Just recently, I have decided to re-embrace the beauty of a traditional planner. So Old School, right? I used to be a huge paper and pencil planner user, from paper then to digital, now back to paper. I just bought the Filofax Personal size planner.
I have always been a planner junky....
- Many, many years ago I started with DayTimer. I liked it but, just needed more, its compact, but only a month at a time, basically works best for daily appointments and daily notes. I wanted to incorporate planning projects and more than just one month at a time.
- Then went to Franklin Planner, which I loved, I used the smaller compact version...... it had the versatility to plan projects and a written address book. The only drawback for me was that it was too big to keep with me all the time (didn't fit in my handbag and was kind of heavy).
- Palm seemed like the answer. I had the handheld and the phone and this did seem to work for me, is was digital and written at the same time. Sadly, they didn't last.
- So what could be better than having all this on a smartphone, I was convinced! And for years, I have used this method. But as time goes by and thru upgrades of phones, I have completely lost my address book (have just names and phone numbers, no addresses), lost birthdays and project details and lists have disappeared. Its quite possible that I was the cause of losing the information and have never developed the best habits to keep track of lists and projects digitally.
The time has come for a change.......
I chose the Filofax Personal for its size (smaller than the Franklin Planner) and has versatile pages to make it exactly what I want and need. I bought one with a beautiful leather cover, it came with 2016 and I chose a week on 2 pages format, I don't have as many appointments as I once did. I also picked-up a ridiculously cheap version of 2015, as it should be, so I could start immediately.....I was kind of all-guns-a-blazing to put everything in motion NOW, just couldn't wait for 2016.
I know this sounds crazy, but I can't believe the amount of satisfaction that this planner has given me..... I feel like I'm on top of the world.....or at least on top of my game. I write down everything....everything I need to do, current projects, project ideas, keeping track of works in progress, projects in queue, blog ideas, party planning, meeting agendas.....not to mention everyday things like a grocery list or a passing book recommendation.....I write it down.
For me, there is something completely fulfilling about writing something down, (with a pen or pencil). It feels like a commitment....even if its just to myself. I've heard that the act of writing something down increases ones memory......Not sure if this is true, but I can buy in to that line of thinking.
It also gives me the venue to work on projects ideas as they pop in my head, again, because my planner is with me, I just turn to my project design ideas section and start writing, drawing, etc., as well as keep track of existing design projects progress/changes.
I honestly feel more productive already. I know that this could all be done digitally and can sync to all my devices, but this old school method seems to be really working for me. My Filofax Planner is fairly new and could be sighted as a passing fancy. My own personal hopes are that I remain consistent and it turns into a productive habit......and eventually a better me.
Until next time......plan and conquer and......Happy Knitting!