a filofax infodump ✸ journalling, commonplacing, thoughts on archiving 🗃️ 

Yess!!! I knew I would see you commonplace about Baldur's Gate 3 !!! I did too! :D Team Astarion :D *nospoilerspls*

What I like about watching planner content is learning about how people are adapting to life, and caring for themselves through it. I like to see the adjustments, the big changes, the experiments, because it's like trying things out myself. I've enjoyed seeing you planner hop and I really like your filofax stuff. But most of all I like that you're prioritising your joy in your planners, and talking about it! Cause that's what I like to do, too.

I love filofax content! I like the look of the typed copied texts with handwritten notes and it sounds like it's really working for you.

i love getting to see your updates regardless of what system you’re in! i’m personally not a rings person bc the upkeep is too much for me so seeing your system is like getting to experience it secondhand! i enjoy it very much. 😊 thank you so much for sharing your books with us and wishing you all the best! ✨

I LOVE your Filofax content and am SO excited you’re continuing to create pages in the Franklin Covey compact size. It is my absolute favorite size and I love the inspiration of how you are using the pages. As an aside, thank also for sharing your creative gifts and personal story with us. Your mindset, honesty, and overall acceptance of the reality of various health/life challenges have been an enormous help to me as I’ve navigated new and increasingly difficult health issues in the last year and have made me feel less alone. Thank you.

I’m a neurodivergent (pretty intense adhd), chronically ill person working almost full time as a nanny and going to grad school full time to become a therapist. I have just had your videos on repeat while studying non stop because you have become my comfort content creator. I love your work. Thanks for sharing it with us.

I really enjoy how you talk through the things in your system that are working for you or aren't, regardless of whether it's Filofax or Hobonichi. I know when I'm trying to solve a problem in my personal life I'm more likely to switch systems. I thought I would be starting in a Hobonichi Cousin, and I am. I spent last year in Hobonichi, which as a habitual planner jumper is a new thing for me. This year I doubled down, with a Cousin A5 for my personal and work planner, and a HON for personal tracking and journaling/memory keeping. I'm a fountain pen user and so far both have been fine. I also got a couple of new pens for the new year and am trying new inks so it's not a 1 to 1 comparison, but I'm noticing similar amounts of ghosting to 2023 and no bleed through.

It’s so cool to hear you talk about your Filofax and it seems to be working so well! Happy you’re having a good time with it🥰 I’m really happy with my notebook choices for the year - no change from last year in terms of commonplace and hobonichi weeks, but the addition of the hon was exactly what I was hoping it would be. Thought about the cousin for a while because I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough space in the A6 but it seems to be the right amount of space for now!

Megan I'm an original late '80's Filofax user so it's really great to see a new generation 'getting' the infinite options a ring binder give the individual. Great work.

I love seeing the filofax - your system as a whole is so fascinating to see, it doesn't rlly matter imo in what book I see you in - and your enthusiasm ABT it is very much contagious. I had planned to be solely in the hobonichi this new year but I found myself reaching for my old moleskin grid notebook BC the tomoe river paper just smudges W my fountain pen... And I had Such Good Intentions too rip 💀 it's nice seeing that I'm not alone in the changing books quick W the new year

I actively seek out your filofax content, it's so unique with so many possibilities, watching you cut and sort and glue different papers and materials is very satisfying. Even on screen, the weight of the filofax inserts is ...soothing.

My favourite videos are the Filofax ones, since I am a big fan of ring planners. I was overjoyed when you started selling the pages in your shop. Your channel has an amazing quality regardless of the content.

I have a filofax and hobonichi avec too! I like to use my filo for storing things and organizing things (you know, because you can move things around on a whim). I love both topics and appreciate your content. Side note: My drama professor was in the Exorcist (II I think, that was back in the day). Regarding your last question: I changed books I don't know how many times last year. I kind of kept a planner that's an 18 month, and now I've added the Avec, I also have plain notebooks and bullet journals and of course the filo. I really liked your videos about Hobonichi and how you were using it. I was lucky enough to get it for Christmas- so that's new to me. It'll be interesting to see how 2024 goes ;) Cheers!

