Free For All Friday No. 937 by Eve

 The Planner Graveyard

With Halloween around the corner, let's explore the planner theory of the carefully curated collection of abandoned planners, half-used inserts, forgotten notebooks, and “perfect systems” that lasted anywhere from three months to approximately one optimistic weekend. 

I think most planner people eventually end up with one. A drawer. A shelf. A basket. Possibly an entire closet if things got out of hand for a few years there (cough, me, cough).

The planner graveyard. Dun, dun, duuuuuuun!

Every planner in the graveyard once represented hope, “This is the system that will finally fix my life", “This is the planner that will make me consistent", “This is the planner for the version of me who meal preps.”

Spoiler alert: I still do not meal prep.

The funny thing is that every abandoned planner made perfect sense at the time. We had reasons. Very logical reasons.

This one was too bulky, that one didn’t have enough writing space. One was beautiful but impossible to carry, another was practical but had the emotional appeal of corporate tax paperwork.

Social media makes this worse. Online, everyone seems to have perfectly consistent systems that they use beautifully and they showcase beautiful system after beautiful system. They aren't called "influencers" for nothing, am I right?!

Meanwhile, many of us are over here closing Instagram or FaceBook thinking, “Maybe if I completely redesign my planning system at 11:30 PM on a Tuesday, everything will finally come together.”

But honestly, the older I get, the less guilty I feel about the planner graveyard. Every abandoned planner taught me something useful, and even if I did have to eat Ramen for a month after buying a new one, I had fun filling up that closet!

Maybe the planner graveyard is just part of being interested in planners. People who love cooking own unused kitchen gadgets. People who love crafts have unfinished projects. Planner people own notebooks full of unrealized potential and at least one set of inserts they were certain would change their personality.

Ok fess up, how big is your planner graveyard? What planner did you swear would be “the one” before quietly abandoning it? And does anyone else keep certain planners because “I might go back to it someday,” despite absolutely no evidence suggesting that will happen, or is that just me?

As usual, on Fridays you are free to discuss anything ring planner related. Have a great weekend everyone! 

Free For All Friday No. 932 by Eve

 

It's Planner Shopping Season

Every September we start to see the new planner releases come out for the upcoming year. This is our time! It's exciting and we start buzzing about what we are going to use next year. Those of us who have been perfectly happy with our planners all year start, well, planning.

Not switching, obviously. Just looking. Just seeing what's out there.

Planner theory says that very quickly this can turn into watching release videos late at night, comparing paper types like we’re writing a doctoral thesis, and developing deeply personal opinions about planner covers we absolutely do not need. 

Every year I say the same thing, “I’m definitely staying in my current system next year and this time I am not buying a zillion different refills, binders, sizes, brands. I'm just NOT.”

Then approximately 48 hours later, “Well… I mean, I’ll at least look at the new binder colors.”

There’s just something about planner release season that makes us all giddily believe we are on the verge of becoming dramatically more organized people. It feels hopeful somehow. This will be the year!

Meanwhile, my 2026 planner contains crossed-out tasks, messy grocery lists, random notes, and at least one entry that says “make dentist appointment” over and over for several weeks.

I also think planner shopping season causes temporary memory loss. I completely forget every lesson that I learned the previous year and start reconsidering planners that already know won't work for me.

Maybe this FC Monarch will suddenly feel more portable.
Maybe my handwriting will magically become small and neat and look great in this cute Pocket size.
Maybe I can resist getting every size Hobonichi when I never end up using them for very long.

Yeah, maybe.

So, has planner shopping season started for you yet? What are you getting for next year?
Do you ever repeatedly convince yourself something might work this time despite available historical evidence to the contrary?

As always on Fridays, feel free to discuss anything ring planner related. Have a great weekend shoppers!

Free For All Friday No. 927 by Eve

 

Why Empty Pages Can Feel So Intimidating

Let's talk more planner theory. Does anyone else get weirdly intimidated by a brand new, freshly opened planner? 

At first it feels exciting, right? Fresh pages, clean layouts, untouched tabs, all that possibility laid out in front of you. Your handwriting is suddenly neater. Your life feels about 12% more under control just by opening the thing!

