Plannerpads.com -- For Paper Based GTD Users

[wussery]

For the people who are in a paper based system, I would highly recommend that you look at Plannerpads spiral bound or loose leaf Organizers. They can be easily adapted to the GTD methodology. It has a top section that can be filled in with your weekly activities (Next Actions) that you will monitor. The middle section is used for Scheduled To-Do's for the week. The bottom section is where you would put your appointments for that week.

The Planners come in three sizes and have several accessories that can be added inside. If you are firmly planted in the paper domain, then I would seriously look at Plannerpads.

http://www.plannerpads.com

I have no affiliation or financial interest with the company.

[Michael Hyatt]

I have to admit, this is the only paper-based system that has tempted me. I may have to give it a try.

[wussery]

I have to admit, this is the only paper-based system that has tempted me. I may have to give it a try.

Michael, I used their system about two years ago and liked it quite alot. However, this was before I discovered GTD. I was cleaning my office this past weekend and came across an old Planner Pad and said man this format would work just fine with the GTD way of doing things. Thought I'd pass it along.

[Michael Hyatt]

I ordered the spiral version just to give it a whirl.

[dal1mdm]

I've taken up the plannerpad with the new year and so far it adds an immediacy to my plans that I didnt sense with PDA's (after using them for over 5 years).

If I may ask, what do users use as categories for the top portion? I'm working on mine, but havent come to a complete list yet. "Sharpen the Saw" is one. "Projets" is another (to be addressed this week) and "IDEAS" is another.

[Mark Jantzen]

it adds an immediacy to my plans that I didnt sense with PDA's (after using them for over 5 years).


I've had a similar experience with PDAs.

For a variety of reasons, I've reverted back to using Time/Design (www.timedesign.com) for my GTD system. I’ve simply found it overall faster and most invisible when I’m applying the GTD concepts - mostly organize & review phases.

It’s nothing inherently bad about electronic or good about paper, more about what works best for me and in my situation (something DA stresses in the GTD Fast audio program).

Mark

[AMS]

Anyone have any preference as to spiral-bound v. loose leaf? I think I'm going to give Plannerpads a try, and I'm debating...when I used Franklin Covey, it seemed like I used an awful lost of special pages just because I could...what has been the experience of others?

[dal1mdm]

I'm using loose leaf and it works pretty well, but dont think you can go out and find a binder that will fit. They are hard time.

I may try spiral next time. Might be nice down the road to have a library of these if they do become a good working document.

Mark in Texas

[randystokes]

Question:

It appears the refill pages for the Time Design system are either A4 or A5 sizes, not US standard sizes. Two questions: Will these fit in US standard size binders and, if so, which sizes? And, I found a site on the web that translates A5 sized paper to 5-7/8" by 8-1/4" (approx) and A4 sized paper to 8.27" by 11.69" (approx.) -- are those correct, because on the Time Design website they say the "Executive Size" is A4 while the "Compact Size" is A5, which seems backwards to me. (OK, maybe that's more than two questions . . .)

Anyway, I have a "junior" sized 7-ring Franklin Covey binder that I would consider using -- which, if either, of the two Time Design refill sizes would fit?

Randy

[bogert]

I bought a Planner Pad two weeks ago and dinked around with whether or not to keep it. I spent some time over the weekend getting some things set up for the new year, and decided to give it a shot. I started setting it up, and then said, "Nah - this isn't going to work." But I persevered through setting up the calendars and planning my week, and the more I worked on it, the more I liked it. I suspect it's going to be very helpful.

The spiral one is only about $26, I believe, and it does come with an unconditional money-back guarantee. I'd suggest it - I've used Franklin, DayTimer, and a PDA in the past, managing my time this past year with only a notetaker wallet and monthl-spread calendar. But this looks like the best thing for me at this point.

[wussery]

Anyone have any preference as to spiral-bound v. loose leaf? I think I'm going to give Plannerpads a try, and I'm debating...when I used Franklin Covey, it seemed like I used an awful lost of special pages just because I could...what has been the experience of others?

I like the spiral bound Pad, because they don't take up as much space in my carry-on luggage as the loose leaf one.

[apinaud]

Dear Mr Michael Hyatt, please post your comments about this system.

