The Happiness Planner review 2021

Our favorite planner to date!

When I was searching for a new planner in 2019, I wanted to try something different and inspirational. I was looking for a planner that had a professional aesthetic that would help me organize my goals. I have used planers from many different brands throughout the years, but The Happiness Planner has been my favorite thus far. I have purchased 4 of their planners since 2019 (a daily planner for 2019 & 2020, and daily “inserts” in 2021, and a weekly planner in 2021). Prior to my purchases, I noticed these planners offered journal style question and answers, daily quotes, printables, a nice box with little accessories, and more. It was the most I had every spent on a planner, but for me, the investment was worth it. Keep reading for a full-review of The Happiness Planner starting with my experience with the 2019, 2020, and 2021 planners, then details on the 2021 Daily Inserts and the 52 Week Journal (Undated).

The Happiness planner- Review

I purchased planners for 2019, 2020, and 2021. Here are some thoughts I have on each planner year to year:

2019: I purchased the black and rose gold planner with the 2019 inserts. It came with printables of a Bucket List, lists helping you break down your goals into steps, paperclips, a rose colored pen, stickers, and more. It came in a beautiful box that I still store items in. This was my first experience with this brand, and I was very impressed. The planner looked very professional, and I often even used it as a clutch (it had little card holders in the inner cover). I was also excited about all the extra lists and accessories in the box, especially because I did not expect any of it. What this planner did for me that others I have owned in the past didn’t, was that it helped me to break down large goals into actionable steps. When I was planning for my backpacking trip across Europe in 2019, I had no idea where to start. This planner helped me create smaller goals that would help me achieve this dream.

2020: For 2020, I purchased the white/cream and rose gold planner. I am not sure if I purchased a late version or if it’s because I purchased the undated version (dated were sold out at the time), but my box did not come with all the accessories and extra printable lists that my 2019 planner came with. I enjoyed the monthly goal setting layout in this planner and the personal reflection questions at the beginning. The undated pages were nice in that if I didn’t use some dates, I could reuse it for any date. However, I preferred the dated pages (for a daily planner) as it helped me to stay more organized. I know some people prefer undated, so this is a personal preference!

2021: I ordered the pink and rose gold planner with the 52 week journal (undated) and the daily dated 2021 inserts. So far, I am loving these. One thing I wished the 2019 & 2020 planners had was a weekly view. Other planners I have used in the past had this view, and it was especially useful in college or when planning tasks by weeks. Now, I use my weekly planner for these purposes. Although these are undated, for my weekly planning purposes I do not need dates–I have my daily planner for that :). I use my 2021 daily dated inserts (which came without a binder), and put them in my white and rose gold planner from 2020. That is the other great aspect of these planners, you can just keep reusing the binders and order new inserts if you choose to do so. I am enjoying the goal setting and reflections pages at the beginning of these planners as well. Another bonus, the 52 week journal binder came with the printables and accessories that I missed in 2020! (I am not sure if each box comes with these). I will review the 52 week journal and 2021 daily inserts in depth below.

52 week journal (undated)

I enjoyed the daily Happiness Planners in previous years but decided to purchase a weekly planner. Throughout college, I got used to visualizing my goals and taks weekly. I am happy with this purchase, I view it daily to keep track of my weekly goals. This makes it easier for me to break down those goals into mini-steps in my daily planner. This is the way I like planning, but a weekly planner might be all you need. Again, it is a personal preference!

Create a “Happiness Roadmap”

This weekly journal starts with pages and pages of reflections about who you are and what you would like to accomplish in this world. If you have never done this type of in-depth journaling, you might be suprised at what you discover about yourself. It helps you gain clarity in what makes you happy so you can focus more on bringing joy to your life.

Weekly Planning and Relection

Similar to the daily planner, each week starts off with a inspirational quote. There are sections to write what you are looking forward to, your personal goals, work goals, with a weekly view where you can create a to-do list or write your goals.

At the end of the week, you can rate your energy, stress, and health levels. It walks you through gratitude reflections, what you learned, and what you hope for. You can use these to start planning your next week.

52 Week Reflection

The planner and reflections builds on eachother. For example, during the weekly reflections, you pick 3 words to describe your week. At the end of the 52 weeks, you reflect on 3 words for that year. It asks you questions about what you enjoyed on a daily basis, new habits you created, and more. It also asks you to reflect on any negative moments and how you overcame them. I find these reflection questions useful, as it can help you create a habit of reflecting so you can do more of what brings you joy and learn from any challenges you may have faced.

Dividers, Accessories, Stickers

I am not sure if these accessories come with every box, but my weekly planner came with paper clips, 1 rose gold pen, dividers, stickers, and printables. I think it is a nice touch!

2021 daily inserts

As noted above, the 2021 daily inserts are loose-leaf inserts you can put in The Happiness Planner binder. I use the binders I have from purchasing The Happiness Planners in previous years.

Personal Reflection

These inserts include an in-depth personal reflection section at the beginning of the planner called “My Roadpad to transformation.” It walks you through a series of questions to help you identify your goals and values. This is one of my favorite parts of their planner.

Daily Planning and Reflection

Each day you have an inspirational quote to start your day off on a positive note. I enjoye the “Main Focus” area, which helps me to have a clear vision of what I want to accomplish that day. There is a to-do list section and a section to write your schedule for the day. Below the task lists is a reflection setion where you can “rate” how you felt that day, what your “highs” and “lows” were, and a place to write your gratitude.

Monthly Plannning and Reflection

At the start of every month, you can create clear goals that you want to accomplish. At the end of the month, there is a section to reflect on your goals for the month. This set up is very useful for staying organized and mindful.

Are the 2021 inserts right for you?

If you already have a binder from The Happiness Planner, or a binder that would fit these inserts, this might be the way to go. As I mentioned above, I had a leather binder from 2020 that I could reuse so I purchased the inserts instead of a spiral bound or soft cover option. I did not see a 2021 binder option on their website this year, so if you want a binder from them, they have binders with outdated inserts (from previous years) you could use. If you would rather have the binder with a updated option, you could purchase the binder and inserts separately. The inserts I purchased are the Jan-Dec 2021 inserts dated. When I purchased the binders with inserts in previous years, it was about $70. They seem to have more options at a more affordable price now. If you do not like the binder style or don’t want to replace old inserts, you can also try their 2021 spiral bound or soft cover planner. See their 2021 options here.

learn more about yourself

These planners are more than a planner. They are journals containing self-reflection roadmaps and step-by-step guides to help you live a more fulfilling life. If you are looking for a planner that is more than just about planning, these may be the perfect choice for you. If you like simplicity and are looking for a planner with no reflection sections, there are plenty of planners out there for that purpose. I personally love what The Happiness Planner offers. It has made me more mindful not just of my days, but of my values and goals. It has been a wonderful tool for me and is part of my “self-care” routine. If you have any questions or comments, reach out to us below! Happy Planning!

The Happiness Planner review 2021