Philofaxy: May 2016

31 May 2016

Web Finds - 31 May 2016

So I hope you have had a good weekend.

So now it is time to enjoy a great collection of blog posts and videos from around the internet.

So here are a selection of the latest Filofax videos for your enjoyment.

For tips on how to improve your videos, please see this post. Also this video too Webfinds
Your Filofax/Organiser Videos could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list.

My Week Posts

Enjoy.

Free For All Tuesday No. 278

30 May 2016

Filofax Classic Croc A5 personal organiser - Review

It has been a little while since I last reviewed a new Filofax model, but after seeing the publicity about the new Classic Croc model I was intrigued to take a closer look. There were several things about the design which peaked my attention.

So it was with a lot of anticipation this morning that I opened the parcel from Filofax that arrived by courier. I carefully opened the box. And saw a plain white box inside, it was labelled and bar coded classic croc A5 chestnut. Slip the tab I opened to find another box inside.

Yes the return of nice Filofax boxes... tick

Inside was a nicely wrapped organiser in soft paper. I slipped that off.

And then the new style plastic wrapper too. I suspect that is so a retailer can display these on their shelves etc.

With that out of the way finally I had the organiser in my hands. Instantly I could tell I was going to like this one, although normally I'm not a croc leather fan, there was something different about this one.

Readers Favourite Organiser - Flavia

Thank you to Flavia for sharing with us her favourite organiser.

What is your favourite organiser?

Well I'm totally in love with my Filofax pocket Siena in cinnamon.

How long have you owned it?

It was an affair! I bought it last January and it was in stock at 60% off!!

What is that you like about it so much?

I love the colour so much and the fact that it's so stuffable!! I love all the pockets and I can use it as my wallet and on the go planner. My Siena comes with me everywhere and it's a very trusty companion. Oh and I like the golden rings!!!

Do you use it all the time?

Yes, everyday and everywhere!

Do you think the design could be improved in any way? How?

No, it's a perfect pocket organiser!! I'm very sad that the Siena it's a discontinued model. I would love a personal so much!!!

And here are some photographs of my favourite organiser

Thank you Flavia

If you would like to share with us the details of your favourite organiser, please contact steve @ philofaxy dot com

28 May 2016

Web Finds - 28 May 2016

So I hope you have had a good week.

So now it is time to enjoy a great collection of blog posts from around the internet, so grab a drink and make yourself for our weekly round-up.

Here are some Philofaxy posts you might have missed this week:

So here are the latest Filofax and other brand blog posts from around the Internet. Don't forget to leave a comment on the posts you enjoyed reading, all bloggers enjoy getting comments.

We monitor over 400 blogs and sites, your Filofax/Organiser blog posts could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list.
We can not guarantee people will read your posts, but we know there is a higher chance of people reading your posts and returning to read other posts if you make them interesting with pictures and good hints and tips. Do not forget to give your posts a title...
Your Filofax/Organiser posts could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list.
For some general tips on Filofax Blogging, please see this post

We are on the look out for more people to take part in Reader Under the Spotlight. If you would like to appear in this feature then please contact Steve : philofaxy at gmail dot com Thank you.

The videos and 'My week' posts will appear in their own post on Tuesday.

Enjoy.

27 May 2016

Free for All Friday No. 393 by Nan

There was a time in my organizer life when my main goal was to avoid duplicating or re-writing information anywhere, ever! I thought making duplicate entries meant that your system had failed. Now I'm a lot more open-minded on the subject.

For example, my company uses Google Calendar, so all my work-related meetings are in there. I keep my personal appointments in a Personal organizer in both DPP and Wo1P formats. But I've started putting some personal appointments in the computerized work calendar as well. After all, my co-workers need to know not to schedule me for a meeting when I'm at the dentist!

And, believe it or not, I've started also writing my work appointments on the paper DPP. That way, I can see them when I'm away from the computer.

So, what's your philosophy on keeping information in more than one place?

Of course, since it's Friday, all other ring-bound organizer discussion is welcome!

26 May 2016

T is for Travel

As it is a Thursday and we are approaching summer when people might be starting to think about holiday plans, may be it is time to start using your organiser to help you plan your holiday break.

