Hobonichi Hacks: Vertical Layout Hobonichi Weeks

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Systems thinking has been my best pal for years. It works because the focus is placed on how each step of a process is connected to the most important step; actually using the process in an efficient way.

Overly complex or simply non-user friendly planning systems are why so many folks have a hard time with keeping a planner up-to-date. If part of a system to keep organized isn't working, the whole system isn't going to work in the long run.

So having a road tested, and perfected, planning system is the end goal, not necessarily trying to follow the status quo. Spend time analyzing where your system slows you down at. If there are areas where the system breaks down, then modify or remove that break to allow for a much better chance of planning success.  Forming consistent routines around your own personalized organizational routine will help reduce stress too.

Example: Vertical planning in a Horizontal planner using my Hobonichi Weeks (non-affiliated link)

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The frankensteined vertical layout idea took several tries to get right, the one pictured above is actually missing the 'notes' section that was added in later for more visual clarity. Proof that even a routine doesn't always guarantee perfection ;)

The fix in the system started brewing last year, I love the lightweight, slim size of a Hobonichi Weeks. The book's format is well thought-out with flexible covers and the paper is amazingly thin and durable (as long as you don't use smudge-prone fatty gel pens... Pilot G2 :( ...). Somehow though, planning in a Hobonichi Weeks didn't work out, which is a shame to leave those adorable hedgehogs sitting idle. 

A bazillion tries later left me with a somewhat expensive (but cute!) half-finished planner/notebook to track collections in for 2019. Luckily, Hobonichi Weeks have a 60+ page graph paper section in the back of each planner book to use.

So this year when the hobo-fomo started to creep in, I agreed to stop fighting the way my brain preferred to plan.

Hence, vertical planning for the win, with plenty of room for daily expense tracking and notes ( ... and snails).