Other people too, but I am looking for people that use a lot of electronic things.

[jmarkey]

My system is primarily PDA/desktop software-based. However, during my weekly review, I plot out some highlights of what I would like to accomplish the following week in much the same way as the Plannerpad system (I use 11" x 17" paper divided by hand into columns representing the days of the week). I like that aspect of it.

[apinaud]

My system is primarily PDA/desktop software-based. However, during my weekly review, I plot out some highlights of what I would like to accomplish the following week in much the same way as the Plannerpad system (I use 11" x 17" paper divided by hand into columns representing the days of the week). I like that aspect of it.


After you define all those, did you enter those in the palm or just keep the paper for the next wr?

[AMS]

I've ordered the spiral one - I also like the space-saving nature of it versus the loose-leaf. Where do you keep your checklists and other extra stuff? Or maybe I should just wait until I get the planner and it will become obvious...

[Arduinna]

I know this thread is about PlannerPads, but since Time/Design has been mentioned, does anyone here use it? If I remember correctly, in the GTD FAST CDs, DA says he used it for 18 years. It looks terrific, clean graphics, no so-called inspirational quotations cluttering the pages, and great supporting forms. The system seems very GTD, with NAs, Waiting Fors, the two-minute rule, etc. The only hesitation I have about it is the price. Getting set up, including a binder, runs a minimum of $175 for the "Business" size. (Randystokes pointed out a discrepancy in the labeling system a few posts back. I think the "Business" size is A5, as labelled, but the "Compact" sounds more like A6, not A4, based on the binder dimensions.)

Any feedback from Time/Design users?

[jmarkey]

My system is primarily PDA/desktop software-based. However, during my weekly review, I plot out some highlights of what I would like to accomplish the following week in much the same way as the Plannerpad system (I use 11" x 17" paper divided by hand into columns representing the days of the week). I like that aspect of it.


After you define all those, did you enter those in the palm or just keep the paper for the next wr?

In most cases, I assign a due date to a next action to tickle the item to my attention on a particular day. I use the calendar for my hard due dates. The due date function on the task list serves as my electronic tickler. If I have a big project that I have committed to myself to work on on a particular day, like writing a brief, I put it in my calendar. Otherwise, the items are on my context lists. Like my paper tickler system, only a handful of items appear on any given day. I toss my 11" x 17" paper at the end of my weekly review and start with a new page at my next weekly review. IHTH

[carriekris]

I really like planner pads because they help me plan by the week. I use the spiral bound planner pad because it takes up less room and I have a whole year in one planner. I tried the looseleaf system but it was too bulky for my tastes. I use the 6.75 x 8.5 size because it is large enough but not two large. I bought the leather cover with zipper. My headings tend to be by project and I list the tasks associated with that project. On the middle section, I write next actionsfor that day and appointments go on the bottom. There are pages for each month and extra pages for longer term planning, telephone numbers and notes.

In the back of my binder, I added a daytimer indexed lined journal. Moving from front to back, I take notes. From back to front, I enter action items. I put X in front of completed items. After I have processed a page of notes or action items (weekly is good) and those pages are finished, I put an X on top of that page and in the index (where I also maintain the topic). All my notes, plans, action items etc are in my planner or binder.

I have been using this system for years - I need to write my stuff down. Electronic lists are sometimes helpful and index cards help me put things in context, but my planner pad / notebook system is the core.

[Andrea Bonner]

I'm fairly new to the GTD system, and I've had a very hard time sticking to it using only my Palm Pilot. After reading this thread, I've decided to try the Plannerpads system. I'm a very visual person, and unless I can see all my projects & tasks on one landscape, it's hard for me to process next actions & keep on track. I should get the Plannerpad next week, and will provide any insights I have on the transition.

Incidentally, I will probably still use my electronic system for my Address Book and for synchronizing with my office calendar, which is Outlook based.

If anyone has any tips on how to effectively use the two in combination, I'd love to hear.

[Longstreet]

Hi Andrea,

I too have ordered the Plannerpad and should have it early next week. I currently maintain my calendar and next actions in Outlook, so I will have some adaptation to have the two work together. I agree wholeheartedly about wanting to see all things in front of you. I think a combination between Outlook and Plannerpad may be just what I have been searching for! :D

Longstreet

[hth]

Question:

It appears the refill pages for the Time Design system are either A4 or A5 sizes, not US standard sizes. Two questions: Will these fit in US standard size binders and, if so, which sizes?


