Planners Anti-Haul | I'm not buying these for 2025

[@sarahshahin2141]

i separate my tasks and my ideas, simply because in 3 years i will throw away my planners but i'll keep my journals 😃 i keep them small or have an organizer on me at all times , but if i type an idea, i keep it safe and if i write a to do list i stick it in my planner,, in five years i wouldn't care about my dentist appointment or cleaning routine, but i will care about my big dreams, thoughts and memories 😉

[@olgawithfreckles]

I like that! Thanks for sharing

[@nastyapopova1114]

I really recommend you a Traveler’s notebook. With a bunch of inserts you can do whatever you want- planning, journalling, reflection. And get only one insert that you need on vacation. It takes really little space.

[@olgawithfreckles]

Thanks for sharing! Yeah, I’ve seen lots of videos of people using Traveler’s notebooks and can’t deny that I’m tempted a bit to try then for myself. Are you using them?

[@xoSilverSurfer]

I love your intentionality behind your thoughts for 2025! I was very intentional as well and made a no buy list to keep me from purchasing things that I know would not work. I was able to find planner peace this year with Hobonichi weeks as be EDC, Hobonichi 5-Year Techo as a daily diary, and a Passport TN with Sterling Ink blank notebook inserts as a place for art/common place/long form journaling. This only leaves me with two dated options and one undated option which is super manageable for me. Best of luck with your system!

[@olgawithfreckles]

I love your system! Thanks for sharing, that is really inspiring 💗

[@GüntherScholz-i2t]

I only use a pocket notebook with page numbers, it is plain and i'm using it with the bullet journal method. There are no ready made spreads, I make them as I go forward. First and most important thing is the table of contents, you can even have more than one, topics related etc. Then I have a monthly calendar, just today I changed it to have the monthly and then the next month calendar directly opposite another, cause some dated entrys overlap and october will be a really important month for me. Starting from the back and moving in reverse order i have spreads with no connection to dates, fpor example "things that made me smile", or "things I want to eat and / or cook", followed by spreads with quotes I like, then spreads with books and websites and spreads that keep me mentally healthy, I think you get the picture. In short, the discovery that I dont have to use prepared calendars was a game changer for me, these calendars are really no problems to create from scratch, since the first use of my pocket notebook I no longer use planners at all. One exception, a little wide planner from my local bank, one page for each week, the width is the length of a a4 format, the height proximatela 2 thirds of a a5 height.

[@olgawithfreckles]

Oh wow! Thank you for such a detailed story, that is truly inspirational.

[@olgawithfreckles]

How often do you get a new notebook?

[@GüntherScholz-i2t]

@@olgawithfreckles Not as often as I like, now that I'm in retirement I would say one notebook a year. My last notebook was a pocket-notebook set from Leuchtturm and I bought it because I had seen your video "Pocket notebook fixed my scrolling addiction". I Also made my own transcription of this video and entered it into my obsidian vault to find it again whenever I want to and will definitely rewatch this video again. Also, I regularly search for nice notebooks and posess some that I will not use, only look at and enjoy it or, and i enjoy to give some of them away as presents.

[@friendly__drone9352]

Great topic! I'm watching this while sideeying the 3 x a5 notebooks on my desk, 1 A6 and 2 fieldnotes. I have so many and I never feel like I have anything to write in there. I also have a field notes pen, a lamy safari pen, a moleskin pen and now a cheap pen from Muji. I like buying them more than using them hah!

[@olgawithfreckles]

Oh I know! It is so hard to resist the temptation to buy another pretty piece of stationery! Which one of your notebooks you use the most? Is it fieldnotes?

[@friendly__drone9352]

@@olgawithfreckles It's a Clairefontaine A5 Dotted flexible notebook. It's the first notebook I've almost filled out with work notes and it's taken about 4 years. My new favourite is a cheap Muji A6 + 0.5mm pen. Any tips on how to get past the pressure of writing important things

[@olgawithfreckles]

I love 0,5 pens! Personally I always think that it’s just paper, some spreads are nice, some are not, but it’s the story it tells over the pages that truly makes a bigger picture. So I just write consistently every single day, and in the end I always feel satisfied

[@friendly__drone9352]

@@olgawithfreckles Love this! Thank you

[@Izzy-bn8qm]

Your Food tracker spreads look so beautiful!

[@olgawithfreckles]

Thank you!! 😊

[@Izzy-bn8qm]

It's a shame you won't be keeping them!

