Day Runner, Day Timer, Franklin Covey, other?

[Reen]

Does anyone use a paper planner with GTD?

I use a Mac OSX, Entourage for mail and calendar, sync to DateBook 5 on my Palm m515. Use ShadowPlan on Palm, but it has only a manual conduit to the Mac desktop and I am afraid to use that. I await the auto conduit and then plan to look into Omni Organizer (?)

I still like to see things on paper and wonder if any of the planners on the market fit better into David's life planning perspective of "tarmac; 10,000 ft; 20,000 ft; 30,000 ft;50,000ft.", while still helping keep tabs on current needs.

[CKH]

If you're thinking of using paper for GTD, take a look at www.plannerpads.com

What with the monthly, weekly, Notes, etc. pages available, I find it supports everything I need (at least, so far: I'm rather a beginner at GTD).

Cynthia

[Day Owl]

I used Franklin Covey and DayTimer for years (prefer the latter because it is free of distracting motivational quotations). But now, under the influence of the folks here who use Planner Pad, I've ordered one. It's here. It starts in April. The layout is the best yet -- everything you need for the week on a two-page spread, categorized by type of activity, day, time. It thinks the way I do -- and isn't that what we are all looking for?

[gator]

I like the Plannerpad concept, but I have found that it is too cramped for me .I write big, and the plannerpad lines just seem too tight.

[Unregistered]

Time/System from http://www.timedesign.com sounds attractive (the secret is folding NextAction lists) but very expensive ($180). I'm thinking about buying it myself, but the price ...

[Unregistered]

Why not create your own? I use Outlook to create my calendar pages (two pages/week) and print my Contacts. I use Word to create "forms"* for everything else as needed. I print everything on colorful 8.5" x 5.5" paper and put it all into a plain half-sized black binder. I use the planner as a creative outlet as well as for Getting Things Done. I've written a basic description about how I do this here: personal.mem.bellsouth.net/d/r/drv1913/0311.html

You do not have to get as elaborate as this. My point is that there is no need to shell out a lot of money for a system that does not exactly suit your needs.

*My forms for Projects and Next Actions are pretty simple. The context is at the top. Then, I create a table that has borders on the columns but no horizontal borders. For example, my "Calls to Make" form has four columns:
date, contact, notes, done. No horizontal lines means that I have plenty of space to write whatever I need to. I manually draw a line between each item so that it looks neat and organized. (I keep a 7" ruler in my notebook.) I hope that makes sense.

Also, I use Word to create checklists for complex, recurring job duties like prep work for board meetings.

[Unregistered]

I just wanted to add something to my above post in favor of a DIY planner (however basic or artsy you want to make it). Think of it this way: a planner is essentially a glorified notebook. Do you really want to sink a lot of money into that?

[gator]

DIY what's your webpage to view your system? Thanks

[TesTeq]

I've written a basic description about how I do this here: personal.mem.bellsouth.net/d/r/drv1913/0311.html

Here is his web page address.
TesTeq

[Unregistered]

gator: The above link re-posted by TesTeq is correct. I do want to point out that the article was written for a slightly different target audience than the one that probably frequents these boards. It was written a couple of years ago when I realized that it was taking more energy to fit what I wanted into a premade planner (I am a former Day-timer user) than it would take to just put one together myself. The pictures in the article represent my first attempt. My current system is basically the same, but neater. The two-page-per day calendar section is first, followed by my projects list and context-based NA lists*. I use labeled Post-It flags on these so that I can easily turn to the list that I want. The next section is Contacts, the first page of which is a quick list of our internal telephone extensions here at work. The next sections are: my extensive booklist, a section for notes on articles that I am writing, and finally, a section exclusively for work-related notes (this is where I put the work-related checklists and take notes at meetings). I print the calendar pages and contacts pages out once a year and make changes manually.

My system is perfectly customized for my life and costs less for the entire setup than half the price of one Day-timer refill. And I don't have to scrunch up my writing to fit into those tiny, executive green squares.

*I'd be happy to send you via e-mail the Word files that I used to create my NA forms so that you can see what I'm talking about.

Please feel free to ask me any questions. I should probably register here, but I've lurked for so long that it feels more comfortable this way.

Also, I'm a she.