Edition 30: Planners, Agendas, Diaries
What's the difference, how to use them and where to find them.
Greetings, friends! And welcome to Caroline Finds It: my weekly newsletter where I reply to submissions from YOU for objects and products you need recommendations for.
Ah, it’s that time of year again — time to crack open the spine of a brand new notebook and get organized for a new year. Hands down, this is my favorite annual purchase, because it is the single object that I use most. I go on a special pilgrimage uptown to buy mine my planner in person and leave it wrapped in its perfect blue box until December. And because I also write in a journal regularly, I also head to Shinola to pick up a couple of new linen bound notebooks, personalized to my specifications so they’re ready when I am.
The thing about this category of specialized notebook is that it’s highly personal. Everyone has different needs when it comes to the tools the use everyday, so I feel strongly that there’s no “best” planner/journal/agenda/diary, whatever your daily notebook is. Confused and overwhelmed? Here’s a quick little refresher on the terminology:
Planner - This is a book that has dated sections and pages for keeping plans and appointments organized. These typically come in layouts that are page-a-day or spreads that show you an entire week. A good planner will also include some additional pages for miscellaneous notes, and full calendars for the whole year. Other names for a planner: agenda, day planner, day book, diary (in British English only)
Journal - This is a notebook that one writes in regularly in a more freeform manner. It’s not meant for plans, but for documenting the events of one’s everyday life, thoughts, musings, etc. Also known as a diary, which does not mean the same thing as a planner/agenda in American English.
I lump these two categories together because though most people no longer use both a planner and a journal, many of us rely on at least one on a daily(ish) basis to keep track of our lives. And besides, with the popularity of bullet journaling, the lines between planner and journal have become blurred, and many are taking it into their own hands to cobble together the right system for themselves.
This week, I’ve got two different calls for help, one for a planner, and one for a journal:
Carolyn in Memphis, TN : “I’m on the hunt for a great day planner. I use the CWPE Emilio Braga as my weekly/notebook and keep it in my purse. I love it so much. I luckily snagged one extra so I’m set for 2023, too. I love to make a daily list so I’m looking for a planner that has a full page for each day. Ideally, it would be spiral so I can lay it flat on my counter. I know I could just get a spiral notebook and accomplish the same thing but I like the idea of having an actual planner. Any thoughts?”
Dear Carolyn,
Hands down, Appointed makes the best spiral-bound planners in a variety of styles. They do have a daily full-page option, with an hourly schedule section and a list section, which would be my top pick for you. They’re already sold out via Appointed directly, but several other retailers still have them in stock.
I’ve been using an Appointed Task Planner ($40) as my work planner this year and have loved how it’s helped me stay on top of things. It has a week view, with tabs to help you locate each month. Each spread is designed for the hyper-organized, with sections for tasks, to-dos, priorities and notes.
As an undated option, the Aura Estelle B6 Classic Daily Planner ($32) features Tomoe River paper, all of the calendar features that make an undated planner different from a journal and has full grid pages for each day. It’s not spiral bound but it does have a lay-flat binding. It’s basically a simplified, undated version of the ever-popular Hobonichi Techno.
Tyler in Richmond, KY: “I'm looking for a diary that doesn't have too much space for any given day. I often get overwhelmed when I think I have to write on and on and on, so I'd really love something like a five-year journal where you write a paragraph or so a day and can use it for multiple years. I'm looking for something that is gorgeous and would become an heirloom. I'm partial to something linen bound like a book, but I don't know if that exists. Bonus points if you could recommend your favorite pencil that might actually last for years to come within the pages of a diary.”
Dear Tyler,
Have you see the HBO movie Let Them All Talk? At the very end, a character goes into the protagonists house to shelve a large fancy notebook on a satisfyingly tidy and color-coded shelf of matching notebooks. Isn’t that what all of us analog folk are aiming for? To find that one perfect book that will never go out of style, never cease to exist and can be an object you’ll find comfort in for the rest of your life? This is what I hope you’ll find.
These are the criteria I’m considering when finding something for you:
Must be from a brand that is established and can be counted on to stick around for as long as you’re alive.
Must have a durable cover so it will last and hold up through the years that you’ll be using and storing it.
Must have paper that’s pleasant to write on but also lightweight for ease of use, and for maximizing the space in each book.