And then somewhere in the back of your mind, this little voice starts whispering, “But what if I mess it up?”

One crossed-out task, dab of white out or mis-spelled word and suddenly the illusion is broken.

I think a lot of us do this, especially with expensive planners or particularly beautiful ones. We hesitate to write in them because we want them to stay neat, consistent and aestheticly pleasing. Thanks to social media, this has slowly become the definition of a planner “done properly.”

Which is funny when you think about it, because planners are literally designed to contain our messy human lives.

I don't know about you, but my life has scribbles, rescheduled appointments (oh so many rescheduled appointments....), half-finished lists, bad handwriting days, random notes jammed into margins, days or even weeks where everything falls apart a bit.

But somehow cracking open a new planner full of empty pages makes us feel like we’re supposed to become our ideal selves overnight. You know, that other you: the person who meal plans every Sunday, tracks 14 habits, journals daily, never misses a workout, and somehow has perfectly spaced handwriting at all times.

Meanwhile, most of us are just trying to remember whether we already bought toothpaste.

I also think there’s something about a blank planner that feels emotionally loaded. It’s a fresh start. A reset. Proof that maybe this time we’ll finally become the organized/creative/luxury lifestlye/whimsical (insert whatever adjective works for you here) person we imagine ourselves being.

But then life happens, and the planner starts looking… lived in. As I work to let go of my own perfectionism, I’m more comfortable saying out loud that that’s the whole point. 

Some of my favorite planners I’ve used over the years have looked terrible by December 31st. Bent pages, crossed-out tasks, tea stains, sticky notes hanging out everywhere, notes I can't read anymore but knew exactly what they meant when I wrote them. Those planners carried my real life. Frankly I wish more of those types of planners were shown on social media!

What about you, do you hesitate to “mess up” a new planner? Do empty pages motivate you or stress you out a little? 

When you look back at old planners, do you prefer the neat ones… or the ones that clearly got very well used every single day?

As always on Fridays, feel free to discuss anything ring planner related, and have a fantastic weekend!

Free For All Friday No. 922 by Eve

 

The Hidden Cognitive Cost of Dual or Multiple Systems

Continuing with my theme of exploring planner theory, and since it is July (of "One Book July" for some of us) I got to thinking about planner systems using more than one book. And I'm talking about for planning here, not having separate books for journaling or art or whatever.

I wonder whether some folks are drawn to dual or even multi planner systems not because they are truly needed, but because they give us a perfectly reasonable excuse to use more than one planner.

And honestly, it's me. I am some folks. I completely understand the appeal! 

One planner can be the polished desk planner. Another can be the portable everyday carry. One can hold the big picture, while the other handles the daily details. On paper, it sounds incredibly sophisticated and intentional and sometimes it genuinely is helpful for those who have found a dual or multi planner system that legit works for their lives. 

On the other hand, in some cases I also think dual or multi planner systems can create a surprising amount of mental overhead behind the scenes. Not necessarily because the system itself is bad, but because your brain now has to constantly keep track of where things live.

Did I write that down in the daily planner or the weekly one? Which planner has the shopping list? Did I already transfer that task over? Do I need to carry both today?

Individually, these are tiny things. But over time they can add up and add stress.

I confess there have been times when I convinced myself I “needed” multiple planners, when really I just wanted the enjoyment of using multiple planners, or the excuse to buy more (I am a fool for a good dopamine hit after all!).

I tell myself that this is a perfectly valid hobby impulse. The trouble starts when the hobby side begins to complicate the functional side. Because the best planning system is not necessarily the most elaborate one. Sometimes it’s simply the one that lets your brain relax because everything lives in one trusted place.

Do you function better with one planner or multiple planners? If the answer is multiple, have you ever given any thought to whether or not you really need them all, or mostly just wanted an excuse to use them all?

As always on a Friday, feel free to discuss anything ring planner related, and have a great weekend everyone!

Free For All Friday No. 917 by Eve

 The Dopamine Cycle of Setup Culture

One unexpected side effect of finally finding a planner system that genuinely works is that… there suddenly isn’t much left to say about it.

My current setup is stable, functional, and quietly doing its job in the background of my daily life. Which is exactly what I wanted. But I’ve realized that once a system reaches that point, there’s no longer much to do except....use it.

