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!
I am duplicating timed tasks/appointments, because I am working with a satellite planner system. I have an A6 that I carry with me all the time with a week on one page set up, so that I can quickly set up meetings or confirm whether I am free at a given time or not, but as soon as I am back at my desk I will copy those onto my s5, where I do my detailed planning - I usually plan the whole day through, including blocking out time for breaks, so just scribbling one word twice doesn't feel like a waste of time.
ReplyDeleteI duplicate information in various places, but the key is I don't synch them every day. If I had to synch in multiple places every day it would drive me nuts.
ReplyDeleteMy weekly pages in my Filofax hold all my day to day information, schedule, and tasks. That is my Master Planner.
My MO2P in my Filofax has the overview of events, appointments, holidays, travel, etc. I don't put all the daily details in there, just the big stuff.
I use a family weekly planner in the kitchen with an individual space for each person for each day, so my kids can see for example if they have a field trip, an after school activity, etc. This helps them get ready for each day and know what to bring, so they can do it themselves. I fill in the upcoming week each Sunday.
There is also a monthly wall calendar in the kitchen so everyone can see what is coming up during the month. I fill in the month at the end of the previous month, and update it weekly when I fill in the weekly family calendar.
Sometimes it feels like a lot to keep up on, but it's worth it because it keeps the whole family informed and gives my kids the ability to plan for themselves.
I try to minimise duplication as much as possible as I feel that it overcomplicates my system & I don't want to have to look in two places. I'm a heretic anyway as I use Google calendar & don't use my Filofax as my diary!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same. Much as I love planning, goal setting and strategic thinking with a pen and paper, using an app (in my case Informant) as my only place for appointments, reminders and repeat tasks has made life much simpler and less stressful.
DeleteI put everything in my personal filofax, but I synch the things that pertain to my family in a digital app (Cozi works for us) so that I can set reminders for all the people that don't use my filofax! ;-) It's a bit more work, and I have tried to use just the app in the past, but I simply remember better when I physically write something down.
ReplyDeleteI put everything in my personal filofax, but I synch the things that pertain to my family in a digital app (Cozi works for us) so that I can set reminders for all the people that don't use my filofax! ;-) It's a bit more work, and I have tried to use just the app in the past, but I simply remember better when I physically write something down.
ReplyDeleteFor me, repeating is great because I remember things better when I write them down, so the more frequently I write them the more likely I'll remember them!
ReplyDeleteUghh! Duplication, especially when patchy and incomplete drives me nuts but it seems to be my life! Then there's the endless duplication of photos and files for blogging because you are worried that 3 of your hard drives will corrupt at once ;) I do like a good old pen and paper...Not a filofax...at the moment. I have just discovered 'Bullet Journal.' I haven't competely figured it out yet, though. Maybe I need to return to the loving arms of a filofax...At least I can remove pages and noone will know I have made a mistake or scribbled something out! ;)
ReplyDeleteFor me, repeating is great because I remember things better when I write them down, so the more frequently I write them the more likely I'll remember them!
ReplyDeleteI plan everything in my main planner which is a Filofax pocket Malden with week-on-one-page w/notes inserts from a deconstructed pocket Moleskine agenda. All present and future appts, events, birthdays, anniversaries, trash day, bank debit draft days, expir/due dates, etc. are logged in there through end of year in the weekly section. Same with tasks such as when to buy/mail cards, booking flight for annual visit to parents, monthly client bookkeeping work, renewing subscriptions, etc - those get logged in the Notes section on the right.
ReplyDeleteBecause I always have a lot more going on each day other than what's in my planner, I also use a companion bullet journal for my daily pages. Every night I check my planner for the next day and transfer everything over to the daily page which I work off. From there, anything else that comes up for me to do that day only goes there (ie: take vitamins, errands at lunchtime, thaw chicken for supper, water plants, etc.) Anything that comes beyond that day goes on the dated inserts in my planner. Been using this system since January and it's been fluid and functional. Each book has it's own purpose and keeps my little pocket Malden from getting cluttered.
At work, I future plan all tasks and events in my Outlook calendar and then do the same thing - transfer them to my 'work only' bullet journal that stays on my desk at all times.
The only time I mix personal with work is when I have an appointment either at lunchtime or after work. I put "Leave at ___" in my Outlook calendar with a 15 min reminder so that it pops up on my screen.
I try to avoid duplication as much as possible. I have 'blended' electronic and paper to maximum effect I think or is it affect!
ReplyDeleteFor regular routine repeat tasks, the ones that occur every day or every week or month they are on reminders/Pocket informant on my phone/tablet/mac
Other tasks are all on paper on my Week View A5/A6 organiser.
Appointments are mainly on paper, but longer 'All Day' events also get recorded on my iCal electronic calendar that I share with Alison so she will know when I'm not about. Likewise she shares her calendar with me but not all the book activities she has on there!
Yes there is some synchronisation required between paper and electronics, but I find it helps me remember things.