How do y'all handle folks who are telling you that you need to use a digital system? Sometimes these folks are really well-meaning, sometimes they are, well, not. I can articulate clearly why I use paper, but it comes off as sounding defensive. I don't exactly understand why people feel the need to force their preferences down other people's throats... Of course, I see digitally inclined people berating each other for using the wrong platform, i.e. "you really need an iphone" or "android is best." Interestingly, some of the people who feel I should use a digital system are the same people who are always coming to me to seek specific information or documents because I can retrieve them so quickly!
Well, I can only tell, that I had been switching from paper to digital from 2001 until 2011. After a 10 years process of switching, I found out I did not go without paper completely, instead I was constantly using paper as a complement to the digital device (I tried a lot of them, 5 to 7 different devices guess). Furthermore, I did not like the handling: Small or even tiny keyboards (unusable), too small displays to sketch on, if there was a way to sketch in the organizer application.
So in the end I came back to paper again and I use an iPad mini as a digital complement to my Filofax, keeping a lot of reference information as well as all addresses and phone numbers. The latter is backed up by a hard copy print-out in my Filofax.
Josh, this is one of my biggest pet peeves, probably because I work with someone who is so pro-digital, pro-Apple, and thinks anything handwritten or "analog" is just archaic and demeaning. Before working with this person, never did I really think about the differences or the fact that it's a personal preference. But his insistence (and putting down my preferences in the process) has me thinking a lot about this.
Most professional organizers will tell you that whatever organizing system you choose has to work for YOU. I know someone who, if you look at her desk, would appear so disorganized. Yet, she knows where everything is. She's just a person that has to have it all in front of her, in unruly piles, but that's what works for her. So it's all about what works for you, what keeps you organized both physically and mentally.
Like you, many people have made fun of how organized I am, how attached to my planner I am, yet will come to me when they need something done or need to know when something happened, etc. What they make fun of me for is exactly why they can depend on me, and they don't even realize it.
I don't have the magic words to say that will make the pro-tech people back down (especially, as in my case, I'm forced to really defend my preferences as this person is not one to back down until he's pushed his ideas on others). But I have said that it works for me and what works for some doesn't work for all, etc. But maybe the next time a pro-tech person approaches you with a question that only you can answer because of the detailed records you keep, you can point out that they wouldn't be able to ask those questions (or get the answers) if you didn't use your paper planner. Every time technology fails me (which is more often than I'd like) I say, THIS is why I can't rely solely on technology. A few times it's really worked for me, leaving the always persuasive pro-tech people just a little more speechless. That, to me, makes my day. :)
Just a small addendum: There's nothing wrong with being pro-tech or pro-Apple. I love my devices and use them for some planning and tasks. But when people are SO pro that they put down anyone who does not feel the way they do, that's when I have a problem with it. But this goes for anything in life -- I am a big believer of "to each their own." We all believe what we believe, and there's nothing wrong with being different from the next person. That's what makes this world go round. I have also pointed out to this person that if there weren't analog people like me, weren't Android users, if we were all like him, he'd have no one to try to persuade, we'd all think like him, and he'd be very bored, not having anyone to preach to.
Once, a very long time ago, maybe 17 years, I killed a mobile phone. It belonged to my ex and I discovered he was having an affair. I very calmly picked it up off the kitchen table at which he was sitting, and dropped it into a sink of very hot, greasy, after-dinner-dishes washing-up water. Just to be sure, I held it under the water for several minutes.
Thankfully, no one has been so derogatory of my planner habits, but if I did. I'd cite a key number of studies that say writing things down on paper makes it easier to remember: http://lifehacker.com/5738093/why-you-learn-more-effectively-by-writing-than-typing
Also, it simply works for me. I don't need to recharge the battery or be on a computer. No electricity or power needed.
In my opinion it has little to do, ultimately, with whether paper is "better" than electronics or vice versa, and more to do with that person's ego. Generalising and stereotyping a fair bit here, but people tend to put each other down because of a need to feel superior, usually borne out of their own insecurities. With that in mind depending on my relationship with the person and how rude I felt they were and how grumpy I already was that day(!), I might reply with anything from a mild "I use my phone/iPad/etc for many things, but I think better on paper. It's a personal thing." and then try to change the conversation, to a more no-holds-barred "I find your words very disrespectful, my system works for me and I don't need your approval/permission to use it. Please can we talk about something else."