Hi Randy,
Time has a special punching scheme which isnt compatible with our standard scheme here in Germany. As far as i know, in the US you have normally 3-Ring binders which are also incompatible, so you have to punch some more holes.



And, I found a site on the web that translates A5 sized paper to 5-7/8" by 8-1/4" (approx) and A4 sized paper to 8.27" by 11.69" (approx.) -- are those correct, because on the Time Design website they say the "Executive Size" is A4 while the "Compact Size" is A5, which seems backwards to me.

I havent check the exact measures, but A4 is twice A5.
Whats your problem with the website saying "Executive Size" being bigger than "Compact Size"?
For me that is quite logical.

Yours
Alexander

[DStaub11]

Anyone have any preference as to spiral-bound v. loose leaf? I think I'm going to give Plannerpads a try, and I'm debating...when I used Franklin Covey, it seemed like I used an awful lost of special pages just because I could...what has been the experience of others?

I'm paper-based and love my FC planner. I use a loose-leaf and only use the special pages I really need. I've designed a lot of my own pages (mostly in Microsoft Publisher) so that the planner suits my needs and the GTD system.

Do Mi Stauber

[Gameboy70]

The Planner Pad looks like a good system, but it leaves me wondering: how do you cram all your @lists into four columns. I could imagine putting more than one list in a column, but that would necessarily limit the size of your lists. What are PP users here doing?

[bogert]

There are actually 7 columns, with another one for Notes/Calls.

It also has a blank page before each month, and several blank pages that can be subdivided into columns in the back of the book.

I have found it very very helpful after two weeks of use!

[ChrisH]

Ok, to follow up, here is another question - my plannerpad is on its way. So, this may be cleared up after I receive it. However, from my inital look online, it seems to me that you would need to re-write all your NAs and projects in the columns provided each week - since you only see a week at a time.

Is there another place in the planner pad where NAs and projects are recorded and kept and then only the NAs pertaining to the current week are written in the columns for that week?

Help me out.

[Rainer Burmeister]

However, from my inital look online, it seems to me that you would need to re-write all your NAs and projects in the columns provided each week - since you only see a week at a time.

Don't know the exact measures of the columns but maybe you could use those yellow sticky notes (e.g. "post-it!"). Instead of writing your NAs and projects in the columns you could write them on sticky notes and stick the notes on the columns where they belong. At the end of a week you can tranfer the notes to the columns of the next week.

Rainer

[bogert]

There are a number of blank pages in the back of the book that would allow you to write your NA's. In addition, the cassette tape that comes witha the Planner Pad gives some tips on how to not write your list over each week.

[Rainer Burmeister]

I found a site on the web that translates A5 sized paper to 5-7/8" by 8-1/4" (approx) and A4 sized paper to 8.27" by 11.69" (approx.) -- are those correct?
A4 is 21 cm x 29.7 cm or 8.268 inch x 11.692 inch (approx.)
A5 is 21 cm x 14.85 cm or 8.268 inch x 5.85 inch (approx.)

Rainer

[tfadams]

Ok, to follow up, here is another question - my plannerpad is on its way. So, this may be cleared up after I receive it. However, from my inital look online, it seems to me that you would need to re-write all your NAs and projects in the columns provided each week - since you only see a week at a time.

Is there another place in the planner pad where NAs and projects are recorded and kept and then only the NAs pertaining to the current week are written in the columns for that week?

Help me out.

Chris,

Hopeully, you bought the "intro" package which includes a cassette tape that discusses how to use the planner pad. One of the things it covers is what to do with Tasks (NAs) that aren't completed each week.

The short version is that the upper corner of each page is marked with a dashed line. The page can either be folded over (items still left undone) or cut/torn along the dotted line (week is complete). The thought being that you can easily see pages that have uncompleted items on them by looking for the "folds". If you find too many pages with folds, you can re-write them on the current week; otherwise, you just move forward and review the folded pages as necessary. Doing this means you don't have to re-write your NAs each week, unless you have too many folded pages, of course :)

OK, maybe that wasn't so short - hope it made sense.

