While on the hunt for goal setting planners in a non-traditional format, I stumbled across the Productivity Planner!

Disclaimer: I received a discount off the cost of the planner in exchange for this review. As always, all opinions are my own. Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase this planner using my affiliate link I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Quick facts

• Size” 5.2″ wide x 8.5″ high
• Book / sewn binding
• Cover is textured, vegan-leather composite material
• This belongs to page in case your planner is lost
• Gender neutral color scheme
• Weekly planning task list format
• Day to a page task list format
• Undated
• Will last 6 months

Price: $24.95 USD + shipping

Let’s take a closer look!

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The Cover

The planner is compact, very thin and lightweight – would weigh about as much as my Kindle.

The cover is the usual soft leather material that all bookbound planners seem to have.

I do like the gold foil effect of the planner name constrasting with the black (my 2nd fav color combo after rainbow).

Approx 1.7cm / 1.25″ thick

This belongs to page

Planning Tips

At the front of the planner are a few pages with tips on writing a better to do list, for deciding on the most important thing, the pomodoro technique etc. I think these pages are a bit of a waste of paper – it’s all common sense stuff that’s flooded on the internet in numerous blogs.

There’s a lot of these pages, so here’s just a few:

Given that this planner is day to a page plus weekly overview and review – the planner won’t last an entire year. So each time you buy a planner, these unnecessary pages will be in it.

Commitment

To be honest, I feel like ‘fill in the blank’ pages like these are a bit childish. I’ve tried them before in other planners and I don’t feel like I get anything out of it. Maybe it’s the questions but I just don’t find these pages effective.

How to Use the Planner

Some examples of pre-filled pages. I like when planners include these to give ideas on different ways the planner can be used.

Monthly Calendar

There is no monthly calendar in this planner.

Quotes pages

There are different quote pages throughout

Weekly Overview

Something I wish more planners included – a task based weekly overview section – ideal for pre-planning the week before you break things down in detail in the daily section.

Related: How (and why) I pre-plan the week using the Plum Paper horizontal lined with notes layout

This one is broken down into:

• Five most important tasks of the week
• Tasks of secondary importance
• Additional tasks
• A a commitment section

<3 the big checkboxes

Daily Planner

This planner doesn’t have a traditional days of the week format, nor a traditional day to a page scheduling layout (this is actually the reason I wanted this planner). Instead of the typical scheduling space broken down into time intervals (which never work for me since they tend to start too early), there’s task based planning space.

I like the idea of the pomodoro tracker and honing in on your 1st, 2nd and less important priorities, however it doesn’t leave much space for the little things. Things like don’t forget to drop off the dry cleaning, pay a bill etc. – those quick tasks that don’t need a pomodoro tracker.

While there is a notes section for each day I don’t think it will be big enough. The other argument could be that the whole point of the planner is to narrow in on what’s really important…. however I do think there needs to be more space for those random things that pop up. Since there’s no monthly calendar either, I think I’d only be able to use this planner with sticky notes, a list notepad or another planner, and keep this as more of a project planner.

Weekly Review

Something I wish more planners included – a weekly review section!

As you can see in the image above, this planner’s paper is really thin – so thin you can clearly see the design printed on the back side of the page.

Dates at a glance

There is no dated at a glance planner (as the planner is undated).

Extras pages

There are no extra pages in this planner.

Tabs

There are no tabs in this planner.

Pen Testing

I tried various ballpoint, gel, fine tip and marker tip pens – there was some ghosting on the back side of the page. I also did some highlighter and stamp swatches. The highlighters also had some ghosting and, as always, the MAMBI stamps bled through the page ?

The paper is yellow, not white which is always a deterrent for me – I think it makes the planner feel a bit cheap.

There was terrible ghosting and bleed through of the marker pens.

You’ll need to be very selective about the pens you use. The PaperMate Inkjoy 100 1.0M (ballpoint) showed through the least.

Pros of the Planner

• Portable size
• Built in ribbon page marker
• Undated – stop and start using it anytime
• Different quotes throughout
• Minimalist, gender neutral design
• Numbered pages

Cons of the Planner

• Expensive to use for an entire year (unless you buy the 2 you’ll need in 1 go to save on shipping)
• Very basic design – there aren’t any extra pages
• No monthly calendar
• No notes pages at the back
• No personalisation option
• The paper is yellow, not white
• The pages tend to self-close so you have to hold them open with one hand
• The paper is so thin you can see the printing of the back page

Would I Use This Planner?

I don’t think this planner would be a good fit for me. I think a printable would work fine that you could use as and when you need it, rather than buying the entire planner. The entire planner has a simple layout that you could do yourself in a bullet journal. It’s also quite expensive considering the paper quality isn’t that great, there aren’t any extra pages or a monthly calendar.

There’s not enough space for little things that pop up. I’d only be able to use this planner with sticky notes, a list notepad or another planner, and keep this as more of a project planner.

If you’re someone that trends to over-schedule, or need some space to write to do’s but you don’t need a traditional planner, don’t like day to a page planners which include a schedule and you don’t need a monthly calendar (or you use a wall calendar, google calendar or other digital system etc.) then the Productivity Planner may be a good fit for you.

If you like this notebook, it’s available on Amazon (affiliate link)

More planner reviews:

• Using the Slice Planner (daily planner + app)
• Planning by category rather than by day using a Kikki K Notepad – ‘Work Smarter : Live Better’
• Using the daily and weekly Momentum Planner by Productive Flourishing

Planning Tips:

• How to Choose a Printer (Including the best printer for printing printables and planner stickers) 
• Ultimate planner page size guide (with printable reference cheat sheet) 
• Free Printable Erin Condren Vertical Life Planner (or any planner) Ombre Pineapple List Stickers

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