Drilling Down on the Best Pen and Paper Planners for Post-Concussion Syndrome/mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Having a good organizational system is a key ingredient in recovery from persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS)/mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). You can find a potential model for that here.
If you want to create a successful organizational system for yourself, you’ll need a planner that will enable you to compensate for the executive function deficits caused by PCS/mTBI. Bearing that in mind, I shared a list in early 2024 of my recommended planners for individuals with PCS/mTBI— which I chose on the basis of these standards.
Starting in this post with my recommended Pen and Paper planners, here is a list of how well each planner satisfies those standards:
1. (Tie) The Roterunner Purpose Planner
✅ Monthly and weekly time views— with an easy way to go back and forth between these.
✅ Space for appointments and to-do list items to appear on the same 2-page spread (or single-page spread) for the week.
✅ A time grid in your weekly view
✅ A to-do list that: a) has enough space to write tasks down on each line; and b) is broken out into 2-4 categories with at least 10 spaces for items in at least 3 of the categories (or 15 spaces for 2 categories)
✅ Next to the to-do list, on the left: spaces to write in numbers, words or other notations for prioritizing to-do list items.
✅ 5-10 spaces to write down priority to-do’s and tasks for each day.
✅ A place to jot down notes, without having to write them down in your schedule or on your to-do list.
✅ A place for reflection.
✅ A place to do longer-term planning.
1. (Tie) The Panda Planner Weekly
✅ Monthly and weekly time views— with an easy way to go back and forth between these.
✅ Space for appointments and to-do list items to appear on the same 2-page spread (or single-page spread) for the week.
✅ A time grid in your weekly view
✅ A to-do list that: a) has enough space to write tasks down on each line; and b) is broken out into 2-4 categories with at least 10 spaces for items in at least 3 of the categories (or 15 spaces for 2 categories)
✅ Next to the to-do list, on the left: spaces to write in numbers, words or other notations for prioritizing to-do list items.
✅ 5-10 spaces to write down priority to-do’s and tasks for each day. (❌ Although there are only 3 spaces listed/day, each space is more than double the size of the Roterunner’s daily spaces, so you should be able to fit 2-3 items/space for a total of 6-9 items. )
✅ A place to jot down notes, without having to write them down in your schedule or on your to-do list.
✅ A place for reflection.
✅ A place to do longer-term planning.
3. (Tie) The Planner Pad
✅ Monthly and weekly time views— with an easy way to go back and forth between these.
✅ Space for appointments and to-do list items to appear on the same 2-page spread (or single-page spread) for the week.
✅ A time grid in your weekly view
✅ A to-do list that: a) has enough space to write tasks down on each line; and b) is broken out into 2-4 categories with at least 10 spaces for items in at least 3 of the categories (or 15 spaces for 2 categories)
❌ Next to the to-do list, on the left: spaces to write in numbers, words or other notations for prioritizing to-do list items.
✅ 5-10 spaces to write down priority to-do’s and tasks for each day.
✅ A place to jot down notes, without having to write them down in your schedule or on your to-do list.
❌ A place for reflection.
❌ A place to do longer-term planning. (Although it has pages it calls planning pages, they are just an extended calendar and not necessarily helpful to any deeper planning.)
3. (Tie) Maalbok 2024 Planner
✅ Monthly and weekly time views— with an easy way to go back and forth between these.
✅ Space for appointments and to-do list items to appear on the same 2-page spread (or single-page spread) for the week.
✅ A time grid in your weekly view
✅ A to-do list that: a) has enough space to write tasks down on each line; and b) is broken out into 2-4 categories with at least 10 spaces for items in at least 3 of the categories (or 15 spaces for 2 categories)
❌ Next to the to-do list, on the left: spaces to write in numbers, words or other notations for prioritizing to-do list items.
✅ 5-10 spaces to write down priority to-do’s and tasks for each day.
✅ A place to jot down notes, without having to write them down in your schedule or on your to-do list.
❌ A place for reflection.
❌A place to do longer-term planning.
3. The Passion Planner Elite 2024
✅ Monthly and weekly time views— with an easy way to go back and forth between these.
✅ Space for appointments and to-do list items to appear on the same 2-page spread (or single-page spread) for the week.
✅ A time grid in your weekly view
✅ A to-do list that: a) has enough space to write tasks down on each line; and b) is broken out into 2-4 categories with at least 10 spaces for items in at least 3 of the categories (or 15 spaces for 2 categories)
✅ Next to the to-do list, on the left: spaces to write in numbers, words or other notations for prioritizing to-do list items.
❌ 5-10 spaces to write down priority to-do’s and tasks for each day.
✅ A place to jot down notes, without having to write them down in your schedule or on your to-do list.
✅ A place for reflection.
✅ A place to do longer-term planning.
❌ Monthly and weekly time views— with an easy way to go back and forth between these. (There are only monthly and daily time views.)
❌ Space for appointments and to-do list items to appear on the same 2-page spread (or single-page spread) for the week. (since there is no weekly view. However, daily appointments and to-do list items appear in the same one-page spread.)
❌ A time grid in your weekly view (since there is no weekly view. However, there is a time grid in your daily view.)
❌ A to-do list that: a) has enough space to write tasks down on each line; and b) is broken out into 2-4 categories with at least 10 spaces for items in at least 3 of the categories (or 15 spaces for 2 categories)
✅ Next to the to-do list, on the left: spaces to write in numbers, words or other notations for prioritizing to-do list items.