I like to have my travel plans on paper, I then don't have the fear of not having an internet connection on my phone or enough power in the battery etc. I keep my plans in my Filofax travel wallet that I use for long distance trips.

So what inserts are there that can help you in planning your trip?

I like to have the details of the different parts of the journey on paper, using this insert. Yes, it is quite detailed, but I learnt from our trip to the USA last year that I needed all the various bits of information I have included because the different airlines had different restrictions! However, you can of course customise the insert as you wish.

Personal sized insert: Travel Planning .docx .pdf

I use this packing list form for short weekend trips when it tends to be just me. On the reverse side I have included a 'Things to do before leaving' area. I've customised my own version of this with all my usual things I take on trips, you can do the same of course.

Personal size: Weekend Travel Packing List - .docx
A6 size: Weekend Packing Lists .docx .pdf

If you are going away on a much longer trip with your family. You might find this insert of interest, it is similar to one that used to be available from Filofax back in the 1980's in Personal size. I found it far too detailed, but it is quite easy to remove the things you will never take and get the list down to a single sided page.

A4/A5 size: Travellers Check List (A4) - .doc .pdf

You might also like to listen again to Episode 6 of The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Plannerverse which was dedicated to Travelling with your planner.

Happy and safe travelling this summer....

This work by Philofaxy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. Please download, adapt, use, share, but do not charge or use commercially.

25 May 2016

The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Plannerverse - Episode 13

GTD Productivity And Using Your Paper Planner

There must be a point where we can actually breathe a sigh of relief knowing we have accomplished the day’s work and allow ourselves the momentary celebration of understanding our location in the progress of our lives as we plan and track our way through it.

In this episode, Steve and Karine embrace the zen of David Allen and oddly, actually get something done!

If you have ideas for future episodes please send them to steve at philofaxy dot com

Show Notes (timings approximate)

00:05 - Introduction
01:00 - David Allen - Getting Things Done
02:15 - Clutter
04:30 - GTD Videos
06:00 - How many inserts/pages do you really need to keep in your organiser
08:15 - GTD and a Paper Planner - A4 or Letter
10:00 - Actions
14:30 - Filing Systems
18:50 - Tasks - The Pomodoro Technique
21:00 - Context
22:00 - Colour coding
23:30 - Daily planner page for GTD
26:30 - The need to do GTD or using your planner in a more efficient way.
28:30 - Tip of the week

Guest Posts on Philofaxy:
My GTD Set Up - David Popely - Guest Post
Guest Post - My current (GTD based) Filofax setup - David Popely
Guest Post - How I use my Personal Filofax for GTD

Episode 13 - GTD Productivity And Using Your Paper Planner

A direct download is also available here: Episode13.mp3

Shownotes: A5 docx pdf  Personal docx pdf

NB: A5 is in A4 format so it can be scaled to suit A5 or A6 size. Personal is for printing direct on Personal size paper.

Presenters - Steve Morton and Karine Tovmassian

Our Websites: Philofaxy TN Times and The Streamlined Life Thinker Extraordinaire Thinker Extraordinaire (Services)

Naturally we would love to hear your feedback on the podcast. If you use iTunes please gives us your rating or reviews of the podcast.

Previous Episodes:

12 - Job Seeking and Keeping - A5 docx pdf  Personal docx pdf
11 - Planner Fail - A5 docx pdf Personal docx pdf
10 - Planner Hacks - A5 docx pdf  Personal docx pdf
9 - Planner Planning - A5 docx pdf  Personal docx pdf
8 - Choosing Inserts - A5 docx pdf  Personal docx pdf
7 - How do you carry your planner - A5 docx pdf  Personal docx pdf
6 - Planners on the go - A5 docx pdf  Personal docx pdf
5 - Why would you pay more than the price of a Filofax? - A5 docx pdf Personal docx pdf
4 - Using Your Planner To Create Permanent Habit Changes - A5 docx pdf Personal docx pdf
3 - Getting on with two or more planners - A5 docx pdf Personal docx pdf
2 - Where to start your planning journey and why - A5 docx pdf Personal docx pdf
1 - What size and why.... - A5 docx pdf Personal docx pdf

24 May 2016

Web Finds - 24 May 2016

For tips on how to improve your videos, please see this post. Also this video too Webfinds
Your Filofax/Organiser Videos could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list.

