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Friday, October 25, 2013

Free For All Friday No. 7: Planner Love

For some reason I feel like I should LOVE my planner. I don't know why, considering it is just an organizational tool. I don't love my computer (although I do rely on it and when it broke down recently I was pretty upset).

But I do have an emotional attachment to my planner. Some of that has to do with the contents. I write a lot of details in my planners and value them years later as records of my life.

But technically I could do that with any (archival-quality) notebook. I also want to love my planner itself. I've had planners in the past that I've adored, others I've had a love-hate relationship with, and others that were pretty much just organizational tools.

Do you LOVE your planner? Or is it just a tool for you? Or something in-between?

And as always on Fridays, feel free to discuss anything planner-related!

22 comments:

  1. Laurie,
    I feel the same way...I want to adore my planner! My problem? I think with the internet, I keep looking for that "perfect planner" system so I keep jumping around. I think the Bullet Journal, or at least my version of it, will finally solve my problems.

    And yet...I just spent the last 2 hours pouring over planner websites.

    Has anyone cut themselves off and just said NO MORE NEW PLANNERS FOR THIS YEAR?

    Maybe it's just me...sigh.

    PM

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    1. In my head buying a new planner after september (unless of course its an academic one) is pointless! struggle through until the end of the year..

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    2. I am a one planner a year girl as a SAHM I cannot justify buying more than one to my hardworking husband. I do however research planners all the time to make sure I will love my next purchase since it is my only one and if I don't like it I have to make it work.

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    3. I'm going to clarify.
      Pretend it's February of the year but the planner just isn't working. Do you put up with it the entire year? Clareio, yes, I agree. The set up I have NOW will get me to January.
      And I'm a bit of a planner rebel. I tend to use DIY stuff like:
      GTD + R http://gtd-r.blogspot.com/
      Hipster PDA hipster pda
      and my newest is Bullet Journal http://www.bulletjournal.com/
      I refuse to spend the exorbitant prices of Gillos or new Filofaxes. (I own 3 Filofaxes- 1 mini that I use as a wallet and 2 pocket but I want to sell one.) But...I'm known for a $20 journal here, a pack of $6 index cards there.
      Again, that's me. But at what point do you come to terms with planner fail...and fix it?
      PM

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    4. Christine I would love to know more about what planners you have researched, what you are using this year and what you have decided on for next year. I wonder if you have found any planners that I am not aware of!

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  2. Love? Maybe it's a gender thing, but to me a planner/organiser has to be practical, efficient and we just have to get on and work together. There's no room for sentiment. A little admiration for the smell of leather or the clever page layout perhaps, but that's all.

    Having said that, when my heavily used and much respected (I nearly said loved) cognac Time Manager ended up in the washing machine a few years ago, it was like splitting with someone I was very emotional attached to! I still pine for her...

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    Replies
    1. Tim,
      I'm going to get psychoanalytical here.
      Love is to women as respect or appreciate is to men.
      Does that offer a different perspective?
      PM

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    2. Tim - I can understand a pen going into the washing machine and I have done that myself with a rather nice Parker '51' fountain pen (which survived just fine) but I am boggling slightly as to how a planner binder might end up in the wash. Surely not something you could forget to remove from a pocket or not notice?

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    3. Hi Tim,
      I hear you, but I must admit that my current planner (an open FranklinQuest binder with compact 2PPD FranklinCovey inserts) is perfectly functional and works extremely well, but I struggle with it because I don't enjoy using it or carrying it around with me. I think that while love might not be the right word, there is some non-practical aspect of the planner which must please you. Or maybe it's just me!

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    4. Paul - it's very easy (for us men..)
      Step 1: leave organiser/ planner on the bed
      Step 2: tip laundry basket contents onto bed
      Step 3: grab contents and hurl into washing machine without checking
      Step 4: search for planner/organiser whilst washing is being done
      Step 5: ignore clunking noise coming from washing machine
      Step 6: on completion of wash, observe missing organiser/planner looking back at you forlornly through washing machine window...

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    5. Tim: not laughing because of your lost planner, that's sad--but Steps 1-6 are funny Bwahahahaha!!

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  3. I'm with you, Laurie. I've had some binders I've loved and some I've tolerated. I'm tolerating my current binder. Every time I get a chance I wander into the Franklin Covey store looking for a new one but they've had NOTHING. I went in there the other day thinking surely they had the new binders in by now but NOPE. The same old junk. There are several new ones in the catalog that I want to see. They're expensive so I'm not buying them without seeing them in person.

    Sometimes I LOVE my set-up, too, and other times I just make it work. Same with that right now, too. I know I need a change but I can't figure out what I need and it's hard to let go of what I've used for so long. But I'm definitely not loving my planner.

    However, I do love what it does for my life.

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  4. I have fallen in love with my planner - after I stopped looking at sites and facebook groups about them. What I have works for me, and works really well, and the less exposure to the latest craze, the more I love what I have.

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    Replies
    1. Wendy,
      Maybe THAT'S my problem.
      Can I ask what set-up you use?
      PM

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  5. The Internet is my downfall too. I love to wander the blogs and you tube getting ideas, then I end up buying something new or changing my whole system. Have started a list to remind me what DOESN'T work so I can stay within a budget, but am extremely susceptible to color and design. I can love something that doesn't work and be unhappy with something that does! (Thankfully this doesn't carry through to marriage).

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    1. Christine,
      The list for what doesn't work is a great idea!
      In my late 20's I finally started narrowing what I had to have in a purse and I've had the same purse style for the last 5 years. I'm happy with my 3 purses. I just want that sense of peace in my planning life!
      PM

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    2. Christine I've made a list before too, so when I get tempted to go back to something or try something new I can remind myself of just why it won't work for me!

      Delete
  6. Hi, I'm a little late for Friday, but I didn't think you'd mind.
    I was wondering if you use a system to index when you used a non dated planner. And if so you would care to embellish on that? I've been trying to find an organized way, or a cleaner way to index my "companion" notebook, but it's been a struggle.

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  7. Hi, no I don't mind at all. :) Have you seen the Bullet Journal system? It is a way to organize and index your notebook. Www.bulletjournal.com

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  8. If I don't enjoy my planner, I don't use it. I haven't "loved" one since I had that personal size Topaz FF. *sigh* May end up with a $1 spiral notebook for 2014 :(

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    1. Rori I hear ya. Of all the Filofaxes I've owned, I've never loved one nearly as much as my first one, the black leather Buckingham, even though I didn't feel completely satisfied with it at the time. I guess I had to try others before realizing nothing since could compare to the quality and feel of its smooth leather.

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  9. Does anyone have any recommendations for a multi year monthly planner?? Something that is quality and will last a few years???

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