Guest post series - 'Filohax' No. 28 - Paul

Thanks very much again to Paul for this next instalment of his wonderful guest post series. 
You can find all of the 'Filohax' posts here.   

Just enough space

I've been using Filofax personal format inserts off and on for nearly 40 years and it's only just occurred to me why this format has proliferated for over a century... 'There's just enough space. '

The 6 ringed binder that has gone on to be called 'Personal' or 'Bible' size was always intended to be a portable housing for technical information sheets - for taking 'off site', so portability was essential (the original ring size may have been a slim 1/4 inch, only big enough for slipping into an overall pocket). 

(Here a couple of posts by Steve about personal size, in case you'd like more details - https://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2022/06/personal-size.html and https://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2018/01/why-is-personal-size-still-most-popular.html)

The depth 
But why the portable size that it is? I think this was dictated by an average handwriting size writing a list that covered 31 days, a day per line. I don't think it's a coincidence that after a space for heading information there are 31 lines...so that covers the depth of the page.

  

The width
Again, an average hand will be able to write 7 or 8 words on a personal insert line - just enough for a to-do item.

Disadvantages versus advantages 
There is a downside to this 'just enough' format - it's not really large enough to write, for instance, a daily journal on one side. However for me, it's a trade off - in the past whenever I've tried journalling in larger format bound journals I've given up before too long as I mainly journal 'on the go' while out and about and these weren't portable enough for me.

However since I started journalling in personal format I've been doing it daily for 3 years - a compromise that works for me, how about you?