Hey Reader

New journal setup season is slowly approaching, so I wanted to share some tools to help you get things prepped!

Most of the tools we're talking about are free to access through our resource library, so be sure to jump over there and have a look 👌

(If you get in there and don't know where to find the specific resource, just use Google Drive's search bar at the top!)

New Planning System Reflection

Reflection is single-handedly the most powerful tool I have when it comes to new setup season, but I know it doesn't come to people naturally.

Rather than trying to figure out how to reflect, and then how to use this to organise your 2027 planner system, I've put together a set of reflection questions to help you out.

These are organised in a handy ready-to-print document, so all you have to do is go through the questions, answer them as honestly and fully as you can, and then apply the insights gained to plan your new-year lineup 😊

Search "new journal setup reflection" in the resource library to find this one

Year at a Glance Printables

As fun as it is writing all the little numbers out for a yearly calendar, sometimes even multiple times depending on the setup, this can certainly lead to a bit of a hand cramp.

To save you the effort of writing all those out yourself, I've set up easy printable versions for you!

With Monday-start and Sunday-start options, a couple different fonts, and several other variations, we have 120 calendar variants 😂

While this very much just shows that I have no chill, I figured this way there was (hopefully) the perfect calendar for everyone!

Plus, there are also printables for those of us who use cyclic planning instead of monthly planning 😈 Aww yiss!

Search "year at a glance printables" in the resource library to find these

New Journal Page Calculator

Running out of space in your journal is never fun, so it pays to plan ahead and make sure everything you want to include is going to fit.

Rather than doing the math yourself, I've got a calculating template to help you out 👌

Just list the layouts you want to include in your start of journal and monthly setups, and the calculator will tell you how much space you'll have left over (or how big of a notebook you should ideally be looking for to make things fit 😅)

Search "new journal calculator" in the resource library to find this one

Layout Planner Template

Setting up in a new journal always comes with the fear of messing it up (I call this FOMU, the cousin of FOMO)

I've found two major helpers when it comes to lessening this fear or anxiety:

1. Have some go-to mistake fixes, so even if you do mess something up, you can always remedy that, and
2. Pre-plan my layouts before putting pen to paper

Previously, I would plan my layouts in pencil so could make sure everything fit the way I want to and get items positioned correctly.

While I still stand by pencil being a great tool for this, I now pretty much exclusively do my pre-planning stages digitally.

I've been really impressed with how switching over to a digital layout planner has decreased the number of mistakes I make. A very big help when you're already busy enough in the end of the year 😝 We ain't got time for mistake fixing!

Not only that, but I then don't have the added time-cost of penciling, erasing, re-penciling, re-erasing...

This is effectively just an Excel (or Google Sheets) document that I've set up as a to-scale reference for the dimensions of my journal. I go in and use borders, colours, and different fonts to mimic what I'll set up in my notebooks.

The layout planner template isn't in our free resource library, but you can click on the video below to see how I use it 💪

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Collection Ideas Master List

I love setting up and trying out new collections in my journal; I'm always on the hunt for new inspiration.

If you're similar, and looking to try something new in your journal for the year ahead (or just the end of this one), I've also made a master list with a bunch of ideas that might prove useful for you!

That one is organised into different categories and life areas, so you can scan your eyes over any relevant sections to get inspiration for your next setup.

Search "collection ideas for your bullet journal" in the resource library to find this one

Pssst 👀...

We have the biggest organising event of the year coming up soon and hope you can make it along! What makes it all the more exciting is that it's free to attend😈

Get Organized HQ Virtual 2026 is an online event designed to help you streamline and simplify your home and life. With over 100 speakers (myself included 😛) you’ll find sessions on everything organisation-related, including:

• Decluttering
• Meal planning
• Digital organisation
• Cleaning
• Paper clutter

And more! 🥳

The event runs from September 14 - 19, and you can check out the full speaker lineup (and grab your free ticket) by hitting the button below 👇

If you can't make the event, or you want lifetime replays, bonus worksheets, and session notes, there’s an optional All Access Pass available at a discounted rate too (time limited though!)

I've gotten my All Access Pass and started watching the sessions; so many good organisational tips! I hope you get value out of it too.

Let's take action

If you want to nab the free year at a glance printables, reflection prompts, and other new journal setup materials, jump into the resource library:

Most of them are in the folder called "New journal setup tools", but we also have other helps things in the main folder too.

Have a snoop and let me know which ones you find most helpful 😄

Until next time!

- Jess