I (personally) love your filofax content! I'm always excited to see the different ways thay individuals bring their uniqueness to a build-your-own-planner like rings. HOWEVER what we love more is that you are working and creating and doing things that work best for you! And we will always be here to cheer and support you in that ✨️💗

Love your content no matter what system you're in! Even when it doesn't match my system I usually find inspiration in something you're doing and I always find it interesting and calming. Thanks for sharing what you're doing ☺️ I'm in my first Hobonichi Cousin this year after being in a Leuchtturm bullet journal last year. I'm loving it! I like not having to manually make my standard layouts, I think my fountain pens look beautiful in it, and I love that it gives me an entire page for each day - it's encouraging me to document each day in a lot more detail than I did in my bullet journal! We'll see if I like it enough to do it again next year, but I think I definitely like it enough to stick with for 2024!

I'm here for all your systems, I'm always amazed at how you adapt them to your unique aesthetic & expression! I enjoy your descriptions of problem solving and I think that translates across systems. I'm in a two book system: an april start hobonichi weeks for structure/appointments/to do lists and a leuchtturm a5 for commonplacing & journaling with memory keeping sort of spread across both. The pressure of a fresh start in January doesn't work for me so I love the April start, and I just roll the a5 book over whenever it's full. For those ikea sofa beds...the gaps between the different sections can be a become a bit uncomfortable and the cushion is quite firm. We have a thin mattress topper that we throw on ours which helps with both.

Oooohhhh, I LOVE your filofax videos, they're my absolute favorite. Thank you for this, the perfect video to wind down after a stressful week!

I’m in a hobo HON this year and I love it so much. I had a cousin a few years ago and the paper is definitely thinner this year, but I don’t mind because I LOVE a full looking page and shadowing from the other side adds to the look for me. I got into planners through Filofax, probably 7 years ago now and so I love seeing Filofax videos even though I don’t use them anymore personally (though I still own a few!). Carry on using what makes you happy rather than RU-vid, I think that’s always a good rule of thumb to live by!

I was gonna use the Hobonichi A5 Makino HON this year … and I am! 🎉 loving it so far, and I actually adore the new paper because ink dries on it more quickly. though you and Lindsey scribbles are getting me very interested in rings 👀

You got my into rings and I have been using mine since July 2023! I was using bullet journaling and had fell out of love with it, and everything was falling through the cracks. Your video was just what I need and was looking for, so thank you!💖💖 my adhd and autism thank you to!💖💖

Honestly, for me it's just nice to see whatever your're enjoying and your thought process, whether thats hobonichi or filofax. Also I know what you mean about collating quotes and texts / articles that go together, I love it too! I think in some webspaces its called "webweaving", I actually started a section in my filofax where each page is like a collage of different quotes and images and texts based on the same theme, its been really fun 0.0

Seeing Astarion made me grin, he’s been in my little tome for a few months!! I keep finding pretty pictures to print of him haha. ✨ I am in the system I thought I would be in (discbound), but I’ve been waffling a little bit this month trying to decide if I like a smaller size or larger. Been tinkering with a B6, downsizing from A5… on one hand, it’s nice that the pages are smaller and less “daunting” to fill. But on the other, can’t write as much! Discs have been my ride or die for almost a decade though, so no matter what size I end up in this year I know I’ll love it. 💜

I will echo what a lot have said, but I enjoy your content regardless of the system you use. I'm here for you, if that makes sense, as opposed to the specific system of journaling (I mean that in the nicest way!) And I'm still in the same system, I use a Cousins A5 and a field notes supplementary. I'm still trying to iron out just what I want to go in field notes versus the Cousins. I know a lot more like... brain unpacking/writing goes into the a5 if only for the size. the field notes holds more like common place quotes, checklists, little things that can change from month to month as I finish them. all this to say, hope you and wednesday are well as can be and get some good rest in~

I love ring planners! My origin story is pocket rings! So I love seeing them! My plan for 2024 was 1) A6 Hobo Techo for my journal 2) Sterling Ink Standard size N1H full year for my main planner & commonplace. I’m still in both of those and loving them. I did add an EDC wallet mini rings that is my favorite! Off to a good year so far

I’m so glad you’re using the filofax and creating more pages because I use them for my digital planner, I love how you lay out the pages and I can just upload the pdf’s from your shop into goodnotes on my iPad and use the stickers without the existential dread of placing a sticker TM. I’ve also been looking into printing things out and using my personal size filofax for when i can’t take my ipad with me so I really appreciate you showing the printed content with your commonplace pages.