Interestingly enough, that can feel surprisingly uncomfortable for someone (like me) for whom planners are not only a productivity tool but also a hobby of sorts.

So rather than either changing systems just to keep things interesting, or talking about the same old system, I think I’m going to start exploring what I’ll call “planner theory” instead. The psychology and habits behind how we use planners in real life.  

Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor but I play one on Philofaxy (wink)

Have you ever noticed that setting up a planner is sometimes more exciting than actually using it?

Researching inserts, picking a new binder color or model, watching setup videos, reorganizing sections, testing layouts;  it all feels so....productive doesn't it? And honestly, part of the fun of this hobby is the experimentation.

But I think sometimes we confuse novelty with improvement. I know I do.

A planner that truly fits your life eventually becomes a little boring. Not because it’s failing, but because it’s no longer demanding your attention. You simply use it and move on with your day. Ironically, that’s the sign of a good system.

Then there is the FOMO. Part of my entertainment is watching planner content and it is sooooo easy to see something new and different and decide how much better than your current system that new shiny would be!

I, and I suspect many of you, know this cycle well:

new planner → setup excitement → tweaking → "planner peace" → boredom/FOMO → new planner search.

The dangerous part is when you start thinking, “Maybe this system isn’t working after all.” When it may in fact be working perfectly.

I’m curious:  Have you ever mistaken planner boredom for a planner problem? Or abandoned a system right when it was actually working best just for the dopamine hit of setting up something new?

As always on Fridays, feel free to discuss anything ring planner related and have a great weekend!!

Free For All Friday No. 912 by Eve

Weekly or Daily? Choosing the Right Planning View

The weekly versus daily debate never really goes away; it simply waits until your current inserts start irritating you. Or is that just a me thing?

One of my favorite things about using a ring planner is that if  when your planning style changes, you do not have to stage a dramatic farewell to all of your inserts. You simply pop open the rings (correctly...using the tabs!) and try something else.

The weekly versus daily question comes up regularly for me, and the answer is usually: both work well until they don’t.

A weekly layout is excellent if you like seeing an overview of the whole week at once. Appointments, deadlines, and commitments sit together in one place, which makes it easier to judge whether a given day is already too ambitious before adding three more things to it. 

A weekly spread can also encourage restraint; when space is limited, you tend to write down what matters the most, rather than brain dumping everything in your head.

The difficulty comes when real life refuses to stay neatly inside a small box. A week that looked perfectly manageable on Monday morning can become crowded by lunchtime on Wednesday, leaving arrows, squeezed notes, and increasingly creative handwriting in the margins.

A daily layout solves that problem by offering more space; sometimes glorious amounts of it depending on what size you are in. There is room for tasks, notes, phone calls, reminders, and whatever else appears halfway through the day demanding attention. 

For busy or unpredictable schedules, daily pages often feel more forgiving because they accept that some days simply need more room than others.  Of course, daily pages have their own weakness. It is possible to become so focused on today that the end of the week is suddenly in your face without warning.

That is why many people eventually find themselves using both types of layouts in some form...a weekly view for perspective, and a daily page for drilling down into the details. One tells you where the week is heading; the other helps you survive the day.

In the end, the best format is the one that helps you keep track of real life with the least amount of friction. A planner does not earn extra credit for looking beautifully structured if by Thursday you are writing reminders on scraps of paper because your layout has stopped cooperating. 

So, are you naturally a weekly planner, a daily planner, a "little bit of both" planner, or someone who keeps changing depending on what life currently looks like?

As usual on Fridays, feel free to discuss anything ring planner related.

Free For All Friday No. 907 by Eve

Planning as a Tool vs. Planning as a Hobby

Now that I’m three months into my “One Year, One Planner” challenge, I’m beginning to see a clearer distinction between planning as a tool and planning as a hobby. It turns out that understanding this difference has been one of the most important parts of sticking with one system up until now.

For years, the two were so intertwined in my head that I didn’t really see them as separate. My planner was both the way I organized my life and the way I engaged with a hobby I enjoyed. This year however, I’m noticing how different these two planner identities actually are, and how mixing them together has kept me in some unhelpful (and expensive!) patterns.