...should have read ll the posts, since Bogert said it in a more concise manner.

[carriekris]

If you get a binder, you can stick a junior legal pad in the pack and write action items. I stick in a Daytimer brand indexed / lined journal spiral bound notebook. I write notes and action items - I think I am on volume XI ( I have lots of action items and take lots of notes).

[ChrisH]

Thanks for all the replies. The planner pad and cassette tape arrived in the mail so I will be checking it out.

On first look, it does seem to be a rather significant paradigm shift from the Pocket PC/Outlook 2003/paper caleder I'm used to.

Thanks.

[bogert]

It may be a bit of a shift, and as I posted earlier in the thread, I almost gave it up, but two weeks plus of using it has already sold me on it. Give it a shot. If it doesn't work for you, they refund your money, I believe.

[AMS]

I've had my Plannerpad for two days now (spiral bound) and I'm already loving it. It is significantly different than Outlook or Palm, but it's pretty easy to get the basics with the cassette. Something that always nagged at me about the Palm was that I couldn't see Projects/Actions/Calendar at the same time, but I think the Plannerpad will help me be more realistic about my commitments since I can see everything at once for the week. I do have a couple of questions for Plannerpad users:

Where do you keep your project lists? I was thinking of listing them on the blank Notes page at the beginning of each month's section. I was also thinking of putting Someday/Maybe's in the back Notes/Projects/Calendar section. How have others done this?

Where do you keep your checklists? I had 30+ on my Palm, but don't know what to do with them with the Plannerpad. I'm thinking of just keeping them in a separate book or something. Any advice on that?

Thank you!

[bogert]

The page that is opposite the monthly calendar gives me the opportunity to list projects that need to be started that month. I've found listing them this way helps me not overlook things that are due at the beginning of a month.

I don't have a lot of checklists, but they can be put in the back pages, or you can buy a plastic holder that fits in the back of the Plannerpad and allows you to keep loose papers.

[ChrisH]

As I listened to the tape, here is another idea I thought of......writing out my Projects on the goals pages in the back........or maybe better yet, using each blank goals page in the back for a different category............then listing all the NAs in that category on the lines on the goals page............for each week, I would then pick the items/categories/projects from the back that need to be worked on and put those on the weekly layout using the top and middle sections.

For me, I can see this working because the entire system is in one place. Up until this point, I've had my calender in hardcopy form only, projects/NAs on the work computer with Outlook and syched to an Ipaq. This keeps everything together in one place which is with me all the time.

[AMS]

After a couple more weeks of use, I've got a couple of Plannerpad questions I'm stuck on:

I'm using the Notes pages at the beginning of each month for Projects. I'm using pages at the back for Someday/Maybe and Checklists (huge for me - I have lots and I use them regularly). I've got no room left to keep project related actions that are not NAs. What do others do with these (besides keeping them in the pages at the back, which I've dedicated to another use?)

Also, I find myself running out of room for daily actions at least 2 or 3 days a week. I'm thinking the good-old fashioned Post-It is probably the only way to solve this problem, but do other users have another idea?

These are the last areas where I need to refine my use of the Plannerpad - thanks in advance for any input.

[KimD]

AMS - what size Plannerpad do you have?

I haven't ordered one yet, but did a mockup of the 8 1/2 x 11 size (in Excel) and have the same problem you're having - running out of room in the daily section. (Especially because I don't write small enough to stay within the rows and columns...)

[AMS]

I ordered the personal size...I do need portability, but I'm afraid I might have sacrificed for it!

[gator]

I really like the Planner Pad concept. I tried it about 8 yrs. ago, and then just tried it again last week. I have found that it just does not have enough room for me. I write big!. I feel that I have to really write small to make it work. I ended up giving it to my brother!

[srharrell]

I have used the Planner Pad off and on as well. It is a great tool if you stick with a paper planner. I have finally, after several attempts, become comfortable using a digital solution and I can't go back.

I did pull out my old Planner Pad after this post originated several weeks back, but I just couldn't make it work.

[KimD]

I really like the concept of the Plannerpad, if I can make it work for me. I LOVE the weekly view.

