Enthusiastically, Dawn

Here we are- the third week into a new year. I blinked in the last week of December and found myself halfway through January! There are certain times of the year when calendars are especially crowded. I do my best to avoid squeezing out margin in my schedule, but often one finds themselves with a perfect storm brewing- unavoidable. So we hurry into that flurry of busyness and activity and take a breath once we get beyond it-only to see another storm on the horizon! Yes, January is busy. Guess what? I’m betting the rest of 2024 will be too!

The planner system I am sharing with you in this review is- in my opinion- one of the best offered and available. Let me tell you all the reasons why you may want to give it a try.

First, let’s consider the creator of these planners, Pamela Henrie, whom I have known for several years since I first reached out to her about her planners in 2013 after watching a thorough review by Pen Pixie (YouTube). Since that time I have used her products off and on and continue to be impressed by both the consistent quality of every product and the distinctive features that set these planners (and covers) apart. Originally named The Women’s Success Planner in 2008, Pamela, who is always sensitive and responsive to her clientele, made the decision to change the name to The Success Choice Planner. (As a side note the links featured in this paragraph are 1. A 2014 interview I did with Pamela and 2. A review I wrote in 2014 of The Women’s Success Choice Planner).

It’s unbelievable that a decade has passed since these initial blog posts, but here we are in 2024 witnessing the system’s excellence and evolution over time.

For my review today I will be focused on the January-December 2024 Spiralbound planning system which Pamela kindly sent me to review. Additionally, I will also be sharing my thoughts on the exceptional and beautiful natural leather cover that I have used since receiving it in October of 2023. For your convenience, I am linking some items to make it easy for you to see the products I am referencing. However, I am not compensated for these links, as I have already disclosed I did receive the two above-mentioned products, which were generously sent for my consideration for a review.

I want to mention the many options available for those who may already be beholden to a specific cover or feature (such as size). Perhaps you love ring binders such as those offered by Franklin Covey, or Filofax. Or you are a DIsc-Bound only planner person, using Levenger Circa or another disc system for your planning. Perhaps you already use a specific size. Here is the good news, the options available are many. All of these variations are available on the website to order. Disc-punched, Loose-Leaf Unpunched, 7-hole Loose-Leaf Punched, and Spiralbound are conveniently ready to ship. The Downloadable PDF is an affordable option as well and potentially could be resized to your specifications for printing. I have not tried this with this planner but certainly have done it with others. So, if you think this planning system might be something that works for you, fret not. They’ve got you covered! Ha- get it? Oh, never mind. Let’s move on.

Upon opening this planner on the inside cover you will find the heading Instructions and Limitations for use of the planning system. It includes a detailed explanation of all of the tools available and how to optimally implement them as well as the stated philosophy: “Success is found by making choices that bring you lasting joy as you through this journey of life”. The topics for using the system are broken down and covered thoroughly and concisely. They are also easily accessible- at the front and back covers! Each spiralbound notebook includes one quarter (three months). One of the extraordinary features of this system as compared to most planners is the number of calendar views available for optimal forward planning. At the front of EVERY quarter is a one-page three-year overview. Each month has its own two-page spread with light lines within the dated boxes. The weekly pages follow and are spread over four well-designed pages, and within them is a small three-month overview. I’ll get into the specifics and beauty of that shortly. At the back end of the planner, you are treated to monthly views through the rest of the year. And into the next year. At the end of the Quarter 1, 2024 Planner, you will have three months (April, May, and June) which are each on their own page. Then the remaining months (July through December) are two months per page- quite a generous planning view, especially for planning ahead, yet keeping a lighter load. The quarterly notebook is lightweight and easy to slip into a purse- with or without a cover. Lastly, a page designated for future planning into the year ahead 2025, including a 12-month mini calendar view at the top, and the rest of the page gives each month its own box and four lines to jot down forward planning notes. This is the Cadillac of planning systems.

But, Wait- There’s More!

A lot more. There’s a whole lot more to guide the weary planner traveler down the road to planner peace. So far, I’ve told you about the monthly and weekly views. But the meat of this system is, after all, in the format. It has a rhythm of its own and facilitates and prioritizes foundational routines in a tidy way. There is a lot packed into the space of this unassuming-looking notebook. Let’s break down some of these excellent and useful if not surprising features. Starting with the oh-so-easy-to-forget stuff that never makes it into my planner- seasonal chores that need to get done in the house, yard, and car. I end up with a semi-amnesia-like effort on these tasks. Having these listed at the start of each planner is a godsend! There are also the annoying (but needful?) “Every Week” tasks checklists provided. Some of the tasks are obvious, but the prompts are helpful for the domestically challenged. Especially if they can’t hire a maid.

Success Habits Tracker and a Weekly Schedule Template are at the start. Pages that potentially might be regularly referenced are easy to find at the start. On the same note, the pages are numbered for clear indexing. Example Q4-Pg.#. This is an excellent feature, as you get further into the year and need to find a specific dated item, event, or bit of information. At the end of each quarterly notebook, there is a Categorized Index to keep track of and access important information.

