I recently posted a question on my Linkedin profile asking, “What type of planner are you? Digital vs.Paper”. Since then I’ve binged every video I saw with the title “2023 Planner Lineup” or “2023 Planner Setup”. Now I’m officially all planner out but I think I finally figure out what I’m going to do planner-wise.
But first my 2022 planner lineup…
In 2022 I used a mini Happy Planner (HP for short) in the dashboard layout as my personal planner. I use items from my planner supply stash. The guts were two packs of the undated 6-month extension kit (as seen in the photo on the left below). I repurposed the discs and cover from a 2017 mini planner for my 2022 planner (as seen in the photo on the right).
I use about 70% of the planner which I feel good about. Especially because in the past, I’ve been gifted or purchased planners that I ended up not using.
Last year, saw me really lean back into creating digital content, from podcasting, blogging, and eventually Youtube. And I needed a way to help me stay on top of all that. After searching YouTube for inspiration, I settled on a 12-month undated Happy Planer with a teacher layout in the classic size.
Which ended up being perfect for me. This particular planner didn’t come with stickers to date the months and weeks like the mini extension kit. So I purchase a sticker book. Again, I fill up about 70-75 percent of this planner. Not too bad but this made me comfortable with getting paper planners for 2023.
My 2023 planner lineup
Personal Planner
I love the dashboard layout so much that I wanted to use it again. However, I didn’t see many options for the mini size, unless I overlooked it. So I settled for this mini Cyanotypc which is super blue by the way (hence the name). Here’s a video flip-through.
My only dislike is that the year 2023 is on the cover. In the future, if I want to reuse this cover I can just flip them since there is a design on the inside. This mini planner will be my personal on-to-go. I may need a cover or something to carry it around in so it doesn’t get damaged too much. I have a lot of new and different personal stuff I need to remember starting this year.
Content Planner
When I went to search for a new one, my exact planner was sold out. And I didn’t love the ones that were available. Then it hit me. Since I skipped a few months I will just use those. This is the beauty of using an undated planner – less waste.
So I will continue with my 2022 planner until April 2023. At first, I was going to wait to get a new one later on until I realize all I needed was 8 more months. I took another look to see what I could put together and came across a Disney theme extension kit with four months in a teacher layout. Not my first choice but it would do. I also pick up top tab dividers, plastic black classic-size discs, and a Happy Notes Notebook – all Disney theme.
I thought I was all set but felt like something was missing.
This is the problem with binge-watching planner videos. You start wanting all of the things. I use only 2 planners last year so if it ain’t broke why go mess things up, right? However, I had to calm my brain down and tell myself – “You don’t need something new if I want to just test some ideas”.
So I’m putting to use these notebooks my sister got me from Tabitha Brown’s Target Collection to good use. It will be for note-taking and brainstorming.
For everything else I want to try, I may use some sort of printables and keep them in the last item of my planner lineup – a catchall. I have two unused 12-month classic Happy Planners. The plan is to repurpose one into my catch-all since my mini will be something I travel with.
There are going to be times I need to write info down that shouldn’t go outside with me. I will have to purchase some stickers to redate it though. So there you have it – this is my 2023 planner lineup. I am using three planners and a notebook. Would you a quarterly update on how things are going? If so let me know in the comments.
If you are interested in using Happy Planners here are a few things you should know:
- it’s a disc-bound system that allows you to easily add and/or remove things in the planner; recently added a twin loop (spiral) option
- comes in three main sizes: Big (8.5″ by 11″), Classic (7″ by 9.25″), Mini (4.625″ by7″)
- the big has 11 discs, 9 on the classic with 7 on the mini
- discs are sold in a variety of colors and styles in both plastic and metal
- can be purchased directly from the company or at Joanna’s, Michaels’, Hobby Lobby, Amazon, and sometimes at Staples and Walmart; some styles are exclusively sold at certain locations
I’m here to help if you have any Happy Planner questions or any other questions regarding productivity,