Downsizing My Planner

Back in June, I published a blog post about making an A5 notebook cover using a clear vinyl pouch from a 100-yen shop. (You can read it here.)

For the past few years, I've been using an A5 notebook as both my planner and my idea journal. Whenever I attend a seminar or watch YouTube videos to learn something new, I keep this notebook beside me to take notes.

Having everything in one notebook has been incredibly convenient.

Thinking back, my planner journey began when I was in junior high school. A friend showed me how she used a planner, and I wanted to do the same. At that time, many comic magazines and Sanrio stores gave away small planners at the end of the year, so those were enough for me. I didn't really have much to write, but I enjoyed pretending to be grown up by writing things like "Midterm Exams" and "Final Exams." I usually lost interest after a while.

When I was in the second year of high school, my favorite artist carried a beautiful ring-bound planner. I thought it looked so elegant that I saved my allowance to buy the same one. The Bible size was too expensive for me, so I bought the Mini 6 size instead.

I used that planner for more than ten years. One day someone looked at it and said, "What a nice gray planner." I was surprised because I had always thought it was navy blue! Later, that same person gave me a beautiful Mini 6 ETRO binder because they had bought it but never used it.

I loved that binder and used it for many years. However, after my child was born, I started to feel that carrying a ring-bound planner every day was too heavy. I switched to a much smaller memo-style planner instead.

Around that time, I also began separating my work notes into different files. Since those files were A5 size, it felt natural to move my schedule there as well. Eventually, everything came together in one A5 notebook, and that's the system I've been using ever since.

Recently, my mother hasn't been feeling well, so I went to visit her in the hospital. That day I left my A5 notebook at home because it was heavy. Unexpectedly, the doctor came to explain her condition, and I found myself wishing I had brought my planner with me to take notes.

That experience made me realize that I wanted to carry something smaller again.

So I decided to bring my old Mini 6 ring planner back into my daily life.

At first, I hoped I could keep everything in one place again. However, I soon realized that the Mini 6 is simply too small for brainstorming, journaling, or collecting ideas.

For now, I've decided on a compromise.

My Mini 6 planner holds my schedule, to-do lists, and daily tasks, while my A5 notebook remains my idea journal.

I still like the idea of keeping everything together someday, but for now, this system feels like the right balance.

Sometimes, downsizing isn't about owning less.

It's about carrying what you truly need.

-Nat I also made a short video about downsizing my planner. If you'd like to see how my new setup looks in real life, you can watch it below.

https://youtu.be/vmMZLJMauEA