The Best Planner I’ve Found

Before I reveal the best planner I’ve ever used (and there have been many, most of them 3/4 blank at the end of the year), you should know a few things about me.

1. I’m good at New Year Resolutions, but not because of planning.
2. My interest in planners/journaling is not constant. I’m not one of those people whose journals has been colored, stickered, doodled, etc.
3. I can change my mind about things I want fairly often. Setting a goal means nothing to me if I decide I no longer want to achieve it.

So, I’m not an expert planner. Even so, I like having a planner for the purposes of focus and self-discipline. The fact that I found a planner that accommodates my debatable journaling skills speaks very highly of the planner I’m praising.

My winning journal/planner is the “Dreambook & Planner” available at https://thedragontree.com/

I used this planner in 2021 and I credit it with some of my accomplishments. Seriously. The process of daily reflection with this planner kept me on track. For that reason, it’s the only planner I’ve bought twice, and the only planner I’ve ever given as a gift.

Here’s why:

• Completely and totally yours. Many planners claim to be customizable, and they are. But the Dreambook & Planner is customizable without losing direction and focus. Not a day passes in this planner when you are not reminded of what is important to you. Isn’t that what planning should be about?
• Helps you set priorities.This planner leads you to discover what is most important to you (and you may be surprised by your own answers), and allows for change as time progresses.
• Steady focus prevents drifting, but encourages change & growth. The weekly alignment pages require some accountability, yes, but they are non-judgmental. If you’ve ever set goals, failed to meet them, and then refused to face your unmet goals on paper, this planner alleviates that anxiety. Maybe something needs to be reframed, thought through again, or dismissed. It’s that simple.
• Easy weekly (and monthly) views. You can be as detailed with your daily plans as you want. You can also be vague. The design allows for daily habits to be tracked by symbol (taking up very little space, for activities like exercise, etc.). Listing plans, intentions, and points of gratitude on a two-page spread per week lets you see your life moving forward (or not) at a glance.
• Plenty of room to expand. Need more room? There are plenty of pages for thoughts, rants, art, or even stickers if you want.
• Rituals. There is emphasis on developing rituals in this planner. These are rituals I didn’t mind taking part in. Every evening, I would spend a few minutes (usually with a cup of herbal tea) planning the next day. Sunday afternoons I would spend more time with the weekly view. Again, this is customizable. Honestly, some nights after work I didn’t give a rat’s ass about anything and jotting down a few words was enough. Other times, I wrote more than necessary and used some pages in the back for the overflow. This planner allows for any and all approaches as long as you show up.
• Quarterly checkups. Just in case you’ve drifted far from your original plans, there is space to reflect on that, too. Not that drifting is bad. Maybe the preceeding months brought you clarity about something more important. No judgment from this planner; only support.
• Attractive and heavy-duty. My 2021 planner is still as beautiful as it was the day I bought it. It’s sturdy and well-made with high-quality paper. The spiral binding is unlikely to break. The size is convenient if you’re at a desk or on-the-go. Several colors are available and you can also buy covers. (I have not bought a cover, but they are gorgeous. Check out the website. https://thedragontree.com/ )
• Support. People who use these planners can join a private Facebook group. I have only read threads from this group, but it is a supportive body of people and it seems to be well-managed and safe. The owners of The Dragontree also send informative and entertaining newsletters if you wish to subscribe.

Caveats? The only possible downside of this planner would be if the user didn’t take the time to read the instructions or answer the questions at the beginning of the planner. The setup takes some time. I found it to be worth it in 2021 and as the last week of 2021 approaches, I look forward to the process with my 2022 Dreambook & Planner.