I had barely hit “order” on my 2026 Hobonichi planner when my feed exploded with TikToks and Instagrams of people already setting theirs up—for next year. It was only the first week of September.
It’s November now, and I still haven’t opened my 2026 planner to “set it up.” The funny thing is, it’s a pre-printed planner – there’s really nothing to set up. However, I keep seeing pictures of other people’s beautifully decorated planners, and I must admit, they look nice. I’ve realized I enjoy looking at those pictures, but I don’t actually want to make my planner look like that. It’s just too much work. Whenever I make something too complicated, I end up not doing it at all. I do have a simple layout in my planner that I use, and I think I will stick with that.
I still have two months left in the year – plenty of time to set up my planner. Plus, I have Thanksgiving and Christmas menus to plan. I think the Thanksgiving menu is done; now I just need to put together the shopping list.
I’m almost halfway through The Truths We Hold. I’m not political, but I enjoy a good biography. The Truths We Hold is less about politics and more about values and public service. She shares stories from her upbringing and career, tying them to themes like justice, community, and perseverance.
It’s an easy, thoughtful read that focuses on what drives her rather than political drama. The tone is polished yet hopeful, offering a nice glimpse into how her background has shaped her approach to leadership. If you’re curious about how government works but don’t care for the combative side of politics, this book is a good fit.
I can’t seem to think of much to write today. My mind keeps going blank. Focusing on studying feels especially difficult right now, though I don’t know why. I feel okay, but staying with any one task just isn’t happening. It’s frustrating. I’m putting in effort, but my mind just won’t settle. I’m not exactly distracted, but when the house gets really quiet, it can be hard to stay on task. I’ve taken a few breaks today – put away the laundry, had lunch, and even rescheduled Karissa’s cardiology appointment for next month when Tommy can take us. Those things took longer than they should have because I just couldn’t seem to focus. And honestly, rescheduling the appointment took extra effort since I had to work up the courage to make the call – because of phone anxiety.
Dinner tonight is carnitas. I actually thought we’d have it last night, but we ended up making pulled pork instead. Alex and I had to make a quick trip to the store for hamburger buns since I completely forgot them the first time. Maybe I’ll chop the onions and cilantro while I sit here figuring out what to do next. Yes, that’s a good idea. Time to prep dinner.
