The role of my Hobonichi have more and more moved into a role where I only use it for high level planning for the last month of so. And slowly the format of how I set it up have changed to reflect that.

This only affects the daily pages though. What I have started to do is to outline the appointments and things I absolutely should or must do on the section to the left. I usually write down things as lists with or without times they start and end depending if they have that or not.

Usually looking something like this:

• Walk the dog
• Skateboard to work
• Work (07:00-15;00)
• Stand up meeting (11:00-11:30)
• Lunch (11:30 - 12:00)
• Skateboard home
• Dinner
• Walk the dog
• Feed the dog
• Go to the gym

And then on the right side I first write out a section called focus where I write down three things that will be in focus today, and then 5 high level tasks I want to get done.

I often think about this. But what is the best page size for notebooks?

For a planner, like a Hobonichi, I think the ideal size for me is a A5. Because then you can do a multi-column setup and it isn’t too cramped to do month or week spreads.

For portable notebooks, I don’t have much of an opinion, I mostly use Travelers notebooks and their passport size. Not because they are that much better than anything else, but I like the system, they have various useful formats, including dot grid and better paper quality than most.

For writing, bullet journaling, lists and such, I mostly use A5, but based on how much of the pages I fill something like a “A5 slim” would have been better. Not sure of A5 slim is a real thing or just a fake standard JetPens put on the Travelers refills.

Another review of a product I love, that you most likely can’t buy anywhere.

Sorry.

Like I’ve mentioned in the past when I’ve written about Nock Co products I’ve gone back and forth a bunch of times on this, and I’ve decided to review all the products from them that I own because of how much I love and use them, even though the company are no longer active.

It seems like at least some of their products might be reborn at Rickshaw.

I’m happy to see that, because I really loved Nock Co for numerous reasons, but a big part of it is that it is one of the few pen accessory brands that had products at the time that fit my aesthetics. I’m not really into that whole hipster / grand dad leather look that most of it features.

The Seed is a notebook cover, I think it was available for various sizes of notebooks. I have the A5 size. And I have used it at various times for various different notebooks. It is usually used for something like a Bullet Journal or notebook I’m using for task management.

As of right now I’m using it, just brought it back for the first time since before the 2020 apocalypse.

The one I have is purple. The cover itself is made out of durable fabric like all of the Nock Co products. It has a very solid zipper to close it.

On the front of the outside you have a pocket. It is great for having a wallet or a pocket sized notebook. I sometimes also use it for having various pens and stuff in it.

On the inside you have two flaps where you can insert each of the cover openings. There is also a slot of index cards and two pen slots. I usually only use one of the pen slots in mine. Currently I have a Leuchtturm1917 Bullet Journal version 2 plus a Vanishing Point with a EF nib unit in it.

Okay not all, but most of them.

If you see some indie pen, it will most likely use the Schmidt refill that the Retro 51 uses.

It is a great refill and works great, if you aren’t into things like color or thinner lines or like your pens to me less silky smooth.

I got this tiny desk from IKEA. I use it all the time for a few different things when I’m sitting on the couch.

When I’m working from home my laptop is on it when I’m not having it on my lap. Sometimes I have a notebook (usually my Hobobichi) on there. My coffee cup is usually in the cup holder. If I’m eating snacks or drinking wine I usually leave the glass on there

I bought this foldable tray/table thingy at IKEA a few months ago.

I think it is mostly intended to be used as a table to put drinks and foot etc on while in bed.

I use it to write on when I’m sitting on the couch.

So much better than all my previous attempts at fixing this. Like using my laptop as a writing surface, or a large book.

Hobonichi Cousin A5

• Weekly pages: I use these to plan out the week and get an overview of how busy I am. This is very high level.
• Daily pages: no details, but the very high level of the most important tasks of the day. Typically the stuff I really need to get done

Travelers Notebook

Lined refill, used as a commonplace journal.

Travelers Notebook Passport size

Dotgrid refill. This is my pocket notebook. Typically used to write down anything I need to remember or do when not near my other notebooks or with my daughter

Rhodia pads

Dotpad

I just use it to write notes or typically very detailed todo lists to manage my adhd

Lined

I draft all blog posts on them

Five Year Journal

This have been a Leuchtturm1917 during the last 2.5 years. I changed it to a Midori one in January

Theme System Journal

Something new I’m trying out. I like it this far as a way to see every day how I’m doing based on my goals. And having a 15 day window and then decide on new goals

The daily journal format is also interesting.

So, I had the same wallet for years upon years. I think I got my Trove in 2015 or 2016 and used it all the way until I bought a Apple MagSafe wallet last year.

It was great, but falling apart.

When I got the MagSafe one, I knew it was kind of just half of a solution for me. Because the MagSafe wallet is a great when I want to carry one thing. Like going to the store or going out for drinks. Basically any situation where I would not disconnect it to use another MagSafe thingy.

And a while back I ordered another wallet. This will most likely be the thing I use most of the time. After looking at various options I went with a yellow Bellroy Card Sleeve.

It is great. It can fit a bunch of cards, I only have three in mine And it has two pockets for easy access to frequently used stuff. Plus a large pocket in the middle for a bunch of cards. Plus a pull thingy to make it easy to get them out of the center pocket.

Long story short: I had a shit load of gel ink pens after a bunch of testing things out, then buying a bunch of what I liked then changing from broader to thinner lines and doing the same all over.

Then I got fed up having an entire pen cup filled with them, and I just started at the widest and just started mostly using gel pens most of the time, and will be doing this until I have thinned out the collection a little.

If fountain pens wasn’t a thing, this would obviously be what I’d be using.