I’ve recently made some big changes to my planner system. For a while, I had shifted to using the Weeks as my main planner, mostly because I wanted something that didn’t involve as much flipping back and forth. And it worked—for a time.
But I eventually realized I was overdoing it with the Weeks. I was packing in too many tasks and trying to track too many hobbies in one narrow layout. At the same time, I wasn’t really making the most of the Cousin’s wonderfully dynamic layouts. So I’ve started shifting gears and trying something new for Q2.
How I’m Using the Cousin
The Cousin has become my personal hub—a space for habits, hobbies, reflections, and anything that’s just for me.
Monthly Vertical Layout
This layout has become my cycle tracker. I won’t include any photos (because that’s definitely on the personal side), but it’s been so helpful seeing things visually mapped out. I do still use the Health app on my iPhone, but this is far easier to glance at quickly.
Monthly Calendar Layout
I’ve started using this view to track streaming shows and movie premieres, color-coded by platform—Netflix, Max, Hulu, etc. It’s become a fun way to sprinkle little entertainment “events” into my calendar. Plus, it helps prevent me from doom-scrolling for something to watch.
Weekly Vertical Layout
This is where the magic is happening. I’m using the weekly spreads to organize and schedule my habits and hobbies. I’ve added custom headers—workouts, plant care, stretching (via the Bend app), Hebrew study, novel writing, and a general To Do column—and fill in the tasks for each underneath. This setup has especially helped me keep track of my plant watering schedule so I don’t overwater anything again (RIP, Boston fern). I’m still figuring out the formatting, but so far, it’s working well.
Daily Pages
These are now my space for daily writing prompts. Monday through Friday, I answer a random question from my 3000 Questions book. On Saturdays and Sundays, I write either a quick poem or the quote of the day from Brainy Quote. These entries help kickstart my creativity—especially for working on my novel.
How I’m Using the Weeks
The Weeks is now my appointments and light tasks planner—a streamlined, focused space that handles the more logistical parts of my life.
Index Pages
These have become my "medicine and symptom" tracker. That’s all I’ll say about that. :)
Monthly Calendar View
This is the overview of my work and personal appointments, plus birthdays and holidays. I also track Jewish holidays here, which shift from year to year due to the lunar calendar—so it’s important to keep them updated.
Weekly Horizontal Layout
This is where the simplification has really taken shape. I used to cram in chores, hobbies, and semi-weekly tasks, but now I’ve transitioned all that to the Cousin. What’s left is much simpler:
- I track six daily tasks on one side, and list my appointments on the other. Soon, I’ll likely drop down to five daily tasks, since I'm dropping one of those starting in April.
- In the graph paper section at the back, I’ve created practice pages to test layouts, experiment with what works, and make gentle adjustments. The difference in my layouts—from early Q1 to now—is pretty visible, and I’ve included a few pictures below (with some personal pages excluded for privacy). I may not have the artistic flair of the Hobonichi community on Reddit, but it all works for me.
Q1 was all about figuring out what works, what doesn’t, and letting go of systems that felt more chaotic than helpful. I’m excited to take this more focused approach into Q2—and to keep refining how I use both planners in a way that fits my actual life, not just my Pinterest dreams.



