What planner size is right for you?

I used to think this was an easy question.

Someone would ask, and I’d immediately say A5. No hesitation.

It felt like the safe answer. The practical answer. The one that works for most people.

And for a long time… it worked for me too.

The A5 is a solid entry point.

It’s essentially a half sheet of paper, which means:
you have space to write
space to plan
space to think things through

And let’s be honest… there’s something comforting about having room for everything.

Inserts are easy to find.
Layouts are flexible.

It can hold your life without feeling cramped.

For a while, I was convinced I’d be A5 forever.

Here’s where things shifted.

The A5 worked beautifully when my life was mostly happening at home.

It lived on my desk. It didn’t need to travel. It didn’t need to be practical outside of that space.

But then summer plans started creeping in.
Camping trips. Road trips. Days spent out instead of at home.

And suddenly… the A5 felt like I was carrying around a textbook.

It was bulky on the camper dinette.
Awkward on my lap in the car.
And just big enough to make me not want to grab it.

That’s when I realized something I hadn’t really considered before:

I had always been drawn to the smaller, chunkier planners.

You know the ones.
Packed with lists, tabs, little sections for everything.
They look like they hold a life inside them.

At first, I thought it was just the aesthetic.

But it wasn’t.

It was the idea of having everything I needed… in something that didn’t feel heavy or overwhelming.

So I downsized.

And honestly… it felt like an upgrade.

I expected to lose space.

Instead, I gained clarity.

I’m carrying:
– 6 monthly inserts, 4 to 5 weeks of weeklies, and a complete month of dailies
– more lists than I’ve ever kept before
– a section for Oakley
– a small financial setup
– and my wallet + cash system all in one place

All inside my Personal Moterm, which I’ve officially named Sunny. (Mustard yellow, which is wildly off-brand for me… and somehow perfect.)

It’s not minimal.
It’s not tiny.
It’s just intentional.

And most importantly, I actually use it.

This is the part most people skip.

They go straight to what looks good instead of what actually works.

So before you pick a size, ask yourself:

Barriers.

Not motivation. Not discipline. Just friction.

What makes it harder to use your planner?

If you have to print and trim everything…
Does that feel creative and fun, or does it slow you down?

If it slows you down, that matters.

If finding inserts for your size is difficult or expensive, that matters too.

I learned this the hard way with narrow traveler’s notebooks. I loved the format, but sourcing inserts that fit my style became a constant annoyance.

And eventually… I stopped reaching for it.

Right now, the Personal size fits my life better.

It’s easier to carry.
Easier to use on the go.
Easier to keep close.

And with a summer full of travel ahead, that matters more than having extra space.

The A5 still has a place. I still love it for seasonal planning, business, finances, and bigger projects.

But day to day?

I needed something that worked with my life, not something I had to work around.

If you’re in that in-between… where nothing feels quite right yet, you’re not doing it wrong.

You’re just adjusting.

Trying different sizes, layouts, and systems is part of the process.

And sometimes the “right” planner isn’t about finding the perfect one…

It’s about removing the friction so you actually want to use it.

If you want something simple to test what actually

works for you, I put together a monthly Happy Mail with inserts you can print and try in your current setup.

Nothing complicated.

Just pages you can use, tweak, or toss depending on what sticks.

It’s a low-pressure way to figure out what fits your life… before committing to a full system.