Time Keeping: Planners

 

It's that time of year when I review my planner from last year and decide whether it's working for me. This system is working really well for me.

Several years ago, I went paper-free. It was  inconvenient and unsatisfying. One day in Office Max I found Avery's 5.5." x 8,5" binder and all of their planning and calendar inserts and grabbed it.

The folks who are using their planners as little daily journals inspired me to make planning a bit more fun so I dug through my stickers and post-its and some Smash book stuff to add to my planner.  Here's the video and below I give a bit more explanation. 

I trimmed pieces of scrapbook paper for some of the tabbed pages. 

Avery's plastic envelope inserts are great for reminders, business cards, notes-to-self. 

Smashbook envelopes were hacked off and adhered to the inside front cover. A small composition book fits nicely for brainstorms. That book and the Frixion erasable pen (which comes with an extra refill) are both from JetPens.

All in all, this planning system is flexible, fun and working for me. The only drawback is that I can't find a set of weekly calendar pages with the dates/months already entered. I have to do that myself :(

As emails come in or appoinments made, I enter them directly into my computer calendar and then either Sunday night or Monday morning, I transfer everything into my paper calendar and plan my week. 

If I'm planning a long term project, after the initial brainstorming, I break everything down in dates in my Omnifocus (this is a great app for businesses). Omnifocus is hooked up to my iCal. 

 I slipped a piece of paste paper and a tag into the plastic covered front cover

I hope that some of this info helps you. Small business owners have a lot of plates spinning. My system works for me and it's been a long time in the making.

Let us know if you have any ideas about organizing your time. 

If you want to make this more of a hobby, there are TONS of videos on YouTube. Search any of the following: Filofax, Midori, Erin Condren, Kikki K. 

Comments

[Sharon W.]

Diana...........great entry, and the video is helpful in planning for 2015. You might check out the Day-timer 5/5 x 8/5" pages.......they are produced with 6holes, but I have seen photos of them used in that sized 3hole books. They have quite a selection, DATED....and a Flavia set which I find appealing.

[Kass Hall]

Diana I'm actually designing myself pages for a planner right now - making notes of what I want/need etc. I've just never found anything that works completely for me. So this post is timely and useful!! Thanks!! Xx

[Wendy @ the Late Start Studio]

At work, when I went out to work, I tried to go paperless . . . I pretty soon realised that it's what I write down on paper that I remember. Now that I don't have half a dozen daily appointments but have some other irregular commitments, I might go back to using the Redstone Diary just because I love the selection of writing and art they put in it each year . . . the theme for 2015 is The Art of simplicity.

Loved the wee video.

[Diana Trout]

Hi Kass, good to hear from you. I’ve used this system for awhile now and it’s really meeting my needs. I like the bling bit too, it makes me want to look at it. I’d love to see what you come up with! Let us know

[Diana Trout]

That’s a beautiful book, Wendy. I found a site that shows all of the page
http://www.ideabooks.nl/9781870003780-redstone-diary-2015-the-art-of-simplicity

[Marilyn]

Such a great idea. I went to Staples today and bought a notebook and dividers and such. I looked at that Redstone diary and liked the art. But I think I'll do my own "ART". I had a small calendar that i tore apart and it mostly fits in my notebook. Thanks for the great idea and a wonderful afternoon of happily working at my desk.

[Diana Trout]

Thanks for your comment, Marilyn. I love it that you used my idea as a springboard and made it your own. Any excuse to make art is a good one. :)