Like most people, I always start off the new year with good intentions. I’ll jot out a fresh set of goals, stock up on new organizers for my home, and commit to actually sticking to all of my resolutions beyond March. (Wishful thinking, I know.) While I’ve long relied on planners and journals to help keep me organized and, frankly, in-check on a daily basis, I figured it was time to invest in something a bit more heavy-duty that would allow me to keep track of my goals more efficiently. Enter: the Hobonochi Techo Hon A5 Planner ($73).
For years, the most organized people in my life have sworn by this small but mighty planner, which is designed to function more like a “life book” that can streamline everything from you day-to-day schedule and longterm plans to your wellness goals. Intrigued – and committed to making this year my best one yet – I decided to give the famed Hobonichi a try. Thus far, it’s already proven to be a game changer in my day to day. Ahead, I break down what exactly it is that makes this life planner so special.
What Qualities Make a Great Planner?
For me, having ample page space is the key factor that separates a good planner from a truly great one. You want enough room to feel like you can detail your daily schedule, weekly appointments, and longterm goals in full, without having to worry about cutting down on your writing.
Generally, I also like having a journal to jot down my daily goals, as well as another one that will allow me to plan out several weeks ahead in case I have any upcoming trips, appointments, or commitments. If you (like me) prefer to take your planner with you everywhere – from the office to the airport and beyond – you also want something that’s designed to last with a hard cover or sturdy binding, rather than a spiral, soft-cover variation.
What I Like About the Hobonichi Techo
The better question is what’s not to like? The Hobonichi Techo planner is unlike anything I’ve ever used before, simply because it combines the benefits of a daily planner, weekly planner, and even monthly planner into one functional product that’s designed to last. The journal feels less like a traditional planner and more like a life book that allows me to write out my to-do list down to the hour or even strategize my goals four months in advance. Talk about range!
It offers four different page views: a zoomed-out look at the entire year, a monthly breakdown, weekly layout, and the fourth portion, which gives users the chance to break down their daily schedule, with a separate page per day for the entire year. Despite all of these separated portions, you’d think the planner would feel much larger and heavier than it actually is. Evidently, that’s part of the brilliance of the planner and why it’s such a coveted product each year. The journal is filled with a lightweight Tomoe River S paper, which is significantly thinner than traditional sheets. Despite this, the paper is actually resistant to bleeding, assuaging the fear of pen stains or ink seeping through to different pages.
The life book has already proven to be a worthy investment for me, and I’m only a few days into using it. I’m someone who benefits from writing things out rather than just adding random appointments and notes into my phone. In the past, this has forced me to purchase several different notebooks and planners so that I had enough space to keep everything organized, but the Hobonichi Techo has helped to completely streamline that so that all of my notes, plans, and even goals are condensed into one convenient journal. I love its elevated design and can honestly say the life book has helped to transform my daily life for the better.
What’s Worth Noting About the Hobonichi Techo
The biggest thing to take into account with this life planner is that with a $73 price tag, it’s certainly much more of an investment than traditional planners or journals. Hobonichi’s products are pricier for a reason: they’re more elevated, practical, and tend to fit quite a few more pages despite their compact design. The Hobonichi Techos, in particular, have a reputation for selling out quickly, which is why the brand often begins selling the planners for the upcoming year as early as September.
All this to say, I believe the planner is 100 percent worth the investment for its functional and detailed design alone, which helps me to plan out every moment of my life down to the exact hour in a day. But if you’re looking for something more affordable, there are plenty of other cute planners you can shop online, too.
Who Is the Hobonichi Techo Best For?
Whether you’re a student getting ready for another school semester, are beginning a new job, or simply want to stay more organized in the new year, this planner is great for truly anyone. Thanks to the separated daily, weekly, and monthly sections, it’s like having three journals folded into one, which ultimately helps to streamline the process of staying more organized on a regular basis.
The planner’s lightweight feel also makes it super convenient for travel, so you can seamlessly fit it into a backpack or work bag without having to worry about it taking up a ton of space. The life book has been a total game changer for my mindset and because of its sleek, easy-to-use design, it actually makes writing notes and fleshing out goals for the week that much more fun.
Additional Details:
- The soft cover notebook features 464 pages that are made from an ultra lightweight Tomoe River S paper, which is resistant to bleeding and designed especially for planners.
- Unlike other planners, this journal is broken up into several sections with a monthly portion, weekly portion, and daily portion, so you can keep your notes separate and plan ahead as much as you’d like.
- It’s available to shop in two unique colorways, including classic navy (my shade of choice) and white.
Where Is the Hobonichi Techo Available to Shop?
This life book is available to shop at Amazon and Hobonichi.
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