Why I Created The Hōlōs Journal

For most of my life, I rarely spoke openly about what I was navigating behind the scenes. I didn’t know how to put words to it. I didn’t know how to explain that everyday tasks that seemed effortless for others often felt impossible for me. And I definitely didn’t understand how deeply interconnected my symptoms were.

I’ve lived with two chronic conditions that shaped nearly every part of my life: chronic vestibular migraine and ADHD. Each condition on its own is challenging. Together, they made it incredibly difficult to plan, focus, manage my days, maintain relationships, and simply function in a predictable way.

My migraines weren’t just painful. They disrupted my balance, triggered vertigo, nausea, dizziness, severe light sensitivity, inner-ear problems, brain fog—layers upon layers of symptoms that dictated how I showed up in the world. And as screens became unavoidable in modern life, these symptoms worsened.

The Breaking Point

About three years ago, my light sensitivity reached an unbearable peak. A single glance at a phone or computer screen could trigger a multi-day migraine attack. It became so debilitating that I had to disconnect from all screens for nearly two years.

It’s staggering to notice how often people casually pull out their phones to show a photo or video. I found myself having to warn friends and coworkers not to hold up their screens—even for a second. It felt embarrassing. Isolating. I worried people thought I was overly sensitive, dramatic, or making it up.

At the same time, my ADHD, which went undiagnosed until my 40s, added its own layer of chaos to my internal world. For decades, I blamed myself for not being able to “just stay organized” or “just focus.” I didn’t understand that my brain was operating under completely different conditions.

And after my daughter was born, everything intensified—hormonally, emotionally, logistically. The stress, the lack of sleep, the new responsibilities… they compounded the symptoms I was already fighting.

Life Without Screens

Without digital tools, keeping my life organized became nearly impossible. But the unexpected gift in all of this was that I also didn’t have the option to escape, numb out, or dissociate. I was left with myself: my thoughts, my symptoms, my overwhelm, my hopes.

For the first time, I could truly see what wasn’t working.

I needed a different way to manage my life—one that didn’t depend on screens.
I needed structure.
I needed clarity.
I needed intentionality.
I needed a system that helped me stay organized, grounded, and present.

Where I Am Now

About a year ago, I finally found a treatment approach that brought meaningful relief from the severity of my vestibular migraines. While my symptoms aren’t gone entirely, I’m now able to use screens again—just more intentionally and with clearer boundaries.

What changed most wasn’t simply gaining access to digital tools again, but reshaping my relationship with them. I no longer feel dependent on screens to organize my life or manage my time. Instead, I have a system that supports me offline whenever I need more focus, rest, or mental clarity.

Even now, I often choose paper over pixels. Not because I have to, but because it helps me stay grounded, present, and aligned with what’s meaningful to me. The Hōlōs Journal now allows me to engage with technology when it serves me and step away when it doesn’t.

The Search That Led Me to Create My Own

Before developing the Hōlōs Journal, I searched everywhere. I bought planner after planner, journal after journal. Some had beautiful layouts but no flexibility. Others were so customizable they felt chaotic. Some were too juvenile or visually overwhelming. Some lacked wellness features or were generally too basic. None had all the pieces I needed.

What I dreamed of was a truly holistic tool that supported the whole human, not just productivity.

I wanted:

• A calendar system that could move fluidly from monthly to weekly to daily

• A place for lists, reminders, school info, repeating events

• A wellness hub to track habits, symptoms, routines, and progress

• Pages for yearly, monthly, and daily reflection

• Sections for financial clarity and mindful budgeting

• A dedicated space for projects, planning, and productivity tools

• A home for the hundreds of thoughts, ideas, and bits of information I needed to capture

• And above all, a system I could rearrange, expand, or simplify at any time

The disc-bound system was the obvious solution. But I disliked plastic discs, exposed spines, and the lack of an elegant, protective cover. Nothing on the market aligned with the vision in my head.

So I created it.

The Birth of The Hōlōs Journal

Hōlōs means whole—and this journal grew out of my desire to feel whole again.
To feel capable. Grounded. Organized. Clear.
To stop surviving my days and start living them.

What began as a necessity became a powerful tool that brought joy, presence, and intention back into my life. And now, it’s here for you too.

The Hōlōs Journal is more than a planner. It’s a customizable, disc-bound ecosystem designed to support the multifaceted, beautifully complex human that you are. Whether you’re navigating overwhelm, seeking clarity, or striving to live more intentionally, the Hōlōs Journal meets you where you are and evolves with you.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for investing in yourself.
And thank you for being part of this adventure. One that continues to unfold, alongside you.