34 Ways to Use the Monthly Pages of Your Planner (+ bonus sidebar ideas)

Whether you use a Hobonichi, a Common Planner, a Wonderland222 or another planner - it will likely have some sort of monthly overview. In this video, I give you 34 ideas on how to use the monthly pages of your planner. We'll also take a look at some ways in which you can use the remaining space of the page.
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/ ruonpaper
Supplies:
Planner: Hobonichi Cousin (A5)
Tombow ABT Dual Brush Marker 526: amzn.to/47NaatJ
Tombow ABT Dual Brush Marker 985: amzn.to/4b7xC7V
Tombow ABT Dual Brush Marker 856: amzn.to/3OgMAyO
Muji Gel Pen 0.38: amzn.to/48NHcuX
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#hobonichi #hobonichisetup #hobonichicousin #commonplanner #wonderland222 #monthlyspread #plannercommunity

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Thank you so much for this content. I am already doing many of these on my weekly pages but I'm interested in trying some for my monthly pages as I never end up using them.

[@themazeballet]

These were actually fabulous ideas, and I am looking forward to incorporating some of these into my monthly spreads next year :)

[@ruonpaper]

Thank you! I hope you have fun trying some of these out :)

[@Book_on_the_brightside]

Thank you for all these ideas!! And I love how you did it all on one spread to show it. I really struggle with my monthly calendars because I don’t need them for functional planning. I’ll def be referencing this video until I find what works for me.

[@ruonpaper]

I'm glad you liked the video! And I hope you have fun experimenting with some of the ideas until you find something that works for you 😊

[@buzzcutbiene2211]

Thank you very much, this is quite helpful for me :)

[@ruonpaper]

You're very welcome! I'm glad to hear that :)

[@knittingbooksetc.2810]

The overall page is beautiful.

[@janinechansons]

Thanks for the wonderful ideas! I think I'm going to try to doodle each day.

[@ruonpaper]

Thank you for watching! I hope the doodling each day will be a fun exercise 😊

[@AvivaHadas]

Great video, I like the idea of not doing the same thing in every box. (I had just used it for birthdays/holidays, now I am inspired to add to the other days.)

[@rzthrs]

your voice is really soothing to our ears, even got surprised I watched a 16-minute vid as it felt so quick. I got a goldfish-like attention span so it's a milestone to watch without skipping ;) your keys gave me so much idea for my monthly spreads, thanks much and looking forward to more content!

[@ruonpaper]

Thank you for the lovely comments! I'm so glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@thistle9987]

I've realised that i work best on a monthly set up. I track my work shifts and appointments. These are some fun things to try!

[@ruonpaper]

Same for me! I like the overview a monthly calendar gives me. Glad you liked the video 😊

[@jane324delastenza]

Thank you so much for those wonderful ideas

[@maxpink]

I love the idea of color swatches. Like most planner ppl I probably have too many pens/pencils/markers .... 😬. I just love colors. This is a cool way to enjoy them. Great video!

[@ruonpaper]

I wish I could say I have no idea what you're talking about, but I completely know how you feel 😅 Thank you for watching! 😊

[@linaelvira]

This video has really made me feel so good about my new Hobonichi, I was feeling like the monthly was wasted!!! Thank you!💖

[@ruonpaper]

I'm so glad you found the video helpful! Hopefully you will find a way to use the monthly in your Hobonichi that works well for you 😊

[@CandaceFlorida]

very helpful!! thank you Ru!

[@ruonpaper]

I'm glad you found it helpful, thank you for watching!

[@cerealnana]

I just found your channel looking for ideas to better use my planners. Fabulous! I'll be watching them all and subscribing.

[@ruonpaper]

Thank you for the kind comment! There are definitely more videos on the way 😄

[@jamatwar]

This is such a great video! I can’t wait to fill out my monthly pages now! I was totally just using it in the traditional way. And when I was at uni I used it for spreading out my assignments. Thank you! 😊

[@ruonpaper]

I'm glad that you got some inspiration from the video! I hope you have fun trying out some stuff in your monthly pages 😊 And that's also how I used it when I was at uni! The monthly really helps me get a good sense of time.

[@punkw4449]

Thank you for the ideas! I really like the win of the day idea! I will place this note in the weekly section of my Hobonichi weeks. =D

[@ruonpaper]

That's a great spot to put a win of the day!

[@jacquelinedejesus7992]

Brilliant idea. Thank you!!!

[@marlaedington6471]

I’ve watched a lot of videos about planners and ideas. This is my favorite, most practical, video of all. I’m taking notes in my planner if all your ideas to put in a planner! I have a lot in my brain which needs to be documented, or I forget things. That goes beyond just appointments, events and birthdays, but that’s all I end up wrong in my planner! Thank you for the ideas! I will use them for sure! Also I like how you draw simple pictures/icons for different planner entries. I’m not that great of an artist but I’d like to have some handwritten doodles. Yours are perfect!

[@ruonpaper]

Thank you so much for your kind comment, Marla! I'm glad you've found the video helpful. Have fun experimenting with these different ideas! 😊

[@jaensimone]

Amazing ideas! In the sidebars in my Cousin I write prompts that I fill in throughout the month (ex: listening to, watching, reading, celebrating, releasing, learning, etc.)

[@ruonpaper]

That's so nice to look back on and sort of instantly see a snapshot of your life from that month 😊

[@kathyfannon7563]

I love so much about this! The Weeks is my main planner with a functional monthly spread, but I also use an A6 Techo for memory keeping, so these ideas are perfect to use for that planner. Thank you!

