Reddit mentions: The best calendars, planners & organizers

Hey /u/Asteri00 ! It sounds like you are interested in starting a podcast and a YouTube channel as a hobby. Good for you! Although my subject interests differ from you, I podcast for a hobby as well so hopefully I can help.

You have a LOT of great questions. In the future it might be best to ask these types of questions in the /r/podcasting subreddit. From what I understand this subreddit is more geared towards listeners and fans of podcasts whereas the podcasting subreddit is more for podcast content creators.


Some of your questions are difficult to answer because you haven't stated a budget. A computer, for instance, can be as little as $500-$600 USD through $5,000 USD. Most computers will work for audio production these days okay but if you are wanting to do a video show as well that takes a bit more processing power and drives the component specification requirements up. We cover the various computer component specifications that you need to look out for in Better Podcasting Episode 107: Podcasting PC Hardware. In general I try to look for a decent refurbished "gaming" system available at Woot. I find I've been able to score the most bang for the buck there.

I've done some extensive work looking for decent headphones over the years. I wrote an post titled Podcasting Studio Monitoring Headphones that contains a lot of the considerations I've found to look for as a user. And we followed up with Better Podcasting Episode 147: Selecting Headphones and In-Ear Monitors in September of last year. Currently I'm using the Shure SRH840 and Sony MDR-7506 but still recommend the Audio Technica ATH-m40x and ATHm50x as well.

For editing I use Vegas Movie Studio 15.0 Platinum and Audacity although I think Movie Studio 16.0 is out now too. I've also heard great things about Reaper and Hindenburg Journalist and Hindenburg Pro. If you want to see me using Movie Studio and Audacity I have editing WalkThrough videos available on a YouTube Channel.

For recording I use XSplit or OBS Studio for video and a Zoom H6 recorder for audio. I can also recommend the Zoom H5, the Sound Devices MixPre-3, the Zoom L12 and the Rodecaster Pro all for audio recording. I've lost way too many recordings over the years due to computer and software failures so I do recommend some sort of dedicated audio recorder if you can fit it into your budget, but to start off with I usually recommend a Samson Q2U microphone into Audacity to record to see if it is something you want to pursue more.

BTW - you didn't mention a microphone. If you wanted to prioritize video a shotgun microphone like the Rode NTG4, the Audio Technica AT875R or the Sennheiser MKH-416 would be a consideration. Otherwise if you were going for a radio station look (and prioritizing audio quality) the Samson Q2u, the sE Electronics V7, the Sennehiser MD-46, or the Electro Voice re320 (available in a great package deal at BSWusa) would all be recommendations I would make.

I don't use a ringlight but Curtis Judd and Ray Ortega have great YouTube channels for home and professional video gear recommendations. If you talk to Ray tell him SP sent you his way.

Trello makes a great tool for combining research and production flow. We've been using it on Better Podcasting for over a year and really enjoy it. It's collaborative too so if you have cohosts or a production team you can share ideas there. For shownotes on a particular episode we do write them out in a shared Google Doc which seems to be the Best Practices as you prepare to actually record an episode.

Because the podcasting space is so saturated, unless you have a huge following going into it I've heard from a lot of people that it takes three years to start to gain significant traction. We published Better Podcasting Episode 78: The Cruel Reality of Starting a Podcast with information about expectations of starting a podcast.

I do NOT use my real name but several of my cohosts do. It's your personal choice. However, if you plan to engage listeners on Facebook you'll have to use your real name. Facebook is very particular about that.

I don't use a notebook for organization but I do use a daily planner. I picked up The Emergent Task Planner this year and have enjoyed it so far. In the past I've used the Franklin Covey method and planner but you cannot find them anymore and they are expensive so I switched a few months ago. I also have a little journal for daily thoughts. It's nothing special - just a journal from the local store that you can find anywhere but it helps when I have the time to put into it.

Two more things to note. Our first six episodes of Better Podcasting were designed specifically to help new podcasters start a show. We've heard a lot of great feedback on them so hopefully they can help you. Also, as luck would have it we just recorded Better Podcasting Episode 168 Ways To Use YouTube this week. When it publishes on Monday it will give you some more ideas and tips on how to use YouTube for your show.

I hope this helps. It was a lot of information. Don't be afraid to ask us questions! There is a lot of great help out there for you. And I hope you are back to 100% soon!

~SP

Fellow speed freak checking in. I relate to this issue so much! I've developed many different methods for dealing with this, I'm not sure which will help you the most, so I'll just leave them here, for your review.


1.) Wake up early. This is key for me, because if I sleep until the world is awake, I get dragged along with the frantic momentum of a city full of people trying to get things done. This, in turn, makes me more frantic and rushed. Waking up early is an art, not a science. You have to be tired enough to go to sleep early, and you have to eat light, or not at all after sunset to release the energy drain from digestion. Ask anyone who's into fasting or intermittent fasting, they'll tell you: if you have 4-6 hours of not eating before you get in bed, your need for sleep will be practically cut in half. YMMV, but I just got back from a trip to Japan, I started eating a sushi meal in the late afternoon, and nothing afterwards. I started waking up at 3 or 4AM, totally clear.


2.) Crush a super hard workout first thing in the morning. A lot of people who are "fast" have untapped energy reserves. Literally you get frustrated because you can't express your energy completely, everywhere things are stopping you, or slowing you down. Not in the gym. You can go as hard as you want. Not at a hot yoga class. That will take the piss out of anyone, believe me. If it's your first time you'll be close to blacking out. But AFTERWARDS: you will be chill. I bet you $100 USD if you crush a hot yoga class before 8AM, you will be zen as fuck afterwards. You have to burn through your energy reserves first thing in the morning. It sets up a victory mindset in your subconscious - you've already crushed a major goal, so you don't need to rush toward accomplishing something more vague - and you've actually used your body and gone close to your limit (hopefully) so you get the satisfaction of having used your full power.


