Passion Planner for Hippies

September 30, 2018 7:27 AM

I've used Passion Planner as my agenda for the last few years. As the time arrives to start thinking about my 2019 planner I'd like something similar but a bit less type A...

Things I like about PP:
- Attractive layout and cover
- Inspiring / thoughtful quotes every week
- Space for reflection each month and at beginning/end of year
- Nice quality paper

While I like the structure in PP somewhat, I find it a little bit too much on the more rigid, time management style. I would prefer something structured but with a bit more freedom. Some of my goals are more internal and personal and don't fit precisely in the concrete actions mode. A little more space for journal type entries would be welcome.

I'm not interested in starting with a blank notebook and building from there. I will be using this agenda for tracking work and personal events so definitely want a day/date structure and at least as much space as PP.

posted by roolya_boolya to Writing & Language (9 answers total)

I got a Dragontree Planner this year from a promotion they were running on Facebook. It's a bit too personal and unstructured for me but it might be just up your alley.
posted by victoriab at 8:19 AM on September 30, 2018 [1 favorite]

I love the Moleskine weekly diary. Left-hand page has calendar, right hand page is just lined paper. A bit of extra blank paper at the back, plus some stickers to customize (but I never use them). It hits the sweet spot between structure and free form for me.
posted by stillmoving at 8:44 AM on September 30, 2018 [2 favorites]

I use a Hobonichi Cousin, but have been thinking of transitioning to something a bit more modular. (Mochithings makes a bunch of modular planner inserts, but I don't like their layouts. I'm sure there are other stationary companies doing the same thing, though.)

What I might do is join a few different planner communities on Facebook, or follow a few hashtags on Instagram or Pinterest to get a sense of how people who use their planners like you intend to use yours lay them out, which in turn gives you a feel for how restrictive (or not) their layout is.
posted by tapir-whorf at 9:27 AM on September 30, 2018

I like the Day Designer planner. It's too expensive to buy, but you can cobble something together using a pdf shuffler tool and their free pdfs, and then just print it.
posted by aniola at 10:02 AM on September 30, 2018

I never thought I'd be here being this person, but consider bullet journaling (the term "minimalist bullet journal" will lead you to ideas that are not so focused on perfect hand-lettering and drawing; I use a set of pens I really like for color-coding(ish), a 6" ruler for a straightedge, and my own gloriously shitty handwriting) or a bujo hybrid: use a notebook system that lets you add/move pages like a ring binder or discbound pages, and you can do a combo of printable planner pages that suit you (either DIY them or there's thousands of free printables out there plus a ton more you can buy - Etsy is a good place to find pay printables) plus blank pages for hand-drawing a layout or journaling or doodling or whatever.

I still use discbound for my personal planner and writing project planners, using the TUL and Martha Stewart supplies from Staples plus good 28- or 32-lb printer paper, but I I've gone entirely bullet for my work journal. People are very very into the Leuchtterm journals for the binding and paper quality, but I'm personally really fond of Target's greenroom spiral and bound notebooks for paper smoothness and easy accessibility, but I'm also using pedestrian Frixion pens rather than today's trendiest fountain pens so I am a bit basic.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:35 PM on September 30, 2018

I like the planners from Mossery. There's some planning / goal stuff at the front but pretty open ended and it comes with a booklet of ideas for using the planner.
posted by jrobin276 at 1:58 PM on September 30, 2018

I was a regular devotee for years of the Redstone Diary and always looked forward to seeing what they came up with next. It was always artistic and beautiful, the size I liked, the week-a-spread format I preferred, and printed on great paper. Haven’t seen one in 20 years but I see they’re still at it!
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 10:49 PM on September 30, 2018

Desire Map planners sound like exactly what you're looking for if you're okay with a little woo. I don't love the creator's business model (a lot of affiliate programs), but her core ideas make a lot of sense and the planner seems like a nice balance of personal improvement but also with space to schedule meetings and goals.
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 8:00 AM on October 1, 2018

I love my Hobonichi Cousin and already have next year's one ordered - I find it to be the perfect balance between structured and open-ended. There's a monthly view, a weekly view, and individual pages for each day, and the paper is super-fancy lightweight stuff so it doesn't feel monstrous. It's plain, but I like it that way.
posted by Metroid Baby at 9:37 AM on October 1, 2018