journal/chat with me | ep. 6 ✸ adding a hobonichi weeks to my 2024 lineup? 

Whenever you say "I don't know if that makes sense" I immediately go "YEAH IT DOES!!", every single time :)

I used the Hobonichi Cousin and the Hobonichi Weeks for the first time this year. I use the Hobonichi Cousin for "looking back" (documenting, journaling, etc) and I use the Hobonichi weeks for "looking forward" (planning, tracking, etc). It's worked really well for me and I will be doing the same thing next year with a few tweaks (and an extra Weeks for health purposes only). I have ADHD and severe Medical PTSD that has an impact on nearly every aspect of my life. I feel you on being wary of how things are going to go with the sleep doctor. Documenting and having "data" is always a good way to go. I approach all my doctor appointments like that and almost always have some kind of plan of what I want to happen. It makes me feel like I have more control over my medical care than "they" would normally allow.

thanks for letting us feel like we’re not alone, on the memory issues and foggy days and sleep issues. you put it out so well, the way neurodivergent people live their days ❤ on a side note i also face the dilemma of having everything and a ‘write anytime about anything’ book and planner. i hope you upload more about your new system and let’s cross fingers and hope it works well

I've been deeply struggling with autism burnout, this video has come at the perfect time🥺thank you for providing a safe space - your videos bring me some much-needed comfort🖤

I think you explain yourself really well, and I find much of what you say to be relatable. People often think I’m an organized person because of my notebooks, but I often have to explain that I need the stability and organization my notebooks bring because otherwise I am just pure chaos. Without my planners and notebooks, everything is a hazy, foggy blur, and I have absolutely no sense of time. I hope your system works out for you. I plan to use my Hobonichi Weeks strictly for planning next year and some notebooks I’ve been working on for my journaling and Commonplacing. Thanks for all that you do-your channel is such a comfort!

I literally write the same list daily 😅 It's so scary not remembering my life everyday, but planning and journalling is such a relief!

I use a Hobonichi Cousin and a Hobonichi Weeks, and think it's the notebook system that works best for me (I've gone through six different systems this year...). I journal in the Cousin daily pages and plan/track my day in my Weeks. In the Weeks, I track my tasks on the right page. On the left, I divide each day into three columns (morning, afternoon, evening) and track my health symptoms. For specific to-do lists for each day or just a general brain dump, I use the back notes pages (got this idea from lindseyscribbles). I really like the idea of having an 'archive' notebook, so I think I'm going to be transferring the information from my Weeks into my Cousin when I feel like writing (which is often), too. Oh - I also use Tiimo for my daily tasks for when I'm on the go cause it's brilliant for my AuDHD brain.

Lately I have been using my Hobo Weeks for journaling. The daily slots I am writing a summary of the day. The right side of grid I am adding my weekly personal summary. The back pages are going to be overflow for the journal entries - which I plan to reference by adding the page number where needed. The calendar monthly view is a memory keeper. Loving it! Filofax personal rings for planner and “admin” for life.

the blurry creative and the practical clear is such a helpful way of putting it 🧡🦇 love how visceral the images are that you picked out

The weeks works so well as an on-the-go book, and I find it so helpful to just keep it open on my desk rather than having to flip through a big planner to find my to do list, so I hope this system will work well for you! Are you planning on using your old weeks for the next two months or will you just move into the new weeks in December? (Also, the dark desk background looks so, so good🥺very neat and very autumnal🍂)

I never hear anyone talk about how hyper fixations can be fulfilling but also all-consuming. You put into words what I feel a lot--I enjoy my obsessions but I notice often how they absorb time and energy and not always in the best way. I can feel the "spiral" of a fixation and it wears me out. It's an icky feeling sometimes. Thank you for mentioning it

what you said about needing two very specific sides in your practice really resonated with me! i have been in a two book system (planning/memory keeping in a hobonichi a6 and commonplacing in a standard tn with a single blank insert) for almost two years now, and for a brief time at the beginning of this year i felt the need to combine them in one book but it never worked out. i think the reason for that is that each part of my system corresponds to a different need and kind of requires a different approach? the planning/memory keeping side is for maintaining my existence in the world, making sure i don't miss anything or lose time, whereas the commonplacing side is more about Not dealing with life and indulging in different ideas and obsessions. so, in hindsight, trying to mix those two sides was kind of silly! but it's also been very helpful to recognize this :-) i hope your new system works out for you (and i'm secretly glad you are back in the hobonichi)!! oh and i love how you customised your weeks cover, it looks so gloomy and calm when the red debossing is not showing 🥺

i recently added a weeks alongside my avec (will be using a cousin for 2024) and its actually super super fun to use!!! i find that i now never run out of space and also include different things and having a place for different needs is so so important

