I’ve been laid up in bed this week with a cold, so I’ve had a chance to consider the launch of 2027 planner season from a bit of a distance.
While I am not a diehard Hobonichi fan, I do find myself caught up in the fervor of new covers, different formats and new ways to document, organize and catalog my thoughts and goals.
But what I realized this week, is that I have more than enough notebooks to sustain me not just through 2027 but probably several years beyond that.
So, I piled up a few contenders for some of the plans and projects I have in the works for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.
First, I found a lovely little B6 Slim Midori Diary that I forgot I had gotten at the end of 2025. I needed a more dedicated work planner for various projects so I decided to start using it– in September. And I discovered that I like the size and format. Sadly, I don’t see this slim size being offered by Midori this year but I have A6 and B6 blank notebooks that I can call into service should I want to continue this work notebook into 2027.
The notebooks above were samples sent by Lauren Phelps and Owl Paper Co last year for review but since they were older planners I didn’t get a chance to use them so these might be the notebooks called into service as my work planners for next year. One is A6 and one is B6 so I have my size options and both use Tomoe River paper so they’ll be good with my fountain pens. I can put new dates in them with stickers or stamps and make them work for my purpose without having to reinvest in a dated planner– especially if I fall of the bandwagon in a matter of months (it’s been know to happen!).
I have wanted to do more Solo RPG journaling games, so I dug through my massive stash of underused A5 notebooks and found a few that may work well for the purpose.
I have a Teranishi Haikara dot grid notebook, a NYBG Moomin x Esterbrook lined journal, a Tsubame Fools Cream graph and a Nebula Note blank that can all be called into service for project journaling. I’m a little amused that I managed to find all notebook configurations without even trying.
I’m debating switching to a dedicated book journal in 2027 rather than keeping my books in my journal with other thoughts and notes. If so, one of these A5 books might serve that purpose. Do you prefer single-purpose journals and notebooks or one big catch-all? I waffle.
I might save the Nebula Note for an ink testing book but I might need to do some test swatches before proceeding with that course of action.
I will search around the house as I am sure I have a traveler’s style cover that I could use to contain these A5 project notebooks into a more cohesive unit.
I also found a Midori Spiral Ring Notebook that I purchased on a whim years ago, glued a few bits of ephemera into and then shelved. Since it’s spiral, I can remove the pages I started with no clear thee or direction and star fresh. I’m not sure exactly what I might do with this book but I like that it doesn’t feel precious. I can tear pages out for random lists and notes, glue or tape things in or just have “in case”. Besides, it’s lovely Midori paper and isn’t that a good enough reason to use it?
Are you buying a new planner or journal this year or are you going to try to make do with things you already have? I love rediscovering things in my stash and finally committing to putting them to use.
(This post was built tucked in bed on my phone so apologies for lack of good photography and links but I wanted to get a post up even if it’s a little half-baked.)