Everything I Use to Write In && Tips for a New Planner
- Elektra Flora
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
Happy Belated Spring Equinox && Aries Season.
If you didn't already know... I'm in my messy girl era.
My room was so messy I was literally tiptoeing around and jumping over things on the floor so I wouldn't step on them. This decluttering will be the death of me I swear. I'm not ashamed. I'm aware of my challenges and am consciously working through them to the best of my ability. It's a rollercoaster. There are days I completely crash out because everything is nightmarish then there are others like these where I picked-up, cooked, was physically active, posted on social media, practiced DJ'ing, orbiting, and writing.
With that being said I'm ripping the Band-Aid off. I have too many blog post ideas and half written posts I need to start powering through to make progress. This is why I miss my Twitch show. It was grounding me and giving me a weekly schedule considering I've been unemployed for 3 years now. When you don't have commitments or responsibilities, every day seems to blend into the next. There are days I'm confused what day it is and the only thing I've managed to keep on schedule is Acro yoga once a week.
Anywho- I am finally posting the video and writing this blog about everything I use to write in to help organize my thoughts. It’s important that I share because I know what it’s like to be new to writing and the planner world. It can get overwhelming especially with trying to make a choice on what you need exactly for writing or planning. Those who are experienced in this realm can perhaps takeaway some fresh ideas or discover a new brand.
Items Referenced In Video && Links
**Please note that some of these links are not to the same exact product because it is not manufactured anymore as some of these items I've had for years. If not exact, I chose a similar product from same brand that is currently available or if I couldn't find a similar one at all then I just listed the brand's website.
2026 Dated Weekly Planner
Monet 2026 Weekly by Fringe Studio
Use: Helps me remember what day it is and is a traditional planner. I did not buy this. It was a gift and am utilizing it a tad bit more right now than my undated A5 ring agenda because of my chaos && messy girl era. Things like interviews, appointments, traveling, family commitments, ect.
Undated Weekly Agenda
A5 Ring Agenda in Vertical Undated by Erin Condren
Use: Creativity and memory keeping. I like to print out pictures from my HP Sprocket for the memory keeping aspect.
Productivity Petite Journal
Erin Condren
Use: Yoga journaling and Yoga Teacher Training (YTT-200) Studying.
Wellness Journal
VillabeauTifful
Use: When I need to focus on both mental and physical wellness for the day especially when my mood isn't the best or I've been chronically dehydrated. Even doing this once a month helps. I use sporadically and like to be creative with washi tape, stickers, and Gelly Roll pens. It's one of my favorite journals.
Pocketbook in Lavender & Almond
VillabeauTifful Pocketbook with Pouch & Pen Slots
Uses: I love these! They are so cute and I carry the lavender one in my purse and always for travel. My almond one is dedicated to vocabulary words.
Tri-Fold Deskpad
Erin Condren
Use: When I am about to have an extremely busy week. This is very focused. I'll use if it's the week of a wedding or moving where there are a lot of tasks to be completed.
VB Weeks Clutch Wallet
VillabeauTifful
Use: Switch out different notebooks. One is dot grid for spirituality. One is a junk journal with 3 different paper styles (lined, plain, and grid). Last one is an undated weekly. This clutch is great for travel because it is compact and I can fill the clutch with stickers so I can create on the go without bringing sticker supplies separately. Also has a pen holder!
Lucky Mini Notebook
Simply Gilded
Use: DJ'ing notes on plain paper. Extremely compact 3.5" x 5.5". I just love the design with the bunnies, boba, and gold accents. I could not find anything similar on her site unfortunately.
Hello Kitty, Dream, & Pink (Junk) Journals
Erin Condren Softbound Journals
Use: I use the Hello Kitty one for lyrics && poetry writing while the Dream Journal is to document my dreams and practice dream interpretation. I use the Pink Junk one for random things like experimenting with layouts. There's psychedelic trip experiences, sketching, writing about my feelings... The junk one is a catch all and one of my earliest journals. The only thing I don't like about these EC Softbound journals is the paper does not do well with my VillabeauTifful pens. It still is a good quality paper, but not my favorite. I like them to be tad bit lighter or more textured. The weight on this one is pretty thick and feels smooth.
Sketch Paper Pad
Strathmore 3.5”x5”
Use: I know it's not writing, but I am practicing sketching. I have zero art experience because I never had the privilege to take any classes like at all not even in elementary or middle school. Now that I reflect on my K-12 education I realize how detrimental this is for human development. I believe a lot of my mental health issues stem from being a closeted creative who did not know how to express themselves in any manner. I used to be big on promoting STEM, but now I am very big on STEAM. Check out this Lego article about the differences!