I'm excited to see you back in the weeks. I started using the weeks with an April start this past year after being inspired by your videos...before that I had been a long time bullet journaler in the A5 leuchtturm, but had been looking for some more structure and a smaller, less intimidating page. The weekly rolling to-do list has been really great. Now I think I'd like a little more space for free-form journaling, commonplacing, notes, etc and have been considering ways i might like to 'package' an A5 leuchtturm together with the weeks...or after seeing your experiments with the TN, possibly putting a weeks with some blank traveler's books together in a cover and see how that feels...Though I probably won't get around to it until spring lol. Grateful for those spring start books because my brain is very resistant to 'fresh starts' in January...probably because i'm still busy hibernating!

( 27:41 ) Have you looked in to the Common Planner by Sterling Ink? She has solved all of the issues I felt I had with Hobonichi. There is a Cousin alternative that has blank pages in the back rather than a page per day, as well as a Weeks alternative with grid on the left hand side. I know you already have your 2024 Hobonichis (and I believe the common planners are currently sold out anyway) but it might be something to look into in the future if you feel the need !

I am also using a cousin and a weeks for next year! I tried out the weeks for the first time this year in addition to my jibun techo (daily todo list and time blocking), and really enjoyed as a small on the go view of my weekly plans. Next year, I am planning to use the jibun techo as usual for my daily todo and time blocking, cousin for journaling (which I’ve been doing more of lately), and weeks for a weekly snapshot. The weeks and the cousin are also where I plan to be ~decorative~ because i keep the jibun techo fairly minimal and practical lol.

I chose a Midori Hibino and Weeks for this year. I've always used the Weeks, but felt like having something with more space in addition to it. Love your set up :)

seeing your stalogy dots reminded me to tell you that you can find some of the 5mm dots on cult pens (an online uk shop located in tiverton) and they have other colours i think you'd enjoy. their free shipping minimum for orders within the uk is rather low as well. i'm glad to see you're going to be using the hobonichi a5 and hobonichi weeks! i will be to, but it'll be a first for me to use both at the same time.

The layering effect you talked about (feeling stuff through pages) is part of why I’m so happy I went back to my discbound journal/planner. Being able to take each page out and stick things without worrying about bulk since I can just move up in disc size is really nice!! I’ve never seen someone who uses disc like I do, it feels very Me after using the system for almost 10 years. I tried the Weeks and the TN inserts in the last year but found I really adore that I can punch whatever I want (memo sheets, packaging, postcards) to put in my discs. It’s too good to leave behind. So I’ve just taken what I liked from the other books (horizontal weeklies) and started drawing them myself. Ah! Apologies for how long this is, but wishing everyone who sees this a lovely upcoming week. ✨

It's always fascinating to witness your paper based 'second brains' come alive and the process of evolution within them. Love the complexity of your systems and how each part suits its purpose. 'It's alive, it's ALIVE!'

this is rly lovely! i’ve been going back and forth, seeing where i’m more comfy with if cousin, or weeks or both! but i think idk i’m leaning towards the weeks? but i'm still thinking about the cousin cos i like that the pages are white-ish than creamish. but your videos rly help me ponder on these things and i enjoy it yk HAHAHA i hv lots of fun hyperfixating on notebooks and watching people feel the same way cos i always thought i was alone in this but now i’m glad to see lots of ppl feel this way too :’) thanks so much megan!!

I just bought my first hobonichi, i did a standard weeks since I don't tend to write much. I tried something close to ryder carroll's bullet journal method last year and it worked great when I actually used it. But in 2024 I'm starting a film watching challenge and I plan to keep my to-dos on the left hand page and log my films on the right hand page. no idea what i'll use the memo pages at the back for but possibly some type of commonplacing or personal study notes.

So I have used both the weeks and the cousin which I am continuing for next year of 2024 - I use my weeks for my to do and tracking my family appointments. My cousin is my memory planner. I suffer from great anxiety all the time so I am adding a new process next year which is a passport travelers notebook. My plan is that I will carry it with me all the time so I can document anytime I have the anxiety moments. I have blank pages so that way I am not confined to a certain day for journal entry. I also added the Sterling Ink common planner in the TN as it is a little bigger in size and it has grids across the pages to track my schedule and daily routines. I just love watching and hearing your videos :)

Can we all appreciate the cute nails! lovely video

i bought my first weeks mega for 2024 and i'm planning to use that as an event planner (in the monthly sections), using the weekly spreads for tracking sleep, water and my cycle (i'm looking into getting a pmdd diagnosis). the blank pages will be used for commonplacing, i'm new to it so i don't do it very often. i'm supplementing it with a homemade 2 ring b6 filofax-style binder that i'm planning to use as an autistic burnout/coping mechansims resource list, because i want it to be more permanent than a yearly notebook.