As a person who has watched every video despite the content because I simply like your videos regardless, I beg to differ on your comment about not enjoying filofax as much a hobonichi content. I enjoy learning about different systems as I can "experience" them through others and gather information I otherwise wouldn't have gotten due to ignorance of its existence or reluctance to jump into other systems at that point in time. ⭐️

I enjoy your content, no matter what system you are using. Although rings are not for me, I really like seeing your minimal and functional layouts. A lot of content creators in rings are all about the deco in the cover and 10,000 different sections and I am not about that vibe so your style is very soothing. I am going strong in the systems that I planned to be in. I pretty much stayed in what was working for me in 2023, planner wise, which is the passport size. I did add a couple of journals this year (5 year journal & reading/book bullet journal) and all are going well so far.

I ordered the Hobonichi English planner (A6) at launch and somehow haven’t changed my mind since then. :) I am really happy with it.

Lol i changed books twice already. I was gonna use an a5 again but i want something easier to carry. Then got an a6 sterling ink that Wont Lay Open and annoys me endlessly. Now im thinking about trying a digital journal for accessibility reasons? Something i can get printed out into a book on a regular basis so i still have a physical AND digital copy for my disaster-focused brain. Loving the filofax content!! Its refreshing to see the filofax format used in a journaling way, gives a lot of ideas of what else it can be used for.

I also don’t like that you can’t flip through the archive binders, so I use the Filofax clip books since they’re around the same price! Maybe that would work for you too? I love the info-dump videos and your Filofax looks so nice ❤

i set up the year in a regular hobonichi techo and a hobo memo book with my commonplace book (regular a6 hobonichi notebook) sat outside of my cover, mostly because it was too tight with both books and it was making me upset. i found i wasn't reaching for my commonplace book when it wasn't in my cover, so i switched to the avec and added my commonplace book back into my cover. it's working really well for me, i even have room now for a memo book that has all of my german notes to sit in my cover, as well!! also big second on the midori index clips i'm obsessed with them. i am having a pen crisis, but it's mostly bc i can't find a .7 pen that dries quickly on hobo paper and is inky like the frixion pens. i am also on the lookout for new dot stickers..... i need to add a 7th category to my commonplace index.... wish me luck.

Hey Megan! Thanks for this video. The filofax is so different from my system and when I was a student I struggled with using ring binders for anything for reasons that are hard to articulate, so I can't imagine using one for my journaling practice - all of this is to say that I really enjoy your videos about your filofax because I am fascinated with the ways you make it work for you. I started this year with a Hobonichi cousin avec for my daily log/personal planner and so far I have been really enjoying it. I have big handwriting and a lot to say, so I am finding it more comfortable than the weeks I was using last year. I will say that when I fall behind for a couple days, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the amount of blank space I have to fill but I can make it work with stickers and photos. I also have a simple dot grid journal for my commonplace book, and another one that I'm using for a separate reading log. I'm not a bullet journal girlie, so my reading journal is extremely simple. Right now I feel like I'm neglecting my commonplace practice a bit because having a reading journal has made me more focused on reading books than usual. It's not a perfect system and I'm at a very quiet time of my life so we'll see how it evolves as I get busier.

so literally everyone is struggling to sleep right now?

I changed back from a "better bullet journal" into my classic notebook/planner duo! Feels like home. I love love love the filofax though i have one and feel tempted to use it for commonplacing. I'm so excited to see more also I've been, like you, on the hunnnntttt for a good box so that segment gave me both hope and envy hahah I feel seen. Thank you for sharing as always.

I like all the content you create! It doesn’t matter what planner you’re in. ❤

I had a brief flirtation with hobonichi in December, but a friend bought one (which she loves) but I knew I would not be able to handle how thin the paper is and I would miss my muji A5 binder too much. The real benefit of a binder style for me is that I only like to write on the right side of a book, so I keep my monthly calendar and running tasks on the left in the front and my current week on the right. At the end of the week I flip the week page over and have it for journaling and put a new weekly page in front.

