By now you’ve probably heard of One Book July – the planner challenge started in 2014 by Rhomany of Rhomany’s Realm, Carie Harling, and Miss Vickybee. The challenge was a call to planners to set aside the chaos that much of the planner world found (and still finds) themselves in when it comes to the search for the ever-elusive “planner peace,” and embrace one book for all planning without switching systems.
For the last couple of years, I have anticipated July with the giddiness of a child on Christmas morning. I’m not proud of it, but my planner routine has spun out of control over the last several years. I have gone through no less than five planner systems with more than 50 variations in the last six years or so (suspiciously about the time when the planner world exploded on social media). Prior to that phenomenon, I was in the same planner for nearly two decades. DECADES! So, for me, July feels like a fresh start. It reminds me to examine what is working as well as what’s not working. And this is a phenomenon I’m hearing discussed far and wide across the Internet. People have gotten caught up in all of the planner options that have flooded the market and are eager – at least for a month – to simplify their system.
For my One Book July challenge, I’m paring down and using a Narrow, or Standard Midori-style Chic Sparrow Traveler’s Notebook cover with four paper inserts, one folder insert, and one wallet pvc insert.The first paper insert houses my weekly bullet journal style planner with collections sprinkled throughout for marking and keeping track of my various summer activities. The second insert includes a bujo-style July through December calendar followed by my finance pages. The third insert includes what I call family collections and features account information that I need to access frequently, basic health information for the family, as well as home and yard projects. My final insert is my personal journal for writing and doodles. In the full spirit of the first One Book July, I’m also only using one pen for the month: a black Pentel EnerGel 0.5 Needle Tip. It’s all very simple and to the point. It’s my wallet, my plans, and my hopes and dreams all neatly tucked away in one cover that I can easily carry with me wherever life takes me. So far, I’m loving the simplicity of it and can say it has only brought me joy.