Silk + Sonder

What's in the box: A new themed journal-meets-planner each month with guided prompts and planning pages, plus access to the companion app.

Silk + Sonder is a monthly guided journaling subscription for people who want a structured habit of self-care and planning. Each month you get a new themed journal-meets-planner. Members can also use a companion app with how-to videos, online classes, affirmations and community features. The company says its prompts draw on techniques from therapy, coaching and positive psychology, and it describes the routine as taking about five minutes a day. Prices depend on how long you commit: $34.95 per month on the 1-month plan, $24.95 on the 3-month plan and $19.95 on the 12-month plan. The best value clearly goes to people who sign up for a year. A separate personalized life coaching plan is also sold. The new theme each month is a real plus if you tend to give up on a single planner partway through the year, and the app adds support beyond the paper. Be aware that the marketing leans heavily on wellness claims and percentages. These look like the company's own survey results, not independent research. Journaling can be helpful, but this is a planner, not therapy. If you already have a planning system you like, the recurring cost may feel high for what is mainly a printed booklet each month.