Megan, I love your thoughts and journalling style no matter what planner you're in! Whatever is working for you! I'm a two book person - I've learned that I work best with one A5 (dot-grid) book as a planner/bullet journal for appointments, deadlines and to do lists, and another as a more personal journal for collaging, long-form writing and commonplacing. I try to stick to the same book for the planner for a whole year but switch up the journal about every two to three months. For the journal, I usually alternate A5 Leuchtturm notebooks (that last me about 3 months) and regular travellers notebook inserts that I make myself from different scrap papers, depending on whether I feel more like collaging or long-form journalling/commonplacing. For 2024, I've moved from the dot grid bullet journal into an A5 Leuchtturm planner (week on one side + notes pages) that I've customized and supplemented with a smaller notebook for daily to do lists (if I need them). So far, it's working very well for me. I've found that the main factor for how well a system does or doesn't work for me is how easy it is to keep my tasks/appointments up to date even when I don't get round to journalling proper for a couple of days because I *need* the daily planning for clarity (and I need it to have minimalistic design/few distractions) but I'm fine with only doing the more creative journalling/commonplacing every couple of days or even just once per week.

I really appreciate how you are sharing your refinement process and naming what is working for you. I find it useful to watch your process and listen to your thinking. I am in a hobonichi weeks. I struggle a lot with decision fatigue and the limitations of the weeks helps me from burning out over too many options. I don’t do any commonplace journaling but I hope that I will have the capacity to bring that in at some point. Thank-you for this wonderful peak into your world

your videos have been such a comfort to me and I especially love seeing you use the filofax lately! I’ve always been more of a reading/work based bujo person (I’m on a comeback after 3 years not using it and it’s been great!), but I’m strongly considering a 2nd system such as this one, especially as a more relaxed system/for more day to day things/as Joan Didion said, just to “keep in touch” with myself. but I’d never even thought about this possibility before watching your videos, so just feeling very inspired and motivated, which is very rare for me, and ur videos have really been helping me! really love how much you show your honest feedback as you use and adapt things to your needs. besides just being such calming and beautifully filmed videos as well, so tysm for sharing your content as it’s been a great comfort ✨

I’m currenly in a Hobonichi cousin as my « catchall » planner, and Hobonichi weeks for work! My second year in a row! I’m completely in love with those books, so I won’t change system, but I love so much watching your videos with different planners! So inspiring! Don’t be afraid to change books, really, and don’t feel bad ! Do what feels good for you. That’s all that matter ! We’ll watch your videos no matter what! Take care ! 🖤

Love your content regardless of what book you're in! Getting to hear about your process and rationale behind your books is always fascinating! I'm in a slightly different system than planned - still using the Cousin, but I've added a Weeks too. Regarding the new Hobonichi paper, I've found the ghosting hasn't been too bad with my fountain pens but for some reason, it's really struggled with the Tombow Fudenosuke - had bleedthrough from that a couple of times :(

So happy to see you using your filofax again. Yes, I am still in my black standard size travelers notebook and I am loving it. I used to use it as my journal only but now that I tried using it as a planner and a commonplace book it made me more excited to use it everyday.

You’ve got a bunch of comments already so I don’t know if anyone has already said this, but I wanted to let you know just in case. I have the same problem with the envelope holes night lining up right. I actually took a hole punch and punched either one or two of them just slightly bigger and now they slide over the rings perfectly. Thanks for sharing! I love seeing your Filofax!

your filofax content makes me happy all the time~

I’ve been in the same system since 2019! Moleskine weekly vertical planner and a notebook for a diary. I don’t think if you’d told me in 2019 after years of searching I would stick with it so long I’d have believed you. Definitely didn’t have the feeling of, oh this is it. Instead I didn’t even need to consciously think about if it was working or not. I just settled in and it was only when I was buying my 2023 planner I went oh this has been working for awhile! I’ve finished uni and started working a 9-5 and it has adapted with me without any effort. That said the cult of Hobonici does have appeal! I do have to actively resist buying one, but I know that’s due to their excellent marketing and customer loyalty (people really love them!) than any dissatisfaction with my current system.

