I discovered Filofax, and planners in general, such a long time ago I forget what a transformative effect they can have on people's lives. Over the years whenever I encounter someone who doesn't use a planning system at all, or maybe just puts appointments into their phone (when they remember), I'm always surprised. I cannot function without my planner.
Many people seem to think they should be able to hold everything in their mind, and then get frustrated when they forget or double book appointments, fail to plan ahead and prepare for mealtimes, events, maintenance, or simple day to day things. I think a lot of frustrations could be avoided with some simple planning.
For decades I've tried to optimise my planning system. Recently I had an epiphany: most planning systems are designed for people who have never used one. In this case, even a simple planning framework can make a massive difference. Something as basic as writing a prioritised to-do list can bring a big shift in organisation.
I know that a Filofax or any planner isn't a magic wand; no matter what system you use, you have to continuously update it with new information, look at it, and take action. No planner is going to do your actions for you. But even a little planning is better than none.
I've seen so many people try to go all-in with a new planning system, only to get bogged down and quit because it feels like too much work.
Some advice for anyone trying a new planner system: start with the simplest, easiest thing first. Add to your system as you discover new needs.
A Filofax is easy to adapt as you need it, with the flexibility to change pages at any moment. For example when you discover you could use a place to write notes about a particular topic, or want some trackers, or cleaning schedules, or monthly reminders for bills, or whatever, your Filofax is there for you. You can try something for awhile to see how it works, and change it as needed.
How did you discover Filofax? What need were you trying to fulfill that brought you to ring organisers, or planning in general?
I vaguely remember discovering Filofax organisers via a Sunday newspaper article in the mid 1980’s.
ReplyDeleteI had been using a normal pocket diary for years and discovering Filofax opened my eyes to the endless possibilities. The first change was not having to copy names and addresses and other information each year.
Also being able to customise the contents to my needs was a revelation. Something I still enjoy doing nearly 40 years later!
When I started work in the mid 90s it was very important to me to deliver the things I had agreed to do, so I used a4 spiral notepads for detailed notes (they were free in the stationery cupboard) and I bought a Paperblanks slim notebook for my master to do list. I kept an annual planner as I was a young auditor who visited clients for a week or more at a time but not daily planners.
ReplyDeleteI wasn’t aware of planning or planners but being organised, turning up on time and delivering my promises was everything.
About 10 years later I was given a Rymans catalogue at work and I could order anything I wanted and I saw a leather personal Filofax and fell in love. I ordered it via a PA who liked me and thought I was good at my job and deserved a treat.
Until I gave up full time work I never used a paper diary apart from my annual planner as my daily life was so chaotic that my diary would move intra day. Nothing was predictable apart from not knowing what change was coming. I just printed out my day from my computerised work diary and updated it with pen when things moved. Still used the personal for keep notes, to do lists, phone numbers etc.
Now life is more settled I use monthly and daily diaries in my planner to good effect.
I first became aware of Filofax around 1969. One of the curates at my church had one and I remember thinking it was pretty cool, but nothing more than that - I was 14 at the time.
ReplyDeleteMy own interest came later, a few jobs into my working life, after I had become aware that the more organised I was the more of an 'edge' it would give me. I'd started using bound DPP diaries with a basic routine of my own devising to stay organised, with some success. Then one day I wandered into the Lefax shop in London's Shelton Street and was immediately hooked (and somewhat poorer).
I used a Lefax duplex for a while (I never did anything by halves) but in the later 1980s discovered the Time Manager systematic became an enthusiastic user for a few years before being led astray by nascent digital devices (I had an HP ODA prior to digital organisers being swallowed up by the phone industry.
I limped along digitally for a few years but in 2000 I was wasting a few spare minutes in W H Smith in Newbury and somehow emerged with a Hampstead Personal, a small (back then) selection of inserts, and the more or less free weekend in which to move my life into it, which i duly did, and the rest is history.
I've been mostly solidly Filofax since 2000, been up to A5 and back down again, now happily installed in a beautiful burgundy Winchester which I love, and can't imagine life without a Filofax around.
I knew of filofaxes thanks to the movie "Taking care of business", and was infatuated by then. However, Filofaxes were not (and are still not) available in Costa Rica, so after some time I was nearly convinced that they don't really exist in real life. I don't remember how I found out that filofaxes did exist, if it was thanks to a random search online or not (the name stayed with me), but in 2011 or so, I realized that they do exist, so I researched them and ordered my first one in 2012, starting 2013 - I believe - with my first filofax: a brown Sketch in Personal size. After that came a filofax ID in Personal because I've got used to the size, and then moved to an A5 Malden. That was my baby and my favorite of all times, until it got too heavy for me to carry. I am now in a Lockwood Zip on Personal size and loving every single minute of it. I've used filofax inserts, I made my own, I even used dot grid paper and used it as a bullet journal, only to find out that I like less fuss, rather buy than print my own inserts, and that Plotter's weekly is perfect for me.
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