In a world where we are constantly surrounded by electronic devices, the idea of carrying a physical, paper journal planner might sound a little… retro. However, many people find that recording their lives in the physical world is more effective than using an app or digital program. There’s something real and tangible about physical journals that is hard to replicate with digital equivalents; a feeling that you hold your plans and goals in your hands, quite literally.
If you are tempted to revert to the “old ways” and try planning your life and goals with a physical journal, here are three options you may want to consider…
Panda Planner
A Panda Planner appears, superficially at least, to be similar to an old-fashioned Filofax. However, this planner is far more than a basic method of organizing your life and monitoring your goals. Panda Planners utilize an in-depth understanding of positive psychology and neuroscience, helping to produce a planner that can – strange as it sounds – genuinely improve your life.
While the Panda Planner is full of innovative features, it has drawn particular praise for its encouragement of gratitude. If you struggle with the daily grind while working hard towards your goals, a Panda Planner can help encourage you to take a second to appreciate the right now in a way that is genuinely beneficial to your mental health and well-being.
Traveler’s Notebook
The Traveler’s Notebook is a thin, leather folio that can hold a variety of different sheets, making it the perfect choice if you’re looking for high-customization options. The convenient purse-friendly size of the Traveler’s Notebook is perfect for daily tasks and to do lists, though it can be pressed into service for a variety of different journal tasks. For example, you can purchase inserts that allow the notebook to be used as a calendar, a monthly planner, or as a bullet journal thanks to the grid paper option.
Something of a cult favorite, the Traveler’s Notebook has also become a style icon in and of itself, and purchasing your own will allow you to join a large Instagram community of devotees who love nothing more than showing off the various uses for this innovative product.
Moleskine 12-month weekly planner (extra large)
Goal setting and achievement tends to be split into two areas of focus: the short-term, and the long-term. This large planner from well-known journal manufacturers Moleskine is definitely more dedicated to the long-term but is incredibly useful for monitoring overall progress.
The large size provides you with the opportunity to assess your life and goal advancement with a bird’s eye view, which is especially helpful if you tend to find yourself struggling with day-to-day issues rather than the bigger picture. Furthermore, as you would expect from Moleskine, the quality is outstanding and the overall design is delightfully classic without feeling outdated; without a doubt, should you invest in this planner, it will take pride of place on the desk of your home office.
In conclusion
If you’re tempted to make the switch (or the switch back) to using a physical, paper journal, hopefully, one of the options above will suit your needs.