3.) Gratitude. I keep a gratitude journal, called the five minute journal which is a very minimalist approach to doing morning journaling. You write 3 things you're grateful for, and hopefully you truly feel that gratitude in your body. You write 3 things that would make today great, and you write 3 affirmations. That's it. You can do it in less than 5 minutes. Then, in the evening, you do the process in reverse. 3 great things that happened (hopefully you feel grateful for these), and a spot to write how today could've been better. It's really awesome for setting an emotional tone for the day - it actually conditions you to appreciate little details in your day, which will help when something stresses you out - you'll be able to find the flip side or the upside in anything. Somebody cuts you off? Now you feel grateful he didn't clip your car and take your mirror off. Drop your groceries? Now you feel grateful that cute person helped you pick them up. Etc. Having a gratitude practice is really important for learning to master your emotions, and a gratitude journal actually helps you track how you're doing across days, weeks and months, to see if you're making incremental progress.


Listen closely: Gratitude can actually make you invincible. If you can feel gratitude at will, literally nothing can take you out. You might receive a glancing blow, but as soon as you activate the gratitude, you're back on your game. This is why I practice Gratitude more consistently than anything else in my life.



and finally, the overall mindset of gradual progress:


THE ULTIMATE MODE I got this from James Altoucher's 1% Rule for Creating Habits. You have to take a view of your life that you're getting better 1% every day. This is so, so important. It's very difficult to make positive progress rapidly. Elite people understand this principle. You can do something Destructive rapidly - you can end relationships, ruin your reputation, shave your head, blow up your car - destruction is fast. But creation takes time. Look at nature, the way plants grow. It's gradual, incremental progress that eventually begins to spiral into exponential growth. Finance people call this compound interest.


If you make 1% progress every day, that doubles every 72 days. That seems like a lot of days until you're actually doing it. My workout routine, for example: I hit the gym at 4:30AM every morning and I bring my tiny pocket journal with me. I write down my workout that morning, usually only about 30-45 minutes. But then, the next day I have to beat my previous workout. I alternate parts of my body, so if I do abs and chest on Monday, then on Wednesday I flip back, see what I did, and I have to beat that, even by 1%. It doesn't seem like much. If I do 100 pushups on Monday, I have to do 101 pushups Wednesday. But it's not really that slow. I go for 200 pushups, even if I have to take breaks and grind them out, because again, I'm like you, I'm a hyper creative person, so I'm going for full burn first thing in my day. I love the feeling of totally destroying my previous record.


so you can see how, months from now, I'll be crushing 500 pushups before 5AM, that's nasty by anyone's standards. But I don't start by forcing myself to torture myself in the gym for hours going for those 500 pushups. I just take the 1% mentality, that I'm gradually upgrading everything, and down the road a ways, I'll be totally killing it. It's the same way a bamboo plant grows. You have to water bamboo sometimes for a year or two, and meanwhile you see no growth whatsoever. But you can't dig the plant up because it's not apparently doing anything. It's building an intricate network of roots down there. And then overnight it grows 60 feet. Did it really grow 60 feet in one night? No. It had to build that steady, incremental foundation first.


hope this helps.


tl;dr, wake early to establish yourself in a chill vibe. practice gratitude. go hard on a workout first thing in the morning to set up a victory mindset, and make incremental progress every day knowing that weeks and months down the road you'll be crushing whatever you've come here to do. stay on the ball.

My pleasure!

Yes, I certainly couldn’t meditate immediately after waking - that’s a definite invitation for “Sleep: Round Two!” :D

I like to journal ahead of time because it gets my mind going, and sets a positive outlook on my day. I don’t really have a set type of journaling though. I write about experiences, moods, dreams, concepts, goals, etc. It’s more of a “stream of consciousness” journal style. Whatever pops up. I also am working on presentations and writing a (non-fiction) book; so I work on that as well.

I am switching this slightly though; I’ll be writing/working on the book & presentations in the morning for an hour (because that’s when I feel most creative), then meditating. I’ll move my journaling to the evening because it doesn’t require creativity, and I think the brain dump will help me sleep better.

As far as recommendations for journaling, I would say to start with something easy and pre-formatted if you are looking to build a habit. Like a daily journal to build regularity. A gratitude journal - like The Five Minute Journal is a great way to start. I’ve bought these as gifts for my wife and various friends, and everyone has said they have been a very positive change.

I like what Happiness Researcher, Shawn Achor says about gratitude journaling & practices; by taking a few minutes each day to write down/remember specific instances to be grateful of, we rewire our brains to monitor for positive experiences throughout our day, like an app on our smartphones that run in the background. This in turn makes each day more positive and rewarding.

For me, I seem to stick with routines better if I simply schedule the task ahead of time. I have no issue on weekday mornings getting everything done in my routine. Ironically - I have more difficulty meditating on the weekends, even though I really enjoy sitting for longer periods and I have a lot more time available. On the weekends, there are a lot more distractions and I have had more difficulty setting a routine because, well, it’s the weekend. :D

Any way - there’s another novelette for you:D

Feel free to ask more questions - I’m happy to help. I wish you the best.

I'm a big advocate of planners and to do lists and goals. So I have a notebook dedicated to random thoughts/to do lists. I also have a Create 365 planner for my schedule for work, appointments, dates, birthdays, daily to do lists, goals for the week, goals for the month, etc. It helps keep my days from being incredibly overwhelming and let's me know the last time I did certain things. Not just work related, but in my personal life, too.

I recommend the app UFYH(Unfuck your Habitat) or the tumblr site. Those are more for like... Household organization/cleaning/etc. It's been inspiring and has a lot of good ideas for keeping yourself from looking at it and going "IT'S TOO MUCH!"

I like this in my kitchen and on my desk. I like everything having a certain place, y'know. Keeps things from getting too lost all the time. ;)

When it comes to your self esteem and self confidence, I recommend taking up a hobby! Learning something new can make you feel better about yourself, keep yourself entertained, and if you ever want to turn your brain off to what's going on, just go ahead and start looking in to something new. Develop a new skill.

Also, journaling. Even if you're just writing a sentence regarding something positive or small that made you happy with life or yourself, think about remembering it. Or the app Happier! I love that app.

