Rant Back to a paper planner and calendar

So I've finally made the jump back to paper from my PDA. Primarily because the PDA is constantly running out of power even when it is not in use (yes, wifi is disabled), and secondarily because it is hard to glance at it and know what my day is like. (including meetings, what I've done so far, todo lists, calls I need to make, etc.)

But, in the spirit of modding, I have chosen the 5.5" x 8.5" planner with 7-hole punch because I can take a US Letter (8.5" x 11") sheet of paper and print two custom pages on each side, cut it in half, punch holes, and then I get my own custom inserts that fit nicely.

Here's an excel spreadsheet of the meeting template we used at my previous job, adapted to fit my planner.

It works great with .25 printer margins.

Does anyone else here print their own planner sheets?

 

No, I write it down on some A4 or just on my phone.

 

Up until having an iPhone, I was all about pen and paper for personal stuff (now that I've finally got a device that syncs nicely). At work I use outlook because I'm never headed far so it does what I need though all of my to-do stuff is done through Salesforce, but I'm often jotting things down on my whiteboard as well.

 

i still use and A4 page a day diary for work, also use Google calender so everyone knows where i am (ie. what store to call).

 

gCal+iSync/phone = win

 

I'm very tempted to go back to paper. I use my PDA and it tells me what I need to be doing (plus I always have it), but it's terrible for adding events to. A diary would be much faster.

 

http://www.mojolondon.co.uk/stationery/moleskine/diary/

Moleskines for the cheesecakeness!

 

QFT.

 

There is something sensual about good stationery that electronic aids just never capture (closest came the original Palmpilot, which came in a real leather filofax-ish cover. It broke down after years of use but I still love its design. It's OS was simple, but it was instant on, use, instant off).

The closest I have come to a workable PDA is my tablet PC. It has full Office, a big screen to jot on, and really good longhand writing recognition, and 8 hours running power. It powers up readily from standby. The only drawback is that it doesn't quite fit in your pocket, but then again I can also use it as a full-blown PC away from the desk.

The next closest in terms of practicality may well be the iPhone or iTouch (with its upgraded OS). No faffing about with stylus, slips in your pocket, reasonably good apps integration. And you can get nice leather cases for those.

 

Thousands of post-it notes. Both real and the Vista sidebar ones.
Although having said that, I'm not a super busy (or super organised) person.

 

Here here! Been using one this year, since a lecturer swore by 'em and they seemed nicer than the shitty diaries given out by my college at the start of the year. Supurb thing. Fits in jacket pockets when neccesary, and decent quality. Shame the paper doesn't like rollerball ink much, but still, great wee things. As geeky as I am, I see no reason I'd want to switch to an electronic device for this sorta tool. A good paper diary is cheaper, easier to use, quicker to use, and probably less bulky too.

I'm a lazy good for nuthin' student though, so use a black week-per-two-pages one.

 

Moleskines are great, I've got a few of them. I'm tempted to hollow out one of the mini-sized ones and use it as a case for my iPhone

 

I use a Debden "Swiss Cheese" diary. It's SO fantastic. At the start of every month it has a planner.. and it has lots of "note" pages and first aid info, international time zones (I know, fairly standard) AND international clothing sizes. Not only handy for when I go overseas and feel like going shopping, but for when I get tourists in my shop asking me questions.

My only complaint is that it doesn't have an address section, but thanks to all the note pages, that's nothing I can't fix!

 

Easy tiger.

 

There's nothing wrong with the natural, mutually consenting love between a man and his stationery...

 

Do you have one of those pens that if you turn it upside down, the girl takes all her clothes off? Because that would be fine.

 

At work I couldn't live without Outlook calender with it's reminders, half my day is taken up with various meeting and so on.

 

Do you?

 

At work my method of organisation consists of my screen having the bezel covered in post it notes, and for the important ones, red felt tip to make it stand out more.

Seems to work for me.

 

gCal.

You can get it anywhere and you dont have to have shitty MS software to use it.

If I need it while im out I print it off.