Don't have a filofax. I do have a personal rings which I use for my dopamine, autistic ADHD fix. . Love how you are so blunt of what works and doesn't work for you. That's what I want to bring more out to the world through my journaling. I do have one new paper A6 for 2024 Using it just for water color and yup it's acting a bit different. The weeks takes time to try too if you use click markers. . Enjoy how you are able to make your rings planner so versatile to your needs. Good luck on the bed search.

A bit random but do you take Vitamin D and magnesium? Vitamin D because I'm assuming you are not getting enough sunlight (Living in the UK and all) and magnesium because it helps so much with sleep and also anxiety and fatigue.

Question: Are you sleeping and working in the same place? For me it was critical to discover I really need a work space and a sleep space dedicated to each activity. Otherwise my brain is always working and I'm constantly tired, because my brain doesn't know which activity it's supposed to do. I hope this helps.

The Filofax content is great. It's something for me to consider since I've changed up my plan for my books. I'm thinking I'll use my A5 Hobonichi just for planning. My Weeks will probably be a media/school organizer. My A6 Hobonichi has become a book log/common place book. I'll reevaluate next quarter.

I would enjoy watching a video about your whole process @MeganRhiannon . From sizing, printing, & cutting, to putting them in your Filofax. I'm 100% new to printing my own inserts, and struggle to create and remember how to do things on a computer as it's all "behind the scenes". I need a physical run through of the process so I can keep watching it everytime I want to print 😊 . If anyone knows of a nurodivergent content maker who has already created this I would really appreciate the info. Thanks 😊

Dear Megan, I love the Filofax.. I always go back to it. Sometimes I feel influenced by all the fancy videos of the Hobonichi or other books, but I always leave them half empty and go back to my Filofax. The flexibility is just good. Also I love watching your Videos, they are really authentic and I could listen to your voice forever xD. Pls keep updating!! And I Hope you can soon ship your goods also to Germany.

Lovely video! There was a missing link: The Joan Didion Article you mentioned. I am really enjoying my Hobonichi, not had any issues with the paper so far. But I haven't done much watercolour yet. Your system is so wonderful, I'm glad its working for you.

I really like it when you talk about Filofax! Binders never worked for me (even if I desperately want them to), so it's nice to see when they work for somebody else. As for my 2024 system, I did change it. It was initially supposed to be a bunch of A5 Moleskine-esque books (journal, commonplace, creative writing). I had decided on them because I could find them easily on local shops and I wanted to cut back on international shopping. But to be honest I don't like A5, it feels too big? I tried dividing the pages in two sections, but it still didn't feel comfortable. Now my system consists of a traveler's notebook system in a hobonichi cover (I just put two elastic loops on it, without making holes). I have a grid notebook in the cover to use as commonplacing and a few inserts I made myself on the elastic loop: daily pages to use as "memory keeping" (to help with lost time), blank pages to use as "brain drain" and another to write reviews of media I consume, as well as a calendar insert I'm not sure what I will use for lol. I spent last year doing a lot of "system hopping", and this current one is a mix of what worked (A6 grid pages in a hobonichi cover) and what I wanted to try out (traveler's notebook + making my own inserts). I hope it works out.

I much prefer Filofax. I find it aesthetically more pleasing, and it's essential to be able to move pages around and redo them. Edited for your end question: I switched from A6 pages in a personal Filofax to A5 because it was necessary (based on usage requirements - research - even though the personal size is more ... personal).

Literally searched for Filofax. Over here rooting for more Filofax. I want one. They seem freeing. I love glue and cutouts and making stickers and cutting and pasting and writing and scrapbooking sooooo I think this will be IT for me. Where do I start? Which one do I get? I want a used one :)

The best content is whatever your heart is drawn to. Love the Filofax videos and how you make them work for your interests and everyday processing. Sometimes the algorithm doesn’t align with that - and I’m sure that’s a difficult thing to deal with when you’re a content creator. I think those who enjoy your videos want to know what you are enjoying 😁 thank you for sharing your systems and keeping it genuine.

Hopefully unread this if not I’m sure I’ll figure something out and all will be well 🙏 where do I start with Filofax? I don’t have one but Im a business coach and love planning, nice paper, stickers, scrapbooking… I want to be printing my own inserts so I’ll need a special hole puncher I guess? What size are you using. Personal? I’m going to be moving into a weeks planner from a B6 and want a companion book for scrapbooking, note taking ect.

