It’s {almost} the end of another year! Hoping you all had a wonderful 2023 and looking forward to a fresh new start on 2024 with new goals and opportunities on the horizon!
As many of us are doing now during the month of December, we are getting our planners, goals, and journals ready to start 2024 on the right foot and hit the ground running with new (and healthy!) routines and habits. I’ve always been a planner user for many years, so December is usually when I get everything together, have an idea of what planners I will be using for the upcoming year, and how.
If you are in the planner community, it’s not hard to find those who utilize multiple planner systems to keep track of day-to-day tasks and responsibilities. A lot of those planner channels have recently posted about new trends in the planner community to downsize and minimize that trend. In this post, I wanted to share with you my lineup of planners (yes, plural…but still minimal) of what I will be using, and what purposes each will serve.
So sit back, grab a snack, and enjoy this post (I will also be posting a YouTube video on my channel!!!)
ERIN CONDREN
Many people search and search for their “planner peace” of finding the perfect planner, and I may have just found mine in the 7×9 Erin Condren Vertical Life Planner. I started using this planner back in 2013/2014 and I have repurchased it every year since, regardless of what other planner I’ve used over the years. This is my everything planner…decorating, memory keeping, daily todos and tasks, bill tracker, and any other thing that pops into my mind. In 2024 my goal is to use it daily and utilize all my sticker kits collected over the years to make it both decorative and document important dates and events (memory keeping).
This is my 2023/2024 ECLP. I originally bought the 18-month version because it comes with the bigger coil, and took out the first 3 months (July, August, September). I LOVE fall and winter season and love even more decorating them with my coordinating sticker kits, so it is the perfect time of year for me to start my planner. Having the bigger coil, and taking out those first 3 months (and later the last 3 months of 2024) will help it not be as bulky from all the stickers and additions throughout the year.
If you are not familiar with the Erin Condren planner, below are some insert shots of the layout.
Once you open the planner, there is a vellum overlay that coordinates with the design you have chosen (left), and a name plate page facing it (right). I will list below all the links to planners, stickers, and supplies mentioned in this post.
After the name page, you have this beautiful design 2-page spread, again based on the design selected (colorful, floral, or neutral). I always love selecting the colorful option because whether I decorate or not, it’s always full of color and brightness.
After those two colorful pages we get into a year on 2-page overview from July 2023 to December 2024. My plan is to cover up the months of July-December 2023 with a blank sticker sheet and create a before/after picture dashboard. I’ve seen many examples of this on YouTube of others doing that with their children’s first and last day of school photos, so I’m thinking of something similar.
Next you have 12 boxes (6 per page) on the follow pages. They are not labeled, and therefore can be labeled any way you want. My idea is to use each box as a monthly highlight, or for monthly goal setting (still not sure which yet). But you can also use each box as a goal area (for example: family, spiritual, work, finances, personal, etc.). The possibilities are endless with this page.
At the start of each month, the tap usually has an uplifting quote (I realized that I took a pic of October’s quote and showed January’s monthly page instead…lol). Each month’s quote is different and goes with the month’s color scheme. The month’s overview is on the very back of the quote where you have a month on two-pages spread with a column for notes. It is your typical Sunday-start month layout, with holidays pre-printed on the days. The boxes are generous sized for small or big writing. On the back you have a lined notes page, then a monthly dashboard. I have not yet worked on my January spread to show you the stickered up layout of the after, but I will list the shop’s name below where I get my monthly kits and dashboard from, and plan on posting a completed spread to show you what it looks like.
As I mentioned, this is the Vertical layout and this is what it looks like. In the past (very very past) those headers used to have “morning,” “afternoon,” and “evenings” pre-printed, but they have since done away with that for the past several years. You can either create your own headings for each of those boxes, or (like me) cover them with thin washi tape to make it more colorful (usually the ones that come with a weekly sticker kit). The bottom shaded in part can also be used to track meals, workouts, steps, etc. or, again, cover it up with a thick/wide washi tape. You also have a month at-a-glance in the top left corner, and a lined column underneath for lists and todos.
Last, but no least, you then have 4 pages of gold-foiled stickers to coordinate with your planner. They fit best on the weekly layout than the monthly overview. There is also a thick cardstock 2-sided folder (not pictured) at the very end after the stickers with the same color scheme as the 2 pages after the name page at the front of the planner.
SUGAR PAPER ESSENTIALS
So this was a complete impulse purchase because it was just so beautiful. I had told myself that my Erin Condren will be my one and only planner (with the exception of my work planner), but we all know how that goes when you are at Target…
So I got mine while randomly walking through the stationary section at Target, so I only saw they had 2 color options, pink and green, but online there are 2 additional cover options (listed below). The planner is an 8.5×11 sized, 2024 weekly/monthly, from January to December. The cover is a clear plastic with “2024” outlined in gold foil, and the pink is a glossy cardstock sheet behind it. The binding is double-wire, which is not exactly my favorite because of how easily it can snag, especially if you are taking his planner on the go, but good enough at holding it together.
The first page is a gold-foiled quote, and you can see that the months are tabbed. As with the majority of planners now, there is a sheet of stickers included with birthdays, events, and flags. Following that is the name plate for your contact information.
Following the name plate page, you have 2024 and 2025 year on a page for current and future planning. You then get all the major U.S. holidays on the next page for both 2024 and 2025. The facing page allows you to write your year’s wish list (i.e. goals, resolutions, word(s) of the day).
