Note: I learned that the version of the planner I reviewed here is an older version (purchased end of 2020) and doesn’t match the current print version of the Roterunner Purpose Planner. A new review is coming soon!
I consider using a planner to be an act of self-care. I don’t just use a planner as a place to keep my tasks. Using a planner as a dumping ground (or inbox) for things that cross my mind throughout the day helps me to keep my head clear for whatever task is at hand, instead of ruminating on what else needs to get done. It’s less about productivity and more about keeping my mind clear.
I’d probably get nothing done if it wasn’t for using a planner. I’ve tried a lot of different options over the years with my previous favorite being the bullet journal system in a Moleskine notebook. I’ve come to realize that I work best with using two tools: a main planner notebook, and a project management app like Asana for larger projects that have a lot of moving parts.
After using a not-so-great planner last year (I used the Create & Cultivate Self Made planner in 2020 and wasn’t a huge fan of the lack of writing space or instruction on how to use some of the features), I did some hefty research before making my planner purchase for 2021. Ultimately, I ended up purchasing the Roterunner Purpose Planner and have been using it for one whole month – so it seemed like a good time to write a review! Just as a disclaimer, this post is not sponsored (but hey, Roterunner, hit me up!).
What is the Roterunner Purpose Planner?
This planner is a six-month, open date planner. The dimensions are the same size as a larger hardcover Moleskine (19x25cm). I tend to lean towards smaller size planners so they fit easily in any of my handbags, but I decided to take a risk with this one. I ended up liking the larger size since it allowed for more writing space. The flat-lay planner itself has an internal storage pocket, an elastic to keep the cover shut, and two ribbons for bookmarking.
I purchased the planner online through the Roterunner website. Hopefully they’ll be available through more retailers in the future, but at the moment it appears that online purchases are the only way to get your hands on one of these.
Compartmentalization Rules
At first I was a little bit concerned about the amount of compartmentalization. Every week has boxes for checklists for:
- Work & Career
- Home & Admin
- Projects & Passion
- Friends & Networks
- To buy & Not to Do
- 7 Daily Habits
- A sleep tracker
- Self Care & fitness calendar
- Meal planning
- Notes section
And this is on top of the weekly calendar setup. Does it seem like too much? At first I thought I might end up being overwhelmed by the amount of compartmentalization, but I’ve come to realize it actually makes me less worried by the amount of things that I needed to get done because I can separate things that are work or project related from things that matter to my health or home. I don’t find myself digging through my to-do lists anymore. I can zero in on specific areas if I need to.
I recognize that this might not be for everyone, but if you have a shorter attention span like I do and find organizing things into lists helps you to think clearer, this level of compartmentalization is really great.
Final Impressions
Favorite features
- Non-Dated Format: Six month open date allows for more flexibility and less guilt if you want to change to a new planner halfway through the year.
- Compartmentalization: keeping everything in separate boxes really does help to keep focus. For some things on my to-do list, I didn’t know which compartment to put it in though. Some items would fall into both Projects & Passion and Work & Career. There were a few compartments that went unused (like the Sleep Tracker), but overall I enjoyed having these features available when I needed them.
- Quality Feels: The hardcover and paper feels high quality. I didn’t run into any issues with my pilot pen ink bleeding through the paper.
Least favorite features
- Monday start weeks: After six months of using the planner, I don’t think I’ve gotten used to it.
- Timestamps: Even though this planner uses a horizontal weekly layout, the timestamps are only on the far left side of the week. I would’ve preferred if time stamps were included for each day of the week, because the further along in the week, the harder it became to use time blocking. Having lines in this section instead of a dot grid might’ve also helped here.
- Placement of the Monthly Reflections: This might be a “me” thing, but I found it hard to keep referring back to the monthly goals and reflections page. I’ve been tending to go week by week and not review the month’s goals. Having a section at the end of the month for reflection instead of at the beginning of the month might’ve been helpful.
After using the Roterunner Purpose Planner from January 2021 through the beginning of June 2021, I overall felt that it was definitely one of the better planners I’ve used. I did find that a lot of space went unused in the planner, including weeks that went completely unused. It’s pretty funny that this was my biggest complaint, considering my last year’s planner didn’t have enough space – this one has too much of it! For the rest of the year, I’m going to test out two 90 day/quarterly planners to see if having a more short term planner has any effect on personal project management.
