From Reflection to Creativity: Five Reasons I Use a Hobonichi Planner

If you love journaling, planners, and/or Hobonichi Techo, let us squeeeee together over how much fun we’re having!

If you’ve thought about journaling, but you’re not quite sure you can commit or not even sure where to begin, let’s discuss!

Throwing this together was really fun.

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Five Reasons

I didn’t always have a journal. I loved the idea of having one, but I didn’t trust myself to be disciplined about it. What would I even write about? My day-to-day life is so ordinary.

I looked at various journals anyway, hoping to find the right one. I really loved the journals from Hubman and Chubgirl. They have the cutest kits with planners, stickers, washi tape, and totes. Their subscription options are so tempting!

One day, Hobonichi Techo drifted across my socials. I liked that there were different sizes and styles. The page layouts were already set up for days, weeks, and months with some blank pages for freestyling. Journal enthusiasts were drooling over the Tomoe River paper.

Does your OCD want to swap the 2023 and 2024 planners?

I selected the Hobonichi Techo Weeks version because it was smaller in both size and price tag. The paper is chef’s kiss exquisite.

I’ve used the Weeks for four years, and this year I switched to the Hobonichi Techo Original A6 which has more room for journaling.

This is a glimpse at a daily Feb layout in the Hobonichi Techo Original A6.

Clearly, I am hooked.

Here are the top 5 reasons I recommend keeping a physical journal:

1. Document Your Life as it Happens

Yes, my life is very ordinary, but we can’t all be journaling about “jet planes, islands, and tigers on a gold leash” (right, Lorde?) My first journal from 2022 started out very sparse. Appointments. Places I had to be. Then, I started capturing how I felt about the day. Little victories. Obstacles. Funny things Sofs would say.

The Weeks puts an entire week on one page with a blank facing page. With the daily boxes being so small, there wasn’t pressure to write a lot if I didn’t want to. On the blank page, I could do whatever I wanted. Doodle, take notes on whatever, jot down how I felt about a book I was reading. I also made pockets for things like photocards. Heehee.

By the end of 2025, all my little daily boxes were bursting with thoughts. The facing pages were filled with whatever caught my fancy or random ideas I had. I also started buying stickers as my souvenir on trips because I could place them in my planner as a memento.

I love looking back to revisit a vacation we took or to laugh at something I first laughed at several years ago. I’ve even used my journal to answer a doctor’s question: “How long have you been experiencing this symptom?” SINCE JULY 17TH AT 2:32 PM! I HAVE IT DOCUMENTED RIGHT HERE.

2. Pracice Gratitude in Small Moments

The planners have a monthly spread, but I didn’t have a need for a non-digital calendar. At first I used the spreads to capture birthdays or other milestones. Then, I tried to do a doodle-a-day. It was fun, but none of it stuck until I decided to capture what I was grateful for that day.

I also enjoy decorating these spreads with washi tape and stickers.

Gratitude refocuses your brain on the positive. It’s hard to be in a bad mood when you are thankful. When you practice gratitude, you start to notice all the magical little things. I’ve written thanks for “Mark bought a nice piece of salmon”, “real baked potatoes”, and “pool time after work”.

Wow, my life is ordinary, but so good!

3. Support Self-Improvement Through Reflection

I saw how people would make little charts in the journal to document progress, making sure they exercised, stayed hydrated, or hit a step goal. I’ve also seen how people would document trying to quit a bad habit. I thought a tracker would be a great way to keep me accountable.

I can update what I want to track every month.

When the tracker highlights which areas you’ve missed, it’s a good opportunity to reevaluate. With data it makes more sense than just beating yourself up. Is it a habit you really want to take on? What’s getting in the way?

One habit I tried to take on was engaging in some form of visual art daily. I learned that my schedule really doesn’t allow me to do this, so now I have it on a weekly tracker.

4. Make Space to Get Creative

I like to doodle in my journal. I drew a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs the other day just because I could. You have no idea how happy it made me to pull out a few markers to do a messy little sketch.

I never got into scrapbooking, but lately I’ve seen a lot of junk journaling. I am also experiencing a lot of washi tape and sticker desire. Visit The Washi Tape Shop and you’ll see what I mean. All of it has inspired me to experiment with designs for my monthly gratitude calendar spreads. It’s also a good way to use the stickers I have.

I’ve also seen people who keep separate journals for various things. One for work and one for personal stuff. One to track books, one to track shows and movies. One just for junking. I’m a simple girlie, so I track everything in one journal, but I love the ideas out there!

5. Slow it Down (make it bouncy) and Be Present

Yes, this is what we ate on Fat Tuesday.

If you’re like me, most of your day is stuck behind a screen. It also feels like there’s not enough time to do the work, prepare the meals, do the laundry, wash the dishes, run the errands, SLEEP. By the end of the day or the week, you’re wondering what happened and dreading to have to do it all again.

My journal is my deep breath. It’s time to check in with myself. How was yesterday? What do I want to do today? What do I want to ponder, pray, or meditate on? What’s in my head? Do I need to stop and draw a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs? (The answer is always YES.)

Get Started!

No, you don’t need a bunch of supplies to get started. Aside from a notebook, a writing tool is really all you need, so don’t get caught up with needing this or that in order to journal. If you insist on getting a few things to make journaling fun without going overboard, I suggest pens in a few different colors. I like Sakura Pigma Micron in 005, but you do you. I LOVE stationery supplies.

This is more than you need to start journaling.

My last bit of advice as you go on your journey is to look up ideas on how to do journal layouts or on different types of trackers. I’ve picked up a lot of good ideas that’s I’ve incorporated in ways that suit me. However, do NOT compare what you’re trying to do with anyone else. There are a lot of really gorgeous layouts and talented artists who make their journals sing. Maybe that’s something you want to do, in which case, go for it! But don’t be afraid of starting with a few words and maybe a favorite sticker. You’ll see progress in time!

Comment below if you have journaling tips or wisdom you’d like to share, or if you have questions!