Since it’s important to you to have separate pages or sections per day, I’d recommend coming up with a system to divide the pages yourself, or choose a book that is a small enough size that a full page is suitable for a single day. To be entirely honest, most of the multi-year books I’ve seen are so thick they can be really uncomfortable and unpleasant to hold open and write in, especially in the beginning and end. If you’re going to be using this thing every day for the foreseeable future, I think this is an important aspect to consider for the sake of your user experience.
There is one multi-year diary that’s heirloom-quality and has a thinner profile. It’s by Midori and comes in 3 year, 5 year and 10 year lengths ($40-$65). The cover is clothbound and the paper is Midori’s proprietary MD Paper, which is thin, silky and suitable for all writing tools (fountain pens included!). This is absolutely your best bet for this format of book.
My personal favorite for you is a Smythson Chelsea Notebook ($150, but lots of colors discounted to $60 or $90 right now!). Smythson is a British brand that’s been around for 200+ years and makes lightweight leather-bound books with their famously light “featherweight” paper in a signature shade of blue that is extremely calming to look at. The Chelsea is a smaller size (6.5”x 4.2”) so you can easily carry it around, store it and won’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the page. Trust me, it doesn’t get fancier than this, and you don’t have to compromise paper quality for style and durability! And if lifetime consistency is important, I’d be willing to bet that Smythson isn’t going anywhere, ever.
If you’re cool with gridded pages, Stalogy’s 365 Days Notebook ($22-$28) features enough ultralight pages for a full year and has a page-dating system at the top of each page. They’re designed simply but thoughtfully and are sure to last forever. Like Smythson journals, they come in many sizes, so you can select one that feels like the right length for you.
And as requested: my favorite pencil for writing in a diary/journal/planner is the Tombow Mono 100 in F grade. If you ever came to my shop and asked any one of us who worked there for our general favorite, there’s about a 50% chance that someone recommended this exact pencil. It’s as elegant as they come, is never shattered in the middle or off-center, and has a unicorn of a lead. Somehow, it’s dark and smooth but has unparalleled point retention and is virtually smudge-proof. Though there’s not much you can do about graphite transfer when writing in a notebook regularly with pencil, this is about as good as it comes. Fun fact: pencil is totally archival! Graphite doesn’t have the lightfastness problems that ink does and will actually last forever.
While we’re on the topic, a general PSA to anyone who really really uses a daily planner: Smythson also makes my favorite Soho Diary (and a great page-a-day one called the Cosmic Diary). They’re stupid expensive for a planner at just under $300, but still work out to less than a $1 and day and are TOTALLY WORTH IT. Trust me — I’ve just purchased a Soho Diary for the 12th year in a row.
Typically, planners hit the stores in October, so if you’re looking for a dated 2023 book and haven’t purchased one yet, I’d advise you to start shopping! The good ones do sell out before year’s end. Want to see some in person and ask for advice? Pay a visit to your favorite local stationery shop — they’ll know exactly how to help you! If you need a recommendation for one in your area, drop a comment below!
QUICK ANSWER
Sarah in Greenville: “I'm looking for an understated, classic, analog women's watch with a leather band, a face not much wider than the band, and that won't break the bank.”
Sarah, I think you’ll like the Virgil watch by Breda. It’s $135 and has the vibe of a classic Cartier tank watch but without the price tag. Besides, the details are more contemporary and it comes in several colors and also a lizard embossed option!
FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
This past week I spent more time in a car than I’m used to, and was relived to have remembered to pack my trusty bottle of Hyland’s Motion Sickness tablets, because as I’ve gotten older I’ve become increasingly queasy in the back seat. Of course, I’m not a medical professional, but from my personal experience, these homeopathic tablets work better than anything else, and with no drowsiness or other side effects. If you’re like me, and prefer to try a natural solution before hitting the OTC meds, give these a go on your next road trip. You can find them online, but also possibly at your favorite local natural-leaning drugstore.
P.S. I’ve been writing for New York Magazine’s The Strategist! I’ve got a gift guide to peruse, and an ode to my favorite travel scissors. Stay tuned for more!
Is there a product you’re looking for? Submit your request here. See you next week for fresh recommendations! xo Caroline
Caroline, you are just wonderful. I couldn't have asked for better recommendations.
I have a question on the Smythson planner/diaries. I haven’t been able to find the answer online when looking.
Do the weekly layouts, like the Soho you posted, have a month spread as well?
Love this newsletter! Thank you!
-subgirl