8 Mar 2013

making your planner system work for you

I've not experienced the dreaded planner-fail in a loooooooong time. No lie. I have only ever used a 'week on two pages' layout for my planner (apart from a failed experiment with a 'day-per-page' Moleskine) and it is a wonderful system that works for me. That's not to say that sometimes, I wish it worked better but instead of changing my set up or changing the layout of the diary pages, I find a way around it using small tweaks.

How have I managed to stay away from planner-fail? Well, these are the mantras I follow:

Perseverance is key.

Awful pun! But I had to include this picture as using this cute keyring is a pleasure :-)

I find that, in most cases, the best thing to do is to stick with the system you are currently using. If it has worked for you in the past, then I see no reason for it to not work for you in the future (unless an aspect of your life has changed dramatically, e.g. going to university, having a baby, planning a marriage... the list goes on).

With this in mind...

Small tweaks as and when they are required instead of a complete system overhaul.

When you find yourself running out of space, this does not necessarily mean you need another layout for your diary altogether. How much extra space do you need? Are you wasting space? Decorating your diary is all well and good provided you have the space but if you don't, then leave those decorations in the drawer!

For example, if you're using a week on two pages (WO2P) layout, do you really need to upgrade to a two days per page (2DPP) layout if you're only going through a temporary patch of hectic-ness? Would a sheet of notepaper slotted in between the pages work equally well for these busy periods? That's what I occasionally resorted to at university and it was fine. I was considering upgrading to a 2DPP layout in late 2012, but I am glad I didn't as I don't really need that space til later this year. And even then, I am going to slot in a sheet of notepaper in between each week instead of shelling out for completely new inserts!

Alternatively, Ray and Steve have created some inserts that you can print at home. This is a harmless way of trying out a layout if you're convinced you need a completely new layout instead of a small tweak.

Do what it takes to make you happy and make no excuses for it. Furthermore, disregard what others think!

Just half of my top drawer... I won't even show you the other half, or the other two drawers for fear of showing how bad this stationery addiction really is!

If stickers/tape/coloured pens keeps a set-up working for you, then keep it up. I know there are probably some people who think that my weeks are over the top or whatever, but to me, I couldn't care less as it keeps me in my planner and it works for me!

A slight change in set-up as the year goes by.

As you can see, my diary pages (the gold chunk) is  towards the back of my binder. This is because this makes it easier for me to write on the refills that are for the first part of the year. They will inevitably move further forward as the months go by.

You know when you first set up your binder, you made sure that the inserts were in the middle so that it would be easy to write on both sides with minimal disturbance by the rings? Well, you might find that your set up needs a slight tweak as the months go by to keep up this balance.

Towards the latter quarter of the year, you might find yourself needing to add in extra bits and bobs for Christmas planning or whatever, and for that, I would refer you back to the slight tweak mentioned above.

And finally, be happy with what you've got.

For some reason, it looks like I have a combover in this photo (I promise you that I didn't at the time!)... not the most flattering but at least my face looks good.

I am very happy with what I've got and I don't envisage myself moving out of this binder for a long time. Coupled with my Slimline Deco (currently my food diary) and my Kate Spade agenda, I am a very, very happy bunny. I still love the Osterley but the ring problems got a bit too much in the end so I don't think I will ever have one of those back in my possession unfortunately but who cares? I have three binders I love and that is more than enough.

So to reiterate, before diagnosing yourself with planner-fail, are you actually just bored of the layout? Tired of planning as you find it too time-consuming? Maybe a slight tweak is better than a whole system overhaul as that can leave you unsettled. Think creatively and you might find a hack that works brilliantly for you that no one has ever thought of before :-)

18 comments

  1. Brilliant post. As you know, over the past six months I swapped from 2PPD to Wo2P, back to 2PPD and, absurdly, back again to Wo2P. All your points are correct. You can work with what you have for better results rather than spending all the time, money, and effort to switch into a completely new system. The brilliance of looseleaf is that you can expand to meet your needs. I often go through busy periods and start losing track of things without a great deal of structure. But the truth is that swapping setups when I'm at my busiest moments of the year is extremely stressful and can cause more issues if something doesn't get copied correctly.

    I often give myself some passes on all of this, as I'm relatively new to planning and my planning and tracking needs are truly extensive. Finding a good planning match is a process of trial and error. Balancing the need for adequate space (both writing space and total page capacity) against maintaining portability is not always obvious.

    But you're right. My experiments have taken up time which could more effectively been used on more pressing projects, and now I have all this Franklin Covey stuff to unload. I still think it was important to give it a try as if I'd not done so I would have spent more time wondering if it would work for me. But all the same, it's silly.

