Planner Journey | Past, Present & Future Plans

[@roxc.507]

I've been a planner my whole life. I remember when I bought my first appointment book as a 15 year old. But when I started bullet journaling in 2018 that was a huge new moment for me and I do keep all of my old journals. I fell in love with the Law of Attraction planner (especially it's goal planning process) around the same time that I started bullet journaling and I loved the way their weekly set ups were vertical. So I always set up my bullet journals like vertical weekly planners. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to stay in one book for the whole year so, when I modified my BUJO as a weekly planner it helped me to accomplish that while still having extra pages for other spreads and extra blank pages for notes. This year I modified things a little bit by streamlining my formerly extensive goal planning section down to a 2 page spread. And I have started thinking about 2025 planning already because a few weeks ago I saw another KZbin video that discussed the different comfort zones that people have when they plan and it made me realize that I really don't need the weekly spread right now. I haven't really utilized it much in all these years. I'm a monthly planner, not a weekly one. Each month, I already have an extensive monthly habit tracking spread and a monthly/daily morning and evening reset spread that helps me keep track of daily priorities and outcomes in a compact format that allows me to see the month at a glance. So with that in mind, next year I'm really excited to try out a new monthly/weekly hybrid spread that I just came up with. And I usually give each month a color, but I have developed a huge stamping collection over the years (and washi tape) so, I've been thinking about planning certain themes to go with each month and its color, like snowflakes for January, hot chocolate and winter gear for February, etc. I'm having a lot of fun thinking about that right now. I know I'll be busy with a lot of other stuff at the end of the year, so I'm glad to be getting this out of the way now. At the end of the year I'll only need to execute the plan that I'm developing now. Edit to add: and I do go back to my old planners frequently to remind myself of things that I need to reference. Maybe an old list related to a hobby, or a recommendation or something like that.

[@FrenchFriesNBrie]

Yes, I archive my planners and was just reminiscing before I saw this video. I love to reflect on all of it. And it helps me make better planner purchase decisions. Great timing.

[@MartinMadeCo]

Exactly! That’s a huge reason why I like to look back on older planners. Because sometimes we forget how much we hated a layout in the past 😂 and I don’t want to make the same mistakes again.

[@Sarah-xw2ff]

Love your series! If you like the Hobonichi feel but want to do rings or discs, Hemlock and Oak offer dailies and weeklies in both of those options. I also love their heavy paper that's bleed proof. I'm using a bunch of different ones right now but hoping to pare it down more. I love the traveler's notebook but sometimes like to have more space. Still trying different things over here I guess.

[@MartinMadeCo]

I didn’t realize they made inserts, too. I think I’m more partial to thinner Tomoe River paper after years of using it now 😆 But that’s great to know. Thanks!

[@fiftyplusplans]

My favorite ways to archive A6 (true) or pocket rings are the clear stackable index card boxes. I can use index card dividers to separate things so it is really easy to find things. I do look through my planners often as I write EVERYTHING in them. Has come in handy on more than one occasion too.

[@MartinMadeCo]

That’s a great idea! I think I just never considered using containers to store the inserts, as opposed to just putting them in some other kind of binder. I think stackable containers would be more feasible for me. Thanks for the tip!

[@JoyArtadi-Lim]

Sterling Ink makes blank page rings in different sizes and the paper quality is great, similar to the common planner. I used to be in the N1, and love that size, but when I discovered the B6, I became a convert. In 2025 Catherine is offering the B6 slim, so i'm trying that too.

[@MartinMadeCo]

Yes! I did see that they offer loose leaf paper. I actually have some in my stash from Paper Penguin Co too but I have yet to even use it. I’m really intrigued by the B6 slim and can’t wait to see how other planners use them.

[@lwhitley3189]

Very insightful video. I got a lot of great takeaways. Love what you said about not settling. I don’t archive but I try to archive but again the loose pages bother me so eventually the get toss and i don’t like having that reference. I thought i was firm in my 2025 line-up but you have given me a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing 😊

[@MartinMadeCo]

That’s awesome! I’m so glad you found the video helpful 😊 Luckily we have a couple more months to change our minds lol

[@AngieE5128]

Hi Kimberlee, liked this video. Recently commented my past planner style in a previous video and very similar to yours...LOL. Several planners were tossed from years ago, but have started keeping and archiving from the last 8-9 years. Review them every year to see how and what has changed in my life and where I can possibly make improvements (maybe, maybe not-- I digress). Hate that I planner hopped from '21-'23--exhausting and expensive. As of '24 went back in rings and forsee that in my future for '25. However, now a planner cover junkie 🤷🏾‍♀️. But hey, it keeps me planning. TFS!

