2026 Journal Set-Up: New Planner, Same Techniques

For 2026, based on the conversation and exploration I did in a YouTube LIVE last week, I have decided to proceed in 2026 with the Aura Estelle 2026 Daily Magnet Planner in B6 size. This planner combines the usefulness of a page-a-day planner like the Hobonichi Techo with the addition of the weekly layout of the Hobonichi Weeks all in a B6 size using a New Sanzen version of the legendary Tomoe River 52gsm paper.

What the Aura Estelle Daily Magnet Planner does for me is allow me to have just ONE planner/journal combo notebook. At the beginning of each week, there is the week-on-a-page on the left-hand side with a page for notes on the right, then each day is a full page like a Hobonichi Techo (which was also how I had been setting up my planners for the last couple years).

The biggest change for me is that the Aura Estelle Daily Magnet Planner daily pages are pre-dated. I had been using undated Stalogy notebooks and added my day and week information with stickers, markers and such. Having pre-dated pages means I do not need to label each page with stickers or writing the day and date on each page like I have in the past. However, I like adding creative elements on my pages. It makes them fun, and brings joy to what can otherwise be a bit of a grind — lists, projects, appointments, to-do, to-do, to-do! So, I am mixing in some day and date stickers with theme looks through washi tape and stickers. I have to add some bling to the pages and break up all that white space.

The other issue I faced was that I make custom calendar inserts for Patrons which can be printed and added in to a journal or planner that adds some thematic art and a two-page monthly calendar for blank or undated planners (available in A5, A6, B6 and Weeks sizes. Join today to download them!). I love making them and love using them but the Aura Estelle Daily Magnet already has a 2-page monthly calendar at the start of each month. In the end, I decided to just tip-in my calendar in the middle of the existing calendar. It looks a little silly as is but I’m thinking I will use the built-in pages to make monthly mood boards or to track the books I’m reading and save the tip-in calendar for my monthly activities — I use it mostly for birthdays, holidays, and travel tracking. Maybe having two monthly calendars will be a good thing?

So, right now, I think the Aura Estelle will be an interesting experiment. In the plus columns: B6, both week spreads AND daily pages as well as bonus monthly tracker pages and a few extra pages in the front that I’m not sure how I’ll utilize but not so many that I feel like I’m wasting part of the book. There are also a handful of blank pages (30 total) in the back that I’ll use for random notes, pen testing and maybe adding some extra details. Again, I’m grateful that there are not 100s of blank pages in the back. My Hobonichi Weeks from last year was a MEGA and those additional pages kind of got wasted as I never found a good way to utilize those additional pages.

What I’m Using:

• Aura Estelle Daily Magnet Planner
• Paper Test: Wonderland 222 New Planner Paper for 2026
• Leather cover (via Etsy, no longer available)
• Galen Leather 3-pen Zipper Pen Case in Crazy Horse Brown
• Stalogy Editor’s Series 365Days Notebook
• Paperblanks midi size
• Paperblanks review
• Dream Metal Journal Clips
• Hot Dang Press Iron-Ons
• Midori Foil Transfer Stationery Stickers – Star Pattern

Pens & Inks:

• Pelikan M605 Transparent White “Ghost”
• Pelikan Classic M205 Moonstone
• PLUS x Sailor – First Snow ProGear Slim (Special Edition)
• Colorverse 03 Saturn V
• 3 Oysters Ink – I.COLOR.U Doldam
• Diamine Ghost (50ml) Bottled Ink – Green Edition
• Sun-Star Dot é Pen Square Markers
• Writech DualColor Multi Pen – 0.5 mm – Vintage 4-Color Set
• Pentel Sign Pen – Gray
• Copic Multiliner SP Pen
• Zebra Mildliner Mild Gray
• Pilot Juice Up Gel Pen – 0.4 mm – Classic Glossy – 6 Color Set
• Uni Signo DX Dark Grey 0.38 (no longer available)

Stickers & Ephemera:

• Washi Tape on Well-Appointed Desk
• Peter Pauper Press Sticker Books 
• Sticker sheets on Well-Appointed Desk
• Midori Planner Stickers- Chatty Cats
• TheCoffeeMonstersCo Stickers
• KOKUYO Bobbin Washi Tapes | JetPens
• Gamify Your Life Players Handbook Zine: Make It Fun to Get Sh*t Done (2nd Edition) – Restck coming soon!
• Lauren Phelps Design Tip-In Tape (20mm roll)
• Col-o-ring OVERSIZE
• Suatelier Planner Index Tabs – Months Black x White – Silver
• Dream Metal Journal Clips (2 Designs Available: Owl & Fox)

My set-up is both in flux and somewhat stable. I am looking forward to being essentially all-in-on planner/journal for daily logging. I think it will streamline my process. I do have other notebooks I use for specific projects and purposes but I’m excited to see if the Aura Estelle Magnet gets me to “stick” to my goals (see what I did there? pun!).

What is your preferred planner/journal set-up? Are you mixing it up or have you found what works for you? Let me know in the comments!

PS: There was plans and attempts made to create a companion video for this post. Let’s say it didn’t go according to plan. I may attempt to re-record the video when my cold clears up a little but irght now I sound like a frog.

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DISCLAIMER: Some items included in this review were provided free of charge by Aura Estelle, Vanness Pen Shop, Dromgoole’s and JetPens for the purpose of review. Some items are from my own shop (self-promotion FTW!). Please see the About page for more details.