My 2025 Journal lineup: System Techo & Midori Daily Journal

Welcome to my 2025 journal lineup! Over the past year, I’ve refined my planning and journaling habits, exploring various notebooks, planners, and DIY projects to discover what truly works for me. The new year feels like the perfect time to reflect on those lessons and build a system that’s both flexible and purposeful. In this post, I’ll introduce the core elements of my 2025 setup, explain why I’m keeping certain notebooks and retiring others, and share how I plan to balance daily reflection with structured planning.

Quick Overview: 2024 vs. 2025

I’ve taken a photo (shown above) that neatly displays my transition from 2024 to 2025. In this image, you’ll notice each notebook or planner bears a small colored dot:

• Dark gray dots (⚫): Notebooks and planners I’m retiring after 2024.
• Yellow dots (🟡): Favorites I’m continuing to use in 2025.
• Green dots (🟢): Brand-new additions I’m excited to integrate this year.

This color-coding system helps me (and hopefully you, too) see at a glance which items are making the cut for the new year and which ones have run their course.

2024 Highlights

• Two Hobonichi Weeks (⚫):
  • Used for life planning and JLPT study.
  • Extremely portable and fountain-pen-friendly, but required lots of page-flipping to update trackers or add lengthy notes.
• Midori 5-Year Journal (🟡):
  • Ideal for quick daily reflections over multiple years.
  • Serves as a wonderful “time capsule” with minimal effort.
• Midori MD A6 (Childcare Journal) (🟡):
  • Dedicated to parenting notes and important milestones.
  • Separate from my planners so I can focus solely on family memories.
• Traveler’s Notebook in Olive (Standard) (🟡):
  • Houses three inserts: craft ideas, reading logs, and a collectibles catalog.
  • Perfect for themed, self-contained notebooks.
• Traveler’s Notebook Passport in Olive (🟡):
  • A portable washi tape swatch library.
• Traveler’s Notebook Passport in Blue (🟡):
  • Home to my sticker collection.

2025 Additions (🟢)

• M6 Binder (System Techo Planner)
  • A ring-bound approach that offers freedom for scheduling, trackers, and ongoing projects.
• Midori 1 Day 1 Page in A6
  • A fresh daily journal for more in-depth entries, separate from my planner.

(If you’d like more details on my experience with Hobonichi Weeks, check out my Hobonichi Techo Weeks Mega Review and Hobonichi Weeks 2025: Why I’m Skipping It, Pros, and Cons. I still admire it, but for 2025, I’m leaning toward a more customizable style.)

Journals That Are Staying in 2025

Midori 5-Year Journal

This small notebook remains a staple in my routine. Each page covers five years, so I only have to write a few lines per day. Even on hectic days, it’s manageable. The real magic happens when I look back on previous years’ entries, discovering how much things have changed—or stayed the same. Since I’ve already been using it, it only makes sense to continue in 2025. It’s a simple yet meaningful way to capture memories without committing to lengthy daily logs.

Midori MD A6 (Childcare Journal)

Parenting is full of moments you don’t want to forget, and this A6 notebook is where I record them. From a new word my child learns to a funny anecdote, everything goes in here. Because it’s separate from my planner, I don’t feel pressured to condense these memories. The small size also makes it easy to carry around if I want to jot something down while out and about.

Traveler’s Notebook in Olive (Standard)

I love the Traveler’s Notebook format because it keeps different themes organized in one leather cover. Currently, I have three inserts:

1. Craft Journal: Ideas and technique samples for DIY projects and creative experiments.
2. Reading Log: Notes, quotes, and reviews of books I’ve finished.
3. Collectibles Catalog: Photos or notes of gashapon, toys, figures, and other memorable items that catch my eye.

I can replace each insert when it fills up, allowing the cover to stay in service for the long run. This system has proven both organized and inspiring—two qualities I value in a journaling routine.

Traveler’s Notebook Passport (Olive & Blue)

• Passport Olive: Dedicated to washi tapes. I keep swatches, labels, and samples of every roll in this notebook so I can carry them around and use them freely whenever needed—no more rummaging through my entire washi collection at home.

• Passport Blue: Dedicated entirely to sticker collections. This makes it easy to flip through and choose the perfect design to decorate my planner or daily journal.

Both passport-size notebooks are conveniently compact, making them perfect for traveling or quick reference.

Shifting Toward an Adaptable System in 2025

M6 Binder (System Techo Planner)

The biggest change for 2025 is adopting an M6 binder, sometimes called a system techo. While I loved the Hobonichi Weeks for its sleek design, I sometimes felt constrained when I wanted extra habit trackers, project pages, or different layouts. With a ring-bound system:

1. Flexible Layout Options
   I can insert monthly spreads, weekly sections, and custom trackers without worrying about running out of designated space.
2. Project Focus
   If a new project or goal emerges mid-year (like planning a special event or starting a new hobby), I can add pages or entire sections just for that.
3. Less Wasted Paper
   If I stop using a particular layout or need to archive a project, I can remove those pages rather than keep them unused for the rest of the planner.