And in regards to making you happy, here's a man proposing to his wife after a cochlear implant. I thought this was way too sweet to not share.

Edited to add :: /r/personalfinance /r/planner and /r/EatCheapAndHealthy are great reddits to hang out in for advice and tips

For what it's worth, I think the LT1917 has become a standard because the original Bullet Journal web page sells them under their brand.

As mentioned here, LT1917 is 80gsm, which is relatively thin and makes a lot of pens bleed through and ghost. For more information about bleeding, ghosting, and general comparison between notebooks I recommend watching Which Notebook is the Best for Bullet Journaling?! (skip to 11:00 to see the comparison chart). I prefer Scribbles That Matter which is thicker (100gsm) and feels smoother to write on. My next purchase will probably be a Midori with 120gsm or a Rhodia to try them out.

One of the core principals of Bullet Journalism is that there are no hard rules. While it comes with some guidelines, you are free to use it however you see fit. Which means that there are no predefined pages. So for the most part you are going to be drawing the layouts. And this is why a Dotted paper helps because you can use the dots to draw your own layouts. You can checkout Pinterest for inspiration. The community uses the term "spreads" to signify two-page layouts used for all sorts of things.

As for pens, many recommend the Sakura Pigma Micron for good reason. While I use them for more "serious" work, when it comes to EDC I would highly recommend the Muji 0.38mm Fine Point Gel Pens. Unlike the Microns, they are not felt tip (which is why I wouldn't use them for EDC) but very sharp ball point pen with great consistency. A lot of people swear by the Pilot G2 0.38mm Ultra Fine Point but personally I wasn't pleased with them.

Finally, regarding the things you want to track, as I mentioned earlier, you can simply define the layouts of each page and track whatever you wish. A lot of the spreads you see from the community are really intricate. You can find a variety of them from very crazy daily layouts to minimal ones. It's all up to you.

Having said that, if drawing your own layouts daily seems like a lot of work (a lot of people actually spend a few hours planning them beforehand), then you might want to consider a more traditional Planner instead. As mentioned ITT, the Nomadic Planner has good paper (125gsm), weekly and monthly pages as well as lined and blanks for notes and the rest.

There is a whole universe of things to consider (and I'm more than happy to geek out about it), but I'd say just start with whatever. Don't think about it too much. Most of the negatives are personal, so while LT1917 doesn't work for some, it might for you. You'll figure things out as you go.

Have you seen the Scribbles That Matter Bullet Planner?

I’ll see if I can find a link. It was my plan if I found I couldn’t keep up with bujo at law school, but I find that I like my bujo even more now.

Personally I find the passion planner too claustrophobic but they are super popular. I have to say though that I’m excited to try their new daily version. The hibonachi cousin is pretty awesome too.

Edit: scribbles that matter bullet planner

You've gotten excellent advice on inks, and some on notebooks. You mentioned being overwhelmed by the choices, but wanting a sturdy notebook that can handle fountain pen ink. There are a few choices mentioned in here, but perhaps I can help summarize this. Key thing you will want is a high gsm (Grams per Square Meter), since a high gsm means thicker paper.

• Red and Black: 96 sheets, standard ruling, 90gsm, casebound, hardcover. Personally, no experience with this, but I've heard there's no bleed through with fountain pens.
  
  
• Seven Seas "WRITER" A5 Journal: 240 sheets, ruling is 7mm, 52 gsm Tomoe River paper, thread-bound for binding, cover is impregnated cloth (but you can buy a leather cover). Also no experience with this either.
  
  
• Leuchtturm1917 Medium Size Hardcover A5 Notebook: 125 sheets, ruling can be either lined/graph/dot grid, 70 gsm, thread-bound, hardcover with some sort of leather covering. I've been using these since 2013, and in my first notebook, my handwriting hasn't changed from the day I had written in it with Diamine Ancient Copper. You would still want sturdier ink than what I had used. The paper is cream colored, and smooth. Bleed through is rare.
  
  
• Rhodia Webnotebook A5: 80 sheets, ruling can be either lined/graph/dot grid, 90 gsm, thread bound, leatherette hard cover. I've always enjoyed Rhodia paper, and while I haven't used this particular product, the paper is much smoother than the Leuchtturm1917, and there's less ghosting. The paper also appears whiter to me than the Leuchtturm1917.
  
  
• Rhodia Goalbook A5: 112 sheets, ruling is dot grid, 90gsm, thread bound, leatherette hard cover. Throwing this in the options list, since you get a few more sheets. Also wanted to point out that the cover appears to be flexible.
  
  
• Scribbles That Matter, Pro: 100 sheets approx, ruling is dot grid, 100gsm, thread bound, vegan leather hard cover. The sheets are smooth, and a bit brighter than the Leuchtturm1917, but a bit more ivory than the Rhodia. Great paper, and the cover feels more durable and pleasant than the L1917. With fountain pens, I have yet to bleed through this paper, and the ghosting (seeing what is written on the other side of the sheet) is very minimal. If I push you towards any notebook, it'll be this one. It also comes with a penloop that is not useless, unlike the L1917.
  
  
• Lemome Thick Classic Notebook with Pen Loop A5: 90 sheets, ruling is either dot grid or lined, 90 sheets, 125 gsm, thread bound, leatherette cover. Just got this the other day, and the pages are thick and smooth so far. No bleed through or ghosting with fountain pen ink yet.
  
  
• Lemome Hardcover A5 with Pen Holder: 92 sheets, ruling is dot grid, 100g, thread bound, leather hardcover. Just an option to put in here, it has a pen loop, and the paper seems to be slightly less thick than the prior Lemome notebook.
  
  Wishing you and your daughter the best during these hard times.

Every morning and evening I do the '5-minute journal' routine. I open up Google Drive, copy paste the format, and do the exercise. You can start with this right away :-). This takes about 5 minutes on each end.

I also use momentum to further nudge positivity and inspiration into my life. This free Google chrome extension serves me a nice quote, a gorgeous vista, and a focus of my own choosing with each new tab I open.