I did stick with Hobonichi this year, but I switched to the A5. I'm still trying to adjust to the bigger size. I do like the new paper, it doesn't smear when I go back and erase pencil marks. However, I don't use fountain pen for planning, I only use it for long-form journaling and my scratch book.

i mean i do like hobonichi content too, but i'm actually really enjoying the filofax content with your printables, 1; because it's more personal to you, kinda? and 2; selfishly, because your printables are a part of my own plannersystem i like seeing new ways to use it lol. (but yeah, i've stuck to this channel through all the different books last year (no shade intended!!) so like.... whatever book/system you use doesn't really matter to me, i'm here for what you fill it with, anyway.. yknow?)

Ahhhh!!!!! I fell down a SERIOUS zettelkasten rabbit hole recently, and it's so exciting to hear you mention it! So excited to see how you adapt it! I know it'll be too much work for my adhd brain to sustain, but at the same time my adhd brain really wants the tactile & collect-y hobby, with endless potential for re-organizing. (p.s. I feel the pain of searching for the perfect box. Oof. Glad you found one!)

I really enjoy the Filofax content! It's always a little tempting to try it out, but I know that my brain copes better with a bound book, so I live out my Filofax dreams through your videos lol. My system now is what I envisioned it to be at the end of the year - Cousin for 'everything', with nature journal/sketchbook outsourced to the snufkin TN and writing to the botanical weeks. I ordered a bunch of planners in September though and kept changing up my system then. The A6 Hobonichi looks so fun, and I really want to try it, but I don't think I can do without the weekly spread, and the one in the companion ntbk is too small for my needs.

I’ve been a bullet journal (Leuchtturm) user for the last 5 years and wanted to try something new. I am in a Hobonichi weeks, but wondering if I should have done the Avec 🤔. Time will tell. Thank you for making these videos and sharing with us ❤

I've honestly been a mess with my notebooks as well. I was using a bullet journal for 5 years (and before that I had been lugging around one of those spiral-bound school notebooks) I think and I always come back to it, in part because of the tactility and control it seems you enjoy in the filofax, but without being able to switch the pages around. I haven't been using my bullet journal for a few months though, maybe closer to 6 months actually. Which is a problem because I really need to be tracking my meds and symptoms and such. I've tried a few apps, even ones I really like never last long. I have a small notebook that was gifted to me that's super cute that I've been using for a few weeks just to write down whatever I need to remember and organize my thoughts, but I'm definitely having trouble settling into one notebook and sticking with it. Also, still haven't been consistently tracking anything, so..........

I came from bullet journaling, but it is completely unsustainable for me energy-wise (I am also autistic with very poor sleep *wave*), and I have been using the hobonichi weeks and cousin together since December, and...I kind of hate it. I came across your filofax videos, and realized that it may be a better fit for me moving forward because it is just so much more flexible. I won't have any empty space for days that just don't have anything going on/I have no energy to write, I can cut watercolor paper and insert paintings into my planner, etc. I even found tomoe river paper inserts and can replace my writer's notebooks with that. I feel like I might have a lot more freedom to be creative as well as keep track of what I need to all in one place, and I wouldn't have gotten there without your videos. Thanks! 🙏

12 day late comment . . . I started last year in the Hobonichi Cousin, almost abandoned it in June, and picked it up again in the autumn. So I bought another. I've been on medical leave from work for 3 weeks now, while jobhunting, and it's been great for keeping track of what I've applied to and heard back from, and task listing for the day to keep me in some kind of routine, on top of all the usual trackers etc. I've even done a little bit of decorating in the monthly grid, which is nice to look at without needing tons of equipment and commitment. Also - I use an ef nib in my fountain pen, and hate the ghosting of TR paper no matter what. It's just what happens when you use 52gsm. I've just learned to live with it. I like the setup of the hobo, and the fact that it's fp-friendly, but it's not about the TR for me.

You may already know of them, but franklin covey compact is similar (same 6 rings) as personal and i use their archive binders. They could be better quality but they work well for my archiving.

I've just begun dipping my toes into a planner and am going with a filofax A5. I'm drawn to very minimal layouts and hearing how you print yours...I'm going to be playing with my printer this weekend.