My Week Posts

I hope you like the new format..

Enjoy.

Free For All Tuesday No. 277

23 May 2016

William Hannah Limited - Pen Loop Accessory.

Back in April we reviewed the William Hannah Limited leather notebook/planner and some of you commented about the lack of a pen loop.

A pen loop is now available as an accessory to purchase from the website. The pen loop is priced at £8.00 plus shipping.

Now a lot of companies would just pop the pen loop in a jiffy bag and post it to you.... not very exciting to receive? Well you might recall in the review how much I was impressed with the presentation of the actual notebook in its box and the way it was presented, well the pen loop doesn't disappoint at all.

I opened the stiff card mailer and this is what I received:

Turning the small card over there are clear instructions.

So I carefully undid the nut and removed the pen loop from the card. And there are very detailed and very well thought out instructions.

So I followed them to the letter. My black and royal blue leather notebook now sports an elasticated pen loop, here with my Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen.

The pen loop is available in five colours, you don't have to go for the same colour as your notebook, you could get the pen loop in a contrasting colour.

Thank you to William Hannah Limited for supplying this sample of the pen loop.

And to finish off there is now a William Hannah Facebook User Group for anyone to join.

22 May 2016

Reader Under The Spotlight - Stuart

Today I would like to introduce you all to Stuart.

My name is Stuart Lennon, a 46 year old aspiring writer living in Hampshire, England. I am recovering from 25 years working in money transfer and money changing. I am determined to publish my debut novel in 2016. This determination is regularly undermined by the attractions of the golf course, holidays and a good lunch. I'm trying to summon the energy for a decent mid-life crisis, but I have just settled for a fast car. I blog at stuartlennon.com

1. When did you buy your first organiser and what was it?

1994 - A Daytimer Desk size. It was almost a badge of management at the company I was working for back then. I had a Daytimer on and off until 2014. Usually Desk, but occasionally Folio, which is HUGE.

2. Out of the organisers you own which is your current favourite (Style and Size)?

Filofax A5 Ochre Malden. Such beautiful leather. I had a similar Daytimer binder a few years ago, Western Coach it was called. I love the soft, unstructured feel.

3. How many Filofax or other brands of organisers do you own?

None! I sold my business in late 2014 and soon after I got rid of all of binders and their archives. Cathartic, but stupid.

4. What do you use your organisers for?

Time Planning, and project management. In the back of the binder I keep Rhodia #8 note pads for task lists and as a jotter.

5. How many sections do you have in your organiser and what is each section used for?

Lots! Upfront I have the information pages from both Filofax and Smythson. Then come my goals and objectives for the year, split into key areas. (An idea shamelessly adapted from Amanda Fleet at PaperPensInk.) Then a diary section - week to view, which is my key planning tool. Finally is the addresses section and 'bits and pieces', notably some neon post-it arrows.

6. If you could design your own Filofax what would it feature?

Since finding Philofaxy, I have discovered that I can do exactly that - with Van der Spek for example. I am surprised at the paucity of refill options from Filofax and as a fountain pen user, the paper quality is frustrating. Smythson paper is beautiful, but there are even fewer options. I can see why so many go down the DIY route for inserts.

7. What's your favourite Filofax tip or hack?

Be flexible. There was a time that I diligently maintained the addresses and contacts section. Now, I only store the postal addresses of people to whom I actually write letters. Phone numbers and emails are best managed electronically. Filofax can work hand in hand with IT. It does not need to be an either/or question.

8. Have you ever attended a Philofaxy meet-up? if not do you intend to one day?

No. But I'm new here! Do we sit in a circle while each person begins "Hi, my name is xxxxx and I am a Filofaxolic"? As long as it's not like that, then I'm in.

9. What was the last movie you watched?

The Way with Martin Sheen. It is about the Camino del Santiago, a very long walk, which I intend to complete over the next few years.

