Filofax Beginners Guide - Part 1

What would your response be if someone contacted you, a friend or relative and asked you for advice/recommendations  about getting started with using a Filofax organiser? 

Where do you start? 

They at least know about using an organiser rather than their mobile phone, that is a great start. 

Send them to https://philofaxy.com yes good advice of course, but the huge amount of information might scare them off.  Buy them  a copy, or lend them your copy of 'File of Facts' a sound bit of advice!

We therefore need a 'Beginners Guide' or 'Getting Started with a Filofax' 

What Size of Filofax?

Choosing the right Filofax size is all about balancing portability and functionality—here’s how to decide:

1. Consider Your Daily Carry

Do you carry a bag every day?

• Yes: You can go for a larger size (A5, A4).
• No (or only a small bag/pocket): Stick to compact sizes (Mini, Pocket, Personal, Slimline).

2. Think About Your Writing Space

Do you need lots of room to write?

• Yes: A5 or A4 offers more space for notes, lists, and detailed planning.
• No: Personal or Pocket is plenty for most people.

3. Assess Your Planning Style

Minimalist (just dates, to-dos, contacts):

• Mini (fits even the smallest of pockets) 
• Pocket (fits in a pocket, very portable)
• Slimline (thinner, lighter, but still functional)

Detailed (lots of notes, projects, inserts):

• Personal (most popular, balances size and space)
• A5 (ideal for heavy users, more writing room)

Maximalist (everything in one place, big projects):

• A4 (desk-sized, not portable but great for reference)

 4. Test the Size

• Visit a store (if possible) to see the sizes in person.
• Compare to familiar items:

• Mini: Similar to the size of a pack of playing cards, just slightly taller. 
• Pocket: Similar to a large smartphone.
• Personal: Slightly larger than a paperback book.
• A5: About the size of a standard notebook.
• A4: Like a sheet of printer paper.

 5. Think About Inserts 

Do you want to use custom inserts or dashboards?

• Some sizes (like Personal and A5) have more insert options available.
• Pocket and Slimline have fewer choices but are great for simplicity.

6. Portability vs. Functionality

• If you’ll leave it at home/desk: A5 or A4.
• If you want it with you always: Personal, Pocket, or Slimline.

7. Start Small 

• If you’re unsure, Personal is the most versatile and widely recommended for beginners.
• You can always upgrade or down size later as your needs change.

Quick Guide:

Size	Best For	Portability	Writing Space	Insert Variety
Mini	Minimalists, on-the-go	★★★★★	★	★
Pocket	Minimalists, on-the-go	★★★★★	★★	★★
Slimline	Light users, small bags	★★★★★	★★★	★★★★
Personal	Most people, balanced use	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★
A5	Heavy planners, detailed notes	★★	★★★★★	★★★★
A4	Desk reference, big projects	★	★★★★★	★★★★

Final Tip: Ask yourself: "Where will I use this most?" 

• If it’s in your bag or pocket, go smaller. 
• If it’s on your desk, go bigger.

What inserts to buy for your Filofax? 

Sometimes the inserts will dictate what size of Filofax to buy, so this needs to be taken in to account as well as all of the points above. A bit of a 'chicken and egg' situation. 

• Firstly get some ordinary copier paper and cut it to the sizes of the pages in a Filofax such as A5, Personal, Pocket. 
• Create several pages in each size. 
• Write in your own handwriting a typical day/week of appointments and tasks on to the sheets in each size mimicking a daily, weekly diary format. 
• Do this for each size. 
• Assess how 'busy' each page/size looks, too much white space, not enough space. 

• Which diary format suits your needs best in terms of seeing all of your future and immediate past days?  
• Remember a Filofax doesn't have to only be used for diary/planning activities, they can be used for a host of other uses. 
• The versatility of a Filofax in that you can change the pages and change their order, means that it can adapt an infinite number of ways to meet your needs. 

We will continue this beginners guide in Part 2 coming up shortly.