So many things resonate with me. I am deeply grateful that I found your channel. ❤

I used the common planner as a combined system this year, and what I found was that I was looking for a way to journal because it always felt more like a planner. For 2024 I'm also in a Cousin+Weeks, with the Cousin as a past/retrospective/whatever journal and Weeks as a future planning tool. I also have a 5 year journal where I just write down what happened in the day

I'm using Sterling Ink's common planner next year. Their Weeks (N2) size does have grids on the left, which I love. I'm using their TN booklets next year for personal planning, and my usual Jibun Techo for work.

Everything you said in this video is soooo relatable! I have a completely chaotic life lately with a lot of new changes and I can barely function without my notebooks 😢📚 I totally get what you mean by having a blurry bigger notebook and a more straightforward smaller book. Thank you so much for the inspiration always🖤

I 100% agree about the grid in the Weeks! I ordered the Sterling Ink Weeks which has the same setup as Hobonichi but there is grid on both sides 🩶 not to sway you from the one you’ve started but maybe helpful info for the next time 🫶🏼

You have so much clarity about the purpose of your notebooks for 2024. Now it's just a question of seeing whether the two books work together for you. I opted for an A5 Sterling Ink Common Planner this year, which is similar to a Cousin, but I got the compact size so there are fewer pages in the back. I used a separate notebook for journaling. I thought I might get a Weeks for an EDC, but once I received the Common Planner i realized it's so slim and thus not heavy so maybe I can use it as an EDC too. I prefer not to have more than one planner, but I understand sometimes it's necessary. Good luck!

sorry to hear you had a bad experience ordering the books, 40% is a really high number of misprints ❤

Second year in my travelers notebook using different books for different aspects of my like as a full time student and worker :) excited for the new year

Got up this morning, made my mug of tea, and yessss new cozy upload. Started today's page in my A6. Still haven't bought my A5 for next year and I'm secretly paranoid that they will run out or smth. I know that they won't and I feel silly but the paranoia is real for some reason. The photos you print and stick in your book make me want a zink printer again. I've fallen off decorating w/ stickers but I think I would like printing out photos I take w/ my phone and putting them in the book for memory purposes. Maybe that is just the stuff monster getting to me. Collating all your sleep data is a solid idea. The first specialist I ever saw in college re:sleep was focused on sleep hygiene tactics, but I had done the same thing as you and he was like, "wow ok you've done all this already we need to bring out bigger guns." Sadly the meds we tried didn't work well for me, but regardless when you do finally get to your specialist you're going to have a wealth of data to back yourself up.

I get that with quality control and shaken trust. I had an issue with all of 100 zines being bound inside out a year ago, the printer reprinted and I got them in the end but it has shaken my trust in them and it was stressful

I’ll be using my Weeks for work-dated daily things for meetings and appointments, in order, with times written in. Right-hand pages for list of questions I’ve emailed off that have either not yet been answered or whose answers I may need to search email for, with entity and person name (so I have good search-terms-I don’t know everyone I ask questions of)-and my tasks for the week. I need as much as possible in front of my face. I have the Weeks Mega, so I’ll log reality un the numbered pages-Monday through Friday-and I probably won’t need a full Weeks page for every single day, so: Date + Day, underline, write the shit I did, preferably in order but I can’t always do that, then : date + day, underline, rinse, repeat. A5 HON for quotes, personal things, stickers photos, rarely sketches, &c.

I so get what you mean about having a space for memory keeping/creativity and having a space for planning/organizing. I recently went through my old notebooks to see why I quit when I did and what I discovered was, as soon as I put a personal diary entry into a scheduling book, I felt uncomfortable in it. As soon as I put a to do list in a journal, I felt uncomfortable. I love the idea of only one book but my AuDHD brain will simply not allow.

I’ve been experimenting a lot this year too. Tried out a Daiso Sumikko Gurashi planner but had the same problem with no ruling. Then used a Field Notes but it was a seasonal edition whose ‘cross dot grid’ was too dark, a Field Notes checklist edition, an A6 Stalogy, and a To Do list notepad I got as a Secret Santa gift from a coworker like 5+ years ago. But I ended up choosing the A6 Take A Note for 2024. I had tried the A5 size for 2020 but that didn’t work for me, due to the size and also the state of the world. Here’s hoping we can both stick to one system next year!

really grateful for this week’s video 🫶🏼💙

I’m using my weeks for my language learning. I’m a writer so when I put it down it will help me to remember what I have learnt.