Here’s what I’m learning:

1. Planning as a tool feels steady, while planning as a hobby has lead me to restlessness

A planning tool is predictable; it thrives on repetition, routine, and consistency. But a planning hobby likes novelty, change, exploration, and experimentation.

When those two collide, it’s easy to think, “I need a new planner because something feels off.”

But now that switching is off the table for me, I can tell that the “off” feeling is usually the hobby side causing me FOMO, rather than a flaw in the actual tool itself. 

2. The tool supports my life while the hobby became more about dopamine hits

My planner has been essential for running my day for literally decades. Those pages are where I can find my tasks, priorities, reminders, deadlines, decisions and be reminded of my mission and goals. But the hobby piece was about something completely different - testing different sizes, comparing layouts, reviewing inserts, fiddling with structure, making content for social media, etc.

Both served a purpose but only one is required for me to actually function.

3. The hobby demands change! Whereas the tool thrives on consistency

It’s almost funny how opposite they are. The hobby says, “Let’s try something new! The tool says, “Just shut up and use me every day already.”

The more I stick with the same planner, the more I realize how much smoother my days run when I’m not tearing down my system and rebuilding it constantly for the sake of novelty.

4. Separating the tool from the hobby has made me a better planner

I’m no longer letting hobby-impulses dictate my planning decisions. If something feels off, I don’t automatically assume the planner needs to change. Instead, I ask myself better questions like, "Am I craving change for the sake of change?", "Am I bored in some other area of my life?", "Is it really my panner that feels off, or is it ME?"

5. My planner works better now that I’m not constantly “auditioning” alternatives.

There is something almost magical about committing to one system and just...letting go. A planner really does become more powerful the longer you use it. For me, it has. helped me to stop fighting the format and use it more fluidly.

Three months into this challenge, I’m discovering that planning as a tool is more peaceful and grounding than I ever expected, and planning as a hobby can still exist, just in a healthier, more sustainable way

The year is still young!! Are you still in the planner you started the year with?

As always on Friday, feel free to discuss anything ring planner related.

Free For All Friday No. 902 by Eve

 

It's Almost March! Did You Switch Planners?

By mid-February, the honeymoon phase is over for a lot of things we may have started in the new year, maybe even including our planners. Some people have already changed planners (cough, me, cough). Others have no problem at all staying with the one they started in January.

Both are completely normal once the new year collides with real life.

Switching early usually means the first couple months of the new year revealed some friction. Maybe it's a layout that didn’t quite click, a system that took too much effort to stick with, or too many pages that went unused. This is not planner failure; it is information gathering. Refinement if you will.

On the other hand, for those who stick with their original planner, small tweaks tend to happen naturally; simplifying expectations, skipping sections, or adjusting how the pages are used along the way.

By this time in the year, it's' not as much about planner loyalty as it is about planner awareness. Real life has had a couple months to weigh in, and that feedback is more valuable than any promise we may have made to ourselves in January. Or this is what I keep telling myself anyway.

A planner earns its place in our lives by helping us to think clearly and keep commitments. The only real question is whether or not our planners are working for us NOW.

So, what has real life shown you about your planning system so far this year? Have you switched planners or are you still using what you started with?

The Transformative Power of a Planning System

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?

Free for All Friday No. 882 by Eve

I’ve done a LOT of thinking lately about my tendency to planner flip-flop throughout the year and how I seriously do not want to continue with that pattern. While it’s fun for social media posts, it’s not fun for my bank account!  Not only is it expensive but it’s also wasteful, since I don’t use most of what I purchase for the entire year, if at all.

So, I decided to draw a line in the sand for the coming year and commit now to ONE SIZE binder and ONE SET OF INSERTS. I'm not saying I won't make use of binders that I already own in one size, but I won't change in and out of different sizes during the year.

After much pro/conning, here is what I’ve decided:

I’m going with ……drumroll please…...Franklin Covey Classic. 

I love the portability of a Filofax Personal, or a Franklin Covey Compact but I feel like the older I get the more writing room I need, not to mention that my eyes aren’t what they used to be, so the larger font size is much easier for me to see. I’ve never been much of an A5 girl for some reason, as it does not feel as natural to me as half letter does.

