Finding My Functional Style | How I Decide on a Planner System

Thanks to my friend Lisa for requesting a video on how I've found my style. Spoiler: it's an always evolving process but I do have some tips to share. There will be two videos in this series. This first video discusses how I find my functional style and decide on a planner system. This is a chatty video, so you may want to grab your journal or planner, a snack, etc. and join me! Please feel free to see the time stamps below, and to check out Part 2. Thank you for watching. 💛

Questions
3:38 Why do I want a planner?
5:21 What do I want to keep track of?
7:00 Is there a format I prefer?
10:51 Where will I use it?
12:26 How and when will I incorporate it into my routine?
15:42 Suggestions

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INSTAGRAM

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RELEVANT VIDEOS
Part 2: Finding My Decorative Style | Planners & Journals

Bullet Journal Playlist

2021 Bullet Journal Playlist

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PLANNERS MENTIONED
Bullet Journal | A5 Leuchtturm

Sojourner | A5 Folio
Gedi leather with Gedi scoop pocket, add on caramel closure, asked for a snug fit

Superior Labor Leather Clip 2 Pen Holder
Natural leather

Jibun Techo Lite

Hobonichi Weeks

Hobonichi Cousin
*I am using the Cousin Avec

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Please note that this video is not intended for children aged 13 years or younger.

Thank you so much for watching!

[Michelle-kwdc]

This is what I'm going through now! I second ALL of these tips. I think one thing I'd add to the question of what to keep track of is about what feels like too much, or what feels like "not my monkeys", or what can be separated by the why, what, how, and where. I got so frustrated with my planner and wouldn't ever open it because I was trying to fit everything into it. The best thing I did for my planning was to get some home calendars, and we put our meal plans, to-buy lists, and long-term to-do lists as a household on them. It relieved so much pressure and made space for all the things I actually wanted to apply myself to.

[JT]

I can admire and appreciate the bullet journal layouts but making them is not for me.
My own planners are tools not art projects and my style is checklists... endless checklists... and horizontal...
Thanks for putting this all so concisely - looking forward to part 2 !

[leejournals]

This is so good! I really like the comparison with loving and appreciating someone's style but realizing it might not work for you (yes bullet journal, I'm looking at you) :) I look forward to part 2!

[CsprsSassyHrly]

I found your video a few months ago and it was these questions that made me realize the A5 Leuchtturm bullet journal method that I had been in for years, just felt overwhelming. I’m not a sticker, artsy, or even marker person - my bujo was pen only, but as a grad student, setting up a new one every semester, as well as the dashboard overview layout I did every week (which was pretty much a hand drawn Hobonichi weeks layout, so super easy to set up) just became too burdensome.

So I moved into the Hobonichi Cousin, because it was the closest structure to what I did in my bujo in terms of having a place for monthly, weekly, and dailies, but I have since found that while I prefer making lists, the vertical/hourly layout just doesn’t work for my brain (it’s really hard for my brain to ignore pre-printed things so if it says hourly, I am compelled to use it as an hourly layout and hourly layouts do not work for me) plus right now, an A5 was just too much real estate that I just didn’t want or need, add that to the heft (if I try a cousin again in the future, I may slim down to an Avec)… and within two weeks of starting to use the cousin, I was buying a Hobonichi Weeks.

I’ve realized just how much I needed something that was portable - I like to have everything together but an A5 hard cover was too big/bulky to bring with me everywhere, so I was forced to keep some things separate, like a B5 for shopping only, which meant that the notes in the A5 to add something to my grocery list would sometimes get lost.

I also love that it forces me to be organized - an A5, because it has sooo much space and sooo many pages, allowed me to scribble notes all over, which made my brain unhappy when I was trying to go back and find things. But now, because the pages are so small and the boxes are tiny, I have to take a breather when I’m writing in it, forcing me to really think about what I’m writing, instead of writing random notes that I have to decipher later.

Anyways, that very wordy semi brief planner story to say thank you. If it had not been for this video, I think I’d still be overwhelmed in an A5 bujo and would never have found the Weeks, which has really been a godsend at this point in time for me.

[theartsylife]

I've been stuck with my planners and this video just helped me a ton! Thank you so much for this info and breaking down the issues many of us have with our planner systems!

[melissabridge]

These are Great questions to ask oneself.
I realized a few years ago that I wanted one book for all my needs. Future appts/plans, current week, and journaling/memory keeping. I tried all the cute small sizes but always needed a second or third book to meet my needs.Then I found the Hobonichi Cousin Avec. Game changer. With 2 books, an A5 size was not to heavy for my EDC and it became an all in one for me. I do use a Weeks for list making Shopping list, packing lists, thing to get done at work ect...It is my not so pretty note book. I will put dated things from work and doctors appts., if it is the only one with meat that moment, but always transfer to my Cousin. But any more my Cousin
goes everywhere.

[debbiesokoloff]

The questions you proposed are so helpful, and your reasonable and accepting approach is reassuring; much appreciated!

[ScientistPlans]

I love this video!!! thanks so much for putting into words the complexity that it is to think of all the important aspects going in our heads about our planner system! So good, Ellie! I am currently tending to more portable planners now and I am a big fan of your bujo! :)

[suzisaintjames]

I love printing my own inserts for my half sheet notebook. I like half sheet (5.5x8.5) because there's only one cut when I buy a ream of letter sized paper... and I like the real estate. It fits in my bag and I only have to design a layout once and then print it out for later months. 💖🌞🌵😷

[tortagialla]

Thanks for sharing your helpful thoughts! I agree with the trial and error and not jumping in too fast with purchasing... it's always so tempting but so much can change once you use (or don't use) something on a daily basis :)

[DasOrangensaft.]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and tips. This is so helpful!

[talksfromtheheart]

Great job on this video keeping your thoughts and advice organized. Very good advice and this is a great addition to YouTube.

[shelbseroo]

I'm behind on YouTube and Journalling this month. Pulled out my journal tonight and did some backfilling while watching you. Thanks for the good chat. 😘

[LisaTackett]

Great video, Ellie! I appreciate you taking the time to share these helpful tips. I've been making some lists of what I need/want in my system. I do like what you said about not being afraid to try a new system and that trial and error is really the only way to know if it will work or not. Hopefully by December I will know what I want to use. 😆

[teresedwards]

Very much appreciated video. I've just started about a year ago. Can't wait for part2!💕 Thanks

[ModPlans]

Thank you for breaking it down for us! So helpful!

[inlesinlet]

Oh, Ellie, this is *exactly* what I needed! 🤩 I'm going to watch this again immediately and try to answer the questions as I go along. I think I'll also slightly adjust these questions for my chaotic "life book" situation, because that's more difficult than the planner for me these days 😰

[BlushnBlue]

Great information Ellie, thank you for sharing.

[allyleech]

I definitely needed this reality check, thanks Ellie. Great video. I’ve found I love the look of vertical to time block but it doesn’t really work for me. I’ll be using a Hobo Weeks next year so I suppose I’ll see how I go.

[raya.journals]

Such a great and helpful video Ellie! I absolutely love seeing the process people undertake to find a system that works for them, so this was very enjoyable! And absolutely love those questions - i've been using the same ones in coming up with a system that works for me too! And big yes to trial and error! As always, thank you so much for sharing! Keen for part 2!