Hobonichi as a Bullet Journal

The one thing I love most about the Bullet Journal is the fact that you are not restricted to a specific date or year just like how we do on a planner (a Hobonichi, for example). You can skip days or even months of Bullet Journaling and not feel guilty of having left dated pages blank.

I’ve been using the TN with the Bullet Journal Method and throughly enjoyed my experience. I felt that the TN was just perfect for my lifestyle.

However, just like everyone else, the panasonic, panini, panorama, pandora (you know, the pandemic) changed how I worked with my bullet journal. For some reason, while I had more time at home, I found less time to journal (in any form).

Every month, I try to get back into the habit but I fall off the wagon after a couple of weeks. I’ve tried to modify the way I use my TN as a Bullet Journal.

Read: Notion: The best digital Bullet Journal companion

All that experimenting just made me realize that I needed to try something new to keep me in line.

😮‍💨 So I bought a Hobonichi (again)

The Hobonichi Cousin planner is dated. My $60 purchase (the Avec version) is a year-long commitment to use this planner.

I purchased it because I admired the structure and format of their pages. I felt that is what I needed to get back into the habit. While the Hobonichi is dated, there is plenty of room to work with. I can still practice the Bullet Journal Method – just with less flexibility.

How I’ve been using it so far

The Hobonichi has a LOT of sections. Sometimes, I really do not know what to do with all of them. I want to give purpose to most of the sections so this is what I have so far.

Yearly index = Habit tracker

Intended purpose: With 2 months per page, there are 8 pages covering the 16 months from December 2021 to March 2023. The top of each monthly column includes 4 lines of space for recording things like that month’s goals or commitments, or drawing in checkboxes for a to-do list.

I decided to use this section as habit tracker or as I would like to think about it – an accountability log. I don’t like to track too much of my habits but sometimes, I like the idea of glancing at the page at the end of the month for me to review.

Monthly calendar = Monthly overview

Intended purpose: The monthly calendar is ideal for managing schedules. The graph paper design is lightly printed to make it easier to write in your plans and take notes in an even line. The blue gray and red print both allow for high visibility when writing in the calendar.

Weekly pages = Time-blocking

Intended purpose: The Cousin contains weekly calendars that are useful for managing detailed schedules for the week. The timeline covers a full day from 5 AM to 4 AM the following day, allowing users to record any and all plans.

I’m still on the fence about how I use my weekly pages. I have checked some Hobonichi users and what they normally do is to to track their activities for the day, some appointments, or maybe their meals. I think tracking everything might be too much for me but I might try it for a while.

Daily pages = Bullet Journal Method

The planner features a format with a page devoted to each day. There’s lots of open space to plan the day ahead and enjoy recording your memories and activities. Think of the pages as containers for random ideas, with a clear record of the date. Paste magazine clippings, ticket stubs and photos to make the techo something completely unique ― your imagination is the only limit.

Finally, I use the daily pages for with the Bullet Journal Method. I practice a lot of rapid logging and this works perfectly for the Hobonichi’s daily pages. They’re mostly blank – although there are a few dedicated sections (which you can easily ignore/write over).

I use standard bullets for tasks and notes. For events, I use the time tracker on the left-hand side for events.

I try to use different pens to differentiate work and personal (a visual representation of work-life balance) when I rapid log.

How it’s going so far…

I’m only 2-3 weeks into using the Hobonichi Cousin as my Bullet Journal but I feel I’ve been doing great with it. I do miss decorating my monthly spreads and writing on my Traveler’s Notebook. I still feel bad whenever I don’t fill out a page – especially during the weekends. But I feel that I have more structure and discipline with the Hobonichi. Having a dated planner reminds me to plan my day and reflect after.

Read: One year in review: Bullet Journal in a Traveler’s Notebook

I have not perfected the use of the Hobonichi as a Bullet Journal. I feel that with a bit more practice and a few more months with this notebook, I will eventually find my groove.

Interested in trying out the Hobonichi? You can still buy one from here.