With FC Classic I have decent page size and also the ability to fit it all my handbags except for the smallest ones (which I wouldn’t carry if I needed a planner with me anyway). Classic is also going to be the size with the most FC insert and form options available to purchase (since I am totally incapable of anything DIY when it comes to planners).

I've purchased the 2026 Carrera inserts from the Franklin Covey website because they are simple, clean and have minimum design, and I am committing to them for next year.

Between my reduced work hours, inflation, the end of de minimus exemptions and the tariffs, my goal for 2026 is to spend less, save money and use what I have. My hope is to get back to simpler times when I was content with one size planner and one set of inserts for an entire year. I planned this way for decades in the past; I’m confident I can do it again.

What about you? Are you a “planner switcher” or you are a steadfast user of the same planner for the long haul? As always on Fridays, feel free to discuss anything ring planner related and have a great weekend!

Guest Post - Functional planning thread on Facebook by Jane

Thank you Jane for creating this wonderful thread in the Filofax for Philofaxy Fans Facebook group. 

The great thing about our planner community is the diversity of planning approaches. Some folks are energized by stickers and decorations; others are distracted by them. I fall into the "squirrel" camp: if you put a pink neon glitter heart on my to do list, I will stare at the magical sparkles...and not complete my tasks! Plus, I know a lot of folks say they aren't "artistic," and actually beat themselves up (newsflash: don't waste your time berating yourself! Instead, you can be a productivity ninja in your own unique and wonderful way!)

Here is a list of fabulous resources that have really helped me over the years, in no particular order, except the first website.

Websites
The ultimate guide, Plannerisms' Choosing Your Planner, Part 1: Daily, Weekly, Monthly?
This three part article is a must read. Laurie, who runs the blog knows every planner under the sun...or knows someone else who has used it.
Choosing Your Planner, Part 2: Size Matters
Choosing Your Planner, Part 3: Types of Weekly Planners

Anita Lim's amazing GTD set up: My set up (based on Getting Things Done) - by Anita

David Popely's set up: Guest Post - My current (GTD based) Filofax setup - David Popely

The ultimate mini Filofax set up by HP. Yeah, he doesn't play; planner essentials' hardcore!
My Filofax: The Mini Is Big Enough - Guest Post
At this point, I feel as if I should mention I'm a minimalist, so I'm obsessed with streamlining my entire life. Fawn is a mother of 5 who single-handledly raised her children. My FAVORITE thing about her is this quote: "I'm a big fan of doing what works." Duh! I know I completely overthink/plan/analyze everything, especially my planner. Fawn's simple system might help you focus on basics: Organizing: How To

George Redgrave is an amazing Filofax user I found on Flickr. I harassed him for so many years, he finally agreed to write an interview for Philofaxy, and his photographs are STUNNING:
Guest Post: The Filofax that started it all - Jane

Patty Gardner is freaking brilliant. She offers loads of creative solutions to everyday problems, including if your planner isn't working at work and a simple alternative:
Unfortunately the link listed in the FB post doesn't work anymore as Home Makers Daily is sadly no longer there, but you can visit Patty's other site at Planning With Patty

This website is VERY different from your everyday planner guide, but I rocked this system for 1.5 years when I was an elementary librarian: Rhodia + GTD. Kenji Ohta, a Japanese game designer, created a game where you use small slips of paper (post it notes, index cards, whatever) and choose when you will do different tasks based on Today, this Week, this Month, Hold/Waiting, or Someday/Maybe: GTD + R :: Getting Things Done + RHODIA

Check out these to do lists, which to me look like art (I wish I could write that tiny!!!)
Mrs. Easton to do lists

This article is geared for a specific notebook, but let's face it. All of us, even me the minimalist, have more than one planner and you can use a planner for a notebook. I LOVED the very first comment at the bottom of the article--actually, his words echoed more in my head than the article. Don't want to keep a pile of spirals? Use dividers or tabs in your planner:

Why You Need to Keep a Notebook

The following are two beautiful ideas for recipe planning:
A. This one is for couples without children (the gal just makes 3 meals a week and they eat leftovers. A family of 3 might be able to do this, but certainly not more!) THIS IS SO ELEGANTLY SIMPLE, I LOVE IT! And she mentions she makes different grocery lists for different places, so when she makes that blog post, I'll add it: Weekly Food Planning 1: Planning before you go shopping
B. This one is for creating a recipe bank in your planner!!!
MEAL PLANNING REVISITED – HOW TO BUILD A RECIPE BANK

Book
Time Management for Unmanageable People by Ann McGee-Cooper is great for right brain thinkers and offers a few non-conventional ideas for people who have no concept for time (ahem, me.)