[@ghostyplans]

I’ve not bought a Hobonichi this year. I DID get a pocket daily Moleskine, and an outdated one too. I’ve been using the outdated one already. Pocket notebooks are just the best.

[@olgawithfreckles]

Thanks for sharing! I totally agree that pocket notebooks rock :)

[@ntara7362]

Yeah 😂 me too, I am using 2022 planner, just redated it. It's perfect 💘

[@Metricate]

I somehow get stuck with watching videos like this learning from what others do. I feel like I always switch up what system I'm using and trying to simplify it down. Watching your content really helps me realise what I actually need rather than want. I have a question. Have you ever been stuck in a cycle of switching from pen and paper to digital? I always find myself reverting back to Things 3. I think part of me is saying this because it's more convinient and because I paid for it, but nothing beats pen and paper! What are your thoughts like digital tools like Things 3/ToDoIst for tasks? I can see why pen and paper is better for journaling (all kinds) I personally find it easier rather than carrying a book and pen around with me everywhere. Just curious of your thoughts on this

[@olgawithfreckles]

Hello and thanks for your comment! I actually never went that far with digital planning, although I tried ToDoIst for work planning and enjoyed it a lot back in the day. But that was when my work required thorough planning and I just couldn’t keep all the details on my mind. I agree that it’s more convenient and fast to have a digital task management system, but I also agree that nothing beats pen and paper 😅 In the end it’s about what works for you. If you feel digital apps are brining you more benefit in the moment, why not to use them? And keep a paper notebook for more creative things

[@Metricate]

@@olgawithfreckles Yeah I totally see what you're saying. I'm curious what your new system is going to look like when you post it next week. Will be keeping an eye out for it :)

[@Edico999]

I will be discontinuing my 2025 Hobonichi Cousin. They use 47gsm Tomoe River paper (Sanzen) and the ghosting is terrible. I use fountain pens and the paper is just not what it used to be.

[@olgawithfreckles]

Oh really? Wow! Thanks for sharing, good to know. Sterling Ink also uses Tomoe and so far so good!

[@winnibugs2]

Try Hobonichi Weeks 😍

[@olgawithfreckles]

Thank you! I’m actually leaning towards Weeks. Do you use it? Do you ever feel like the space is not enough?

[@winnibugs2]

@@olgawithfreckles i had used it for 3 years and it is very much space and superleightweight🥰👍..i am thinkibg to buy one for next year again

[@PrettyDaised]

If you like A5 for journaling a TN might work for you there and a Passport size might cover your other needs. Be warned, it's a slippery slope I am currently sliding on. Lots of options for customization.

[@olgawithfreckles]

“Slippery slope” 😅

[@PrettyDaised]

@@olgawithfreckles It felt wrong to not properly warn you 😁

[@PeedyPeter]

aah the eternal how many notebooks do I need struggle. personally tried so many options. (un)dated large and smaller planners, commonplace books, journals, workbook, private book. Also tried traveler's journal. I love the aesthetic, but again multiple notebooks... the last 2 years I have stuck with just one main A5 undated (blank or dot) notebook (leuchturm, hobonichi, Galen Leather), that I carry almost everywhere in my bag. Here I write down everything. Bulletjournaling style, gtd, to do lists, planner stuff, work notes, private notes, 5 minute journal, freeform journalling. I don't have to think about which notebook I need to grab, I know everything is in here! and I can just write and/ or get to work In addition, since the beginning of the year I started carrying an A7 small notebook in my pocket. just for anything and everything that comes to mind. for the same reason as you mentioned to get off your phone (works pretty well).

[@olgawithfreckles]

Thanks for your comment! Love this approach. I think I’m gonna shift to smth similar next year

[@cheddar322]

I feel the hobonichi is too cluttered with its colours and quotes. A pocket notebook will suffice for planning and to-dos and then a bigger A5 or B6 notebook would be great for journaling.

[@olgawithfreckles]

Yeah, I actually agree with you! One of the reasons I have decided to switch from Hobonichi in 2025, I started to feel a bit overwhelmed with it. And I agree that pocket notebook + notebook for journaling is probably the best approach. Thanks for sharing!

[@greengirlva]

I wonder if you would consider bullet journaling in a pocket notebook? Great way to keep lists and tasks with a system to differentiate between the 2? Perhaps you've already tried it?

[@olgawithfreckles]

I have tried that really long ago and I remember being a little overwhelmed, because I was watching all those KZbin videos of people creating amazing spreads instead of focusing on my needs. But now a lot has changed and maybe it’s time I give it another try! Do you use it?