Welcome back everyone! This week I’m sharing a functional plan with me using the ‘newest kid on the block’—the Jibun Techo Mini aka B6 ‘Slim’. If you’re a Japanese planner enthusiast (Hobonichi anyone?), you’re going to LOVE the Jibun Techo! Every January, I share all the planners I’ll be using for that year but this year I didn’t write a blogpost about my choice for a primary planner. That’s because I was struggling with what I had chosen and it wasn’t until I found the Jibun Techo that I finally found a planner that worked for me and my method of planning. So why is it so wonderful? Let me count the ways… 🙂
If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ll be familiar with my preferred layout for personal planning:
- weekly vertical layout on 2 pages and a Monday start
- weekends separated into 2 equal columns
- an extra column for weekly tasks
- fountain-pen friendly paper (if possible)
This layout is usually hard to find in a compact size because the writing space of the vertical columns would end up being too narrow. I was a personal-size (3.75” x 6.75”) planner gal for many years and have only recently tried using a larger A5 size (5.8” x 8.3”). Then, one day I stumbled on a YouTube video by one of my favorite YouTubers talking about a Japanese planner I never heard of. O.M.G. It was amazing! Could this be ‘the one’?! For more information on the Jibun Techo and a functional plan with me showing how I prepare and use it on a weekly basis, check out my video below:
(*Note: This post may contain affiliate links. These links will help you find items I’ve purchased, use, and love!)
Products mentioned:
- KaidensMomShops bookmarks and water bottle stickers
- Jibun Techo Mini (I bought mine on eBay for a great price so try eBay or Kawaii Tokyo recommended by some of my favorite YouTubers)
- Pilot Decimo fountain pen
- Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses ink (Burgundy)
- Sharpie Pen
- Mark-it Dot 1/8″ stickers
- Chic Sparrow (one of my favorite travelers notebook makers!)
- Inkwell Press (link gives you $10 off your first purchase!)
After struggling for the first 3 months of 2017 in a planner that just wasn’t working for me (full disclosure: It’s actually a wonderful planner that I’ve used and loved but due to the changes they made to the A5 inserts, it no longer works for me), the Jibun Techo was a surprising find and the perfect complement to my method of planning. Dare I say, it may even be the planner to help me achieve ‘planner peace’! 😀
What about you? Have you heard about the Jibun Techo or do you use other Japanese planners? How do you use them—what are some of your favorite functional planning tips & tricks? I’m always on the lookout for new planning techniques and hacks so please share them in the comments below and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!
Until next time, 🙂
♥ LilD ♥
Helpful video, thanks. I am using the Hobonicchi Weeks slid inside my ringed personal planner. The Weeks (horizontal) is enough to plan out my time, rings allow for project customization. I also use Mark It dots. Do you sometimes find them difficult to apply because they are small? Have you ever used one of those sticker tweezers?
Hi Terrell!
Thanks for watching–I’m glad it was helpful! I love the Hobonichi Weeks–it’s my on-the-go planner. 🙂 And, yes, I have a love-hate relationship with the Mark-it dots because of how small they are. I usually use my nails to lift them off the sheet (you don’t need much length) but if I break a nail, then it gets tricky. I’ve considered using a travel tweezer which I’m sure would work fine and you can find one at your local drugstore but frankly I’m too lazy for that so I just deal with it (my fingers are small).
Thanks for your comment!
-LilD
Love your video of the Jibun Techo. What is your favorite everyday on the go planner? The weeks? A6 Hobonichi? Jibun Techo?
Hi Missy and thanks! Right now, the Jibun Techo is my everyday planner (I work from home) and when I leave the house, I take the Hobonichi Weeks because it’s smaller. I also have an A6 Hobonichi but I use it as a daily art journal and that always stays home
Hope this helps! 🙂
– LilD
Hi! I just ordered a Jibun Techo from JetPens for 2018 in the B6 slim (mini) size, and I LOVE 💕 it! I sort of stumbled onto using a different color ink for each day of the week, and it looked great, so I kept to that plan. But for notes and to-dos in the margin, I use a variety of colors, depending on the topic. (I use fountain pens). I’m loving the quality of the paper, as well as the layout of the pages, and I write small, so I have no problems with the size of the planner. I really enjoy all your videos! 🙂
Hi Meline!
Isn’t it great when you find something that works? 🙂 I’m amazed at how they fit so much into such a slim planner. This year will be my second year with the Jibun Techo–planner setup post coming soon!–and I’m still loving it. The Tomoe River paper is amazing–especially for fountain pens. 😉
Enjoy it and thanks for sharing!
– LilD