    At the moment, I'm considering selling off all my binders and inserts except for my Winchester and my basic insert needs within the Winchester. I'm looking for a vintage slimline binder to hold my complete address book and serve as a jacket pocket planner for days when I'm out in a suit without a briefcase.

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    1. Thanks Josh!

      With most things that I have come across, perseverance is the key thing to remember. You wouldn't change jobs just because you have had a bad day/week at the office - nothing is ever perfect - and I think it is important to remember this. In the past, I have thought about changing diary layouts when my current one would fail on me but would never actually do that as I always found a way to make the current one work. Maybe I was just lucky, but I do think that having a mentality that doesn't give up helps!

      I agree that finding a good planning match is a process of trial and error. During my school years, I had always used bound planners and they never worked for me - but yet, I tried different layouts, different brands and to no avail. It just so happens that I've now found the planner that works for me and it did take me several years to get here so I know it's not an overnight process.

      Having multiple binders isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I think having too many can defeat the whole point of being organised as one can get too caught up in chopping and changing set-ups due to the allure of a new binder. I hope you're successful on your quest for a vintage slimline binder :) I saw the vintage binder City Organiser posted pictures of, over on their Facebook page and oh my, I am definitely lusting after that one (not that I need it!) x

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  2. I agree. Start with a small tweak rather than over-hauling the whole thing.

    Good insights.

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    1. Thank you! Often, when I read about people having planner fail, it's more a case of boredom or a desire for change, rather than actual planner fail. Usually, a simple tweak could solve their problem but of course, everyone is different! However, I don't think that changing set-ups and inserts often is productive at all and so that was the point I was trying to reiterate :) x

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  3. Great post as always Angela :) love your rilakkuma key!

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    1. Thanks :D hehe, it is so cute, right? Makes a simple thing, such as using a key, seem so much more fun hehe x

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  4. I plan to power through at least the year of calendar pages I have. There's nothing an extra blank page can't solve. LOL. "Planning" to really think out before I buy anything 2014. :0)

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    1. Hehe sounds good! Good luck :D There's nothing perseverance can't solve ;) x

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  5. So do you only own the 3 planners overall? I ask because I've been looking at my collection (most of which aren't being used) and am struggling with the idea of keeping only the ones I actually need (which isn't a whole lot really) and sell the rest. I have maybe two or four that I find use for and the rest just sit on a shelf for me to gaze lovingly at. A waste, if you ask me. But so hard to part ways with.

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    1. Yup, I only have three now. I'm using two, and have the Kate Spade as a back-up for when I need larger rings or for whatever other reason :) The set-up won't change though!

      I've found it really refreshing to part with all of my binders but these three - most of them just sat in their boxes doing nothing and it felt like a waste for both me and the binders themselves. I do understand though, that it is hard to part with them. It did take me quite a few months to decide to part with certain binders x

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    2. Thanks for this. I say, if Angela can do it, I can, too! LOL. Seriously though, I am leaning more towards getting rid of them and keeping a few that I actually use. Now, it's just a matter of going through them all and saying my goodbyes. :)

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    3. Lol! It is so hard to part with binders you love and don't use (my two Osterleys come to mind when I say that) so I know how you feel! However, it feels so much better knowing that you've made an active effort to declutter and only keep what you use. At least, that's how I feel :) x

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  6. Love the bear key cover and key chain...where did you buy it? Great blog and you are so correct ...tweaks are best :)

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    1. Thank you! It's from <a href="http://www.moo-t.co.uk>Moo-T</a> :) x

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  7. I love the blog post as usual,but my OCD is making me want to line the thin tapes with the colours on the cards so its in order (is it odd that I really feel fidgety lol)

    I love your face at the end :) very beautiful :) I'm going to use this little changes thing in the future, I always put to do lists between my diary now :) xxx

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    1. Haha! They are lined up, I just put the card on the wrong way (if you get what I mean). Haha, yeah I think that picture really captures my natural beauty. Orange tans? I think pink is the way forward :) x

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  8. I just experienced planner fail. I always think I need a bigger planner, but then I write too much on each page and never get it all done.

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    1. It sounds like you need to settle with the planner you have (and not go for a bigger size) and stick with it. I don't think the planner necessarily fails, I just think the user gets bored (I used to think I got planner fail but thinking back, I just got bored of the set-up and ended up tweaking and whatnot).

      Although I use personal sized paper, sometimes, I think it is too small when in actual fact, it is the perfect size for me and I just need to remind myself of that fact during those times of doubt x

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