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Thursday, December 16, 2010

How I'll use my WeekDate planner

Here are some ways I'll use my 2011 WeekDate planner. I hope this will give anyone using a WeekDate some ideas on how to use it.  And if you are using a WeekDate planner, I would love to hear from you!  Please post a comment!

Below is a photo of my WeekDate completely open.  If you haven't seen how this works yet be sure to check out the WeekDate website at www.weekdate.com or read my review of this planner to learn more about how this unique system works. The brand's motto is, Only Write It Once.  The planner's layout allows monthly recurring items to be recorded in the top section, weekly recurring items in the bottom section, and daily specifics in the middle section.  It's pure genius.

Click on the photo for a larger view:


Here are the dimensions of the day spaces:

Each day's column width is 1 1/8 inch wide (as measured by me). Every day's column is the same size (meaning weekend days, even Sunday, have the same size as weekdays) which is great.

Each daily column in the middle weekly section is about 3 1/2 inches long. And, the columns in the recurrent weekly (bottom) section are 4 inches long. So that's 7 1/2 inches of writing space for each day.

The page opposite for lists and notes is nearly 9 1/2 inches wide and 4 inches long.

So overall, there's tons of space to write each week.

I plan to use the Recurring Weeklies space extensively.  The Recurring Weeklies area is at the bottom of the page, and is large enough to write in everything that happens each week.
(Above photo copyright of WeekDate)

In these spaces I have written: my kids' dance and sports practice schedules, household cleaning routines, trash/ recycling pickup and which week it happens (trash pickup on odd weeks, recycling on even weeks.  The week numbers are printed on the weekly pages for easy reference.  What a relief to not have to write "Trash" or "Recycling" over and over each week!!).  On Sundays I've written reminders of things to prepare for the upcoming week, like anything my daughter will need for school that week and writing out my son's homeschooling lesson plans for the week.

Before I received my WeekDate planner I wondered if the day spaces would be large enough for me to write everything I need to.  Now that I am starting to fill things in for January, I'm realizing that much of each day is recurring and can go in the bottom section, which frees up loads of space in the day spaces in the weekly section.

On the Weekly pages I'll write everything specific to that week.  I love the lined space under the monthly calendar directly to the left of each week.  This is where I will write the week's Goals, to keep them visible all week long.
On each day's space I'll write appointments (circled) and tasks that need to be done that day.  If for some reason I don't get something done that day, I'll just arrow it over to the next day.  No rewriting!

Tasks that need to be done sometime that week but not on any particular day will be written on the opposite page in the lined space:
The lined space is arranged into three columns which I will use for To Pay/ Buy; To Do/ Call, and @Computer.  This setup really helps me streamline my tasks and especially helps me make efficient use of my computer time.

As I have already mentioned often in the past, I am completely out of sight, out of mind. So this planner setup is incredibly appealing to me.  I only have to write it once, and then it's always there in front of me! No more details slipping through the cracks!  It makes me want to do a happy dance!

I'm already sticking things into the clear front pocket like our local library's bookmark with their phone number and opening hours (we go to the library a lot!).  This pocket is very handy for anything you need quick access to (like the Phone cards included) and folds out of sight when the planner is closed.

The WeekDate weekly planner doesn't have monthly planning calendars, but I have figured out a way around that.  Here's what I'm doing.  Below is what the WeekDate planner looks like opened out but with the cover of the weekly section closed:
On the black cover I'm sticking two extra-sticky post-it notes (that my awesome sister sent me awhile back).  The post-its measure 4 inches square, so they fit perfectly on the cover, two side by side.  I'm using blue notes because I associate monthly planning with blue for some reason.  Anyway, the left note will be my list of goals for the current month, and the right note will be upcoming events to prepare for over the next two months.  This will keep these items in view right up front every time I open my planner.

At the end of each month I'll archive my goals for that month on the backside of the weekly page at the beginning of that month, so when I flip through my book I can reference past goals and see how I'm progressing as the year goes on.

There are lots of features in this planner that allow you to customize your WeekDate usage in many different ways, like the lined space on the weekly page, and lined space on the backside of the week pages.  It's a very flexible system that can be used in endless ways and in many different contexts.  For example, I'm a SAHM and use it mostly for household and kids' stuff.  But an executive could use it to keep track of meetings, sales and finances.  Students can put their weekly class schedule in the bottom section to make sure they don't make any conflicting appointments, and write their assignments due in the day spaces. Working parents will probably benefit from the WeekDate system the most, because they can use it to keep up on work and family obligations without having to re-write and double-check everything constantly.  Write it once, then go with the flow!  

I love the little details that make a big difference, like the tear-off tabs for finding the current week instantly and the monthly indicators at the edge of the page to easily find a future date.  We all know how much I love monthly tabs!
It's wonderful how the planner opens out big with lots of space to write, but folds down to such a slim and portable size. And, I love that all seven days are full size columns, with Sunday right up there alongside Saturday for easy weekend planning.

And the beautiful cover art makes me smile every time I look at it.  :)
WeekDate products are available only online, at www.weekdate.com.  If you are interested in these be sure to hurry because they sell out quickly each year!