I’m an autistic person, who loves notebooks and pens. I have a large collection of different ones. But right now, I have seven different notebooks that I write in. I know it sounds crazy, but I like to have everything separate. I have a planner, commonplace book, journal, one to track my stomach issues, dream journal, one for painting ideas, and one for paintings that other people request/buy from me. I’ve also done this most of my life. 😅

I need to know where you got the little skeleton. I'm obsessed. I'm watching every video where he is on the cover

Yay I’m doing something similar! I’m using a Sterling Ink A5 common planner with a TN weeks size weekly style inserts for my to do list. I bought the A5 common planner a while ago and kind of wish I just went with a regular notebooks so I could just use it as common place and journal cause the weekly layout in the hobo and common place doesn’t work for me anymore now that I’m out of university

You may already know this so I apologise if you do, but did you know that frixion pens are not archival quality. You have so much beautiful writing I would be gutted if it were lost over time due to the ink. They are great for day to day use, but for anything you want to keep long term it is best to use a pen with archival ink. Also I totally relate with the foggy days 😩😂 And I’m sorry to hear about your trouble with the manufacturer of your books, that sounds super stressful ❤

I can't quite test this myself, because I don't have a pencil board/shitajiki with a grid on it. However, if you do have one that's in the Weeks' size, can you potentially align it with the bottom of your Weeks' page on the no-grid dated side of the spread, and use the outline of the darker grid on the shitajiki to write? That being said, I know keeping it affixed in the proper position becomes a new consideration with this potential solution, and you might need binder clips or paperclips to keep it in place while you're writing. I'm also not sure how you'll like the sensory experience of writing with a shitajiki since I know you don't typically use one while writing, but it might be worth trying.

That’s a gorgeous 10 of swords! Do you tarot journal in any of you planners/notebooks? I would love hear a chat about tarot!

From one autistic notebook haver to another, your videos resonate so deeply with me.

There is a weeks dupe that has the grid on both sides of the layout. Sorry I don’t know the name of the company on the top of my head

I'm super curious as to where you get your dot stickers!

I love your content! ❤

What do you think the differences writing on between the hard or soft cover ?

What deck is the 10 of Swords from, or is it just one card? I really love the artwork.

I would buy the book

I have the same issue with the weeks 😩 All grid everything, plz

It's crazy how (and this is just my theory) THE coffee spill caused a whole new evolution in your planner system. Lol.

using the weeks while im in uni changed my life, the portability and ease of having it with me 24/7 is so helpful. Something I didn't notice when I was just in an a5 dot grid notebook.

I love your style! You inspire me! And I’m not alone! I’m glad you are doing a cousin & weeks next year. I bought the same mega (in light grey) and am using it as a health journal for 2024 and the vertical Travellers notebooks for my memory keeping for the year. I don’t have autism but hearing you speak about your life and struggles makes me feel like “we are not alone” in our personal journeys. I have been a subscriber for a while now & am very much looking forward to following you through 2024 🎉

that manufacturer sounds awful omg - if 60% of them turned out fine then how are they turning that on you?!

We have the same cousin + weeks setup for next year! The lack of grid in the weeks really bothers me too 🥲 I don’t have the systems quite as nailed down as you but both my books will be used for work, and the cousin’s monthly grids are really nice and big which I need, because I have this thing where the tactile act of highlighting all my tasks in different colours cements them in my brain - if I don’t highlight, they don’t exist 😅 excited to see you figure out what works for you!!

I have watched this video so many time in the last 12 or so hours and it is genuinely bringing me so much comfort and ability to focus whilst I have so much going on. Thank you for continuing to post and for sharing your notebooks!!

We will always support you no matter what. Keep working hard ad always.

I'm planning to use my Hobonichi Weeks as a way to keep track of my blood sugars everyday, and as a planner, and get a pocket journal for a small bullet journal and a normal A5 for memory keeping and whatnot. For now I just have a bunch of notebooks I use everywhere and is somehow keeping track of them, and next year I just want something that I can easily reach for when I need them instead of all over the place like I'm doing this year.