I know this is a filofax infodump video, but I have a question on your journaling method or in general the way you use a hobonichi notebook. I’m actually interested to see what other hobonichi users think and how they use their journals. So I have recently started journaling daily, and I’m using a random a6 blank notebook I got locally. However I’ve noticed that if I keep journaling one spread at a time, the notebook will only last me two months or so. When you use a hobonichi notebook do you usually journal 1 day per page? What if you need to write more? I’m worried about going through my book too fast, so I’d love to hear what you (and others) think about this and if you have recommendations for an a6 book with thinner paper and possibly more pages. Thank you!

I think your filofax looks really interesting and seems surprisingly versatile for a physical book. I think I would personally be a bit concerned with the holes in the paper wearing down overtime, as that happens to my notes. Although I suppose better paper quality could help with this. To answer your question at the end, I thought for a good minute about getting started with a new handwritten organization/planning system in 2024. Especially because I was cleaning up some of my old notebooks and planners and a felt bit nostalgic from that. But then I remembered that my fluctuating energy levels can't consistently keep up with the writing. I've been using outlook agenda (basically google calendar but from microsoft) for two years now and even though it's sometimes not as satisfying to just type my appointments and to do's and use the few preset colors, it just works too well. If my plans change I can adjust it without a trace, there's always enough space to write stuff, I can make repeating appointments automatically show up, it sets reminders, and if I get into a rut and don't do anything with it for 4 months, there's not this sense that I wasted a product that I bought. So I got nostalgic about writing in a planner and such for a little, but sadly for how my life is rn it just doesn't work as well as digital. so I'm compensating a bit for that by watching videos of how you journal/plan haha.

Love your little Baldur’s Gate page! It’s my current special interest. Astarion certainly helps!!

Re: the sofa bed- i think I have that one as my sofa and it's really comfy And as for the last question, I planned to be in the Hobonichi Hon as my planner/journal and an A6 notebook for my commonplace. I'm still going strong with the Hon, but I switched to a larger notebook for the commonplace because I didn't feel like I had enough room for my thoughts in the A6

I've been using the Hobonichi Weeks for about 3 years and decided to change to the Hobonichi Techo this year as I felt I was ready to journal everyday. I am using it still, but I simultaneously feel like it's too much room and yet not enough. I kinda ended up doing some retail therapy since it's been a pretty stressful few months and ended up buying the Kokuyo Campus Notebooks and a few other things from Muji. It's funny seeing you return to the Filofax as I also felt like using a ring bound system to have more freedom. At the moment I've been taking paper out of the notebooks I've abandoned and added them to the Kokuyo notebooks and in the future I'll archive in Muji binders. I don't know why but I've been very unsettled since the beginning of the year and I'm trying to figure out what I'm trying to do. I was fine in the Hobonichi Weeks and using Obsidian on my phone last year, but now I seem to want a change but I can't explain why. Anyway, I found the video interesting as I feel like we may have similar reasons for not going for bound books at the beginning of the year.

I am still in the same system. I am using a Sterling Ink vertical TN. I like everything except the paper because I am a fountain pen user and the dry time is soooooo long! I’m getting around it by using several blotting sheets. The system I don’t like is my work planner. It’s something cheap and no name from Amazon. There is a lot of visual clutter though. Not sure what to do about that yet, and I don’t want to buy a new planner. Might move back to discs?

I planned to be in an a5 leuchtturm and I have been! 3 years in a row now! Although I have bought a field notes notebook to tuck into my handbag for anxiety related things, so I have them on the go, without the worry of people seeing those notes during meetings 😂

still in the same system, we'll see what happens.... i am not using my hobonichi cousin as much as i thought i was. i'm sort of vibing with my hobonich a6 original for journaling, hobonichi weeks for tracking work projects, and pocket rings for everything else in life.

I am kind of in the same system I was planning. I had an undated half year common planner that I am using as my everyday book, continuing on from the first half year which I started summer last year. I was planning to start a second book in an undated wonderland222 to specifically cover reading for my comprehensive exam (I'm a PhD student) but so far I haven't really been using it because it feels like too much to keep up with in this really grindy period of my education if that makes sense.