[@ruonpaper]

So nice to hear you got some inspiration from this! I feel like a lot of the ideas go especially well with memory keeping 😊

[@debhouckscraftycottage9288]

All great ideas. Thanks for sharing.

[@ruonpaper]

You're very welcome! 😊

[@mactoysandstuff]

been looking for videos with guys who do planning and journaling . glad i found your channel. please share how you use your weeks hand in hand with your cousin, also can u share how u do your weekly planning and daily log on you cousin? thank you and looking forward to more videos

[@ruonpaper]

Thank you! And thanks also for the video ideas, I can definitely make those 😊

[@arpitabhawal7359]

Fantastic! You are original, smart and such a cool planner friend. I was going round and round wondering what all to put in this monthly one. You opened up a world of opportunities that sounds exciting! THANK YOU!

[@ruonpaper]

Thank you so much for your kind comment, Arpita! 😊

[@valoisbunch9202]

I lived this video! Thank you.

[@Exercises10]

Excellent video, Ru!! I was leary of getting a Hobonichi, but videos like yours opened my eyes to new possibilities. Can you tell me what type of marker you used in your Hobo? Do you ever get bleed through with the inks? Thanks, and have a great day!

[@ruonpaper]

Thank you for your nice comment, and I'm glad to hear you're considering getting a Hobonichi - it's such a cool planner. Do you mean the red, blue and yellow markers? Those a Tombow Dual Brush markers. In general, the paper in the Hobonichi handles ink quite well, despite it being so thin. With most inks, I don't have any bleedthrough (there will always be quite a bit of ghosting, though). You could look for a specific video on "tomoe river paper pen test" here on KZbin, that should give you a pretty good idea of what the paper can and cannot handle 😊

[@Justlovely360]

Thank you for this video!

[@ruonpaper]

Glad it was helpful! 😊

[@jfrederick71]

Good morning! I’m new to using a planner and I’ve been watching lots of videos. I really enjoyed this video, thank you. I’m in the market for a 2024 and also really like the one you use here with the small squares, my handwriting could use the help to keep from slanting 😊

[@ruonpaper]

Thank you for your comment! And welcome to the planner community! There's so much inspiration and lovely ideas to be found on KZbin - although at times that can also be a bit overwhelming. 😅 The Hobonichi Cousin I'm using in this video is awesome and I can really recommend it, although there is also an A6 size available if A5 seems a bit daunting. The 3.7mm grid is especially great for those of us with smaller handwriting.

[@barbaralong2965]

Great ideas! Thank you.

[@jacquelinesamuda6547]

Excellent ideas!! Thank you very much

[@lavenderpurp6610]

Love this thanks

[@angrycatplans]

This was a nice video. I wonder how did teaching you cat to play the piano go?

[@ruonpaper]

He's not a very good student, he keeps walking on the piano and making sounds but it doesn't sound so great 🤣

[@pamelachappell1089]

I enjoyed this video; great ideas, thank you. :)

[@ruonpaper]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@eva_fr]

Great ideas 💡 thank you 😊

[@ruonpaper]

You're very welcome! 😊

[@lightworker6298]

Great 👍

[@lucinde8485]

Hiya! Just found your channel, and followed your insta. Are you Dutch? (I am haha) I thought i did hear a little bit of a Dutch accent, but I could be wrong tho😂 Ok, back to bingewatching your video's.

[@miikaduki]

No I agree, I'm 99% sure he's Dutch haha. I am too

[@ruonpaper]

Oeh, goed gehoord hoor! Ik hoor het zelf ook altijd meteen bij andere Nederlandse kanalen, zijn toch de kleine dingetjes in uitspraak en intonatie die je moeilijk kunt verbergen haha. Dank je voor het abonneren, welkom! 😊

[@williamreynoso]

Can you do some ideas for the hobonichi cousin weekly spread.

[@ruonpaper]

That's a good idea, I will!

[@volkanvutichnotes]

nice

[@Geemeel1]

What a great vid, very helpful and well presented, although 'Koen' gave away that you're Dutch....:-) Wat spreek je bizar goed Engels...Wow..!! het duurde heel lang voordat ik het door had. ✨💞

[@ruonpaper]

Ha, scherp gezien! Wat een leuk compliment, dankjewel! 😃

[@rozemarijn-9672]

I had exactly the same experience. I read the name Koen and thought: that's very Dutch. Does he have a Dutch friend? Later, when I saw the word 'ontkalken', I was certain: yes, he indeed has a Dutch friend. It was only when you mentioned that your native language is Dutch that the Dutch quarter dropped 😅. Normally, you can easily spot the Dutch with our wooden-shoes English, but even when I knew, I couldn't tell that your mother tongue is Dutch.

[@ruonpaper]

@@rozemarijn-9672 In my daily journaling there's usually a lot more Dutch writing, so then it's more apparent that I'm Dutch. I like practicing accents in different languages though, so I'm glad that I didn't sound too Dutch 😄 Bedankt voor het kijken!

[@vanessacarlson2055]

Haha not important at all, I just think it’s funny because I know a Ewan whose birthday happens to be the 31st of March 😁

[@ruonpaper]

Haha, nice coincidence! I actually don't think I personally know anyone whose birthday is on the 31st of March so I looked at the Wikipedia page for March 31 and saw it's Ewan McGregor's birthday, so that's why I used the name Ewan 😁