The format for the 5-minute journal:

After waking up

I'm grateful for:

• (3 items; e.g. house, food, friends, family, job, transportation, cup of coffee, another day, anything really)
  
  What would make today amazing:
  
  
• (doing this and this job, enjoying time with X, fulfilling this goal, eating, working out, etc..)
  
  (And I add these two to the original '5-minute journal' routine)
  
  Metta
  
  
• (wishing love, wellness and freedom to 3 or more people)
  
  Intention
  
  
• (a specific intention I keep for that day like gratitude, mindful eating, smiling, etc.)
  
  Before going to bed
  
  Amazing things that happened today
  
  
• (3 or more things that made today special/awesome/cherishable)
  
  (I added these two to the original '5-minute journal' routine)
  
  Intention
  
  
• (reflection on how you're intention fared)
  
  Insights and lessons learned
  
  
• (a reflection on insights of the day. I typically always have 1-2 important insights I like to consolidate. Unfortunately this doesn't lead to immediate internalization but it is a step towards that ;-)..)

Reading your goals every day is something recommended by a lot of people. It's not something I personally do though.

You can get a goal tracker. One I've used in the past is by Zig Ziglar. You can check it out here. At the top of each two page spread you put the four goals you're working on for the week and the progress you made toward each goal every day. If you did nothing that day you write "nothing" in red. Then it's easy to look back during a weekly review and see three, four, seven! red marks for a goal and it can help kick you into gear for the next week.

This year I'm using a different planner. I'm going to try the Panda Planner which is a little less specific goal tracking and has more with wins and learnings for the day as well as a gratitude section. I'm trying to step up my gratitude game this year and this seemed like a good planner to use rather than trying to shove other things into the Ziglar one.

Broken dishwasher, broken washing machine, broken dryer. Dishwasher now fixed but we don't have a dryer at all and our washing machince just buzzes and doesnt wash. Ended up going to the local laundromat to do all of my laundry and sheets. Still not sure if we're renewing the lease. Maybe I should just find another place to live >(

I bought project highrise during the summer steam sale. That was a lot of fun. Oxygen not included is hard for me. I can't get the whole filteration system working (air and water)

Bought a game called Mint works. SUPER FUN! EVEN IN SOLO MODE! I'm going to go play some more of it right now. Can't wait to try playing it with other people. I do have a few other board games coming from amazon: Pandemic, Treasure Hunter Game, Gloom Second Edition: Unhappy Home expansion, Dairyman, monopoly deal, and i preordered splatoon 2

I finally was honest to myself and worked on my budget and student loan repayment plan. Budget looks kinda ugly. I'm terrified. There's never going to be enough money in this world... Also, I've been overspending like crazy. I'm really good at budgeting when I see the numbers. I was just in denial for the longest time because I wanted to treat myself. I didn't have the "college experience" so i went out a lot, ate out a lot, and overall threw money at crafts and animals. I'll have to be more findful now.

I wanted to get another hobonichi, but realized that they won't have them for 2017 anymore. I started looked at other notebooks. I do have a midori, but I don't really want to use it for bullet journaling. It gets quite expensive because I want to use that and keep that more as a notetaker/jot it down. I bought this STALOGY which looks pretty good. I'll be keeping an expense log, bullet journaling, and random notetaking in it.

I bought a vintage sewing machine recently. The singer slant-o-matic. I used them as a middleschooler in home economics and it's 100% BOMB. I was thinking about getting a more modern machine, but went Nah. The set I bought also came with a bunch of extra bobbins.

Last week I was at a fair and saw some people doing pillow lace/bobbin lace. It looks so awesome. I want to try it! It's a bit costly to get started though... I'm going to hold off on it for a while and use nontraditional materials to make some lace.

Since I'm really struggling with making friends and DOING SOMETHING that's not gaming, redditing, animals, and cleaning... I figured I could go take some community college classes (interior design, fashion, flower arrangement, etc), cello lessons, piano lessons, modern dance/ballet/jazz/hip hop lessons, sewing lessons, or something like that to get me out of the house.

On Wednesday, I went bouldering for the first time. I'm a bosssssss. JK. I haven't worked out in ages. My arms basically fell off when I woke up thursday morning. Couldnt even flush the toilet, open the fridge, or open the door. They even felt swollen. My legs were fine though. Normally with swimming, I get soreness in my core and legs. This is definitely a new muscle group I'm not used to have pain in. I've been taking some tylenol to help with my pain. Not sure if I like this enough to go back. I stopped going to the gym because I specifically didn't want large shoulders. IDK why when I work out, my shoulders just get bigger and bigger. My torso is a XS/S but my shoulders are an M. I'm absolute terrified of heights as well... So...maybe this isnt the sport for me. It's fun though! I'd go again, just wouldn't get a gym membership for it.

scribbles that matter on amazon is only $20! the pages are white and 160gsm. It's the same thickness as archer and olive, but there's free shipping through prime and $10 cheaper! highly recommend, i love mine. if you get it from a different website, make sure you get the pro version, since that's the one with the thick pages

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LL2W46/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GDetDb4Y9PQE0

I don't have any mech mods but I do have a 100W Sigelei, a 20W Istick, MVP 2 and a few other cheaper mods....I'm using the Maxpedition Beefy and it's an AMAZING bag.

Has plenty of Velcro holders for my juices, batteries, mods, etc...a large internal zip pocket, outside Velcro pocket and an internal sleeve type pocket. Best price I found it for was on Amazon [CLICK HERE] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AQ6E5XQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Hope this helps
Xnavyguy

It's definitely a big fandom! I really enjoy being apart of it. I'm really introverted so having a place like the Tolkien fandom on tumblr to go to is really fun. Also here's a link,it didn't work the first time because I'm on mobile.

That's good you still have an appetite! I hope you feel well soon, sinus infections are so annoying.

I am mildly addicted to planners. What got me started in the beginning was a weekly planner that had seven days on the left side, and plain lined notes page on the right side. Something like this. I fine this format most practical and simple for general purposes. You can plan your week on the left side, and throughout the week, make notes and to-do lists on the right. Whenever you have something you need to do at a later time but not a fixed deadline, write it down in the notes page, and cross it out when done. At the end of the week, migrate any outstanding items to the next week.

