Based on learnings this year, my planner setup and tools for 2026 is as follows:
- Desktop calendar
- A5 planner in monthly layout (for planning)
- A5 planner in monthly layout (for confirmed post)
- Social media and blog planner
A short video on my planner set up is as follows:
The song is sung by Glenn Close of Andrew Lyodd Webber’s Sunset Bouleward.
My tools have always been simple, nothing elaborate but it has worked well for me over the years. I just manage my blogs, YouTube channel and social media account on part time basis. When time permits, I would create content and usually the content gets scheduled.
Digital tools seemed to be a popular option. However, I’ve always preferred paper planning. The thin and light A5 planners can easily fit into my bag if I need to go out. Through paper planning, I find that I am not distracted, and my eyes are not strained through staring at the computer.
Each person would have their own unique planning style. No two persons are alike. Establishing the planning style would require trial and error. Hopefully, this post would give you some ideas in how to go about your personal planning.
Desktop calendar
Desktop calendar has always been a staple in planning my life. For as long as I remember, I’ve been using a desktop calendar to jot and write down important dates and appointments. For next year, I’ve purchased a very inexpensive calendar that also contain dates in Chinese language.
The calendar sits in my room at a prominient place. As a foreigner living in Thailand, there are important dates to take note of such as my 90 day reporting and visa expiry. I also list down reminders for me to settle various bills which have different due dates. Appointments and specific tasks on certain dates are also listed in the calendar.
A5 monthly spread planner
I have been using these cute, thin and inexpensive monthly size planners for many years. I got these from Thailand for about 35 baht (less than USD1). This style of planner has worked well for me.
I’ve bought these planners online as they are still not available in stores. In total I have bought 2 of such planners for 2026. And the seller has also kindly send me an additional 2 more planners for free although it is for 2025, which is coming to an end. This has helped me to start off first …. using one to plan and another to list down published content for this last quarter.
Planner for just planning
To separate planning and actual published content is better than putting all in a single page as it can get confusing. If the item has already been done, I will strike off. I am already finding this to be very helpful because through referencing the planner, I am reminded of tasks that I definitely would have forgotten.
Take for example this blog post. This post would be published first but I would also create a Shorts video related to this post. The shorts video would be scheduled in advance and not published immediately. If I do not put in a reminder on the date of the video publishing to link the video in the blog post, I would surely forget.
It is the same for seasonal and festive items that needs to be added to social media, and in blogs, to be removed from the sidebar once the festival is over. Without planning in advance, it is easy to overlook or forget …. which has often happened in the past for me.
Also with a planner, it really frees up our mind and we need not worry. We just refer to the date and do accordingly to what we have listed in the planner and then strike it off once it is done.
Planner for scheduling posts, videos and social media content
The second planner is to list down confirmed content and their publishing date. This format I have been using for few years with good effect.
Using Erasable pens
I use erasable pens to help me with planning. For many years I have been using mostly Frixion pens as I find their quality to be good and consistent. This is especially so when it comes to planning and scheduling content as there are often changes and amendments to be made. It is because of the peace of mind of able to amend and change the content that made me start and then continue on.
Content DIY planner on a plain spiral notebook
I’ve written more about this planner in a separate post. Even though the post was written in October 2024, I am still using the planner till this date.
There are some changes from the post:
- I no longer create and use the monthly planner spreads since I am using from the two A5 books that I have purchased
Sections I create that I am consistently using:
- checklist for blog maintenance ie plugin and theme updates
- checklist on what to do after publishing content for videos and blog post
- section detailing contents I’ve placed on sidebar and festive based content
- songs list (I create a lot of Shorts, hence I have a page where I list down all the potential songs to use)
- a brain dump for content ideas
The above are for time sensitive functions and content. I’ve actually have other notebooks to organize non time sensitive information such as commonplace books (I have recently made two of these for different purposes), a quote book, DIY sticker book, etc.
I’ve also got a separate book, a blog progress journal which is more of like a SOP (standard operating procedures) which covers step by step on various blog processes such as what to do when changing themes or how to setup certain more complicated plugins.
Conclusion
The above is my setup for 2026.
You can get ideas from various sources but in the end, you can only find what works for you through trial and error. Because most of the time, a lot of planning sounds good in theory or suit another person but may be ineffective for you.
Happy planning.