Orange (Junk) Journal
Moleskine Notebook
Use: I like the paper in this one much better than the Erin Condren Softbound journals. It has a lighter weight, smooth, and a bit of a yellow tint to it. They are expensive though and I don't understand the price point. The only reason I have one is I got it at one of my past engineering firms. I repurposed it into a second junk journal.
Undated Daily Planner
Passion Planner
Use: When I am going to have an extremely busy day or I'm overwhelmed there is a lot of space for a brain dump in this one.
Shadow Work
Celestial Decomposition Book
Use: Working on the dark parts of myself. It's not fun. I don't like writing in there, but it's necessary for spiritual evolution to be conscious of the unhealthy things I do and work through them. Why do I do them? Where does it stem from? How do I feel?
I’m Doing My Best Journal
Knock Knock
Use: This journal has a special place in my heart because I bought it when I was in the middle of a very long and intense bipolar manic episode. Writing in here I always I feel a huge sense of catharsis and the quotes are a fun little surprise for the day since they are all so different.
Gratitude Journal
A5 Coiled by Erin Condren
Use: Gratitude is about being in a higher state of vibration. I genuinely do not use this journal much, but it's more because of my messy girl era issue. There are gratitude prompts in some of my other journals I use as well so I'm still practicing. I do love the design and feel of the coiled A5's that Erin Condren manufactures.
Manifestation Journal
A5 Coiled Astrology Hello Kitty by Erin Condren
Use: All my dreams && wishes in one place! If I have a shadow journal it was only appropriate I make a manifestation journal to balance.
Tarot Journal
A5 Coiled Focused by Erin Condren
Use: I could not get into the prompts or even want to proceed with how this journal was intentionally designed. I repurposed it to "focus" on one tarot card a day. It's quite messy, but it works.
Travel, Meal Planning, & Wellness Logs
Petite Planner Folio Systems by Erin Condren
Use: These are great when I'm really focusing on my weight. I struggle with maintaining a steady body weight. You can see in my photos I fluctuate constantly from a size 0 to a size 10. I believe it has to do with bipolar. When I say it's due to bipolar I don't mean in direct correlation sense like "bipolar makes me gain weight", but due to the nature of mood shifts like if I'm super depressed sometimes I binge eat and sleep a lot or if I'm in hypomania I'm extremely active and eat a lot less. It's a side effect to the disorder and just like a lot of illnesses they look different on everyone. Other people with bipolar may not have this issue at all. It could also be that's just my body type. Who knows? What I do know is the folio system is great. I love switching the planners out (even some of the other ones I listed earlier and I have some I never even showed on camera!!!) and switching up what I keep in the folio. I like the way it "feels" (size, texture, weight, putting the band off/on) and being able to add charms or your name to the front for personalization. Super cute!
My Referral Links
For $10 to Erin Condren
For $5 to VillabeauTifful
For $5 to Simply Gilded
Please note I am not an affiliate or influencer. These are my personal referral links and is something you can do as well if you become a customer and sign up for an account. Also note that VillabeauTifful and Simply Gilded are small women-owned businesses hence the tag for "small business."
Now that you've seen what I'm working with here are my helpful tips.
3 Tips For a New Planner
Do a trial run. Try and find a copy of the spread online OR grab a blank piece of paper and outline something similar. Try for a day or a few days to see if you really do like the layout. I remember I did this prior to purchasing an hourly planner. I did not know if It would be a good fit for me so I spent a week in my junk journal and created a mock hourly planner. Turns out I really did like it and I ended up getting an Erin Condren Hourly Coiled Life Planner.
Paper && pen should go together like peanut butter && jelly. Find a combo that makes writing effortless for you. Some papers are thick and textured while others are thinner and smoother. Some pens use a gel while others are water or oil-based. The pen is just as important as what you are writing in so I recommend having a favorite pen or type of pen that brings you joy so you're more inclined to want to write. I'm obsessed with my VillabeauTifful pens (I own 70+). They bring me joy and I love looking at the crystals and the way the top pops off and on. It has a good feel to it and price point is manageable at $9-$13. I would like to try a fountain pen one day!
Be flexible. No two days will ever look the same in life so why would they when it comes to planning and/or writing? It's ok if you are not consistent and know that you can always use other planning tools as your needs change.
I ripped the Band-Aid off! Phew! I know that was a lot of information. Welcome to my world. Half the crap on my floor I'm jumping over IS my planning supplies just laid out everywhere. I am a creative with energy that ebbs & flows through different forms of self-expression. At one point my yoga mat was out, tarot cards, and books completely scattered all over the floor. This goes back to needing space. I went from owning a single family home to renting my own apartment to living in a room. That's why I haven't been creating as much. I feel cluttered. On a more positive note my brain is feeling a little less cluttered now that I completed this blog article!
Thank you for sticking with me and I hope you enjoyed.
Remember to let your inner light shine && the unique note in your voice be heard.
Take care.
xo,
Elektra Flora
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