I also use Outlook for scheduling to some extent, but I prefer analog system than digital. Just try different things and see what you like. If you decide to go paper route, I recommend starting with simple weekly format (monthlies don't allow much space for free notes and dailies can be too fine-grained and overwhelming.) One thing to remember, planners are only as good as how often you look at them. Unless you remember to review at the end of the day or start of the day, etc, it's useless. So, choose a method that's convenient for you to carry and review.

On the topic of goal-setting, for daily tasks and productivity I recommend this product called The Emergent Task Planner. I order it on Amazon but there's a free version online too if you want to print it out yourself.

For big goals and long-term planning I always have a really fine quality leather-bound journal (my dream journal) that I use to plan and track big things like housing, vacations, lifestyle changes, etc.

Thinking big and breaking it into smaller bite-sized chunks is the only way I can keep myself focused long enough to get anything done!

Okay, I bought a blank bullet journal (just dotted) and that was a fail. BUT THEN I bought this one that has pretty printed non-dated week and month pages and it's awesome! I love it. Sorry for formatting I'm on my phone.

https://www.amazon.com/Bullet-Journal-Undated-Planner-Productive/dp/B078GZ6SLL?ref_=bl_dp_s_mw_14960085011

Thanks for the congrats and the informative comment. Some things I'll definitely take into consideration or haven't thought of yet:

• "Bring the most basic of lunches on day 1."
  
• I'm working the second shift (6pm-4am) so "lunch" might not necessarily apply, but considering the potential awkwardness of eating around this time, I think this advice is huge.
  
  
• "Come bearing a blank, voided check to sign up for direct deposit."
  
• This is something I always forgot in past jobs. And since I didn't do it on the first day, I kept putting it off until it just never got done.
  
  
• "Don't immediately make friends."
  
• Without the context this may seem like weird advice, but I can definitely appreciate this. Especially your, "People who get to friendly - who try to set the tone of the office for you may just be looking for a crony." Underrated advice here.
  
  
• "...ask your boss if you can shadow someone in the department for a bit. They will either give you something else to do, or point you to a trainer."
  
• Shows initiative too. I hadn't considered this.
  
  
• "Take copious notes... specifically named project planner notebooks"
  
• Like this? It's only $5.49 too.
  
  If you don't mind sharing, how'd you get out of the situation where you corrected your boss's boss? Was your immediate boss also disappointed?

I can definitely recommend Scribbles That Matter! They ghost a little bit too, but not as bad as the Leuchtturm. I love the cover with doodles on it, but they have plain covers too :)

Items listed below with links in case anybody is interested:

Persol Sunglasses https://amzn.to/2H6piK2

Leuchtturm1917 Hardcover Dotted Journal https://amzn.to/2EAFcL8 (I try to journal daily)

Distilunion Card Minimalist Card Wallet https://amzn.to/2XqUc5z (This is probably the best slim card wallet i've every had. Hard to beat)

Seiko SKX013 https://amzn.to/2Ube5vt

Parker Ink Pen https://amzn.to/2ECKvK6

Leather Journal Cover https://amzn.to/2Xrsg1w (I love the smell of this thing! ha)

Explore Notebook https://amzn.to/2EBETje (This notebook is more of a to-do list v my daily journal. Helps me stay organized)

Leatherman Squirt https://amzn.to/2H708eu (This thing always comes in handy)

Mophie Powerstation https://amzn.to/2T8dqP7

Kershaw Clash https://amzn.to/2SvSbkV

iPad Air 2 https://amzn.to/2UbA99j

iPad Air 2 Keyboard Case https://amzn.to/2H3fn80

Speck iPhone 7Plus Case https://amzn.to/2H7YEAj

iPhone 7Plus (Not Pictured) https://amzn.to/2SvrvAD

I'm gonna throw this out there, but try a Panda Planner weekly. Like you, I'm an ex-bullet-journaler, and this physical planner has solved all my problems. It's undated, but goes a whole year so you can get it whenever. I love literally everything about it: the weekly review, the monthly habit, the lists functions, the gratitude, the Top 3 priorities... If you are thinking of digital this isn't for you, but the last two months have been nothing short of amazing for me using this planner.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IIK698K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_EPTYzb1AWZ4VZ

The nice thing is that they are spiral-bound so it could easily be unbound and rebound with tougher covers.

Or if you don't want to deal with binding, a leather wrap could work (something like https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Journal-Writing-Notebook-Handmade/dp/B07FS3SPCV?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-brave-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07FS3SPCV)

If you get creative, it could be themed to the games you play.

Organize harder! More compartments! More containers! Put a compartment into a container!

(This is something that I said to my mom when she was drooling over a Container Store catalog one day.) :D

/u/jahinfrance, there are a few good planners out there that aren't just "To Do Lists" and dates. I haven't used this one, but I've heard good things from others. Not sure what motivates you, but there are a bunch of different types of the same concept. (Not sure if this particular brand is too cheesy for your tastes, but I like that they have different inserts for different goals.)

Pardon my horribly messy handwriting. But this is the current journal I’m using:

Nitoms STALOGY 365DaysNotebook A5

The pages are great and it has exactly 365 pages so one for every day if I want to do a daily planner setup. But that doesn’t leave me with any extra for monthly or weekly layouts which would definitely help plan out school assignments and future plans.

Which Hobonichi would work best for what I’m looking for and it there a huge difference in layouts? This one has a very faint daily time stamp along the right side of each page that I don’t use too often unless there’s an appointment for that day.

Idk what kind of work you're in, but maybe a Panda Planner would help you? It's expensive but worth it. They have another version that's cheaper. Or just old fashioned writing down everything down helps me.

Your worth isn't tied to your work or your ability to get shit done or have it "together." You're enough. You deserve recovery and to not punish yourself for your shortcomings and challenges. It's a process, not perfection, and you're doing you're best. And remember that relapse highlights areas we need to work on. So keep fighting.

