Passion Planner Product Review: Undated, Academic, & Size Comparisons
A Complete Review of Using Three Different Passion Planners and the Passion Planning System
I first started using the Passion Planner system in 2017, but abandoned it when I discovered bullet journaling and creating my own layouts. With bullet journaling, I loved the freedom of a blank page, and I had the time and energy to create layouts and spreads that worked for me. Fast forward to the recent process of pregnancy and motherhood, and everything got busy. I really felt like I could benefit from the focus that comes from using the Passion Planning system and planners not only because I didn’t have as much time to create layouts, but I also wanted to refocus on the dreams and goals I had before pregnancy and motherhood. Passion Planners have now turned into the ultimate tool when it comes to planning, goal-setting, and also tracking my schedule and baby’s schedule.
It started with virtual teaching in the fall of 2020 when I had to take things day-by-day. I started the 2020-2021 school year almost 5 months pregnant, and I was facing a crazy year of teaching without being in front of kids. I literally took things in the transition to that school year day-by-day. I loved the Daily Passion Planner because it was undated, and I could really focus on a few months at a time. In comparison, I tried the Weekly Academic Passion Planner for the 2021-2022 back-to-school year season because it gave me a chance to plan out my year as a new mom. This post goes into detail about my experiences in two Passion Planners, why I chose the new Passion Planner I did, and what I love and don’t love about each planner. I talk sizes, layouts, and different spreads that are included and what works for me now.
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August Bullet Journal with an Office Supply and Beauty Haul (Daily Passion Planner Post)
Creating the Best Planning System for Back-to-School with My Passion Planner and Bullet Journal (Academic Weekly Passion Planner Post)
Use Any Planner to Track Your Baby's Daily Schedule (Academic Weekly Passion Planner Post)
Overview of the Three Planners
Academic Weekly Monday Start-Black Elite (Medium)
PROS
Monthly layouts are with the weekly layouts that follow. A specific month “collection” of a monthly layout, weekly layouts, and a reflection are all together in one place.
Medium size gives you tons of room for writing. Nothing feels cramped.
Tons of blank pages in the back of this planner. I had room for everyday life layouts and also blog-planning layouts. After using the planner for almost 4 months, I still had blank pages in the back.
The weekly layouts are plain and unrestrictive. I don’t find many aspects I don’t need each week.
CONS
No future log like in the undated planner. This planner has a year-at-a-glance as the daily does, but the future log is not there.
The medium size makes the planner heavy.
The personal to-do list and work to-do list sometimes felt restrictive. I wanted to combine my to-do lists at times. I solved this easily with washi-tape.
Daily Undated-Forest Green (Small)
PROS
The Free Space Inspiration page on the inside cover is great. This has so many good ideas for a blank page!
Future Log at the beginning of the planner.
Monthly self-check-ins and this month’s gamechanger goal.
Includes 4 months of monthly layouts.
The daily layout includes a daily layout page and a blank page with a dot-grid.
The small size is easy to carry around.
Undated allows you to start whenever you want to in the year.
CONS
The daily layout is pretty restrictive. If there is a component you don’t necessarily need or want to use, it is part of the permanent layout. For example, maybe you don’t want “Things I Learned Today” as part of your daily reflection.
Not a ton of blank pages in the back. No room for extensive notes or writing.
Monthly layouts are at the front and separated from the daily layouts. This can be frustrating to flip back and forth at times.
Weekly Undated-Woodland Brown (Small)
PROS
The small size is easy to carry around.
The weekly layouts from the Academic Weekly setup are set up and ready to use right away.
The planner includes a full year’s worth of monthly layouts.
Undated allows you to start whenever you want to in the year.
CONS
While this planner is undated, the monthly layouts in the front are set up in a 12-month style. There is a mid-year and an end-of-year reflection where June and December would be, but I am starting my planner in December. Therefore, my reflections won’t line up perfectly. It doesn’t bother me enough to change it, but this might bother someone laying out their year.
The small size has a pretty small font, but this makes sense for bargaining for a smaller-sized planner.
No future log like in the undated planner. This planner has a year-at-a-glance as the daily does, but the future log is not there.
Monthly layouts are at the front and separated from the weekly layouts. This can be frustrated to flip back and forth at times.
Planner Elements to Consider
Passion Roadmap
Passion Planner Blog: “60 NEW YEARS RESOLUTION IDEAS TO PUT ON YOUR 2021 PASSION ROADMAP”
All Passion Planners are based on the Passion Roadmap. This is a step-by-step approach to finding out what your goals and dreams are in life, and how you can take steps and “gamechanger” goals in order to get there. I love doing this in each planner as a fresh perspective to life goals. I am finding each time I fill out the roadmap, my goals may be slightly different. Some things remain the same, but it is interesting to see how life changes my point of view of my wants and goals.
Sizes
I have moved back into the small planner because of the convenience of carrying the planner around with me. I love how the Medium size allows for more room for writing. The Medium size is really not that big, but I need another journal to write extensively in, so it turns into a lot of things to carry around when I have multiple planners and journals with me. The weight difference with sizes seems like a lot to me. If you want more writing room, go with the Medium or Large size, if you are worried about carrying things around, I would go for the smaller size like me.
Undated/Blank vs. Academic/Weekly/Planned Layouts
Passion Planner Blog: “HOW TO GET STARTED WITH THE PASSION PLANNER WEEKLY”
Whether you want to fill in your layouts or have them filled out for you will change what planner you choose to buy. While all of the Passion Planners have layouts to fill in, the undated planners allow for more creativity and flexibility. The Daily Planner by far has the most flexibility because it only focuses on 4 months at a time. The Academic Weekly Planner is nice because as a teacher I can see the whole year-at-a-glance. The weekly layout is perfect for me because I like to see what’s coming up in a given week, and I love the individual time stamps to help with my schedule and the baby’s schedule.
Daily vs Weekly
Passion Planner Blog: “PASSION PLANNER WEEKLY VS. PASSION PLANNER DAILY: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?”
Here the choice is simply: Day-by-day or Week-by-Week. I am loving Weekly Planners right now, but I can see why someone would love a Daily Planner. It is helpful with the baby to see an entire week so I can compare naps and feedings, and I also need to keep track of my schedule. If you are finding yourself as I did in the Fall of 2020 where you are completely overwhelmed, you may want to opt for a Daily Planner. While the Daily Layout is restrictive, many of the elements are good when you are trying to figure things out.
Why I Chose My Current Passion Planner
Passion Planner Blog: “HOW TO PLAN USING THE WEEKLY UNDATED PASSION PLANNER”
I am hoping to find some planner peace as I move into the Undated Weekly Woodland Brown Small A5 Passion Planner. I chose this specific planner for the following reasons:
I wanted the small size so the planner would be lighter and easier to carry around.
I wanted the Weekly Layouts so I can track my schedule and the baby’s schedule.
I wanted Undated so I could start using it now.
I loved the brown cover color and detail.
Also, this was my view from my SUV on the first day of school for the 2021-2022 school year. I was uncertain about starting daycare, going back to in-person learning in a pandemic, and shifting into a new schedule. I was looking for a sign that everything would be alright. I love how this image has stayed in my mind as the school year keeps going.