I've only used the latter once - shut them right up, but somewhat cooled our relationship too...
josh, this one *really* gets me annoyed. There's a mindless assumption among early adopters of tech that whatever is new is better than whatever is older....improvement is assumed. I belong to a couple of GTD-focused LinkedIn groups, and the techies spend their whole time arguing about which combination of apps, gadgets, etc is the best - not for them, but for everyone. And some of their setups are so convoluted I'm sure they never get anything done at all, other than tinker with the system! I'd be inclined to ask exactly *why* it is these people think their tech systems are better....the answers might be illuminating, I think.
Gail - in my experience, thinking (which is a good part of planning) is *definitely* better done on paper.
Athena - it's definitely the case that writing aids memory. We have yet to see the long term results of tech's incursion into modern education, but my suspicion is that it won't end well.
I have gadgets (laptop, BlackBerry) which I use for some things, but there are other things for which I know that tech can never do as good a job as old fashioned paper and pen/pencil. Old-fashioned? Yes, but so is breathing, and that still seems to work.......
I spend my entire workday on a computer, and a paper planner is an excellent way for me to take a break from all that screen time. Plus, I don't have to worry about being unable to check my calendar in the middle of a phone call because my cellular also doubles as my agenda.
If you're good with technology, electronic planning can be a great tool. If you're terrible with technology, like me, paper and a pen (and a six-hole punch) is the way to go.
My question today has to do with ring size. I am presently going back and forth between a Franklin Covey compact sized binder with 1.5 inch rings and a personal sized Holborn with what I think are 15/16 inch rings. I love the Holborn. The leather is luscious and the pockets are wonderful. The Franklin Covey is just something I picked up on Ebay and is not nearly as nice but my stuff fits so nicely and my pages turn so easily. Ever since I have been following Philofaxy and postings by people about their Filofaxes, I see where there are so many of us who really want and need a Filofax in the personal size with larger rings. With the new line of Filofaxes coming out in the spring, does anyone know if they have listened to the requests of people and have designed a personal sized Filofax with larger rings? It would be absolutely perfect to have either a Malden or Holborn with huge rings and I am sure they would sell a lot of them.
The Personal Holborn has 23mm rings which is approximately 0.91 inches or 29/32ths of an inch (in old money). Even in the UK, we still use a mix of Imperial and metric - such as a pint of beer (but then our pint is 20 fl oz rather than the American 16 oz!).
Interestingly, some of us want SMALLER rings - in A5!
I'd love small rings in an A5. Filofax don't seem to have realised that the bigger inserts are, the fewer pages people might have to put in their binders. I might need DPP in my Personal, for instance, but Wo2P in my A5, due to the A5 pages having more writing space.
Ideally, of course, Filofax rings would be interchangeable, à la FranklinCovey and Gillio.
Just a brief enquiry slightly off the main topic area I know. I wondered if there were any Philofaxers that might own a Silhouette Cameo electronic cutter. I've just bought a Cameo and making my first faltering steps making a slow-ish progress at present.
I like smaller rings and I am using a compact Luxe. I already have my 2015 inserts for my Luxe. I had trimmed and punched the Franklin Covey weekly leadership pages in the classic size for my A5 Boston. I wrote a too long comment on it a while back. However, I decided to instead use a Filofax insert for my A5 Boston. I usually then use the extra insert as list or scrap paper but I really wanted to somehow use the Franklin Covey extra insert in a better way. So I trimmed the dates (printed on the side) off and the top of the page that has the color, year, and week number. I cut the pages to personal size so that it fits in my Luxe. Now I have an undated week on two pages insert that I can use for next year. It was a bit of a chore since I used a Fiskars trimmer and I had to clean up the pages with scissors. I also botched a few pages so I have almost the full year. The only reason that I could do this is because the dates on the FC pages are printed on the side. Most A5 weekly inserts have the dates at the top of each day (horizontal version). In that case I would not have been able to trim it for personal size. Most of the holidays are gone but some are still there. And since I had to hole punch it twice the holes take up some of the writing space. It looks pretty good for my homemade attempt. I just have to fill in the weeks and the days.