16 comments:

  1. Happy Thursday, Laurie!
    I am anxiously awaiting your trial of the WeekDate because I tried to make a go of it for 2 years in a row and couldn't keep up with it. However, I still ordered the 2011 before I fell back in love with my FC! Is that the definition of insanity or what??? I, too, love the simplicity of the whole concept. Watch out for the plastic cover! I had to get a new one in the middle of one year because it started to crack, and could have cut me and/or damaged the other stuff in my bag. I simply called and the nice lady sent me a whole new clear cover free of charge.
    One interesting change they've made is that the spiral coil is now on the left side. (The website said it was due to customer requests!) I guess I’m the exception. I loved it more on the right side. Being right-handed, I liked being able to see my week, and then writing my lists to the right of the week, and was able to keep it open with my left hand. (It doesn’t lay flat for me in the beginning.) Now I have to cross my right arm over to write on the lined page, and the whole week just collapses shut. Just a small thing, but since I was used to the earlier version, it's still an annoyance!
    Another small difference from the 2008 & 2009 models is that the tearaway is smaller. You used to tear away the entire current month that is on the left side of the weekly. Now that stays put because of the spiral coil, and they created a sliver of paper to tear away. I don’t notice that it affected the size of the weekly days because previously that’s where the spiral was on the right side. The switch must have happened just recently for 2010 or 2011. I didn’t order the 2010 model because that’s when I decided to use my Filo with kate spade inserts.
    Good to read that you’re already customizing it with the post its and the library info. That’s always the fun part of a new planner, putting your thumbprint on it!
    I’m curious if you will have enough room for your lists, and esp. after the recent writing in triplicate, I’m sure you will find the WeekDate very refreshing. Good Luck!

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  2. Hi Laurie,
    I recently bought a Weekdate Planner after reading about them here on Plannerisms. I got the gorgeous tangy turquoise and I love it however, having used my Filofax for years, I wasn't sure what was the best way to use it as it is quite a different system. But now, after reading this post, it makes so much more sense and I can't wait to get started 100%. I'm going to use the lined pages on the back of the middle section pages for my things to do for the following week so that when the middle section is fully open I will have my appts etc on the right hand side and my 'weekdate whatevers' for that week on the left hand side.
    Of course I will of course never give up on my Filofaxes and will be using my Aqua A5 Finsbury for work :-)
    P.S Loving the Plannerisms blog

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  3. Stefee I know what you mean about the plastic cover wanting to shut, I think after a week or two of use it will lay flat though. And since I didn't use the Weekdate with the spiral on the opposite side, I don't mind the spiral where it is now. Feels like a normal book to me with the spiral on the left. The backsides of the pages have so much space for lists and notes, I think it should be plenty of room. When the planner is opened out, there's so much space to write each week!

    Celestriana I'm glad you've gotten some ideas from reading my post! I agree it took me a little while to adjust my thinking to how I could best use this planner, but once I got my mind around it I realized just how convenient this system is. Thanks for reading my blog! :)

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  4. Laurie: Yes, it is fun unfolding it and all the colorcoding is clever. Like I said, I wish it worked for me... maybe you will find a way with it! I'm thinking of using mine for financial info, bill paying, etc.

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  5. Geez. Every time I see you set up something new, I feel the powerful urge to buy it...Curious tho, how wide are the daily columns? I write so big, they look so small in pics.
    Thanks, and best of luck with this planner, it seems so straight-up useful!

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  6. Laurie thanks for posting these useful tips. I really want it to work as my PhD planner and it is light enough to use with my Filofax as like Celestriana I won't give this up! I will be sure to share how I use it and I hope it does work for me. I like how you matched the turquoise week date to your aqua fins bury Celestriana! Mine doesnt coordinate so well.
    Laurie I will definitely be following your week date posts! ( well I follow everything anyways!)

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  7. Looks like a gorgeous little planner! Wish I could see it in person!

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  8. Great question Rori, I should have put the column dimensions in my post. Here they are:

    Each day's column width is 1 1/8 inch wide (as measured by me). So, each column is not all that wide. But, every day's column is the same size (meaning weekend days, even Sunday, have the same size as weekdays) which is great.

    Each daily column in the middle weekly section is about 3 1/2 inches long. And, the columns in the recurrent weekly (bottom) section are 4 inches long. So that's 7 1/2 inches of writing space for each day.

    The page opposite for lists and notes is nearly 9 1/2 inches wide and 4 inches long.

    So overall, there's tons of space to write each week.

    Hope this helps! :)

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  9. I have edited the post to include the daily column dimensions. :)

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  10. Thanks much! The columns are wider than I thought...this might work for portability sake for sure.

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  11. This system looks very interesting. I only wish I had reoccurring weekly or monthly things so I could try it out. No kids, no weekly shrink apps, no night classes, no trash pick up (we live out in the boonies)... and my husband handles the bills. Oh well...

    But I can see how people with children who have weekly activities related to sports, dance, music etc might find this planner handy.

    I'm curious as to how it works for people IRL. Maybe a few months into 2011 people can post about how they are using it-- & how it's working for them. Good luck!

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  12. Hi! I love your review and I am about to purchase a WeekDate Planner based upon your posts. I am trying to connect to your post titled "WeekDate planer sample pages" from the "You Might Also Like" section of this post, but it is not linking? Is it possible to link to?

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  13. Hi Kat,

    I'm not sure why it's still showing the post, but I deleted that post and replaced it with this one.

    I posted a reply to your comment on the Looking for a 2011 Planner post, have you seen it?

    http://www.plannerisms.com/2010/11/looking-for-2011-planner.html

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  14. Got it! Thanks for the reply! I guess the picture is what I was interested in... I would like to see how it looks when written in and that picture has writing on the pages.

    So funny thing, the "Kat" in the other post isn't me. Funny how you had two "Kat"s post on the same day:)

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  15. LOL that is funny! I assumed you were both the same Kat. :)

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  16. I deleted that post and replaced it with this one.
    Dumpsters

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