​

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CGCLFG9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RTFsDbMZ4RT9Y

Here's the one I got. Got a couple holders for cards and could def store some cash. It also has a little loop that fits the space pen great. Fits in all my back pockets pretty well.

Quality is pretty great considering the price, I'd say. The cover of mine has a bit of wear, but I sit on it and toss it around all the time. I'd def recommend this one.

I use The Five Minute Journal. In the morning I find that it's useful to start with gratitude and filling out out for a few minutes helps to energize me before my morning mediations

I'm using both BuJo and the Panda Planner Pro as part of my workflow and I couldn't be happier with the very clean separation of concerns. My BuJo is now my written record of my day, how I spent it, and the important things went down. My Panda Planner is more meditative and reflective of my goals, things I can do to achieve them, and holding myself accountable for their success (or helping me figure out why they didn't happen).

You could give the Nanami Paper Seven Seas Crossfield a look. It's going to be a little more expensive than a Leuchtterm or Rhodia, but it's got 480 pages. That's 2.5x as many as the Rhodia Webnotebook (192) and 1.92x as many as the Leuchtterm (250). The paper is the incredibly thin Tomoe-river paper though. Many people love it, some hate it. You'll spend more per journal but ultimately need far fewer journals. One option.

Otherwise, if you simply search for Leuchtterm 1917 or A5 journal on Amazon you'll see a bunch of cheaper options. Can't speak to the quality of any of them - but if you're filling them up within a couple of months I'm guessing the ability to withstand years of abuse in a bag isn't a huge deal.

• Here's a 3-pack of 192p. A5 hard-cover dot grid notebooks for $25
  
• Here's one for under $13
  
  Got to love that the rise in popularity of Bullet Journaling has created a ton of options for A5 dot-grid journals.

For Light Carry:

• Leatherman Style PS - TSA approved or Leatherman Micra
  
  
• Fenix E12 Flashlight - I believe this is the successor to the EO5
  
  
• Zebra F-301 Pen or Fisher Bullet Space Pen - the stainless wears better in your pocket.
  
  
• Moleskin Volant Notebook
  
  
• SOG Flash I - if you can swing the extra $10 or get the cheaper pen, I HIGHLY recommend this knife as a very minimal yet practical knife. I've sort of chunked the rest and this one is with me all the time. Also very public-friendly size.
  
  

Dingbats sells 100gsm paper with page numbers which are fountain pen friendly!
Scribbles that Matter also have 100gsm, fountain pen friendly paper that also have page numbers. Scribbles that Matters has different cover types, which range from your generic solid colours to “creative” ones with little doodles imprinted into the covers as well.

• Bag: Hazard4 Messenger of Doom (M.O.D.)
  
• Pouch 1: Voodoo Tactical Men's Enlarged EMT Pouch has a mini first-aid kit removeable for smaller bag carry
  
• Pouch 2: Maxpedition Gear Beefy Pocket Organizer for charging cables, cubes, A/V cables, etc.
  
• Pouch 3: Maxpedition Micro Pocket Organizer for BT Mouse and small USB cables, flash drives.
  
• Pouch 4: Bushnell Equinox Z Night Vision Monocular
  
• External: Two "Yisbow Tactical MOLLE cellphone pouches" to carry an external speaker and iPhone 6 Plus with battery case.
  
• External: Hazard4 Launchpad-Mini Sleeve
  
• Miscellaneous Pens, Pencil, Pocket Notepad, Leatherman Wave, Flashlights, Batteries, Velcro Patches...
  
  Again, I'll photo the load tonight but I'm hoping this will help my post stay up and not be deleted until I can. Thanks!

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07M71M2MY/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_CQ9GDb8VXGTCW

There it is. I don't get the bad reviews though. I am super happy with it.

I'd highly recommend the size B5 if you want something bigger than A5, it's not quite as big as A4. Some brands which sell B5 in dot grid are scribbles that matter (also highly recommend) and I've seen moleskin ones too!

Dotted Journal by Scribbles That Matter - No Bleed Dotted Notebook with Inner Pocket - B5 (Charcoal) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07M71M2MY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_t-83CbKNQ6ZB4

This is the scribbles that matter one from amazon 😊

I think your best bet is to get whatever bag you want and then fill it with smaller pouches & organizers.

This in particular looks amazing & I’m going to get it for a new bag I just got:

Hynes Eagle Universal Backpack Insert Organizer Travel Bag Slip Gadget Organization Kit Military Green

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072R2514J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_g3QzDbDE74PWF


As for organizers & pouches, Maxpedition is one of my favorite brands:
Maxpedition Gear Beefy Pocket Organizer, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQ6E5XQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_G4QzDbPXV2RMZ


Overall, I think you’ll find it much easier to carry multiple little pouches / bags / organizers inside of your main bag.

That way it gives you the ability to do what you want, which is carry whatever bag you want but still be organized.

My favorite atm is Tekukor

Tekukor A5 Notebook Hardcover Dot Grid - 100gsm - Dotted Pages For Bullet Journal - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT974AP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xDvRDbZ7J8E63

But a quick amazon search found this

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.-WALT DISNEY: Dot Grid Journal, 110 Pages, 6X9 inches, Inspirational Quote on White matte cover, dotted ... for teens women girlsmen kids children boys https://www.amazon.com/dp/1698358431/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bwvRDbNHCQ2JE

I tried, but I’m too much of a perfectionist. The last time I tried to BuJo I messed up the formatting and got so frustrated I threw away the notebook lol. I’ve been using a Moleskine Weekly Notebook Planner for the last 5 or so years and it really works for me, so I figure why stray from a good thing. I can log my daily activities and what not on the left, and the right side of each page has notebook lines for whatever else I need to write.

It's a hell of a lot of money. You could always try out a Stalogy 365 notebook in A5. It's £21 delivered to the UK.

There's a half-year one for £16-ish if you want the thinner Avec style notebook.