Also although I am pleased with my homemade trimmed insert I am interested in electronic planning. I think that there are some valid reasons to use technology planning. If I could use both then that would be ideal. I have battery problems and glitches with my computer even with using primarily paper planning. Some people use computer planning very well and don't seem to talk about numerous problems with it.
Question about printing your own pages. I was trying to print the pages from Lime Tree Fruits for my daughter-in-law. The first run through goes fine. But when I try to print on the back side, it pulls through multiple pages at a time and messes up the whole stack. Any tricks for keeping the printer from doing that? I've tried lots of different ways of printing - one at a time; a break between sets; sets of 3. It doesn't matter. The first 3 of the back side do okay and then it messes up from there on. It's making it not worth doing it.
I'm someone who is regularly dehydrated. I usually don't feel thirsty and I forget to drink water all the time! It's the source of most of my health problems. Does anyone here use their Filofax to regulate/keep track of their drinking? Alternatively, does anyone know of any posts on this? Any help would be very much appreciated. :)
There are many bracelets for tracking water. Here are just a few. https://www.facebook.com/CountMeHealthyJewelry http://www.fabulousgifts.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=fabgifts_043 http://www.etsy.com/listing/38090267/points-tracker-calculator-calorie
Some people use this stamp...it has water glasses to remind you and to check off. http://www.studiol2e.com/plan-it Others use a health/fitness tracker they either customize or find online as free downloadable printable which you can google and you'll get tons of options to print in various sizes for your planner. Weight Watchers used to sell a small stretchy bracelet with beads to remind you to drink water. I will see if I can find it and post a link.
How do y'all handle folks who are telling you that you need to use a digital system? Sometimes these folks are really well-meaning, sometimes they are, well, not. I can articulate clearly why I use paper, but it comes off as sounding defensive. I don't exactly understand why people feel the need to force their preferences down other people's throats... Of course, I see digitally inclined people berating each other for using the wrong platform, i.e. "you really need an iphone" or "android is best." Interestingly, some of the people who feel I should use a digital system are the same people who are always coming to me to seek specific information or documents because I can retrieve them so quickly!
ReplyDeleteWell, I can only tell, that I had been switching from paper to digital from 2001 until 2011. After a 10 years process of switching, I found out I did not go without paper completely, instead I was constantly using paper as a complement to the digital device (I tried a lot of them, 5 to 7 different devices guess). Furthermore, I did not like the handling: Small or even tiny keyboards (unusable), too small displays to sketch on, if there was a way to sketch in the organizer application.
DeleteSo in the end I came back to paper again and I use an iPad mini as a digital complement to my Filofax, keeping a lot of reference information as well as all addresses and phone numbers. The latter is backed up by a hard copy print-out in my Filofax.
Josh, this is one of my biggest pet peeves, probably because I work with someone who is so pro-digital, pro-Apple, and thinks anything handwritten or "analog" is just archaic and demeaning. Before working with this person, never did I really think about the differences or the fact that it's a personal preference. But his insistence (and putting down my preferences in the process) has me thinking a lot about this.
DeleteMost professional organizers will tell you that whatever organizing system you choose has to work for YOU. I know someone who, if you look at her desk, would appear so disorganized. Yet, she knows where everything is. She's just a person that has to have it all in front of her, in unruly piles, but that's what works for her. So it's all about what works for you, what keeps you organized both physically and mentally.
Like you, many people have made fun of how organized I am, how attached to my planner I am, yet will come to me when they need something done or need to know when something happened, etc. What they make fun of me for is exactly why they can depend on me, and they don't even realize it.