The monthly page is preceded by an overview with spaces to list goals (personal, health, work, financial), important dates, and blank all-purpose box. The tabbed divider is of the same paper as the rest of the planner, so not any thicker to designate any difference. The design is just gray dots on the paper. The entire planner is neutral with no other colors incorporated, so you can definitely customize it however you want with stickers and washi. The monthly spread is on 2-pages with generous sized boxes that include major holidays and moon phases. You also get a notes sidebar on the right side of the month.
Speaking of paper above, the paper is not thick so there might be some bleeding through when using some pens and markers. I have not done a pen test to test this out. My preferred planner pens are the Pilot G2 gel-rollers so we’ll see how those hold up.
The weekly layout is horizontal week on one page on one side, and weekly overview on the other. On the overview side you have space for to-do list, to call, email, and buy, goals, and large all-purpose box. The days of the week are divided into equal sized Monday to Friday, and Saturday and Sunday are combined. I’ve never used this format before, but I am planning to have it be an on-the-go planner to throw in my bag, or have on my bedside table for last minute ideas of things to-do or remember.
As for notes pages there is really only those 2 pages, so don’t expect any extra lined pages. At the end of the planner you again have a 2-sided pocked folder (same glossy material as the cover).
I love the subtle font and font color used throughout the planner, a soft gray color and thin lines. I feel that this is not as overpowering as if it was printed all in black ink, and would make your writing standout regardless of the color ink pen you use. The fact that there is very minimal design allows you to use stickers, washi, or any other decorative tools you like to personalize and make it yours. I’m very excited to use this next year!
CLEVER FOX APPOINTMENT BOOK
This is my 3rd year using this Clever Fox appointment book for keeping up with my work appointments. At the time I started using it I was in need of an appointment book that had equal times for Saturday and Sunday as the rest of the week as I was working full weekends as well. Nowadays I don’t need it for weekends anymore, but it meets all my needs for an appointment book, without all the extra fluff pages that are often added to other planners and such. I don’t like having all those additional pages that take up space and I can never figure out what to use them for.
I selected the color TEAL for my 2024 book. My previous color selections were rose gold (2022) and purple (2023). The planner size is a 8.3×11 and it is hardcover with a faux-leather look. The dated version offers 4 cover color options, while the undated offers 9 cover color options to choose from.
The first page into the planner is the name plate for your contact information, as well as a reward line. Not really sure what that reward would be for, but it could be for goal setting I guess. I’m excited to use this planner, because unlike the previous 2 years, this one is already pre-dated with all the months and holidays and everything. This planner runs from January 2024 to January 2025 (full month). In the links below I’ve included the link to this dated appointment book, as well as the undated one if you would like to check that out. I have a YouTube video on that undated planner as well.
You do get these 2 facing contacts pages. I wish planners no longer included those as with phones and everything no one really rights down contact information anymore. I use these pages for quick notes for work contacts that I don’t really need to refer back to a lot or store on my phone.
Following the contacts page you get a year-at-a-glance overview of the current year and the following year, along with the U.S. holidays and observances for each respective year. There is a small bit of dot-grid at the bottom to take note of any future or upcoming events or holidays not listed.
Again, this year’s appointment book is already pre-dated with all the months’ and daily dates. The month overview is a 2-page spread, with generous sized daily boxes for the stickers included (below) or bigger handwriting. On the side you have space for monthly goals and priorities, and a next month at a glance at the bottom (which isn’t included in the undated version). Another update they made to this planner is that the months are dispersed throughout the planner. In the undated version, all the months are together at the beginning of the planner then you get the weeks all together after that. Note that in neither version are the months tabbed, so you would need to use either the ribbon included, or decorative paperclips to bookmark your section.
The weekly pages are unchanged, expect of course the addition of the dates. It is a Monday start on the weekly spread (the monthly spread is a Sunday start), and all 7 days are equal sized, which is perfect if you need full day boxes for weekends. The hourly division is in 15-minute increments from 7:00am to 9:00pm every day of the week. On the side you still have spaces for priorities and weekly tasks/todos.
At the end of the planner you get about 6 sheets of dot-grid pages. As with all their books, the appointment book comes with 3 coordinating ribbons to mark your place.
Attached to the back cover is a pocket folder where included sticker sheets are found. The book also has an elastic closure to keep it all together. You get a total of 6 sticker sheets (3 of the sheet that has green and red checks and X’s) and one each of appointment boxes, payday stickers, and birthday/day off stickers.
PRODUCT LINKS
Erin Condren (get 10% off your purchase if you are new Erin Condren customer, or create a new account – purchases made with my link will earn referral credits)
- Erin Condren Life Planner & Supplies
- “Always” Planner Cover – Etsy shop Britt Mills Design (I don’t see this exact planner cover, but there are many other beautiful customizable ones)
- Holo custom name plate – Etsy shop Spotted Gum (other designs are available as well in the shop)
- Monthly kit & dashboard – Etsy shop NMH Creations
Sugar Paper Essentials (Target store in-person or online)
Clever Fox Appointment Book (Amazon – purchases made using my links will earn a small commission)
If you have read or scrolled through this far you are a CHAMP!!! Thank you for your support of my blog and check out my YouTube channel to see a flip through of the planners listed here and future content. Please also feel free to suggest future topics you’d like me to make posts on.
Thank you and wishing you all a wonderful and happy holiday season and new year!
~XO~
Dose of Dalia 