Question on paper Planners

[AnitaL]

Hi Paul,
I have the following tabs in my personal size filofax:

• Notes/In
• MITs - most important tasks from Zen Habits in my Dodo Pad
• Action lists - one sheet of paper for each context
• Projects/goals - just a list of what they are
• Project plans - more detail
• Ref/misc - notes, workflow diagram, weekly review sheet etc.

I think if I had a lot more next actions, I might consider tabs for them.

[jmsmall]

Mine is 8 1/2 x 11, three ring. Got some nice heavy duty legal pads, punched, from Office Depot. (TOPS brand. Not the cheapest; got 20 lb; but they last months so who cares?) Also some 3M stick-on tabs.

Major headings have plastic pocket dividers with the index tab insert.
IN
Calendar
Actions
Agenda
Project List
Project Support
Reference

Tabbed subheaders (I just stick the 3M to the paper)
Actions:
Anywhere
Home
Computer
Waiting for
Work
Brain Dead (love this one)
Under Projects
Someday/Maybe

I number my projects on the list and put a "project planning" sheet with the number and title into the Project Plans section. I built my own form and print on thick 24 lb paper with a graph paper grid background. When I build a new project I ordinarily do a quick dump with outcome, what kind of support materials I think I'll need, brainstorm section that I usually sketch out a map on, and at least one next action at the bottom. "brainstorm project X" is often the next action in Anywhere.

As I wrote elsewhere, I'm liking the paper system better than software despite being the worlds geekiest doc. (I joined a computer club in 1966...) My rule of thumb is no more than one page for each action list so I don't bury myself. I did bury myself in Outlook; it's way too easy to add a new Task.

My indulgent wife has gotten me two gorgeous fountain pens, the Pilot Retractable and a Lamy Retractable. There is something almost sensuous about writing on good paper with those pens and that is a small but real motivator for me.

Jim

[pgarth]

I appreciate all of your comments on the paper planner. I do my best thinking when I am writing (as opposed to "texting.") It's just that you then have to carry the binder around. Or not. But thank you, Mr. Garth.

I was thinking the same thing when I originally converted to paper -- the 3" binder (made of leather) definitely has some heft.

Because I was making a conscious choice to separate my GTD processing and review from the computer I have to make some decisions.

My daily habit is to create a mini mind-map (on hand-cut squares from letter-size scrap paper), which is my version of a Daily ToDo list. It comes from a quick TopOfMindDump or by a quick scan by category -- Phone, Office, Computer, Agendas. This offers a couple things -- it's really light to carry around; gives me something to focus on vs. having to continually look-up by category for the Next Action. This is my walkaround tool, but it comes with some disclaimers and dangers -- 1. I have to make sure I still do a quick scan through all the Action Lists throughout the day, 2. I have to make sure I don't carry it forward to the next day and therefore avoid looking at the Action Lists and 3. If I write something from a mind-dump that is not already captured, then it needs to be processed into a list. Bottom-line -- ToDo lists for me are a good habit because it focuses me and avoids MindChatter, but they can get out of control fast relative to my laziness.

I make sure I carry the binder to every planned meeting, and can then do quick scans of any pending Agenda items I have for folk. But... be discreet when doing an AgendaScan with someone in front of you -- KellyF busted me for being too overt to see if I had something captured to discuss with her during an ad hoc moment!!!

The computer comes along if I need it during a meeting -- Powerpoint, Mindmap, online for SaaS CRM access if applicable, Lotus Notes Databases, etc. But... it's typically a liability for me because I'll start checking email and start loading up when I should be doing work I already planned on doing.

[pgarth]

Paul is your binder 8 1/2 x 11?

Hi Gator:

I tried the 8 1/2 by 11 planner for a while, but (believe it or not) it was too much on the big size for me, so I didn't want to carry it around.

The binder I have is effectively half the size of that. Imagine putting a piece of letter-sized (8.5 by 11) paper in landscape-mode and then cut in half vertically. Each piece is the size of my binder pages. I'm sure there was a more mathematically elegant way of putting that, but it's midnight now...

[pgarth]

Hi Paul,
I have the following tabs in my personal size filofax:

• Notes/In
• MITs - most important tasks from Zen Habits in my Dodo Pad
• Action lists - one sheet of paper for each context
• Projects/goals - just a list of what they are
• Project plans - more detail
• Ref/misc - notes, workflow diagram, weekly review sheet etc.

I think if I had a lot more next actions, I might consider tabs for them.

AnitaL:

Looking good with your layout. Definitely good idea to not mimic someone else's system until you sense that you need another category. The more complicated I make my system, the more I end up wittling it back down at the end of the year!

[TesTeq]

Because I was making a conscious choice to separate my GTD processing and review from the computer I have to make some decisions.

In my opinion computer is a distraction which lowers the quality of the processing and review processes.

[gator]

Hi Gator:

I tried the 8 1/2 by 11 planner for a while, but (believe it or not) it was too much on the big size for me, so I didn't want to carry it around.

The binder I have is effectively half the size of that. Imagine putting a piece of letter-sized (8.5 by 11) paper in landscape-mode and then cut in half vertically. Each piece is the size of my binder pages. I'm sure there was a more mathematically elegant way of putting that, but it's midnight now...

Thanks Paul, That size would be the JR. sized Levenger I'm using. The 8 1/2 x 11 seems to bulky for me too!

[Philb]

Wow, I'm really enjoying this thread. Thank you for all the info being shared here. I am now in the process of going to paper. I was in Staples the other day and stumbled across their ARC system. Like Circa but much cheaper. I bought the junior size binder with plastic covers, additional paper, sleeves for capturing / storing scraps etc, and some larger plastic discs so I could store more in the binder. Day two so far of full implementation.

I can certainly relate to computer being too easy to dump too much stuff into... and distraction at meetings etc. I'm looking forward to going paper only in that regard. I know I will keep the PC for project materials mindmaps etc. Weekly review will be key for me.

Paul, re your daily mini map. What a great idea. That is a worry for me in having a link back to my system. Thanks for taking the time to explain that. Priceless!

[T-Cart]

Hi All, I know that this thread is a year old, but it truly helped me get back to paper. I had been using digital for three years and it was fine, but the technology continued changing on me. And good old paper does not change.