I don't have the magic words to say that will make the pro-tech people back down (especially, as in my case, I'm forced to really defend my preferences as this person is not one to back down until he's pushed his ideas on others). But I have said that it works for me and what works for some doesn't work for all, etc. But maybe the next time a pro-tech person approaches you with a question that only you can answer because of the detailed records you keep, you can point out that they wouldn't be able to ask those questions (or get the answers) if you didn't use your paper planner. Every time technology fails me (which is more often than I'd like) I say, THIS is why I can't rely solely on technology. A few times it's really worked for me, leaving the always persuasive pro-tech people just a little more speechless. That, to me, makes my day. :)
Just a small addendum: There's nothing wrong with being pro-tech or pro-Apple. I love my devices and use them for some planning and tasks. But when people are SO pro that they put down anyone who does not feel the way they do, that's when I have a problem with it. But this goes for anything in life -- I am a big believer of "to each their own." We all believe what we believe, and there's nothing wrong with being different from the next person. That's what makes this world go round. I have also pointed out to this person that if there weren't analog people like me, weren't Android users, if we were all like him, he'd have no one to try to persuade, we'd all think like him, and he'd be very bored, not having anyone to preach to.
DeleteOnce, a very long time ago, maybe 17 years, I killed a mobile phone.
DeleteIt belonged to my ex and I discovered he was having an affair.
I very calmly picked it up off the kitchen table at which he was sitting, and dropped it into a sink of very hot, greasy, after-dinner-dishes washing-up water.
Just to be sure, I held it under the water for several minutes.
I guess that would have killed a Filofax too!
Thankfully, no one has been so derogatory of my planner habits, but if I did. I'd cite a key number of studies that say writing things down on paper makes it easier to remember: http://lifehacker.com/5738093/why-you-learn-more-effectively-by-writing-than-typing
DeleteAlso, it simply works for me. I don't need to recharge the battery or be on a computer. No electricity or power needed.
In my opinion it has little to do, ultimately, with whether paper is "better" than electronics or vice versa, and more to do with that person's ego. Generalising and stereotyping a fair bit here, but people tend to put each other down because of a need to feel superior, usually borne out of their own insecurities. With that in mind depending on my relationship with the person and how rude I felt they were and how grumpy I already was that day(!), I might reply with anything from a mild "I use my phone/iPad/etc for many things, but I think better on paper. It's a personal thing." and then try to change the conversation, to a more no-holds-barred "I find your words very disrespectful, my system works for me and I don't need your approval/permission to use it. Please can we talk about something else."
DeleteI've only used the latter once - shut them right up, but somewhat cooled our relationship too...
josh, this one *really* gets me annoyed. There's a mindless assumption among early adopters of tech that whatever is new is better than whatever is older....improvement is assumed. I belong to a couple of GTD-focused LinkedIn groups, and the techies spend their whole time arguing about which combination of apps, gadgets, etc is the best - not for them, but for everyone. And some of their setups are so convoluted I'm sure they never get anything done at all, other than tinker with the system! I'd be inclined to ask exactly *why* it is these people think their tech systems are better....the answers might be illuminating, I think.
DeleteGail - in my experience, thinking (which is a good part of planning) is *definitely* better done on paper.
Athena - it's definitely the case that writing aids memory. We have yet to see the long term results of tech's incursion into modern education, but my suspicion is that it won't end well.
I have gadgets (laptop, BlackBerry) which I use for some things, but there are other things for which I know that tech can never do as good a job as old fashioned paper and pen/pencil. Old-fashioned? Yes, but so is breathing, and that still seems to work.......
I spend my entire workday on a computer, and a paper planner is an excellent way for me to take a break from all that screen time. Plus, I don't have to worry about being unable to check my calendar in the middle of a phone call because my cellular also doubles as my agenda.
DeleteIf you're good with technology, electronic planning can be a great tool. If you're terrible with technology, like me, paper and a pen (and a six-hole punch) is the way to go.
My question today has to do with ring size. I am presently going back and forth between a Franklin Covey compact sized binder with 1.5 inch rings and a personal sized Holborn with what I think are 15/16 inch rings. I love the Holborn. The leather is luscious and the pockets are wonderful. The Franklin Covey is just something I picked up on Ebay and is not nearly as nice but my stuff fits so nicely and my pages turn so easily. Ever since I have been following Philofaxy and postings by people about their Filofaxes, I see where there are so many of us who really want and need a Filofax in the personal size with larger rings. With the new line of Filofaxes coming out in the spring, does anyone know if they have listened to the requests of people and have designed a personal sized Filofax with larger rings? It would be absolutely perfect to have either a Malden or Holborn with huge rings and I am sure they would sell a lot of them.
