Free for All Friday is our weekly open forum, but we usually try to kick things off with a question. There's no rule about that, but it's what we tend to do.
Do you have your own Filofax rules? One of mine is, I can only make major changes to my system or format every six months—January and July, the months when new calendars usually begin.
Do you keep a list of rules, or are they just unspoken?
If I have diary inserts I will do my absolute best to use them... Which is why I've got personal page a day inserts in my A5 planner right now! But only until the end of next month which is when my new inserts start.
ReplyDeleteI also have a "rule" to go through it every week (when I'm at home) and cull things that need culling - reference pages not needed for the immediate future (I have a lot of laminated tube/metro/s&u-bahn type maps).
My final rule is everything gets filed by date where possible. To do list of stuff to do after I arrive at home? Goes next to the day I get home! Travel confirmation emails and similar? Go on/next to the day I will use them.
I like Rose's idea of culling, I must adopt this.
ReplyDeleteI find it very handy, as they can get quite heavy and especially with travelling so much I way to keep my A5 as light as I can :)
DeleteI also remove diary inserts at the end of the week - if it's in the past it's done!
I think my main rule is not to own more than two filos as I can't bear to have ones that aren't being used. I've found that a personal as my main one, with an A5 for planning, projects & when I need more space is perfect for me.
ReplyDeleteAny recommendations for lined paper to use/cut down for A5? I've seen mentions of the nice paper but I want paper for everyday use. I think I might not use the nicer papers for fear of "wasting" it
ReplyDeleteStaples do really good pads of A5 lined paper, recycled, very cheap, reasonable quality for everyday notes etc. They come in a pack of 3 I think - but you'll need to punch your own holes.
DeleteThe Spirex brand has an A5 size with a wire spine and if you carefully remove the wire, the hole spacing suits the A5.
DeleteI have no rules but I could certainly benefit from some! Thinking about this...
ReplyDeleteFilofax USA is the worst..Been waiting 3 months for my A5..
ReplyDeleteI want to purchase an A5 Malden Ochre and see an eta of end of May from certain online sellers, but see no info on Filofax USA about Maldens...why not ? Will Filofax USA not be selling them ?
ReplyDeleteRule #1 Do not eat anywhere near my Filofax
ReplyDeleteRule #2 If it's not working, change it!
Rule #3 Don't add things to the To Do List after you have already done them just to fill in space.
Rule #4 Don't buy additional decorations or stickers until you have used at least 1/4 of what you own already.
Rule #5 RELAX, no one is going to force you to make a video! At times I stress myself out so much about doing things RIGHT as if there were really a right or wrong to any of it!
Lol, love #3!
DeleteHello, I was wondering what would be the European equivalent of the North American mini 3 ring binder that holds 5½ * 8½ and is compatible with the 7ring spacing. Is there something that exists which is compatible with the A5 -6-ring system to archive A5 punched papers?
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm pretty sure there is not. We have a5 2 ring binders, and the hole spacing in these is the same as the a4 2 ring binders which are the UK standard. They do not fit the a5 filofax holes, although the page size is the same.The 2 hole punches are very cheap though, so you could punch an extra 2 holes in your a5 pages to archive them?
DeleteThe 3 ring A4 folders have the correct spacing if you don't mind the size.
DeleteThank you for replying and clarifying that NineLeaves. I did go on the Staples-UK page and see the 2-ring-binders in A5 size and was wondering if they were Filofax-A5 compatible; so sadly they are not. I would prefer avoiding to punch more holes but I will keep your suggestion in mind if I do not come up with an alternative.
DeleteThank you Amanda for the suggestion but I wanted a half-sized binder solution.
I did wonder if I would use the 6 holed punch when I bought it but I do weekly by using odd bits of paper by punching holes for my A5 Malden and putting the pages in my To Remember section. Here I can pull out these pages, scribble on them in a hurry and then transfer or throw out in the recycling as required without worrying about ruining or wasting good paper. As a result it is a bit of a mulit-coloured section but works. Having a cull at the end of each week is a must or it can get out of control. I also make sure that I use both Filofaxes to justify the expense and I am glad to say that I have stuck to that. I do need to sell an A5 Finsbury which I have not yet done.
ReplyDeleteMy rule is to write down all to-dos, if I don't do that and try to remember one thing, I will forget it!
ReplyDeleteHaven't got as far as rules yet, but I'm getting to thinking dedicating different planners to different aspects of life. Home, Hobbies etc I have too many planners I love too much to put away so I have to justify them eh ;)
ReplyDeleteLove how they don't need charging, are ready any time of day or night and don't need an internet connection to find their ...'behind' like so many gadgets these days.
My rules:
ReplyDelete1) Do NOT overstuff the book. I use a desk-size Day-Timer Malibu now (which goes everywhere with me), and the rings are only about 1 1/8 inches (roughly 30cm) in diameter, which for me is a significant downsize. The Malibu was gorgeous enough and affordable enough to justify the slim-down. I also print non-calendar documents on both sides of a page whenever feasible. This is due to my pretty strong dislike of having to struggle to turn pages in my book!
2) Make it pleasing to my eye, but not over the top, and as cheaply as possible.
3) Function always wins over appearance. Always.
4) Keep only one month's worth of two-days-per-page calendar in the book at a time, with the exception of adding the next month's pages in about three days before the current month ends. Once the month has ended, its pages go to my archive (shoe box). Monthly calendar lives in the book year-round.
5) Be realistic about what I actually need to carry around in the Malibu all the time. I recently removed some pages and placed them instead in a pretty book that lives on my home office desk.