As always, thanks for sharing, Megan ! ❤‍🩹

i'm so glad i found your channel ! i also have brain foginess and faulty memory; what you're saying about needing a place to dump the fogginess in your brain and a place to help structure ourselves is really something i understand! in 2024 i think i'll try a dual system as well, as my bujo is just. a mess. and not doing both uses very well x)

I'm a newer subscriber so apologies if this question has already been answered- but where is that tarot from??? I'm obsessed and I really want it.

the new sterling ink common planner weeks size has grids on the left side! catherine noted that it bothered her too that the left side didnt have grid so she made sure that she added it

You could maybe sell the 40 notebooks as rough notebooks? Like scribble down spaces to transfer to other notebooks later? I think people would probably buy them as portable messy jot down books maybe. Just a thought :) I really relate - I have suspected autism (awaiting assessment) and a diagnosed dissociative disorder - spend a lot of my life in a haze and also really rely on my notebooks to remind me and try to keep ahold of the week xxx

Heya, i adore your videos and as a nerodivegent human myself your videos are so comforting to me. Also, would love it if you did a video on what you do as a nerodivegent person on bad days, like a nerospicy self care video❤

Hi Meghan, Hobonichi cousin + weeks is the system I always need to go back to, even after all the experimentation. For 2024 I ordered the ones from Sterling Ink. The weeks one has the same layout but grid also on the weekly (left) page. It was a preorder but she will have spares to sell. I am going with those for 2024, unless I end up missing the hobonichi idiosyncrasies that usually annoy me...

ı am obsessed with your notetaking so much. 333

Hate to be that guy, lol but I just got the sterling ink weeks planner a couple days ago and I think it’s a really good solution to complaints I had on the hobonichi weeks - specifically the non-grid left page. I also feel like I need to get a cousin or something to help me with my blurry-brain stuff. I’ve been neglecting her and it’s been bad for me!

@MeganRhiannon What tarot decks are you studying this month?

Are you using the week or week mega ?

The no-grid-in-the-daily-section of the weeks is part of the reason I'm waiting for the Sterling Ink extra planners to be released for sale-- Im thinking about getting the HB weeks for a specific project planner, but the Sterling Ink weeks for the daily (although Im rapidly trying to figure out what my 2024 plan is.... no idea so far, but we are getting Closer... .Slowly...)

This video was certainly circular, it was also very repetitive, but relatable. I feel like I am constantly looking for the 'perfect' book, and my needs always change. I was something simple and forever-solved on-going, but my needs are in flux. You helped me see that. I want a simple perfect solution, in theory, but in reality, I am constantly changing.

I'm using the Kokuyo Jibun Techo Lite, I tried the Hobonichi weeks last year and wished for something wider, so the Jibun Techo it is! I use that for my planning while I use a Midori journal for my daily thoughts and struggles. I also have a 3 ring binder for my big book of everything. I like having the different books for different areas especially since my commonplacing takes place at my desk and not out and about.

hi megan :) on the journal/chat with me | ep. 2, at the end you quickly flip though your filofax a5, and you mentioned an article that you've copied, about nick cave's and courtney love's journals -- i've tried SO HARD to find them online, and i didn't :( do you remember the link/where it came from?

Your videos are so relaxing! I used to use a Cousin and Weeks for work + personal planning, but I found I much prefer the Jibun Techo's weekly layout and then using a smaller blank notebook for my work to-dos. The one thing I miss with Hobonichi was using my Animal Crossing cover for the Cousin.

I’d LOVE to have everything in one book, it looks so satisfying, but my brain just doesn’t work like that. Apparently I need strict separation or I get lost or overwhelmed and it all goes to shit. Weeks books are my favorite for their simplicity, and they’re so nearly perfect. If they did grids on the left pages and made a Sunday-start for my work schedule, I’d never be tempted to look at another planner again.😂

I wanted to love the weeks but for whatever reason, the layout didn't work for me at ALL, although I love the notes pages. So my goal is to find a way to deconstruct last year's basically empty weeks and re-bind the notes pages on their own. 🤷‍♀️

Blurry is such a good word for it!!! 100% incorporating that into my regular lexicon. Glad that the Google algorithm showed me your video

I also use a weeks for planning and notes and a plain notebook for journaling! Its the method that has worked best for me so far, enough structure and enough flexibility!!🦇🌿

❤thanks for a great video as always. Words are hard now because of burnout but ive liked some comments that say what i agree with. Also, you make so much sense and thats why your videos are so relateble i think.

Just sell a digital booklet that people can print and put together themselves. That way they can pick their own paper and cardstock. They get the product and you don’t have to deal with the manufacturer. Additionally the customer can have their preferred binding. Sewn or stapled.

Loved watching this

You should definitely prioritize your own books and stop selling them. Take care of you. Do the things that brings you joy!. Life is enough stressful already. 🩶

What do the colored dots denote? Do they indicate the different sections of the book? I hope this isn’t a personal intrusive question. Just interested as someone who struggles with organization. @meganrhiannon