We’re all a mess. The people who seem to have it all figured out are probably the biggest messes of all, because in being well organized and super efficient they’re actually trying to control the whirlwind. Life is chaos, and when you attempt to put reins on living, breathing madness like that, you’re asking to have it whip you silly and leave you bloody. In fact, the key to actually finding zen calm is to know how much organization you need, how much planning you absolutely must do, and then letting the rest fall by the wayside. Here’s where a basic planner comes in.
Most of us are tied to our various digital calendars, trusting them to remind us when we have a meeting, when we need to take our blood pressure medication, and what the names of all our damnable children are. This has its place, but the overwhelming array of features and options, not to mention the time needed to yank out your phone, tablet, laptop, smartwatch, or cerebral implant and input all you need can be prohibitive. What you should have for more immediate notes is a good planner with only what you absolutely need, along with the convenience of actual ink and paper that can be accessed at all times, no data connection required. Here’s 13 planners and calendars that will work better than all the tech in the world.
Field Notes 56 Week Planner
Field Notes has been redesigning and re-igniting the staid and worn world of notebooks. Their EDC books, offering up innumerable choices for every working professional, have created a niche of inexpensive but highly impressive notebooks that work well in your pocket, feel good to use, and live through tough conditions without fading away. In this vein, their planner is a nonsense-free way to tackle the week without adding weight to your pockets. Purchase: $15
Hadron Epoch WTF Mint
Rapidly selling out every time it comes into stock, if you can lay your hands on one, then you’re one of the lucky few who get to enjoy one of the best pocket planners on the market. The cover is linen with off-white paper that provides a jaunty look fit for the playful pro. Despite its diminutive size, there’s space for plotting and scheming at the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly level, all in a friendly package. Purchase: $15
Blueline Note Pro Undated Daily Planner
As innocuous as they come, lacking dates on the inside and bearing a dark cover that’s as striking as it is understated, this is a living contradiction. Though it doesn’t require a specific date, each day is broken into half-hour increments, a silent admonishment to stay on task and on the ball at all times. Spaces for notes, and action items are denoted easily so that you can sum-up each minute, each hour, and each day with the next stage, phase, or operation. This reminds you: Always Be Closing. Purchase: $18
Baron Fig Confidant Planner
It’s the little things that make the Confidant a joy to use. The stitched binding lays flat, so you can avoid wrestling with rings, and won’t have it snap shut the second you aren’t holding it down. Overviews of the year and month handle the broad strokes, with weekly layouts that are generous with space. Remembrances and additional thoughts can be put into the dot grid section in the rear, and the whole thing can be shelved like a ledger should you want to keep it for the coming years. Purchase
MochiThings Smiley Scheduler
Small and steeped in a bubblegum aesthetic, the fun, flirty exterior belies how adroitly the interior is managed with daily and monthly scheduling that gives you freedom to write as much as you need; using a regimented structure that can keep events, birthdays, and Big Picture items right at the fore. Purchase: $27
Nomatic Planner
That minimalist exterior begins a theme of stripped down operation, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t quite a lot going on behind the scenes. Day, week, and month divisions are laid out wisely, with goal planning options, whiteboard inserts, and effectiveness strategies in the mix. All without feeling cramped. Purchase: $30
Passion Planner Undated Sunday Classic
Whatever cute saying people have, black is always the new black. Though it’s all business on the outside, the Passion Planner is a dreamer beneath the surface. Undated pages and loads of free-range space let you make it whatever the day requires, be that notepad, schedule, or room for drawing your dreams.
Hobonichi Techo Planner
Thin, delicate paper throughout, it’s either science or wizardry that prevents pages from bleeding through to one another. Using a grid layout for each day of the year, the slender Techo could house engineering diagrams as easily as metered poems or a lifetime supply of bullet points. Purchase: $32
Moleskine Weekly Notebook
Schedule on the left, notes on the right, and small enough to slap into your pocket, the Moleskine is the EDC planner of choice. The soft cover flexes wherever you put it, without ever breaking down or giving way, ensuring it will see you through the full 365 days. Purchase: $35
Get to Work Book
Made to move you forever forward in small steps, this planner acts like a way to look toward the future and meet your goals or keep your resolutions without getting daunted by the task ahead. The best life coach you could ask for, and the only kind you should actually pay for, it’s a smart, inspiring assistant. Purchase: $55
Emily Ley Dapperdesk Leather Planner
Weathered saddle leather gives this both a homespun, approachable appearance and a sense of toughness. It’s worn smooth and soft, making it equal parts professional and appealing, which is a tough mix to pull off. Paired columns on each page for every day give you loads of space to spread out, schedule, write love notes, and keep a running list without clutter. Purchase
Gigi New York Daily Journal
Truly New York professional, the days are broken down into hours, so that you’ll never again miss a congressional hearing, a kid’s soccer game, or cigars and scotch with your new clients. Those who work, play, and live internationally will enjoy the common phrases section in the back, which can help you navigate a layover in Dubai or a tense exchange with a French industrialist looking to move in on your turf. It’s proof you have arrived. Purchase: $90
Kate Spade Cameron Street Agenda
Quite an investment, as well as a statement that can’t be made lightly the Agenda is fashionably professional. It’s confidence in a binder, complete with 14-karat plating on all the accessories. Naturally this leather body can be refilled, so while the initial cost is eye-popping, the continued usability and sturdy construction give it a longevity that can ultimately provide a permanent companion for the road ahead. Purchase: $198
