I’ve been using an Erin Condren Life Planner for the last 10 years. I started out using the 7×9 size in their vertical layout, but then switched to the horizontal layout because that works better for how I like to use the planner. Then, two years ago, I decided to try out the A5 life planner size and I love it so much.
I did a full review comparing the regular 7×9 size to the A5 size. The compact size is so much cuter and practical for me. I don’t travel with my planner, but I prefer the smaller size on my desk. If you are interested in getting an Erin Condren A5 Life Planner, keep reading for why I love mine and a review of the new 2024 planner.
WHY I LOVE MY PLANNER
Like I mentioned, I’ve been using a life planner for 10 years! This new 2024 A5 planner will be my 11th year using an Erin Condren. My planner functions as an organizer, goal/task tracker, and memory book. I use it every day; it helps me to stay focused on my goals, and celebrate my accomplishments.
Quality
The build quality of the life planner is great. The paper is thick and had a nice texture. I can use a variety of pens and highlighters without any bleed though or shadowing.
The monthly tabs are laminated and securely attached, so you can easily flip between months without fear of pages ripping.
The pages are all bound with a super thick and strong coil. You’ll never have to worry about the coil getting bent and the pages being difficult to turn.
Size/Layout
As I mentioned, I get the A5 size in the horizontal layout and I’m so happy with it. It fits nicely on my desk with its holographic cover around it. The layout is very clean and minimal which I prefer. There are no extra headers or space-defining titles, so I can use the sections in a way that suits my planning needs.
Function
A planner is only “good” if it works for you. Just having a planner doesn’t make you organized. My A5 life planner motivates me to want to keep using it, to keep tracking toward my goals, and document the special things in my life.
Each month has a different color theme which I really enjoy because each month feels like a fresh start. I find that the color change makes me excited to keep using the planner.
The life planner eco system has so many accessories available to enhance your planning experience. I have been using fewer stickers and washii tape embellishments lately, but you can find a ton of options that are custom made to fit life planners. Here’s a post of all the life planner accessories I have used with my A5 planner.
Ordering My 2024 A5 Planner
I was a little torn on which planner to order this year. I selected a gold coiled A5 planner with a personalized cover in the horizontal layout, but there were only two interior design options — Inspire (colorful) or Wildflowers (neutral).
I was pretty disappointed in these two options. The Inspire’s (colorful) version has super saturated colors. I had chosen the neutral version for my 2023 planner and vastly prefer it to the colorful version. I love a bright saturated colorful planner, but I dislike the hues and order of the Erin Condren colors. It’s a personal preference, but I wasn’t sure I could go back to the vibrant, colorful version after using a neutral version this year.
The Wildflowers’ (neutral) version had the hue and color order that I prefer, but it has a scripty, loopy font this year. I really hate this loopy “live laugh love” type font; it just looks so sloppy. I love the clean and minimal look of the neutral version, but it’s ruined for me with this messy, scrawly font. I wish there was an option for the neutral colors, but with the font from the colorful planner.
Ultimately I decided to order the Wildflowers (neutral) version because I prefer the colors, the weekly view is more clean/simple, and I can more easily cover the text that bothers me with stickers/washii tape.
Now is the perfect time to order your new 2024 Erin Condren Life Planner because their Cyber Monday sale is going on now! You can get 30% off on everything and you’ll be organized and ready to tackle 2024!
2024 Erin Condren A5 Life Planner Review
I’m really happy with the Metallic Inspire cover. The colorful design is super bright and I love all the pinks. It has elements of bronze/rose gold metallic including the name personalization.
The covers are removable, so you can swap them out if you like to make changes during the year. I just keep my one cover/per planner, but I like the option to make changes.
I love the neutral inside. The tab colors are super soft and create a muted rainbow.
The Wildflowers theme is really beautiful, I love the soft watercolor flower spreads that appear before each month. But the scripty quote font is not my favorite.
The calendar view is great to see the year at a glance. I love the clean/no color simplicity, but again the loopy, scribble font is low key ruining it for me.
I treat these 12 boxes as a goals page for larger plans for each year. I assign each box a specific category (ex: Finance, Fitness, etc.) and then list out my goals for each category. This is a great place to keep those bigger goals and then refer back to them throughout the year.
Every month has a calendar spread after each tab. I really prefer the 2023 version, but I appreciate the flower detail in the corner. Again, the scrawly font is off-putting to me, but what really bothers me about it are the numbers. You get my point, the cursive is not my vibe.
The monthly dashboard page is one of my favorites in the planner. I use this page to document all my highlights of the month, my knitting project progress, my fitness goals, and to track my exercise miles.
There’s a lot you can do to customize your planner and track whatever is important to you.
The weekly view looks clean and crisp. I love how there is so much room to plan how you like. I usually make two rows of check boxes for tasks I want to accomplish each day, and then write major events in the open edge.
The planner ends out with a notes section, a 2025 calendar section, some foil stickers, a perpetual calendar insert, and a pocket divider. I never use the included stickers or the perpetual calendar, but the next year’s calendar and pocket divider are really helpful.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’ve been really happy with my previous A5 Life Planners, and even though I dislike the font choice, I am excited to be using another A5 in 2024.
There are a lot of planner choices out there, but I keep coming back to Erin Condren life planners for their quality and how functional they are for me.
The Cyber Monday sale is going on now, so now is a good time to try out a planner. The life planner can be expensive, but I like to think of it as an investment into myself because when I have a planner I enjoy using, I am more likely to use it consistently and therefore be successful in achieving my goals.
I hope this review was helpful for you if you’re making a decision to invest in a planner. Thanks so much for reading; Happy Planning!