I've always been curious about the filofax system, and then a friend was getting rid of a (non-brand name) one at the end of November, and I've been really happy in there since. I have lined pages and some vintage task lists and I just use those and it is working so well. My brain feels less scattered because all my thoughts just go in there. I am hopefully getting a printer soon and then I will try your printables while also being so careful to not overcomplicate a system that is already working. But I'm excited to see how it goes!

I’m in the middle of switching systems 😅 I swore that Notion would be the only thing I use from here on out for almost everything but having to make pages & databases in Notion got too complicated for me, so I’m trying to find inspiration & helpful tips for something simple & straightforward but that can be customized to one’s needs. I love watching your videos & I love how detailed you are about your systems’ setup; it’s really cool to see it all coming together! I hope you have some luck with your sleeping & I have to agree, the couch always guarantees a deep sleep for some reason.

I usually use a cousin but did a day free this year. It doesnt lay as nicely and yes the new paper does seem to bleed through! I use a regular black ink (pilot black) and an EF pilot kakuno nib, which is small, but the writing is "thicker" than normal on the paper and does occasionally show through. Its quite dissapointing really! I adored my years in the cousin.

I didn't really have a "plan" I just kept with my digital planning + habits app strategy. I've also been doing some more brain dump inspired by your videos

I really love the filofax stuff!! Its inspiring me so much to start trying again to keep developing an organisational system that works for me :) I've also started common placing & hearing you talk about it is always nice !!

Hi Megan, i tried out hobonichi for the first time this year and am very happy with it. It‘s layoutwise the best planner/Journal for me. I like the thin paper, but i still have to find the perfect pen for it. Tried fountain pen and Pilot g2 so far, one smudges with the other i tend to write too fast and don‘ t like how my handwriting looks …

What was the poem and or article you read all thr time. Being autistic too I'd love to read it. Thanks

your anxious laughter throughout makes you super relatable

personally!! in the summer of 2023 i started experimentally journalling in a very large impractical a5 book because i kind of just wanted to find a creative outlet for myself and didnt expect to remain consistent, but i started realising that it was actually really working for me!! i couldnt take it places because of how Hefty it was though so i planned to get a non-commital lower range a6 hobonichi for the new year and im still working in it! the smaller pages take off a lot of pressure i was feeling in the a5 and its also a lot lighter as a result :-] so i can take it places. i think this is the most consistent ive been in terms of writing an entry daily which is nice.

So far I am in the same system! Since Aug of last year and so happy about it. I don't think I have the energy to try and set up something new. Good luck with the sofa bed! 🙏

I absolutely love the idea of ring planners but get so intimited and I'm ultimately lazy 😅 the Hobonichi cousin has been great so far for my work and personal planning but I'm interested in starting to journal again but will likely do that in a separate journal or book

I had a filofax 'skeleton' ? lol the binder and dividers...I wanted to use for ages and as soon as I saw you doing it and how versatile it can be, I immediately go to work in the Filofax, so yeah I did change at the end of the year but because I was influenced by you ahaha and it was sustainable as I used up something that was just sat in the ack of my cupboard

I am still using my hobonichi cousin avec but I have been struggling with the texture of the new paper and how easily multiple pages get indentations from writing.

I started in a passion planner and abandoned it very quickly. I’m enjoying the freedom of a plain dotted grid journal for now 😊

I would use a hole punch to slightly elongate the holes in your plastic zipper pocket at the front. That would annoy me too! May be worth buying a new one even, if it really bothers you.

I so agree with the tactility of filofax!! I genuinely miss my A level chemistry classes every day because the ring binder of notes I had was so satisfying (it has been 8 years and I still think about it lol) but having a filofax planner gives me the same little spark when I flip the pages and click the rings :D

Since I do digital planning your filofax system sounds great and really practical

I'm always curious about how other people archive their planners 🥹 Have a great weekend, Megan 🤍

I’m here for the Filofax ❤😊

I planned to use the Hobonichi systems I've had for 5 years now but switched to the plotter and love it!

i'm really rooting for filofax just so you know1!!!

I really like the filofax content! I think it's really interesting to see how you're innovating on your system and I think filofax has a lot of potential for innovation so it's super interesting to me

We gently leap from the ache of this year into newness. What a lovely thought. Whose words are these?

I enjoy all the content 😊❤ it’s very relaxing and enjoyable for me to watch or listen to