Silk + Sonder Guided Journaling: My Last-Minute Gift Pick of the Season (Not Sponsored!)

As 2020 comes to a close, I've been looking for new habits to practice in the new year (as usual) -- however, this is a new year like no other. I've been cooped up in my house since March, spending a lot of time with myself, and looking for new routines to put a little more meaning into every day.

I came across a new guided journal on Instagram called Silk + Sonder, a wellness planner and guided journal that has a monthly edition, sent right to your door, combined with an online community that provides additional resources. It's essentially designed to fit every facet of your daily routine, plans, and goals, along with some fun add-ins that give you an opportunity to be creative.

I jumped on a special a few weeks into December where they were giving away the December journal for free (clearing dead inventory, I'm sure) and I had the opportunity to use it for the past few weeks. Now that I've used this product and seen everything it can offer, I am here to say that this is my best recommendation for any last-minute gift for the holidays, and the best part is, you don't need to guarantee any delivery, because the person you are giving it to will receive it in the mail at the beginning of the following month! No hassle, and it's the gift that keeps on giving.

I find it rather appealing that you get a new booklet delivered every month, giving you a fresh new take on what you're working on for the month and what the following weeks may hold. There are specific aspects that remain consistent in each edition, and some that are added as a fun surprise. I'm here to give you a full look at the inside of these journals, along with a code you can use to get your first subscription for $20 (non-affiliate, and for a limited time only!)

What's Inside

One thing I found interesting when researching these journals is that the site doesn't give you a very detailed look at the contents -- I'm guessing this is an intentional choice to maintain the allure and mystery of what's inside, but I do think giving a full view is important so people understand what they're receiving.

Right off the bat, I will say that these journals are relatively small, and the booklet is thin, containing around 50 pages (much less dense than an annual planner, for example). It is the perfect size for keeping next to you at your desk, or throwing in a tote bag or backpack. The quality of the paper and binding is very impressive for such a small item! Each journal has a theme, and January's theme is Ambition, which will feature some ways to reflect on your own ambition in the guided journaling sections. Here is a detailed look at some of my favorite pages in the upcoming January edition:

You’ll notice that there is a mix of calendar pages and more bullet-journal style content. I love this combination because it really gives you the allowance to customize your experience using the booklet -- I have personally been using the planning pages more minimally, and have been writing small journal entries into the daily columns, along with a gratitude in the "one thing" box. I'm also actively using the water tracker at the bottom, which I love keeping open throughout the day.

The most unique pages in this booklet have to be the Mood Tracker and Habit Tracker circles. I love the creativity that went into creating a wheel that you fill in with color, which is a great motivator to fulfill your daily routines. This, along with the guided journal prompts pictured above, are my favorite features and have really sparked some creativity. I think the aesthetic of this journal is incredibly eye-catching, and for those of us who do sit at a desk every day, I find it easy to keep this open for tracking specific aspects throughout my day, like these pieces of the puzzle.

There is also a great deal of space for customization in the Notes sections, featured at the end of each weekly section at the back of the booklet. Here you can include journal entries, bullet journal ideas, or more space for any of the above sections. This is a great add-in, considering there may be some extra creative users out there who want that space to fill in with doodles, or for those of us who aren't as creative, we can use this for more note-taking.

There are specific aspects that I find slightly less applicable to everyone who may be using the journal, including the Expense Tracker and Meal Plan boxes. I haven't felt the urge to use these as diligently, since I do not personally track my meals, and I have a banking app that tracks my expenses automatically. This is one of my only non-fully-utilized sections in the journal itself, but I appreciate the add-in for those who would find this useful. I'm looking at possibly transforming these sections for next month, but have not determined what I will use the orgnanized space for.

Online Community + Other Resources

One feature that I find really cool about signing up for a Silk and Sonder journal subscription is the online community you gain access to. I receive regular emails about their blog posts and ways to maximize the experience with the monthly journal. This is a nice feature, especially when you are new to the product and may want some guidance on how to get started!

Outside of those resources, you also get invited to a Facebook page with other users who have GREAT ideas for maximizing the extra spacing in the journals, as well as customizing the experience further. I have found it really enjoyable scrolling through the feed and seeing what other people are doing. That's also a great spot for live streams and first looks at the next month's journal.

Pricing

One aspect of subscription-based products is that the expense attached to a certain time frame can appear costly, especially if you're looking at something like an annual membership. Here I've laid out the cost structure as of December 2020 (not including shipping):

Monthly Subscription: $19.95

Quarterly (3-Month) Subscription: $54 ($18 per month)

6 Month Subscription: $90 ($15 per month)

Annual (12-Month) Subscription: $179 ($14.92 per month)

HOWEVER, right now, you can get free shipping plus $20 off any subscription 3 months or longer with code HOLIDAY20 -- this is not an affiliate link, I just found it on the website, so I have no idea how long the code will last (guessing through Christmas and possibly New Years?). Therefore, if you're interested, I would jump on it now! Here is the pricing after that discount:

Quarterly (3-Month) Subscription: $34 ($11.33 per month)

6 Month Subscription: $70 ($11.67 per month)

Annual (12-Month) Subscription: $159 ($13.25 per month)

I typically avoid subscription-based products because of that giant upfront cost -- however, when you break down the 3-month or 6-month subscription, for example, it's essentially the cost of 2-3 trips to Starbucks or McDonald's. I've definitely noticed myself staying in for lunch more lately, and that was one key reason I found it pretty easy to justify my purchase of the 3-month subscription for January, February, and March.

This would also be an INCREDIBLE choice for a last-minute gift for the holidays. As I mentioned above, you don't have to worry about getting the item shipped to you first, and it will arrive at the recipient's doorstep towards the end of the previous month, giving them great timing to start using it.

If you're ready to jump into 2021 with a new guided journal and opportunity to reflect, you can visit the Silk+Sonder website right here, and use code HOLIDAY2020 for your own subscription or one you are gifting to a loved one!

If you have any specific questions about the journal itself or want more details about my experience using Silk+Sonder, feel free to send me an Instagram DM @katherinevittore! Happy Holidays :)

XO Kate