10. What was the last book you read?

Easy. It was written by the person who introduced me to Philofaxy, "The Wrong Kind of Clouds" by Amanda Fleet. It's an excellent read and on special offer here .

Thank you Stuart.

As you know we are always looking for new people to appear in our 'Reader Under Spotlight feature, you don't have to be 'well known' or a long term user to be considered to appear in this 'spot'.

So please contact Steve philofaxy at gmail dot com today. Thank you.

21 May 2016

Web Finds - 21 May 2016

So here are the latest Filofax and other brand blog posts from around the Internet. Don't forget to leave a comment on the posts you enjoyed reading, all bloggers enjoy getting comments.

We monitor over 400 blogs and sites, your Filofax/Organiser blog posts could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list.
We can not guarantee people will read your posts, but we know there is a higher chance of people reading your posts and returning to read other posts if you make them interesting with pictures and good hints and tips. Do not forget to give your posts a title...
Your Filofax/Organiser posts could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list.
For some general tips on Filofax Blogging, please see this post

20 May 2016

Free For All Friday No 392 by Laurie

In theory, using a ring binder could be a very environmentally-friendly way to do your planning. If you use the same binder year after year, all you have to do is replace the diary pages. Paper is a renewable resource, and many companies use soy ink (instead of petroleum-based inks) so the ink comes from renewable resources too. The looseleaf pages have no glues or other binding agents, and are easy to recycle when you are finished with them. Save the world, use a Filofax!

Buuuuttttt, for many of us the reality is different. I buy new binders (increasing consumption and production, and using resources). I don't simply replace diary pages, I buy lots of different types of diary pages each year, and also print my own to try different formats (using ink and electricity). So, I definitely fail at what could potentially be environmentally friendliness. At least I do recycle unused pages.

Do you use your organiser in an environmentally-friendly way? Or are you more like me and tend toward planner excess?

And as always on Fridays, feel free to discuss/ ask anything ring-binder related!

19 May 2016

Diary Inserts for 2017

It is that time of year again, we are pleased to announce the launch of the 2017 diary inserts here on Philofaxy.

At this point in time we are just releasing our existing ones. I will be looking at the feasibility of adding to the range from the list of requests we received the other week.

If you have a Filofax organiser, you probably have diary pages – probably ones made by Filofax. If you’re happy with those pages, great. If you’d like to try something different, read on. If you’d like to experiment or adapt a diary that is just right for your very particular needs then you’ve come to the right place.

Ray Blake of the My Life All in One Place blog and I have collaborated in an ongoing project to produce a range of diary layouts that can be downloaded, printed, punched and used. You can find them all here and they are all free.

They are offered for download and use under a Creative Commons Licence. That means you can freely use and adapt them other than commercially. You can share these templates with other people, but you must not charge for them.

You need to decide whether you just want to download prepared layout sets for the full year, or whether you want to roll up your sleeves and adapt our templates to your own needs. Some of the things you can do when you have the source files are:

Make and print a diary for any year - past, present or future
Adjust the space given to different days or other template elements
Add your name or other details to each page
Make a diary for part of a year, or for any period you want
Change the language of month and day name

Please note even if you have adapted our files to your own liking you are still bound by the Creative Commons Licence.

Follow the links below to the blog posts where the files are to be found. Often there will be several in one post, but the individual files will be clearly signposted and instructions are included in the posts.

Each layout now has a 'preview' image, so you can see what the file looks like before you download the files, the preview will not show the current year.

Before downloading the PDF files and printing them please read the note at the foot of this post about PDF readers scaling the print output.