Same dimensions as the Cousin, very similar paper. It's a "free" journal so you basically mark the date and such on the page using the pre-printed information. You can start it at any time, which is a nice bonus, and you can also use multiple consecutive pages for a single day if you want, which is a bonus. Oh, and it costs a third of the Cousin.

From the reviews I've read, it's got less of the planner stuff in it but is a bit more flexible. It's supposed to be good quality, though maybe not quite as nice as the Cousin. I've ordered one for myself to try out.

Maxpedition Organizers:

• Extra Small
  
• Small
  
• Medium
  
• Large
  
• Extra Large
  
  There are tons of videos on YouTube showcasing size and items most people like to put in them. This would be worth looking into. Some other reputable brands I have seen are Vanquest and Condor. Personally, I use the EDC organizer from Maxpedition in my 5.11 Rush 12 backpack. I highly recommend it.

When I got the MBP with USB-C, I had to get multiple dongles to connect. A friend turned me onto this bag:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AQ6E5XQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Great bag for small cables, dongles, flash drives, etc. Very roomy.

• Nite Ize S-Biner, Size 3
  
• Incipio Silicrylic Case for Samsung Galaxy S3
  
• DIY 550 Paracord Bracelet
  
• Timex Weekender
  
• Unbranded Leather Cardholder (mine arrived unstamped)
  
• Y&G Stainless Steel Money Clip
  
• Fisher Bullet Space Pen, Matte Black
  
• Generic Multi-tool Card (I got mine for free from a daily deal website)
  
• Moleskine Volant Notebook
  
• Generic Lip Balm (free swag from a Samsung booth, just removed the sticker)
  
• Prescription Ray-Ban Glasses
  
• Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses, Polarized (they were a gift so not sure of exact model)
  
• Samsung Galaxy S Earbuds (came with phone)

You could give him a cute fancy pen like this one and/or a journal like this one or this one

That's what I was thinking, it seemed to be going way too fast. I used the black cartridge that came with the pen and it lasted a good while, somewhere around 3 to 4 pages.

Is it possibly because of the gold specks in the Emerald of Chivor? I'm very new to the FP game, so I'm entirely inexperienced beyond what I see on this sub.

What I'm writing on is this brand of paper, but in a standard legal pad format (just what I had on hand, I'm going to be purchasing quality paper soon).

Scribbles That Matter. $19 on amazon, amazing quality: https://www.amazon.com/Dotted-Journal-Scribbles-That-Matter/dp/B072LL2W46/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=scribbles+that+matter&qid=1554743827&s=gateway&sr=8-3 No bleeding, very little ghosting, fountain pen and watercolor friendly. Pre-numbered, included index and key. And the paper is actually 115g now (the description says 100).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MT974AP/ref=sxts_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542033546&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65

My go-to journal! It is inexpensive and has thick pages! I’ve tried several journals (nothing crazy expensive so I don’t have a comparison to some of the popular brands people use) but I LOVE this journal and always come back to it. I have no urge to try any other journal after finding this one.

If you need a little boost getting goals accomplished, I recommend: "The Five Minute Journal"

​

https://www.amazon.com/Five-Minute-Journal-Happier-Minutes/dp/0991846206

I started using The Five Minute Journal fairly consistently about a month ago, and it has helped me go to bed more easily. I dwell on negative thoughts less. It's nice. I'm thankful to the dude that recommended it, even though I only saw him a couple of times.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FS3SPCV/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 enjoy my friend

• Flint Shoelaces
  
• Power Bank (I've got this one and I'm happy with it)
  
• Dashcam. Not typically considered a 'tactical' object but boy can they come in handy. Probably above your price point though. Ask around on /r/dashcam if the idea seems promising.
  
• Something like this to organize all the prepper stuff he already has.
  
• Compact keyholder
  
• Ballistic-grade Sunglasses
  
• Freeze dried food?

Amazon has a great option that's a lot less expensive than Moleskine, and IMO has a lot less bleed through. I've only been using it for a few weeks, but I like it so much more than all the Moleskines I've had.

Tekukor A5 Notebook Hardcover Dot Grid - Dotted Pages For Bullet Journal

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT974AP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_6N1eXOmM4W8gh

I'd recommend Stalogy (A6) over the Hobonichi brand. [Same Tamoe River paper] Thin paper, cheaper, but lacking in the same page template that the Hobonichi has.

So what you're paying for is the extra design that Hobonichi put in. Ask yourself whether the extra Hobonichi page design adds $50 of value on top; if so, get the Hobonichi.

I really like this idea. I actually just purchased a Scribbles That Matter Bullet Planner because I've found that I have less time to spend on my bullet journal lately. It's still open ended in terms of designing pages and decorating spreads, just with a bit more structure, and I'm really excited to see how it works out!

Sounds like then she doesn't need anything too thick. Anything from 80 gsm to 100 gsm should be fine.

I'd recommend this dotted journal: Scribbles That Matter.

Maybe the Five Minute Journal would help? It’s more focused on mindfulness. (Edited) Here’s a link to it https://www.amazon.com/Five-Minute-Journal-Happier-Minutes/dp/0991846206

I've been using a Tekukor A5 for my bullet journal, and it's awesome. The paper is heavier than the Leuchtturm I used last year, and the only thing I've had bleed through is a really wide and wet fountain pen.

Tekukor A5 Notebook Hardcover Dot Grid - Dotted Pages For Bullet Journal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT974AP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_odxQBbGZ4YAK7

I've also heard good things about Scribbles That Matter, which uses 100 GSM paper. Dingbats journals also use 100 GSM paper, as does the Tekukor journal I linked. That seems to be the key for better paper.

I'm not sure what the Canadian prices will be, but they are all less than a Leuchtturm for me in the US.

Stalogy365 editors series in A5 is, to me, the closest you can get with a reasonable price, but it's very minimalist and not really dated. It has all twelve months in a line, numbers 1-31 on a line and days of the week on a line, very small and light in the top corner of each page where you can highlight or circle the info.