ReplyDeleteThe Personal Holborn has 23mm rings which is approximately 0.91 inches or 29/32ths of an inch (in old money). Even in the UK, we still use a mix of Imperial and metric - such as a pint of beer (but then our pint is 20 fl oz rather than the American 16 oz!).
DeleteInterestingly, some of us want SMALLER rings - in A5!
I'd love small rings in an A5. Filofax don't seem to have realised that the bigger inserts are, the fewer pages people might have to put in their binders. I might need DPP in my Personal, for instance, but Wo2P in my A5, due to the A5 pages having more writing space.
DeleteIdeally, of course, Filofax rings would be interchangeable, à la FranklinCovey and Gillio.
Just a brief enquiry slightly off the main topic area I know. I wondered if there were any Philofaxers that might own a Silhouette Cameo electronic cutter. I've just bought a Cameo and making my first faltering steps making a slow-ish progress at present.
ReplyDeleteI have one, but haven't used it too much yet, but I do have templates for various sizes of divider if you'd like me to email you the files.
DeleteHas the Osterley been discontinued in the A5 size? All the online retailers say it's out of stock or that it's a discontinued item.
ReplyDeleteI like smaller rings and I am using a compact Luxe. I already have my 2015 inserts for my Luxe. I had trimmed and punched the Franklin Covey weekly leadership pages in the classic size for my A5 Boston. I wrote a too long comment on it a while back. However, I decided to instead use a Filofax insert for my A5 Boston. I usually then use the extra insert as list or scrap paper but I really wanted to somehow use the Franklin Covey extra insert in a better way. So I trimmed the dates (printed on the side) off and the top of the page that has the color, year, and week number. I cut the pages to personal size so that it fits in my Luxe. Now I have an undated week on two pages insert that I can use for next year. It was a bit of a chore since I used a Fiskars trimmer and I had to clean up the pages with scissors. I also botched a few pages so I have almost the full year. The only reason that I could do this is because the dates on the FC pages are printed on the side. Most A5 weekly inserts have the dates at the top of each day (horizontal version). In that case I would not have been able to trim it for personal size. Most of the holidays are gone but some are still there. And since I had to hole punch it twice the holes take up some of the writing space. It looks pretty good for my homemade attempt. I just have to fill in the weeks and the days.
ReplyDeleteAlso although I am pleased with my homemade trimmed insert I am interested in electronic planning. I think that there are some valid reasons to use technology planning. If I could use both then that would be ideal. I have battery problems and glitches with my computer even with using primarily paper planning. Some people use computer planning very well and don't seem to talk about numerous problems with it.
DeleteQuestion about printing your own pages. I was trying to print the pages from Lime Tree Fruits for my daughter-in-law. The first run through goes fine. But when I try to print on the back side, it pulls through multiple pages at a time and messes up the whole stack. Any tricks for keeping the printer from doing that? I've tried lots of different ways of printing - one at a time; a break between sets; sets of 3. It doesn't matter. The first 3 of the back side do okay and then it messes up from there on. It's making it not worth doing it.
ReplyDeleteWhat printer are you using?
DeleteBrother MFC-J835DW.
ReplyDeleteIt does better if I print double-sided on 8-1/2 x 11. I was trying to print on personal sized paper.
I'm someone who is regularly dehydrated. I usually don't feel thirsty and I forget to drink water all the time! It's the source of most of my health problems. Does anyone here use their Filofax to regulate/keep track of their drinking? Alternatively, does anyone know of any posts on this? Any help would be very much appreciated. :)
ReplyDeleteThere are many bracelets for tracking water. Here are just a few.
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/CountMeHealthyJewelry
http://www.fabulousgifts.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=fabgifts_043
http://www.etsy.com/listing/38090267/points-tracker-calculator-calorie
Some people use this stamp...it has water glasses to remind you and to check off.
Deletehttp://www.studiol2e.com/plan-it
Others use a health/fitness tracker they either customize or find online as free downloadable printable which you can google and you'll get tons of options to print in various sizes for your planner.
Weight Watchers used to sell a small stretchy bracelet with beads to remind you to drink water. I will see if I can find it and post a link.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete