Recently my family and I went on our first international trip in several years. I use an A5 Filofax, and when I travel I swap the pages relevant to the trip and that time period into my A5 slimline Heritage Filofax. Steve reviewed one in this post. I use it without the leather flyleaf, so it's very slim and lightweight. It's no bother to carry in my carry-on bag.
I needed to have certain pages with me during our trip, and it was very convenient to have them in my slimline A5 when I needed to use them. But I have to admit it was really nice not to have to write in my planner all the time throughout every day. The previous six months had been extremely busy and stressful for all of us. It was so nice to take a break from constant planning and work, and just enjoy ourselves.
On my way back from our trip I started thinking about my planning system and whether I could simplify it to something more streamlined. I had recently incorporated trackers into my planner that increased the number of times I had to write in my planner throughout the day. For me there is a fine line between usefulness and drudgery. If I feel like I'm constantly checking, tracking, and writing in my planner too often throughout the day day, I start to resent it.
So when I got home I took another look at my Filofax system and am currently thinking about what I can streamline. The goal is to get everything done that I need to, without feeling like I am constantly chained to my book.
How much do you write in your planner throughout the day?
And as always on Fridays, feel free to ask and/ or discuss anything Filofax related!
I totally get this. There is a fine line between usefulness and drudgery. I get annoyed with clutter in my VDS A6 sometimes. A can't see the woods for the trees feeling. Love the A6 size BTW. I did used to use an A5 but found it too large to carry out and about. As for tracking I now only ensure the essential meds and vitamins.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy for you had a nice relaxing time. I just recently bought a Saffiano zip personal for travel. I find it super handy that it holds everything: money, cards, phone, notes, pen, tickets, even my passport (inside the EU an ID card is enough), although it wont be as comfy to write in it as your A5. :)
ReplyDeleteFor my vitamines I use a weekly medicine box, so it's enough to track them weekly on paper. You know how much you drink if you carry a water bottle, so enough to track once in the evening, or actually not at all. I try to turn these things into "physical" tracking - if it makes sense.
The other thing is to make something a habit, meaning it's enough to track them for consciousness only for about 2 months, after that you just do them, no tracking needed.
I also don't track "fancy" stuff, eg. I don't track my cleaning/washing/watering plants/workout habits, but I do track when are my windows washed, as I have to pay for that. I wouldn't track my vitamines either, but since I have to take extra vitamine D, it is more serious, so I do take notes of it.
I hope it helps someone.
sorry bur which one is the a6 size?
ReplyDeleteMy VDS Van der Spek is A6 size. The paper footprint is half A5, so retains the look of A5, but is half the size. xxxx
DeleteMore details about A6 size can be found here at:
Deletehttps://philofaxy.blogspot.com/search/label/A6
Wondering what the difference is between the compact size and the slimline.
ReplyDeleteSlimline has slightly smaller rings (and hence reduced capacity for inserts), and fits better in a jacket pocket.
DeleteYou can find more details about the difference between the two sizes at:
Deletehttps://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2012/12/personal-size-organiser-comparisons.html
A silly question, but does anyone use a pantry/ fridge inventory in menu planning and if so, which insert? Or do you just look in the cupboards/ fridge and menu plan making a shopping list from there?? I am getting fed up of buying duplicate stuff in the spirt of always useful to have ...., so buy too much of the same in error!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks. xxxx
ReplyDelete