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ninagobragh
In keeping with this week’s planner theme, I wanted to write a little something about what’s arguably the mother of all modern planning systems: Erin Condren.
If you’re at all familiar with planners, you’ve probably already seen the name—maybe on social media, in a YouTube video, or during a Target run. Erin Condren is every-freaking-where. And for good reason.
What Is Erin Condren, Exactly?
Erin Condren isn’t just a brand; it’s a full-blown planning lifestyle. The company has built a name around large, colorful, spiral-bound planners, originally popular with homeschooling moms. Since then, they’ve expanded to include working professionals, students, creatives, and basically anyone who loves a good planning system.
Their most famous product is the LifePlanner: a highly customizable, spiral-bound planner packed with productivity tools, layouts, and space to organize your life your way.
But they don’t stop there. There are:
My Experience with Erin Condren
My first foray into the world of Erin Condren was the Wisteria Ring Agenda. It’s A5 size, made of vegan leather. I bought undated inserts to go with it. The design reminded me of the classic organizers I used to see my mom carry around—planners with tabs, rings, and a slightly intimidating amount of structure.
At first, I really wanted to love it. I even bought a few additional inserts from Mochi Things, and they fit well. But it’s not for me. It’s too big and not very pliable, which made it awkward to carry. I love the look and the flexibility of undated inserts (especially since I can start again at any point), but the bulkiness pushed it out of my regular rotation.
That said, I also picked up two of their vegan leather notebooks:
While I haven’t tried these myself (yet), Erin Condren has a whole lineup of specialty planners and journals that look pretty interesting:
The one I keep circling back to is the Plant Journal Petite Planner. It’s part of Erin Condren’s Petite Planner collection, which features slim, softcover booklets that are easy to toss in your bag or tuck into a drawer. This little garden planner might be exactly what I need—less bulky than the Clever Fox gardening planner, but with just enough space to track what I’m growing and how it’s doing.
I also like the look of their smaller weekly and daily planners—especially for those who want something a bit more flexible than Hobonichi but still pretty and structured.
Final Thoughts
My relationship with Erin Condren products is best described as love/hate. I appreciate the design, the variety, and the functionality—but I can’t get around how big and bulky some of their flagship planners are. If you're a fan of on-the-go planning, this may not be your perfect fit.
But if you like to keep your planner on your desk, enjoy colorful layouts, and want a system with plenty of room to grow (literally and figuratively), Erin Condren might be your new favorite.
If you’re at all familiar with planners, you’ve probably already seen the name—maybe on social media, in a YouTube video, or during a Target run. Erin Condren is every-freaking-where. And for good reason.
What Is Erin Condren, Exactly?
Erin Condren isn’t just a brand; it’s a full-blown planning lifestyle. The company has built a name around large, colorful, spiral-bound planners, originally popular with homeschooling moms. Since then, they’ve expanded to include working professionals, students, creatives, and basically anyone who loves a good planning system.
Their most famous product is the LifePlanner: a highly customizable, spiral-bound planner packed with productivity tools, layouts, and space to organize your life your way.
But they don’t stop there. There are:
- Notebooks and journals in every format imaginable
- A huge array of accessories: pens, stickers, washi tape, bags, and interchangeable covers
- Pouches, folios, and planner inserts for extra storage and personalization
- And yes, products for almost every category of life—budgeting, weddings, academics, home care, and more
My Experience with Erin Condren
My first foray into the world of Erin Condren was the Wisteria Ring Agenda. It’s A5 size, made of vegan leather. I bought undated inserts to go with it. The design reminded me of the classic organizers I used to see my mom carry around—planners with tabs, rings, and a slightly intimidating amount of structure.
At first, I really wanted to love it. I even bought a few additional inserts from Mochi Things, and they fit well. But it’s not for me. It’s too big and not very pliable, which made it awkward to carry. I love the look and the flexibility of undated inserts (especially since I can start again at any point), but the bulkiness pushed it out of my regular rotation.
That said, I also picked up two of their vegan leather notebooks:
- An undated journal, A5 and floral, with circle-able months and dates at the top. I haven’t started writing in it yet, but it’s gorgeous.
- A productivity notebook, which is now one of my favorite simple planning tools. It’s focused, minimalist, and honestly, more effective for my daily planning than my Hobonichi Weeks. (Am I rethinking my setup at the end of the year? Maybe.)
While I haven’t tried these myself (yet), Erin Condren has a whole lineup of specialty planners and journals that look pretty interesting:
- Wedding Planners – Great for the ultra-organized bride-to-be.
- Budget Planners – Offered in multiple sizes, so financial planning doesn’t feel so intimidating.
- Home Organization Planners – For tracking everything from chores to grocery runs to household repairs.
- Academic Planners – Not just for homeschoolers—these are perfect for anyone balancing class schedules, assignments, and exams.
The one I keep circling back to is the Plant Journal Petite Planner. It’s part of Erin Condren’s Petite Planner collection, which features slim, softcover booklets that are easy to toss in your bag or tuck into a drawer. This little garden planner might be exactly what I need—less bulky than the Clever Fox gardening planner, but with just enough space to track what I’m growing and how it’s doing.
I also like the look of their smaller weekly and daily planners—especially for those who want something a bit more flexible than Hobonichi but still pretty and structured.
Final Thoughts
My relationship with Erin Condren products is best described as love/hate. I appreciate the design, the variety, and the functionality—but I can’t get around how big and bulky some of their flagship planners are. If you're a fan of on-the-go planning, this may not be your perfect fit.
But if you like to keep your planner on your desk, enjoy colorful layouts, and want a system with plenty of room to grow (literally and figuratively), Erin Condren might be your new favorite.