I've been using a Palm Pilot for 6 years, and primarily use the Palm Desktop. It works great for contacts, lists, memos and notes, but like someone said earlier in this thread the urgency of a to-do just never quite has enough of an impact. So in that respect it's not working for me.

I love seeing the whole week format of the plannerpad, and am thinking about switching just my calendar and NAs to the plannerpad, keeping most of my lists on the Palm. (I'd also want to keep my more detailed action/appointment information on my Palm as well. For instance, I often sign up for conference calls and seminars based on email or something online, and do a quick copy and paste into Palm Desktop - there's no way I'm going to write that out again on the Plannerpad. Writing a quick "Such and such call - ref Palm" seems like it would work.)

I work from home and am at my desk most of the time, but as that changes over the next few months it seems like this could turn into a big mess. But, as I'm away from my desk more my Palm won't work as well anyway - as trying to schedule directly on it has never worked very well for me.

Anyone have ideas, suggestions or warnings for using the two in combo?

Thanks!

Kim D
San Jose, CA

[dal1mdm]

I've found it helpful for me to consider plannerpad as my dashboard for the week. I've got my 180 or so NA's and projects in Outlook and I go through them to populate this weeks plannerpad under the categories:

projects
agendas (includes calls, visits, etc)
followup
update
home
read
exercise.

Works for me. Any other ideas out there?

[KimD]

"Dashboard for the week" describes it perfectly! That's how I'm using mine too.

I'm on my 4th week with the Plannerpad, but on my 8th week with the concept. (I used a mockup of the pages for a few weeks before I bought it.)

What's working *really* well for me is to keep the top column headings (Weekly lists of activities by categories - the top 3rd of the Plannerpad) the same from week to week. I work from home, so don't need many of the @contexts. My column headers from left to right are:
Left Page
1. Calls/Emails
2. Active project #1 - (right now it's GTD)
3. Active project #2
4. Active project #3
Right Page
5. $ - anything that relates to money/finances goes here (pay bills, invoice so and so, file taxes, sell such and such, deposit checks,etc.)
6. Errands
7. Things to Buy (groceries, tax software, batteries, ergonomic keyboard, etc.)
8. Do at Home (in the Notes column)- this is mostly personal stuff, like move bookcases, clean garage, laundry, prepare for carpet cleaning, etc.

I really like having all my projects on the left side, and other stuff on the right.

In the middle section I'm putting the things I want to do that day, and in the bottom section things that are hard-scheduled for that day. I’m finding that sometimes I don’t have much written in the middle section. For example, today I need to do a bunch of errands, so in the middle section I just wrote ‘errands’, and I know to look at the top Errand column to see the specifics.

Other things that are working well:
- When I complete an action I put a check mark to the left of it

- When I complete everything in one column I draw a light vertical line through it. This allows me to see quickly if I need to read/review that section. It's really helping and saving time as I look back to prior weeks for undone actions.

- When I go to the new week I review the old week (folding down the page per Plannerpad's design), and I circle any undone actions so they’re easy to spot.

- When I delete (decide not to do) an action I draw a straight horizontal line through it

- When I re-write an action (to another week) I draw a reverse (backward) slash through it.

(So something undone from 4 weeks ago gets circled at the end of the week, then if it’s not done 2-3 weeks later I re-write it on the current week and draw a backward slash through it. I feel uncomfortable needing to check back on more than 1-2 prior weeks at the same time. )

- I’m also using post-its sometimes to capture a sequence of NAs that either don’t need to be written in the plannerpad, or that I expect will not be finished this week.

Last, I’m still keeping my lists and contacts in my Palm, so far it’s working fine.


I love the Plannerpad, it's working so much better for me than my Palm did. I highly recommend it!

Kim D
San Jose, CA

[bassdrone42]

I have found lately, that even though I am working from my computer most of the time, many of my tasks have a paper component (tenders, faxes etc.). I handle everything using some trusty file folders.

I have created full pages note paper for myself title, @computer, @errands etc.. I clip one of these forms to the front of my neatly labelled folder, and write my actions on the form. All of the supporting documentation is safely tucked away in the folder.