[@MartinMadeCo]

Hahaha! I can totally relate to being a planner cover junkie. Now that I’m settled into standard TN, I have to stop myself from buying too many covers 😂

[@tyresseferguson2462]

I archive my budget planners and journals (daily, reading, faith). I will be sticking to an all-in-one planner next year (A5 Journey planner), but will be moving my budget planner into the main planner.

[@MartinMadeCo]

I just looked into the Journey planner because of you. I love how it has so much packed into it!

[@tyresseferguson2462]

@MartinMadeCo it does, and she is Michigan based like me; so, I wanted to support

[@imaginativecreativeyou8890]

Great video , i archived some of my planners.

[@MartinMadeCo]

Thank you!

[@apaperylife2096]

Loved the video! Yes, I keep most of them but not work ones which are all appointment based…….well maybe one or two of those too 😅 And I totally relate re:one book vs. a year in two books. Although, by 6 months, I want to throw it out the window 😂 So I haven’t made it a full year in one yet but it’s my “delusional dream” 😂

[@MartinMadeCo]

Remember planner switching is also a planning style 😂 So your “style” is spending 6 months in each planner

[@margkre]

Yes, I archive my planners 😊 I love TN size, this year I'm using the tn 2.0 undated from Papertess and I'm absolutely inlove with bundling weekly and dailies. But the fact of having to date everything plus put the timeline in each daily is being to much. For 2025 I'll be trying the new planner form just scribble, organize by quarter's! Can't wait! And apparently for 2026 a TN version might come up 😮

[@MartinMadeCo]

Oh I saw that Just Scribble planner and meant to look into it further. Thanks for the reminder!

[@margkre]

By the way, I absolutely love your videos !! And would really love one about the unused planners and notebooks 😊❤ ​@MartinMadeCo

[@ariadnaalvarez4069]

I go through my old planners sometimes, particularly to check out medical information. For example, when I took antibiotics, or when I had my last appointment with a particular doctor, or to see my notes from a medical appointment (which I write on the daily pages of the date of the appointment). I have found it to be very helpful to have that information available.

[@MartinMadeCo]

I’ve definitely also done that to reference health info over the past year or two. It certainly comes in handy, but now I am trying to get in the habit of keeping a note on my phone with the info, too, (when I remember) just in case something happens to those older planners.

[@Dionbutterfly717]

I'm naturally a nostalgic person so I keep most paper-related things. I still have the 1st diary I received as a gift from my grandmother. I'm also a creature of habit and don't disrupt what works for me. I can look at someone else use a different planning style/product appreciate it from afar and know that it wouldn't work for me. I'll respond to the "non-question" about the 2025 planner lineup. Discbound - Classic HP or Poi and Hun TRP - A5 Paper Tess Designs Notebook & B6 Lauren Phelps Designs

[@MartinMadeCo]

Great lineup. As I’ve gotten older, I’m certainly realizing I’m a lot more nostalgic than I realized.

[@jasminebraxton3686]

Why not bind your own book with your EOY rings inserts? Make your covers with cardstock and use glue as the binding. Could be fun. I switched from discs to rings with the intention of making a book at the end of the year. But i dont think ill be ready to book it all untill the end of next year.

[@MartinMadeCo]

That’s not a bad idea. 🤔 And definitely sounds like a fun project!

[@jasminebraxton3686]

@@MartinMadeCo ayyee, you said you were crafty 😁

[@anicame2]

I never have archived planners for more than 2 years…I don’t flip through them and I guess I figured 2 years is long enough to keep them and then I no longer have a use for it 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@MartinMadeCo]

I’m definitely realizing now that I don’t need to hold onto all of my older planners because I have no need to reference them after a year or two. But I definitely want to keep the ones I have a weird emotional connection to 😆

[@anicame2]

@@MartinMadeCo yes, for sure. I want to start keeping my journals cuz I have always tossed all of those too. I don’t like reflecting on bad memories. But I think I’m going to try soon.