✅ 5-10 spaces to write down priority to-do’s and tasks for each day.
✅ A place to jot down notes, without having to write them down in your schedule or on your to-do list.
✅ A place for reflection.
✅ A place to do longer-term planning.
❌ Monthly and weekly time views— with an easy way to go back and forth between these.
❌ Space for appointments and to-do list items to appear on the same 2-page spread (or single-page spread) for the week. (since there is no weekly view. However, daily appointments and to-do list items appear in the same one-page spread.)
❌ A time grid in your weekly view (since there is no weekly view. However, there is a time grid in your daily view.)
✅ A to-do list that: a) has enough space to write tasks down on each line; and b) is broken out into 2-4 categories with at least 10 spaces for items in at least 3 of the categories (or 15 spaces for 2 categories).
✅ Next to the to-do list, on the left: spaces to write in numbers, words or other notations for prioritizing to-do list items. (Note that these spaces appear on the daily calendar pages instead do the weekly ones, but there is still space to write these in on the weekly.)
✅ 5-10 spaces to write down priority to-do’s and tasks for each day.
✅❌ A place to jot down notes, without having to write them down in your schedule or on your to-do list. (The space for this is small though, so you can’t fit much in it.)
✅ A place for reflection.
✅ A place to do longer-term planning.
7. (Tie) Wonderland 222 2025 A5 Tomoe River Paper All-In-One Weekly Planner or Undated A5 Tomoe River Paper Weekly Planner
✅ Monthly and weekly time views— with an easy way to go back and forth between these.
✅ Space for appointments and to-do list items to appear on the same 2-page spread (or single-page spread) for the week.
✅ A time grid in your weekly view
✅ ❌ A to-do list that: a) has enough space to write tasks down on each line; and b) is broken out into 2-4 categories with at least 10 spaces for items in at least 3 of the categories (or 15 spaces for 2 categories) — achievable through some modifications and if you don’t write too big.
✅❌ Next to the to-do list, on the left: spaces to write in numbers, words or other notations for prioritizing to-do list items (Achievable, though it means sacrificing space you would otherwise use for your to-do list.)
✅ 5-10 spaces to write down priority to-do’s and tasks for each day.
✅❌ A place to jot down notes, without having to write them down in your schedule or on your to-do list. (Using space to do so would significantly impact the amount of space you have for your weekly to-do’s.)
✅ A place for reflection.
✅ A place to do longer-term planning.
9. Nolty 6501 Listy 1 Weekly Planner A5 Slim— 2025 Jan Start
✅ Monthly and weekly time views— with an easy way to go back and forth between these.
✅ Space for appointments and to-do list items to appear on the same 2-page spread (or single-page spread) for the week.
✅ A time grid in your weekly view
✅ ❌ A to-do list that: a) has enough space to write tasks down on each line (this depends on. how small you can write); and b) is broken out into 2-4 categories with at least 10 spaces for items in at least 3 of the categories (or 15 spaces for 2 categories) — you can format it to achieve this.
✅❌ Next to the to-do list, on the left: spaces to write in numbers, words or other notations for prioritizing to-do list items (Achievable, though it means sacrificing space you would otherwise use for your to-do list.)
✅ 5-10 spaces to write down priority to-do’s and tasks for each day.
✅❌ A place to jot down notes, without having to write them down in your schedule or on your to-do list. (Works if you use the space on the left for notes and the space below the time grids for to-do list items— though this could sacrifice space to-do list space you might otherwise use.)
✅ A place for reflection.
✅ A place to do longer-term planning.
10. The Smart Planner Weekly Pro Undated
✅ Monthly and weekly time views— with an easy way to go back and forth between these.
✅ Space for appointments and to-do list items to appear on the same 2-page spread (or single-page spread) for the week.
✅ A time grid in your weekly view
❌ A to-do list that: a) has enough space to write tasks down on each line (this depends on. how small you can write); and b) is broken out into 2-4 categories with at least 10 spaces for items in at least 3 of the categories (or 15 spaces for 2 categories).
❌ Next to the to-do list, on the left: spaces to write in numbers, words or other notations for prioritizing to-do list items
❌ 5-10 spaces to write down priority to-do’s and tasks for each day.
✅❌ A place to jot down notes, without having to write them down in your schedule or on your to-do list. (If you use the Notes section on the bottom for notes instead of to-do’s, then there is some limited room for this.)
✅ A place for reflection.
✅ A place to do longer-term planning.
11. The Happy Planner Work + Life Onyx Planner
✅ Monthly and weekly time views— with an easy way to go back and forth between these.
✅ Space for appointments and to-do list items to appear on the same 2-page spread (or single-page spread) for the week.
✅ A time grid in your weekly view
❌ A to-do list that: a) has enough space to write tasks down on each line (this depends on. how small you can write); and b) is broken out into 2-4 categories with at least 10 spaces for items in at least 3 of the categories (or 15 spaces for 2 categories).
❌ Next to the to-do list, on the left: spaces to write in numbers, words or other notations for prioritizing to-do list items
❌ 5-10 spaces to write down priority to-do’s and tasks for each day.
✅❌ A place to jot down notes, without having to write them down in your schedule or on your to-do list. (If you use the Notes section on the bottom for notes instead of to-do’s, then there is some limited room for this.)
✅ A place for reflection.
✅ A place to do longer-term planning.
This is part 1 of a 2-part series. Part 2 will similarly drill down on my top-rated digital planners.