Inserts for 2017

A4/A5 Format

Day per page .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Day per page minimalist journal (narrow) .doc .pdf Source Files Preview
Day per page minimalist journal (wide) .doc .pdf Source Files Preview
Day on two pages .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Day on two pages (Daily Dashboard .docx .pdf Source Files - Word Excel Preview
Two days per page (Lined) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Two days per page (Unlined) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week per page .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week per page with Tasks .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages Enhanced TM .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages Enhanced TM (5 line version) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages Enhanced TM with Journal .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages Enhanced TM (5 line version) with Journal .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages (cotton cream layout) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages Journal .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages Journal Lined .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages Vertical .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages Minimalist Vertical .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month per page .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month per page (Horizontal Format) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month per page with notes: .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month on two pages .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month on two pages with notes .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Year planner A4 .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Year planner A4/A5 Z fold .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
2017 Year Calendar .doc .pdf Preview

A6 Inserts for 2017

Day per page - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
Day on two pages - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
Two days per page (Lined) - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
Two days per page - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
Week per page - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
Week view - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
Week view (vertical layout) - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
Week plus Tasks - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
Week plus Tasks sub-divided Days - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
Enhanced TM Week View - Word, PDF Source (Word Excel), Preview
Month per page - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
Month on two pages - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
Month on two pages (Horizontal format) - Word, PDF, Source (Word Excel), Preview
2017 Year planner - Word 2017 PDF 2017, Source (Word Excel), Preview
2017 Year Calendar .doc .pdf Preview

All of these A6 files are in A4 format and all should be printed on to A6 size paper as detailed in the previous post. There is one exception to this and that is the Year Planner, this should be printed on to A5 paper at 70% scale and then Z folded to fit in to A6.

Personal on Personal Paper

Day per page .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Day on two pages .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Two days per page .docx .pdf Source .docx .xlsx Preview
Week per page .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week per page plus notes and tasks .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages Vertical .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Enhanced TM Weel View Word PDF Source Files Preview
Month per page .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month per page with notes: .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month on two pages .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month on two pages with Notes .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month on two pages (Horizontal) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Year Calendar .docx .pdf Preview

Personal on A4 Paper

Day per page .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Day per page minimalist .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Day on two pages .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Two days per page (Lined) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Two days per page (Unlined) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on one page .doc .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages Enhanced TM .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages Vertical layout .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages landscape layout .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month per page .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month on two pages .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Year planner .docx .pdf Source Files Preview

Personal on Letter Paper (North Americans Only!)

Day per page .docx or .pdf Source Files Preview
Day per page minimalist .docx or .pdf Source Files Preview
Day on two pages .docx or .pdf Source Files Preview
Two days per page .docx or .pdf Source Files Preview
Two days per page (lined) .docx or .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages - TM .docx or .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages - CC .docx or .pdf Preview
Week on two pages - Vertical layout - .docx or .pdf Preview
Week on two pages - Landscape layout .docx or .pdf Preview

Pocket on A4 Paper

Day per page minimalist .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Day on two pages .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Two days per page (Lined) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Two days per page (Unlined) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages enhanced TM .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Week on two pages CC Inspired Layout .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month on one page .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
Month on two pages .docx .pdf Source Files Preview

Mini on A4 Paper

Mini Week on two pages .docx .pdf Source Word Excel Preview

M2 on A4 Paper

M2 Week on two pages (Vertical layout) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview
M2 Week on two pages (Horizontal layout) .docx .pdf Source Files Preview

If you spot any dead links or wrongly dated files (2016 instead of 2017) please let me know I think I've caught all the dead links..

Note: Printing Word or PDF files

When printing either the Word or the PDF files, it is essential that you set the paper size correct in the application and in any printer dialogue boxes on your PC/Mac. If you are printing on A4 paper, then you need to set the paper size to A4 not Letter or any other size.

If you don't set the paper size correctly then the files will be resized according to the paper size you have selected, despite having A4 paper loaded in the printer.

Printing PDF Files

When you print your PDF file, it prints out smaller on paper than the Word or other file it was created from.

When you print from Adobe Acrobat Reader, you will see this dialogue:

You will see that 'Print Scaling' setting is by default set to 'Shrink to Printable Area? That's the one that's shrinking your PDF when you print it.

Change the setting to 'None':

Now, when you print the PDF it will print at the right size.

Using the source files

Tutorial for MS Office for Mac 2011

Tutorial for MS Office for Windows 2010

Tutorial for MS Office for Windows 2003

Once again thanks for all your support and feedback on these inserts.

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