I might be late with a list of the best planners two weeks into the new year, I know, I know, most people buy them in December, if not sooner. But I believe in the saying, 'better late than never.' I researched a lot of brands, and there are many great makers, especially in Japan, actually too many to mention. So, I decided to include three of my favorite quality planners.

I should point out that I prefer weekly planners over all other options. It’s easier for me to visualize and think about my plans and to-dos when I can see an entire week spread across two pages in front of me. It also makes me feel calmer because I see one week as one chapter. It starts with Monday and ends with Sunday - and then it repeats. I should also mention that I prefer to read the planner horizontally, so vertical planners were automatically excluded. Visually, it’s just too crowded for me to see each day in a very narrow column. I hope this explains my preferences. Below are my three favorite options currently available.

Paper republic 

It all started in 2012, when everyone was creating apps, Jérôme Bacquias was betting on paper. While companies were outsourcing to China, he was committed to producing in Europe. Paper republic was born from the idea of creating the freedom to do what he believed was right, to take accountability for his successes and failures, and to find meaning in his work. Paper republic is the result of this vision: 'paper' because writing and reading are at the core of their culture, and 'republic' because res publica, in its original Latin meaning, refers to the common good - the very thing that brings us together and that we share.

They design, craft, prepare, personalize, and ship all their products to order from their base in Vienna. They believe in the value of doing things themselves - and when they can’t, they work with the best and kindest people around. They source raw materials directly from family-run businesses they know personally and with whom they share a common philosophy. Most of these businesses are either in Austria or reasonably close by, in Italy, Germany, Sweden, or France. Not only does Paper Republic create great products, but its story really resonates with my values and views on life.

Their journals and portfolios are designed to be customized for life. The concept is to buy a leather cover and insert multiple paper inserts - you can add a notebook, planner, journal,… or just pick one of them and then simply switch the paper inserts every year - very sustainable. Their planner is specifically designed as an insert for their leather cover called the Grand Voyageur.

You have the option to engrave up to three initials on your leather cover. The planner comes in three sizes - pocket, XL, and A4. The pocket size is just a bit smaller than A6, and the XL is just a bit smaller than A5. Both pocket and XL come in two versions - weekly or weekly with notes, and A4 is only weekly with notes. I actually really like the weekly with notes layout - you see the whole week on the left side and have notes on the right. You can add all daily events and to-dos on the left, and then have plenty of room to take notes on the right. A4 is the perfect size if you do a lot of planning and note-taking.

Prices: 
covers from 45€
inserts from 16€
Get the planner here and voyageur here.

Roterfaden

A German company founded in 2006, producing handcrafted goods made with high-quality materials and a strong emphasis on sustainability and design. “Taschenbegleiter” is a unique, open organizer designed for maximum freedom, tailored to hold the things that matter to you. It follows a very similar concept to the one above - a high-quality cover that holds paper booklet inserts.

Their weekly planner comes in four different sizes (ranging from A6 to A4) and three different layouts. I prefer Layout 1, which is weekly with notes - again, all days on the left and notes on the right side. They also give you the option to engrave the cover with text - up to 30 characters or even your own logo (you can upload an image).

Prices: 
Taschenbegleiter from 125€
inserts from 15,90€
Get the Calendar here and Taschenbegleiter here.

Muji

You are probably familiar with Muji, a Japanese retailer that sells a wide variety of household and consumer goods. Muji's design philosophy is minimalist, emphasizing recycling, reducing production and packaging waste, and a no-logo brand policy. The name 'Muji' comes from the first part of Mujirushi Ryōhin, which is translated as 'No-Brand Quality Goods' on Muji's European website.

Their Weekly Planner is the simplest and most affordable of all three planners mentioned today. The layout is similar to the other two - days on the left side and notes on the right. It is the only one that comes without dates, so you can start whenever you like. I prefer planners with dates as they give me the whole year from January 1st to December 31st as one chapter, and then I start a new chapter (a new planner) next year. The same reason I prefer weekly planners - to have a whole week as one chapter in front of me when I open it.

Price: 12,95€, get it here.