When I picked the Hobonichi Weeks Mega as my daily journal, I had only a rough idea of how I’d use it. I knew I wanted to track my days and take advantage of the extra memo pages to write down anything that came to mind. But I didn’t have a set format, just a general intention to make the most of its flexibility.

After exploring how other Hobonichi users set up their planners and gathering inspiration, I finally landed on a structure that works great for me so far.

Now, let’s go through each section, one by one.

Yearly Calendar

The first section is the yearly overview, which includes the previous year, the current year, and the next. In the English version, there’s a blank space to write down personal important dates. I haven’t used this space yet, but I plan to mark significant moments: birthdays of my closest people, major plans, or anything worth remembering in the year ahead.

Yearly Index

This section provides a more detailed view of the year, allowing space for brief notes or small bits of information. From what I’ve seen, people use it in different ways: tracking their periods, vacations, or even daily highlights.

For me, I’ve decided to use it to track my moods that I expressed in 1-3 words. In recent years, I’ve noticed how unpredictable my emotions can be, and I want to understand them better. Each day, I’ll write a word or two that captures how I feel—anxious, productive, restful, or whatever fits. A simple habit, but one that might help me see patterns over time.

Monthly Calendar

Now, onto the section that most planners have: the monthly calendar. The layout includes extra space on the left and below for notes, planning, or even decorating with stickers and washi tape.

At the bottom of the page, there are four checkboxes that I use to list the big tasks I need to complete that month. For example, I might need to extend my gym membership or open a bank account. These are important administrative tasks that are easily slip my mind.

I use this monthly calendar to map out my prospective plans. Anything I want to do in the future goes here. As for the extra space on the left, I’ve turned it into an anxiety level chart to track how my mood fluctuates throughout the month. Seeing it visually laid out helps me recognize patterns and understand my emotional shifts better.

Weekly Pages

If you look closely, the weekly pages have two subtle dots on each day. According to the Hobonichi website, this feature is meant to divide the day into morning, afternoon, and evening. Many users follow this structure, using the left sections for planning and the right for notes, or simply ignoring the dots altogether.

Personally, I skip the dots and use the full boxes for retrospective journaling. Each night, I write down a highlight list of what I did that day. It’s a simple way to reflect and track my daily life without feeling pressured to plan every moment in advance.

The right-hand page of each weekly spread features memo page, offering complete flexibility for planning, scheduling, or brainstorming. Some users divide it into sections, aligning it with the seven days on the left, while others use it freely for notes, sketches, or lists.

There’s also something called the “Secret Line,” a faint vertical line designed to help structure content. It can be used to separate topics on the left and details on the right, or even to create visual timetables and plans. But since it’s printed lightly, it’s easy to ignore if you prefer a blank slate.

I use this page for a weekly recap, writing a short summary of how the week went in paragraph form. It’s my way of reflecting on everything at a glance to help me track progress and patterns over time.

Graph Paper

The back pages of the Hobonichi Weeks contain plenty of 3.55mm grid memo pages, offering extra space for notes, sketches, and ideas. To help with organization, each page includes faint “secret vertical lines” and page numbers along the edges.

In the Weeks Mega English Edition, there are 217 pages of graph paper, the most compared to any other Weeks edition. This was one of the main reasons I chose the Hobonichi Weeks Mega. Beyond the monthly and weekly pages, I wanted space for brain dumping, journaling, and capturing random thoughts. Some of these scribbles eventually turn into blog posts, so I’ve dedicated the first few pages to blog post ideas in bullet points. The more personal entries stay private, like my own journey, kept just for myself.

Measure Size

After the memo pages, Hobonichi includes a unique feature: a measurement page. It’s designed to help you estimate sizes while you’re out and about. The edge of the page even has an 18 cm ruler, making it easy to measure things on the go.

It’s a small but thoughtful detail that shows how Hobonichi is more than just a planner. It’s a companion for both writing and adventure, always ready to be useful in unexpected ways.

Favorites

This section is exclusive to the English edition, allowing you to rank your favorites on a five-star scale. It can be anything: movies, books, restaurants, purchases, or even experiences.

This section is underrated for me, personally. Along the years, I find certain things deserve the best spot in my life and if i take a note of it, the notes are scattered around by the end of the year. Or even I just forget it at all. I lose track and barely remember about things that deserved to be remembered.

At first, I didn’t think much of this feature. But when I saw it, I realized how much I needed it. I often come across books, quotes, or moments that deserve to be remembered for life. This page turns them into a memorable list—a way to capture the things that leave an impact.

My 100

This 100-item list can be used for anything you want. I decided to fill it with small goals and simple joys that I’d love to accomplish, like reading 75 books, trying bookcrossing, or visiting a new café. Nothing too big, just little experiences that make life more interesting.

Sample Symbols and Icons

For those of us who aren’t naturally artistic (ehm, like me), this section is a lifesaver! It provides cute and simple symbols that you can copy to add a visual touch to your planner. Even without drawing skills, you can make your Hobonichi a little more creative.

365-Days Check-off Sheet

Building on my Yearly Index, where I write one or two words to summarize my mood each day, I use this check-off sheet to visualize my emotions throughout the year. I would lkike to see my spectrum of emotions at the end of the year.

I created a five-point color scale for my feelings:

• Red – Overwhelmed, completely out of control
• Yellow – Stressed, annoyed, frustrated, upset
• Gray – Conflicted, confused, worried, nervous
• Blue – Neutral, uncertain, challenged
• Green – Happy, in control, calm

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So far, I love this setup. Ending each day by filling out these pages feels like closing a chapter, giving me space to reflect on my emotions, track what I’ve done, and think about the future. Filling in my Hobonichi has been my source of dopamine. It has become more than just a planner. It’s a way to process my thoughts and emotions daily.

Hopefully, this enthusiasm for consistent journaling stays with me.