I also enjoy making my own covers. If you’re curious about DIY leather covers or tinkering with your own planner setup, take a look at my How to Make a Leather Planner (DIY A7 Binder) post.

To customize my M6 binder, I’m using these planner inserts from Amazon. They fit perfectly and give me plenty of space for task lists, notes, and monthly overviews—all while letting me add or remove sections whenever I like.

Midori 1 Day 1 Page in A6

Even though the M6 binder is a powerhouse for organization, I still crave an outlet for longer, more contemplative writing. That’s where the Midori 1 Day 1 Page in A6 shines:

• Roomy Daily Pages: Each date gets a full page, giving me space to journal freely or paste souvenirs and photos.
• Quality Paper: Like most Midori products, it’s fountain-pen-friendly and handles markers or mild watercolor well.
• Clear Division: By keeping my daily reflections here, I maintain a cleaner, more concise binder for scheduling and tasks.
• DIY Cover Options: If you want to craft your own cover for this notebook, check out my DIY Adjustable Midori MD Diary Covers posting.

This separation between “planning” and “personal journaling” helps me stay organized and creative at the same time.

Why This Flexible Approach Works for Me

Before, I used bound planners like Hobonichi Weeks. While I appreciated their portability, they sometimes felt limiting when life inevitably changed course. With a ring-bound planner and separate notebooks for specific themes or long-form journaling:

• Less Clutter: I don’t need to cram every idea and note into a single book. Each subject has its own space.
• Easy Updates: If I discover a new habit tracker or want to experiment with bullet journal spreads, I can simply add pages to my binder.
• Stress-Free Archiving: Once a project or month is complete, I can remove or store those pages, keeping my current planner slim.

Meanwhile, my Traveler’s Notebooks and Midori diaries remain dedicated to their established roles—crafts, reading, collectibles, parenting notes, and quick daily musings (the 5-Year Journal). Everything feels cohesive and accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What’s the best journal to use for daily planning in 2025?

It depends on your planning style. I chose the Midori 1 Day 1 Page A6 because it offers enough space for daily notes, flexible layout options, and fits my preference for a dated format without feeling too restrictive. For those who like more structure, a system techo like my M6 binder works well with customizable refills.

What’s the difference between a Traveler’s Notebook and a System Techo?

A Traveler’s Notebook uses elastic bands to hold removable inserts and is great for creativity, memory keeping, or travel logs. A System Techo is a ring-bound planner that allows you to rearrange, remove, or add refills like monthly calendars, trackers, or blank pages—perfect for functional planning.

How many journals should I use at once?

There’s no magic number! I used to juggle several but narrowed it down to what I actually use. In 2025, I’m using about five journals with clear purposes: one for childcare, one for system planning, one for memory keeping, and a couple for long-term logs. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try starting with one daily planner and expand as needed.

What is an M6 binder, and how does it compare to other planner systems?

An M6 binder holds small-size inserts (roughly A7), and I use mine as a system techo planner. Compared to other systems, it’s compact and easy to carry, but still allows full customization with rings and refill options. It’s ideal if you want structure without bulk.

Is a 5-year journal worth it?

Yes—especially if you want to track growth or preserve memories in a simple way. I’ve been using the Midori 5-Year Journal, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see past entries each year. It doesn’t require much time—just a few lines a day—but builds up to something meaningful over time.

What kind of journal is best for memory keeping?

For memory keeping, I love using my Traveler’s Notebook. It’s perfect for adding photos, travel mementos, or creative pages. I keep different inserts for different themes, which makes it a fun and flexible way to revisit meaningful moments.

Looking Ahead and Final Thoughts

With 2025 just beginning, I’m excited to see how this adaptable system performs over time. My goal is to merge structured planning with the freedom to explore new layouts and ideas. The M6 binder will keep my schedule and trackers in check, while the Midori 1 Day 1 Page notebook allows me to dive deeper into my daily thoughts.

I hope this rundown gives you a clear sense of how I’m organizing my planners and journals this year. If you’re curious about the Hobonichi Weeks itself, don’t miss my Hobonichi Techo Weeks Mega Review. For those interested in leather crafting or customizing notebooks, check out the DIY cover tutorials linked above.

Ultimately, the key to any journaling system is making it work for you, not the other way around. Whether you’re loyal to a single notebook or maintain a small library of theme-specific journals, what matters is that you feel inspired to keep creating and reflecting. Here’s to a flexible, creative, and fulfilling 2025!