Looking back through some of my posts here, I can definitely see that I'm a creature of habit. I read David Allen's Getting Things Done back in 2009, and then found my way to Filofax whilst looking for something to house my GTD system. Since then I've faithfully stuck to using either my GTD based set up or my simplified version. At some point, I added an A to Z to my reference/miscellaneous section, but apart from that, my set up really hasn't changed in all those years.
However, recently I have been wondering about making a change. Not exactly because what I'm using is no longer working, but because I'm curious about trying some thing else. I sometimes find a change can freshen something up and/or encourage me to view things differently.
So, I'm curious as to how you might go about this? For example, I could sit down and put together a potential different set up and start using it straight away. Or I could set it up in a spare Filofax ready to try at a time when work is less busy etc. For some years, I would eventually return to owning just the one Filofax, but I can definitely see the benefit of having more than one, so that I can use one or some to house different layouts like this.
As usual, I'm currently using my faithful Kensington, so I could set up my zipped Holborn ready to use as a bullet journal and I can see how I get on with it. And the added bonus of doing it this way is that I can easily return to my original set up if I don't find that I'm getting on with the bullet journal.
When you change your set up, do you start using the new one straight away, and/or do you keep different layouts in different organisers ready to use?
And as always on Fridays, please feel free to discuss anything organiser related. I hope that you have a great weekend.
Hi Anita! You could certainly go all-in with a new setup in a separate Filofax. I've done that before, with varying levels of success. Something else you might try is asking yourself what you feel your current system is missing, or what elements you would like to experiment with, and see if you can incorporate those into your current system. That might be less friction than an entirely new setup. Especially since a bullet journal system is designed to be modular, you can add and experiment with different elements to see what works. Alternatively, if you are looking for a fresh start in an entirely new system, you can dive right in! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI think trying to identify what is 'missing' is a good start. I'm of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" camp.
DeleteIt is easy to get lured into the idea of change; there is an entire YouTube 'industry' out there, dedicated to creating videos showing ever-changing layouts. I mean, there's a limit to how many videos you can make on the same layout, so layout churn is the only way to drive videos, and associated views.
I, on the other hand, suffer from binder churn, attracted by the thrill of the chase and the tactile pleasure of a lovely, supple binder*. Though the actual binder I use for my Inbox, Diary, Event planning & Ideas development doesn't change, and the inserts are fairly static now.
* more on that later, maybe...
So, more on the thrill of the chase...
ReplyDeleteI regularly review eBay, looking for nice binders. I have bought a few.
Two weeks ago, I spotted a nice, new-looking Asprey Pocket binder, flying under the radar. Lovely looking leatherwork, with nice, slender leather, lying perfectly flat, sensible pocket layout, and gold-coloured 11mm Krause rings. I watched it the whole week. Six minutes before the deadline approached, it was still only £12. I entered a maximum bid of £40 (more than I've ever spent), and waited until 15s to go, then hit 'Confirm Bid'. The dialogue closed, but nothing happened. No 'you are winning', or 'increase your bid' response. Nothing. I quickly tried to submit a bid again, but those 15s passed quickly. It went for that £12. I was both gutted and furious. I even submitted a technical complaint, and had a long chat with eBay support. They offered to email the vendor, pointing out the technical error, if I also contacted the vendor. Clutching at straws, I did that. They replied the next morning, to say the buyer had already paid, and that was it. I couldn't really blame them. They obviously didn't know what they were selling (it was a charity seller). Asprey wallets currently retail at ~£500...
They say that if you're undecided about something, toss a coin; if you 'lose', and you're not really bothered, then you probably don't care too much about it. I was very much bothered by this 'coin toss loss'...
Of course, I have now started looking for others. An antique dealer is trying to sell one for nearly £135, that looks like it has had a large lump eaten out of it by rats... Missing that binder is going to haunt me for some time, I think...
So I have learnt my lesson; ignore eBay's "Tips for winning auctions" advice ("Bide your time. By placing your highest bid in the closing seconds, you stand a greater chance of getting the item"). Allow yourself time to respond if the bidding system fails to register your bid.
A few days later, I saw an item that I thought was moderately interesting, so I used it to test the last-second bidding. At 5s, I hit 'Confirm Bid'. It registered. I won, at £17 delivered. It arrived, nicely packed, a few days later: a couple of old Microfile Mini binders; an Executive, and a Deluxe. Now the Deluxe is rather lovely; thin, supple 'Fine' leather, with no stiffening at all. It has a full-width wallet back, and simple front and back slip pockets, with three card slots in the front, and pear-shaped, 11mm Krause rings. I don't normally like wallet backs, as they are rather bulky, and don't lay flat, but the leather on this is so thin and supple, with 'silk' inner faces, and the wallet back so well proportioned, that this one seems to work. The binder is also wide enough that it will fit real A7 pages without them sticking out at the side. The pen loop is utterly tiny; it fits a simple pen inner (a cheap one; a Parker or PaperMate would never fit!). The leather has been cleaned and now much conditioned; it feels as supple as my favourite kid leather on P5KL and Sherwood Pockets.
The Executive has a broken popper (both binders use Prym fittings), and also uses 'Fine Leather', but it has card stiffeners, and doesn't feel as lovely as the Deluxe. I have unpicked the front (and peeled the glued edges), to rescue the remnant of the broken popper, and remove the card. Hopefully, I'll be able to fit a new popper, and re-assemble, and maybe it will end up as supple as the Deluxe.
The Mini Deluxe has cheered me up a little, after missing the Asprey. Only a little, mind; I think I still have a 'grail binder'...
How utterly infuriating. Especially as eBay haven’t an answer about why it happened. I feel for you.
DeleteHi Anita, Happy to read your story this evening. How funny is it that I have just set up my very first personal size ring planner in David Allan's GTD fashion (with some twists and turns i guess). I am new to both GTD and ring planning, but so far they have both been so helpful in my life. I am only 22, so I feel quite young in this space and none of my peers really know of GTD or ring planning. I have been paper based for a couple of years now but always wanted to try ring planning, since my teens.
ReplyDeleteI would love to know why you feel the need to mix it up. I say go for the plunge and switch it up if you want to. You can always go back to what you know works. I think the most important thing is that your system is usable and reliable, so that you know where everything is and can trust your system. It can be exciting and fun to change it up, and we all have different needs for how we need to be 'pushed' out of our comfort-zone, and what will give us less stress.
Personally I am doing GTD as I am reading the book, and so I put my own twist on it sometimes. I to think it makes me a lot more attentivewhat I actually need. I am currently a third year student of veterinary medicine, so I need kind of a specific approach, but I like all of the basic principles. I find that GTD is very maluable so far, and that you can really make it in whatever form you like. Have a great weekend! :)
Kind Regards, from another GTD in rings user.
Hello all, thanks for all of your very helpful comments.
ReplyDeleteI find that posting here can often be a way for me to think out loud, so I'm very grateful for your input, as always.
I've considered what is missing & realised that I just need to do a review & tidy up really. I've got a couple of days off work coming up, so I'm going to remove all of the contents, change my dividers & then review my lists etc. I'm also going to go through my organiser supplies to see what I have, so that maybe I can implement a small change. I had forgotten that I have a Franklin pouch pagefinder, so I think that might help lots. My GTD set up is definitely usable & reliable, Barbara, so I really don't have any need to make a change. And whilst I was tempted by a bullet journal, I think that like Laurie previously mentioned, I don't think I'd want my lists mixed in with everything else.
Sorry to hear about you missing out on that Asprey, Kevin.