Part of my job entails leaving the office to pick up goods from certain vendors. All of these things go on my @errands list, along with all the info I need for that vendor (maps, P.O.'s etc.). When I'm ready to leave I just grab the folder and go.

Works great.

[bassdrone42]

I have found lately, that even though I am working from my computer most of the time, many of my tasks have a paper component (tenders, faxes etc.). I handle everything using some trusty file folders.

I have created full pages note paper for myself title, @computer, @errands etc.. I clip one of these forms to the front of my neatly labelled folder, and write my actions on the form. All of the supporting documentation is safely tucked away in the folder.

Part of my job entails leaving the office to pick up goods from certain vendors. All of these things go on my @errands list, along with all the info I need for that vendor (maps, P.O.'s etc.). When I'm ready to leave I just grab the folder and go.

Works great.

[Dwayne]

I ordered the spiral version just to give it a whirl.

How'd it go? Any changes come from the trial?

[chromek9]

I am new to GTD, but have been using the planner pad for a little more than a year now. Before the planner pad I have used Palms for about 8 years. The thing I love about the planner pad is the simplicity it brings and the ability it gives me to easily look at my entire week. It also gives me a much greater sense of accomlishment than my Palm ever did. The older I get, the less I like technology. The gadgets add more clutter and stress to my life than the old fashioned paper system. I also use the Planner Pad 3x5 Notes on the Run cards as a Hipster PDA (as discussed on 43 folders.com). The combination works great for me. For stuff I have found on the web or other electronic things that I want to keep, I print out on full-sized label sheets, cut them to size and stick them in my planner pad.

[Diane]

A big thank you to the person who suggested this. It is working well for me.
I did find that the columns were a bit narrow for the things I felt I needed to write. Then the light bulb came on: Use more than one column!

[dal1mdm]

I remember reading that someone had actually developed their own Excel spreadsheet version of the plannerpad. I would like to request a copy if possible.

Thanks!

[Unregistered]

I just switched back to Day-Timers after trying Planner Pad for 3 months. Has anyone else been discouraged by the sheer weight of it? Also, it seemed to me that the directive to keep looking back to unfinished stuff from previous weeks was counterproductive, counter-GTD. I like having a very portable notebook as my Ubiquitous Capture Tool, my Project Index, an @Errands clipboard, and my very portable Day-Timers for recording the day-to-day. Not much rewriting or looking back. Also, as a parttime employee, I need to document what time I spent on what, and Day-Timer makes that easier.

I wasn't intending to dis the PP, per se. I put a lot of faith in the people who post to this site -- some of the best Life Advice I've ever read. But for the record, the PP just didn't work for me.

[Day Owl]

It's interesting that Unregistered should compare DayTimer with PlannerPad. I used DayTimer for years in preference to Franklin/Covey - I couldn't stand all those distracting motivational quotations on every page of the F/C, and the clean appearance of the DayTimer was and is very appealing.

The one thing about DayTimer that bothered me was that I could never see beyond the day - or the week after I switched to the 2 pages/week format. Furthermore, I wanted to have an overview of current projects without tying every specific action to a specific day. That's exactly why I got the PlannerPad to start this April, after reading about it on the board here.

I've tried twice to set it up, but I find that each time I go back to my DayTimer because it's what I'm used to and life is so complicated right now that I don't want to stop to learn a new system. I still like the PlannerPad concept and layout, and I will probably phase into it when I get a chance to catch my breath. I think I've just gotten into the habit of looking in certain places on the page for certain things, and the habit is hard to break.

It takes two weeks to develop a new habit, right? I'll check back when I make the transition and let you know how it has worked for me.

[Unregistered]

Now that I read the response, I have to add, in fairness, that I use a large, month-at-a-glance calendar as my desk blotter, so it keeps the whole month, duh, at a glance. At home, we have the Sacred Activity Calendar to keep us reasonably sane. I'll stay unregistered, I guess

[MaryT]

Hi, I am new to the book and GTD system. I am also a dedicated pen/paper person because of the type of work I do. I run a non profit and sit on lots of committees, work with dozens of volunteers, projects, donors, etc. I never could get all that I need down in a PDA. I have used spiral bound notebooks (I will have 3 to 8+ pages of notes a day) and a Daytimer, small enough to slip into my purse. When I began the GTD book, I was reminded of the somewhat fancy folios that Levenger's carries in their catalog-website that are 'create your own format'. Has anyone used these for the GTD formatting or is the Plannerpad the best route to go? Any thoughts?