Areas of Balance and Goal Setting directions are explained and available, not only on the inside cover to help you keep the areas you are working on specific goals in focus. But each has its own space near the front of the planner. Also with the planner, Pam offers videos to walk you through every aspect of her system. These are accessible when you purchase the planner. Some of the training and support are available on YouTube and on the website, but Pam informed me she is working hard to create more helpful, supportive content for those who use The Success Choice Planner. Spoiler alert: Pam has good information for all planner users as well. From business to home management, seasonal gardening, menu planning, and more, she offers practical, applicable advice.

The monthly pages are thick cardstock and have a designated color along the outer edge so even without a tab they are easy to turn to and see. The rest of the planner pages are made of white, delightfully thick enough but not too thick paper which has handled my markers and fountain pens decently. Features: A place for tasks, and notes, goals, lists. Fruits and Vegetables in Season, Area of Balance Ideals (for your monthly goals in each area), Traditions– a section that offers suggestions on timely rituals and seasonal activities. At the end of each month is the monthly Log for listing noteworthy events and lessons learned. Each month has focused quotes and themes.

Besides the amazing calendar and monthly views, one of the aspects I love most about this planner is the weekly format and layout – the flow of the whole setup is one I have really enjoyed using overall. Each week starts on Sunday, with a one-page spread that has the following overview: My Major Purpose (top of page, under the week’s dates. Beneath that, the page is split into two columns- Weekly Tasks on the left and Sunday vertical view on the right. The left-hand side shows light grey lines for weekly tasks which can be easily adjusted to accommodate however you like to preface your week. The right-hand side has the first day of the week, Sunday which (like each day) is split into AM and PM- easy to ignore or maintain. At the bottom of the day and page are the tracking boxes and daily prioritized tasks. These are designated and adaptable to your preferences. As you flip the page to the next two pages (Monday through Thursday), you have the week’s date on the top left side and the next three months in view (one the top left corner as on previous pages). The faint gray lines measure 0.5 millimeters for all vertical day views and allow structure for appointments, events, and notes. For those who write big, it will take some adjusting. I was in that camp. But it is worth getting used to if you can. On the last page of the 4-day Week View (Friday and Saturday), again you have on the top left, the week dates and the three months view. The three-month window moves according to the view needed so you will always have the previous month, present month, and next month in your weekly view. That’s subtle but powerful! I can’t tell you how often I have easily ignored the view, but also cherished it! Especially when needed – say, while on a phone call or to confirm something, it is very helpful.

Another great feature of this planning system is the two plastic inserts in the back. Each of the Quarterly planners has them. One is for business cards. The other is a clear sleeve, you can use it for documents, pictures, or stamps.

About the Covers: I actually have owned a few of the covers (I think four). They are well-made, beautiful, and uniquely crafted. I recently have been using the Natural cover (as I already mentioned). The leather covers are some of the finest covers I have used. They include the embossed emblem flower of the company on the inside cover and the company website on the back cover. These are subtle and not distracting to the beauty of the product. There is a sewn-in bookmark within each of the covers. I have the buckle closure on the cover I have now but have enjoyed using the elastic closure on another cover in the past. A place for a checkbook is in the back. There are tuck slots for papers or a card in the front. Functional, classic looking, and durable. The buckle enclosure slides smoothly and for those who like to stuff papers in the front of their planners, it accommodates decently and I have had no issues with it- as one who stuffs her planners regularly! There are some gorgeous Italian Leather options now, available in Pink and Green. Also, I noticed some 7-ring Leather Binders in Caramel Brown and Deep Cranberry.

To wrap up, The Success Choice Planner is a thoroughly developed planning system that can help one organize multiple facets of their life practically. The planner is available in a variety of useful options. The quarterly spiral bound can be carried as is – extremely lightweight and portable: Dimensions “closed” (including 5/8″ spiral binding): 6″ x 8 ½”, Dimensions “opened lying flat”: 11″ x 8 ½”, Maximum thickness: 5/8″ (spiral diameter) OR within a cover. They are durable and I have tossed them in my bag and stuffed them with and without a cover without damage over time. There are coordinating videos with practical support useful to the most organized person. Pam is a thoughtful speaker and presenter. When you order the planner, training support e-mails and videos are made available. Also, The Success Choice offers excellent customer service. I know this as I have had communication with others in the “planner community” (you all know who we are) who have had positive experiences when they have had issues or need to communicate and were pleased with the manner of service and outcomes. I’ve included a couple of helpful links below for even MORE! ;)

Visit The Success Choice Planner Website – HERE

Check out The Success Choice YouTube channel– HERE

DISCOUNT CODE- I almost forgot!  Enthusiastically – 15% (This code can be used more than once).

You can get a close-up view of the inside pages of the 2024 Q1 Planner on the website: HERE. 

Additionally, I stumbled upon a YouTube video that flips through the 2024 first quarter – I thought it gave a great detailed look, and seeing as I am NOT making planner videos at this time I thought I would include a link if you like a flip-thru (Thank you to Chalkdust Horizon!) check out that out video HERE.

Thank you for reading this post. I am grateful for those of you are are reading my words, and appreciate your time here. Forgive my lapse in keeping up with the Planner Reviews. I am planning a short break from all reviews on the blog to finish my current writing project.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this planner or the system. There is a lot of great information on their website and in their YouTube videos.