ROB DORN

A planner book style can be either hardbound or softbound. I personally prefer softbound as it is more flexible and can handle added pages.​
 
There are at least five different binding styles for planners: traditional binding, spiral binding, ring binder, disc binder, and full year/partial year planners. My preferred styles are traditional binding with a soft cover and the ring binder or disc binder, which allows for easy re-arrangement and addition of pages.
 
When purchasing a planner, it's important to ensure that it covers an entire year rather than a partial year. Some planners divide the year into four 90-day books to preserve size, essentially making you pay for four planners instead of one. This is mostly for undated format planners.
 
Planners come in various sizes, including standard sizes such as letter size (8.5 x 11), half letter (8.5 x 5.5), medium size (7x9), A5 size (5.83 x 8.27 inches), B5 (6.9 x 9.8 inches), and personal pocket size (3.2 x 4.7”).
 
There are different planner formats, including monthly, weekly, and daily formats. Each format may also include a month section and a generous notes section.
 
Dated vs. Undated Planners:
There is a preference for dated planners over undated ones due to the tedious task of filling in dates. However, there are stickers available to add the month name, week name, and numbers for undated planners.
 
Planners now offer different layouts, including simple calendar, week view, or dashboard style spreads, which provide a comprehensive overview of the week with space for to-do lists, habits, and notes. There are various styles available, ranging from minimal to complex, offering room for gratitude, meal plans, fitness trackers, and more.
 
It's helpful if a planner lays  flat, as most modern planners boast this feature. Otherwise, you would have to practically crack the spine to keep the book open.
 
The paper quality is crucial, as you want to ensure that the ink won't bleed through. Some planners use thin and flimsy paper, while others have stronger, bleed-proof paper.
 
Planners come in a variety of designs, from simple to complex works of art, offering different styles and themes to choose from. The ideal design varies based on personal preferences.
 
Planner fonts can be sans serif or serif, simple or elaborate, and the choices are endless.
 
Some planners offer tabs, maps, charts, budget forms, and other sections for personal information and goal setting, providing an instructional guide for the planning process.