2026 Planner Review & 2027 Lineup

Sterling Ink N2 Compact

The monthly section worked great for one-line daily highlights, and the mood tracker went really well too. But the daily writing part stopped working for me.

I always lay down stickers first because it makes the page feel less intimidating to write on. But my daily life is pretty quiet and routine with work and kids, so writing about my days every single day started to feel repetitive.

Also, as I got more into creative and art journaling, those spreads naturally became my thought and mood journal. Between creative journaling and morning pages, the N2 just lost its purpose, so it will not be back next year.

October is always that time of year when we start looking at next year's planners and daydreaming about fresh setups. But before jumping into a brand-new stack, I wanted to sit down and share an honest look at what actually worked for me this year, what totally failed, and how that is helping me choose my 2027 lineup.

What Didn't Work Out

The Midori Hibino A6

I had big plans for this planner at the start of the year. The caramel cover is so pretty, and at first, I tried tracking everything: sleep times, wake-up times, morning moods, dreams, affirmations, goals, and morning pages. That lasted about 3 months. It was just way too much, so it quickly turned into just morning pages.

Also, the paper did not quite click with my fountain pens. The nibs glide a little too fast on it, and it feels like the paper does not really absorb the ink the way I like. It is very subjective, but it just was not my favorite feel. I will not buy it again, but I am still using it; dates do not really matter for morning pages, so I will keep writing in it whenever I need to clear my head until the pages are full.

My ‘Aesthetic’ Reading Journal (Sterling Ink B6 Compact)

I tried keeping a dedicated reading journal, even though I struggled with one a couple of years ago. I decorated it nicely and even made a sticker book with only bookish stickers.

The problem was that I did not think about how I actually read. I read across four different formats at the same time: English physical books, my Kindle, Korean physical books, and Korean ebooks on the Ridi app. I read in short pockets of time: a little bit in the morning, in the car while waiting to pick up my kids, during evening reading time with family, and in bed. Trying to track every format and make neat review pages felt like homework.

I am not throwing it away, though. I realized I do not need to prove anything to anyone or show how much I read. Moving forward, I am just using it as a relaxed notebook to jot down favorite quotes whenever I feel like it.

What Worked Really Well

Hobonichi Cousin Avec (A5)

I started using this in July, and I have loved it. Using the monthly section as an ink swatch catalog has been super helpful for testing colors and fountain pen inks before starting a page.

I used the daily pages to document little moments, my moods, and everyday thoughts. Even mistakes turned out fun. One time I spilled ink by accident, so I blended it out into little island shapes and turned it into a travel page. I don't worry about writing beautifully or carefully creating aesthetic pages. I just feel free to create with my supplies, using my stickers, markers, and pens rather than hoarding them.

Even when I skip days, I never feel bad about it. I just add some stickers, write a quick note, and keep going.

My Brain Dump Books

For quick brain dumps, I have used the Sterling Ink Pocket Notebook on my desk. When I go out, though, I keep forgetting to bring it along. A pocket ring planner, which I bring along as a scheduler, is great, but the rings can physically get in the way when trying to quickly write down overflowing ideas. A flat-bound book is much easier for scribbling notes and testing pens.

To make sure I always have paper when leaving the house, I added a Sterling Ink Passport notebook that lives in my everyday bag along with a compact Muji pen. Whenever I am waiting for coffee or have a quiet moment, I can just sit and write down reflections, book lines, or video ideas. Having one book for my desk and one for my bag has been a total game changer.

My 2027 Lineup Choices

Looking at what worked and what felt like too much made my 2027 decisions simple:

Downsizing to the Hobonichi Techo A6: I loved the A5 Cousin, but the pages started feeling a little too big. The compact A6 is just right for a few stickers, a short gratitude note, and a quick reflection without feeling overwhelmed by blank space.

Switching to the Hobonichi Weeks: Seeing how well the Weeks worked for my daughter in high school made me want to try it for myself. A bound planner is slim, easy to carry, and saves me from constantly swapping inserts in my pocket rings.

Content Planning in the Paper Republic Le Trifold (A5): A full daily page in my old planner was way too much space for content planning. An undated weekly insert gives me just enough room to map out ideas without wasting paper.

Transcription Journaling: I will be using the Hobonichi HON to copy down favorite book passages by hand. Copying meaningful words slowly is so grounding, and it gives me time to really absorb what I am reading.

Final Thoughts

A journal does not need to look perfect, and it definitely does not need to look like anyone else's. If you have notebooks on your desk with blank pages or layouts you gave up on, please do not feel guilty. It is just part of figuring out what actually works for your life right now.

Heading into 2027, my focus is bringing back fun and joy without the extra pressure. It is easy to forget that a planner is here to serve your life, never the other way around. Here is to messy ink, unfiltered thoughts, being gentle with ourselves, and simply enjoying the creative process.

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