[Day Owl]

Continuing my message from 4/18/05, I did try the PlannerPad. In fact, I tried it a couple of times. The concept is fine, but it just didn't work for me. I felt hampered by the limited writing space, the absence of a page marker (the kind DT and FC have), and the requirement that I either copy things down from previous weeks or page back to them (which seems counter-GTD, as someone else has already noted).

So now it's back to my familiar old Day-Timer. I still feel the tension between week-on-two-pages (love the overview, but writing space is limited) and day-on-two-pages (can't see the week, but there's more room to write, and the right-hand page is a dandy UCT). Presently I have the week-on-two pages. In 2006 I will go back to day-on-two-pages but use a half-page insert or a large sticky note to keep the week's focus in front of me. And I'll have the tabbed sections to use for the recommended GTD sections, with their labels modified to suit me.

I appreciate all the posts by DT and FC users; they've been a big help.

[flexiblefine]

In 2006 I will go back to day-on-two-pages but use a half-page insert or a large sticky note to keep the week's focus in front of me.

Would a FranklinCovey "pouch pagefinder" work for your weekly focus? The FranklinCovey "Classic" size is 5.5 x 8.5 inches, which I think Day-Timer calls "desk" size, and the holes match.

[Max]

Would a FranklinCovey "pouch pagefinder" work for your weekly focus? The FranklinCovey "Classic" size is 5.5 x 8.5 inches, which I think Day-Timer calls "desk" size, and the holes match.

I like using it. They have Weekly Compass cards that go in the pouch pagefinder. It has space to put one or two items for each of your roles in life. You want to just put your most important goals (or projects, etc.) that you want to accomplish that week. It is one of the ideas from Covey that fits well into a GTD system.

[Day Owl]

Thanks, flexiblefine. When I used the FC system several years ago, before switching to Day-Timer, I did have the pouch pagefinder but was not too keen on its construction. As a low-tech person (I regularly visit diyplanner and pencil revolution after checking in here) I am quite happy to use long narrow sticky notes to maintain a weekly focus. At least, I think so. If I discover otherwise, a month or two into 2006, you'll be the first to know.

[tulipcowgirl]

Hi, I am new to the book and GTD system. I am also a dedicated pen/paper person because of the type of work I do. I run a non profit and sit on lots of committees, work with dozens of volunteers, projects, donors, etc. I never could get all that I need down in a PDA. I have used spiral bound notebooks (I will have 3 to 8+ pages of notes a day) and a Daytimer, small enough to slip into my purse. When I began the GTD book, I was reminded of the somewhat fancy folios that Levenger's carries in their catalog-website that are 'create your own format'. Has anyone used these for the GTD formatting or is the Plannerpad the best route to go? Any thoughts?

Mary, I am currently using the Levenger Circa folio. I use the junior notebook with the leathr cover. I upgraded to the 1" rings and incorporated part of the circa agenda into the notebook as well. I use the plastic dividers(purchased separately) to section my notebook as DA outlined in his paper-based planner PDF.
* Notes In
* Calendar or Agenda
* Action Lists
* Project/Goals
* Agendas by person or meeting
* Project Planning
* Reference & Catch-All
I feel using the circa system gives me the most flexibility for the way I work. Also, a big side note: I use a Palm T2 along with my notebook. The Palm is used mostly for my ongoing and ever-changing project and task lists and for portable reference. I am a big Outlook dork, so my paper system doesn't need to be that detailed. But I think with the circa system you can make it as detailed or simple as needed.

The one aspect that I really like about circa is the ring and paper system. We have weekly team meetings and I talk about all of the 5-10 projects that I work on at one time. I can take notes for each project on an individual sheet. When I get back to my desk I pull (not rip) the sheet out of my notebook and put it with that project's notes after I am done processing. The same idea works with most systems, I just love the design of the rings.

How you implement GTD I find is such a personal thing. There are so many great tools out there (FC, DT, T/D, PP, etc...). You have to find what works for the way you work.