Videos
Right now, I'm personally learning all about the Franklin Covey system. I'm amazed at how their entire system sews seams from one area of your life into another so there are no cracks for things to fall into: Use of the Franklin Planner - My System after 25 Years of use

Back when Jennifer Ross was OrganizedLikeJen, her simple system taught me how to take an end goal, break it down, and then work the different steps so you have achieved it. ( 13 min. 30 seconds) To-Do List System & Project Management Update
and an actual planning session of Jen's is pretty interesting: ( less than 9 min. ) My Planning Sessions: How I Use My Planners (2014)

This wacky guy offers a bare bones method of making a task list: To-Do List Hack
This color coding video is freaking brilliant by Annie Smith: Color Code in Your Planner (Franklin Covey, Filofax, Color Crush)

Any video by Joshua La Porte. I'm serious, watch them all. He will educate you and then, BOOM! Drop a one liner that will make you spit out your coffee! Here is his video for how he rocked a Filing Cabinet before the term was even invented: my new filofax setup

Zandranna shows off her very functional pocket in this video, and urges "Oldies" to use a Filofax (her word, not mine). Her other videos are very creative, and worth a look--she shows you how to make a divider tab with pockets not needing any tape! Oldies Can Make Use of a Filofax Too

Chris Kyle has invented an incredibly simple and effective system called Strikethru. (Thanks for sharing this, Anita!) If we compare planning styles to movie genres, pretty planning is Bollywood, while Strikethru is film noir: Strikethru

Cori at YouTube Channel TalesfromaPolkCountyGirl has some really great content including goals setting--she mind maps them out then lists them and puts the list right in front of her desk. Her method for tracking completed goals is so simple, it's brilliant (Goals Update January 2016)
modified bullet journaling (which is so simple, you aren't fussy with the system, you're getting things done!) (May 2015 Bullet Journal) and shows how you can actually fit different page sizes into different planners without having to punch new holes! Filofax and Mini Flex Hacks

Not sure how long ago I found this, but Rhomany's Realm (the founder of One Book July) has a ton of excellent videos. This one, on how to use a brain dump is simple and keeps you from re-writing things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXUjQFytc-k&t=1512s ANY of her videos are fantastic and focus on functional planning.

Strikethru system is a simplified Bullet Journal option, using a calendar, vault (reference), Brain Dump, and you focus on what needs to be done now with the Live List section. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-Zukikrw_Q

Valerie Brown doesn't have many videos, but the ones she has are super quality, and on taking a ready-made system and customizing it for your needs. She has a simplified Franklin Covey system, where she uses her own print-outs in an extremely budget friendly and printer-simplified method. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYQHFHvM--A&t=775s

Megan Rhiannon is an amazing young woman and her workhorse bullet journal planner videos are fantastic. Her emphasis is on keeping things simple so she can be productive while finishing her degree at Cambridge. Here are my top 3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch…
https://www.youtube.com/watch…
https://www.youtube.com/watch…

Plus, she does flips of her finished planners, so check them out!

Favorite functional planning resources added in the comments
Filofax Tip No 7 - How I Plan Each Day - The Australian Way

Filofax Tip No 55 - Using Bullet Journaling to Plan My Week

Kent From OZ - Using a Pocket Malden Filofax in Ochre!

A5 Filofax Malden: Routines & DIY stickers

Giftie Etcetera

Rachel Dunaway

One year later: How Helen is using her Moleskine pocket planner

Carie Harling

The 17 dividers system in A5 Filofax - part1

Sharon Korkes

One Fantastic Find!

My 2016 Planner Setup: The Calendar with DIYFISH Inserts