Edit for link https://www.amazon.com/Nitoms-S4101-STALOGY-365DaysNotebook-A5/dp/B00LFEBTCI

It sounds like the Panda Planner weekly would be perfect for you. It's A4, all in English. The downside is it's undated.

https://www.amazon.com/Panda-Planner-Weekly-Productivity-All/dp/B01IIK698K

five years now, I have been getting this incredibly unfussy Moleskin weekly planner. I like that it has the days of the week on one side, but then has an empty, lined page on the right where I can write down the address for a place I need to go to that week, or something that I want to look up, or just a list of things I want to finish. I use my planner to write down what I want to make for dinner each night, I'll jot down when an autopay is going to be pulled, and I think when there's too much going on in a planner, like some of those REALLY planned out Erin Condren planners, it actually makes it harder to use.

This is what I use, the paper is great, it's dotted, and there is a scribble page in the back so make sure you don't have bleeding or smearing

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LL2W46/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_bOH9AbSW2JJEF

There's the Nitoms Stalogy which has similarly thin paper. From what I've heard from others in this sub, it's not as awesome as TR but still pretty decent.

Edit: Added link.

This is the planner I use, happy planner. they are pretty decorative and can be cluttered for some. I know staples has something that are much more similar in looks to yours pictured. That planner I linked is the monthly then weekly spreads, I buy a separate daily docket from the same brand that I stick in for days I feel I need the whole day planned, it's this one- here.

Have some stuff Muji coming in as well but decided to post now :)

List of items -
Uni Kuru Toga Roulette: https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Kuru-Toga-Roulette-Mechanical-Pencil-0.5-mm-Gun-Metallic-Body/pd/6547

Tombow Mono Graph: https://www.jetpens.com/Tombow-Mono-Graph-Shaker-Mechanical-Pencil-0.3-mm-Black/pd/16825

Arch Eraser: https://www.jetpens.com/Sakura-Arch-Foam-Eraser-60-Black/pd/18452

Shitajiki Writing Board: https://www.jetpens.com/Kyoei-Orions-Clear-Shitajiki-Writing-Board-B5/pd/19479

Pilot Hi-Tec-C Maica: https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Hi-Tec-C-Maica-Gel-Pen-0.4-mm-Black/pd/10197

Pilot G-Tec-C Gel Pen: https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-G-Tec-C-Gel-Pen-0.25-mm-Black/pd/4561

Mono Eraser: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IFXJSW0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Kokuyo Campus Loose Leaf Paper: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017JWQ5H8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Stalogy A6 Editors Notebook: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TYDSQS2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Kokuyo Campus Notebook Set: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C4KL8I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Rotring 600: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZWYUA4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Kiki’s Delivery Service Kuru Toga Pencil: https://www.amazon.com/Mitsubishi-Delivery-Ballpoint-KURUTOGA-Guchokipanya/dp/B01LYDYVZE

Pilot Hi-Tec-C: https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Hi-Tec-C-Gel-Pen-0.25-mm-Black/pd/41

Yeah its a 5mm grid, and 367 pages. They have it in B5 as well, which is what I tend to use as my workhorse.

These Stalogies very nice. I have an A5 size. the paper is very similar to TR...a tiny bit crisper. There are dots instead of crosses.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LFEBUZY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=MDPUZTN33OPH&coliid=I374GENRSPWWIA

This specific journal lays in out in a page per day format. It's nicer in person than it looks. Has a linen cover and ribbon page marker. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0991846206/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492787659&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=5+minute+journal

I really like the Scribbles That Matter brand on amazon, the kind without dumb glyphs embossed on the cover. Roughly $20, good paper thickness, nice colors, pen holder.

I tried the Leuchturm once, but found the pages to be too thin, and missed the pen loop.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LL2W46/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3-xEDbSRVBBAV

I just discovered this a few months ago and love it: Nitcoms Stalogy

Well-made and uses Tomoe River paper, or something very similar. I'd show you mine, but the dog "redecorated" it. I have a new one on the way and will post pics when I'm set-up again.

Scribbles That Matter has a notebook with heavy 160 gms paper nowadays, same weight as the Olive & Archer books. Might be worth a try.

https://www.amazon.com/Bullet-Journal-Scribbles-That-Matter/dp/B01N63VX52

Amazon. I'll see if I can find a link

Thought it would take me longer, here you go -

Leather Journal Cover for Field Notes, Moleskine Cahier Cover, Handmade Vintage Leather Cover for 3.5" x 5.5" Notebooks, Coffee https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CGCLFG9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_d96WCb44RY323

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FS3SPCV/

Have you seen this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LFEBTCI/ref=s9_simh_gw_g200_i5_r?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=desktop-5&pf_rd_r=WM5FMMWZ79TZAEST2Y4Y&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=6a6cc5dd-a0e9-4c0d-9260-d64d035f3a65&pf_rd_i=desktop

Try this http://www.amazon.com/Nitoms-S4101-STALOGY-365DaysNotebook-A5/dp/B00LFEBTCI

Here are some smaller options:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q2V7S6K

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VPE1QG

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQ6E5XQ

https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Journal-Writing-Notebook-Handmade/dp/B07FS3SPCV/ref=asc_df_B07FS3SPCV/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242067829616&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10549943939905371919&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011803&hvtargid=pla-485857283920&psc=1

Wallet: Remington 12 GA wallet

Knife: Leatherman rebar

Watch: Casio F91W

pen: Fisher space pen

Notebook: you already know

Notebook case: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CGCLFG9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-WaHDbZV1188C

Headphones: some cheap Skullcandy ones

Sunglasses: optic nerve one mashup #18014

Maybe a Maxpedition pocket organizer. They have a lot of internal loops and straps for organizing the small stuff. MX266B-BRK Beefy Pocket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQ6E5XQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_tLtLAbCJSTDB8

This is the one I have right now, works so well for me! https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N63VX52/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zncyDbK7BCH7K

Only on Amazon marketplace. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nitoms-S4101-STALOGY-365DaysNotebook-A5/dp/B00LFEBTCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467580057&sr=8-1&keywords=stalogy+a5

Can't say I wasn't tempted, because the total was about 22 GBP, however I didn't want to take any chances with the stupid customs fees.