Rediscover Analog with Vivian of vivplans.com

Welcome to the first feature on the blog! For the first few features, I want to focus on people who study or work in tech (or interfaces with tech for a living) and prefer analog tools over digital tools (bullet journaling, writing with fountain pens, or journaling in general). The reason for this is that I also have a tech background. I graduated with a degree in Information Technology and I worked in a tech company. When I was buried with work, I tried a lot of productivity apps and tools but none of them worked. I was introduced to the Bullet Journal system and that changed everything because writing on paper made me more focused and more productive than using different applications.

This month, I will be featuring Vivian of @vivplans. She’s a software engineer graduate who is a fellow bullet journalist. Here, she’ll talk about her planner journey and also how she lives with analog tools in the digital age.

A little about Vivian and her day-to-day work

I am a recent Software Engineering graduate and currently work in the Tech Consulting field. I have a 2-year old Golden Retriever named Leia who would do anything for a piece of your meals.

I currently work in the tech consulting field and my day-to-day changes each time. I spent a lot of my time on the computer and talking to people. I also spend time on Viv Plans on the side. I am usually on the computer writing or designing inserts for my shop. Whenever I am not doing that, I am writing and planning in my Hobonichi Weeks.

Follow her on Instagram: @vivplans or visit her blog.

Why did you choose analog tools over digital tools?

I love digital tools and analog tools. I use digital tools whenever it is convenient. I use it for recurring reminders for my routines. However, I like to focus on my analog tools. There isn’t anything to distract me when I want to write out my MIT or schedule out my day. It makes it easier to brain dump every task I have into a list. I love being able to write however I want to write. Somedays I want to use mind maps. Other days I feel like making lists. With paper, I am easily able to switch back and forth without any issues. I also can write notes where I want to without being limited by my apps.

Her planning and bullet journal journey

I have always loved planners. It originally started with pre-dated planners in office stores then moving to post its and more. Once I started my education and career in the tech field, I was pushed even further into the analog world. Being stuck in front of a computer all day long is the worst. Giving me even more of a reason to love planners even more. I wasn’t able to be creative at all.

I started bullet journaling because I had never felt like any of those pre-printed planners were “perfect” enough. I always felt like something was missing. When I found out about bullet journaling in 2017, I was so excited and wanted to share what I had came up with everyone. I could talk on and on to anyone who would listen to me blabber about my bullet journal. It didn’t end there. I would blabber about productivity tips & tricks, books that I have loved, and so much more. I want to share everything I have learned through the years about bullet journaling, planning, productivity, books, basically anything that can improve your life in some way.

After bullet journalling in a Leuchtturm1917, I realized that I was spending way too much time trying to make this bullet journal for everyone else. It was beautiful and it was still functional. But I wasn’t in love. I was tired of making these beautiful creative spreads every week. I stopped bullet journaling for over a year. I still used the ideas behind it with post its but it wasn’t the same. I then found my Hobonichi Cousin. I loved the idea of having a weekly page that was pre-dated but still had the ability for customization.

However having the daily pages in the Hobonichi Cousin was tedious. I didn’t want to go in every day filling in a daily page. I eventually stopped. This year I picked up the Hobonichi Weeks. I love the weeks. I still have the weekly pages that I love from the Cousin and a new mindset of letting go of creative spreads and it’s okay to have empty days. Having a weekly spread makes it easier to not have empty spreads. I am currently in love with this set up.

Favorite Planning or Journaling Tools

Vivian has an interesting list of tools because she has both analog and digital. This is a great thing to take note of because not everything is better written on paper.

1. Hobonichi Weeks – My lovely predated customizable planner
2. Zebra Sarasa Clip pen in .3 – My favorite pen to write in my planner
3. Things 3 – My digital supplement for my task system. It has all my recurring routines
4. Notion – My digital bullet journal. There are some things I find is better to store digitally. I use this as my reference storage.

Vivian’s Bullet Journal Inspiration

Ryder Carroll – Reminding myself of the basics keeps my spreads functional

On Instagram: @decadethirty, @saricastudio, @keimadsong, @minimalplans

Check out Vivian’s work on Instagram!