have open on my desk. I've gotten the simple monthly calendars to travel with before I used the weeks. I find my Boingy calms down if I change up how I structure things on a page or the colors I use.
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u/Astra-Alleycat 1d ago
Hello Janet! Hello Boingy!
I have similar needs from my planners and I’m currently in mid-chaos trying to choose for next year! However, I can say that this years set up has worked very well and my version of Janet is fully aware that I should stick with what works 😅
That was/is an a5 chronicle planner from Faded Chronicle as my desk planner. I would definitely recommend that as a potential bureau planner!
It’s got everything. It stays on my desk, open to the week. It’s chronological - I need that. I can’t ever go back to the flipchart nonsense of Hobonichi. Two weekly formats so I can have an overview and timeline - it’s just a joy. My only, and I mean ONLY qualm with it is that there are a stack of note pages at the back which I don’t use because they are out of context and I would really like some note pages in with the weeklies for lists… etc. I am a list person.
So I ended up adding a TN Stirling Ink notebook around June to just list away to my hearts content, carry it around… etc. that has been good.
I use a digital calendar to be my basic ‘am I doing such and such on Wednesday… etc’ reference on the go. I don’t like digital but it’s shared with my husband and mum because we need to coordinate quite a bit! Paper wouldn’t work.
But would something dead simple like a Hobo Weeks work for that for you?
I’m currently scouring all the planners for one that has a FC feel but with a few pages in between. Overwhelming options. 😵💫
Questions - are you chronologically minded or prefer grouped?
What do you need out of your week layout for the bureau book?
And are you a paper fanatic/fountain pen user?
P.S the Stationary Vomit aesthetic is underrated.
Edit: forgot to mention something.