Showing posts with label personal organiser. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal organiser. Show all posts

Introducing my new Filofax setup – The Original in patent fuchsia



The start of a new project is always the perfect excuse to experiment with a new Filofax planner – introducing my new Filofax, The Original in patent fuchsia.


My new Filofax – The Original (in patent fuchsia)


I've had this Filofax for a while but I only used it for about a month. 

The truth is that I've been struggling to appreciate all of my Filofaxes since discovering the Midori Traveler's Notebook. 

There is something about Midori's simple design and the raw nature of the leather that I find really appealing. I fell utterly in love with my TN, and now my Filofaxes just haven't seemed to do it for me.

However, I do feel that Filofaxes are more practical when it comes to project planning because of the rings. So I've decided to move into one now. Yes, I have an exciting project in the works :)

I'm using this patent fuchsia Original Filofax because it's fun and exciting for my new project. I'm not normally a 'pink' person, but this is a darker shade of pink that  find quite appealing, and I think the black/charcoal-coloured leather interior helps to give it a cool edgy feel – not too girly.

It's a personal-sized planner, which I think will be great for getting started with my new project.





Filofax personalisation


Many people like to fill their planners with lots of pretty things. I'm not really one of these people. 

I felt a bit overwhelmed when I was browsing Youtube earlier and saw just how amazing some women's Filofaxes have grown to be! I've been disengaged with the Filofax community for about a year since I started focusing entirely on my Traveler's Notebook. 

I'm going for a more simple (boring) interior design than a decorated one though. It'll help me to focus on what is important so that I can use my planner effectively – to plan!





The only decorative things I have in the planner at the moment are a couple of business cards, but they are related to my new project.

I also have a silver 'Z' bookmark at the front, which is decorative but also functional. I'll probably use to clip in notes that need my immediate attention. It's a very old bookmark that I got from Waterstones many years ago - I think they still do them.


More about my Current Filofax setup...


I'm not bothering with dividers. I'm not really into those. I feel they take up too much space and I always end up ignoring the sections anyway. I tend to feel more disorganised if they're in there without a use than if I didn't have them at all, which is just one of those odd things. 

Instead I'm using little silver metal petal bookmarks, also from Waterstones. At the moment they are not marking anything in particular so I have slid them onto the elastic at the front. 

I'm using two Filofax clear rulers as dividers. The first is to mark where I am in my diary, and the second is to mark where all my paper is – I have a selection of blank, lined and squared paper ready for use.






The diary section is homemade. I'm just drawing up each month as I go with a week on one page and then a blank page on the opposite side. It's inspired by the Moleskine diary design that I've always enjoyed using.

The way I use the weekly diary is that I plan and record daily tasks in the week on one page, and the blank page on the opposite side is used for notes, reflections and plans for the week ahead. I'll probably clip to do lists on that side during the week too.

I used this system before in my A5 and found it a really great way to keep tabs on everything I was doing towards my freelance writing business. Sometimes when you are self-employed you can feel like you aren't getting anywhere. But if you can go back over your diary and see a record of what you've achieved throughout the week and month, it's easier to see and evaluate progress.

I've also hole-punched and popped in a little envelope at the back for any receipts and expenses.






That's it really. I'm sure that the system I'm using will develop the more I get into it, and I'll try to keep you updated with videos and blogs. 

Thanks for reading. Please scroll down and leave your comments, as always I love to read and respond!






See you in the next post!



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The Filofax Faces Challenge

Help Filofancy to win FREE Filofaxes to give away to readers...
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Introducing the lovely blue Pennybridge zipped Filofax... and my handsome boyfriend!


About the Filofax Faces Challenge

 
I was invited by Filofax to take part in a Filofax Bloggers' Challenge. 

I received a brand new Filofax from the new spring collection to photograph and enter as part of the online Filofax Facebook 'Like' contest. 

The pictures with the most likes will win 6 organisers for the photographer, and two runners up will receive 3 to give away on their blogs.


My interpretation of the challenge

 
I decided to use the opportunity to allow my boyfriend to bond with my new Pennybridge Filofax on a Filofax Photo-walk around the local area. 

He has never quite understood my fascination with these organisers, and so I hoped that taking part in my creative project would soften his judgments, as we both love photography. 

I figured that as the Pennybridge we were using was blue and not too feminine, that he wouldn't be overly resistant to join in. 

Much to my delight he even coordinated his clothes for the shoot. Result!
 




We wandered around on the streets looking for interesting ways in which to shoot my boyfriend with the Pennybridge Filofax. 

We found a rather attractive red front door with peeling paint, so I sat him down in front of it.




Help Filofancy to win FREE Filofaxes to give away to readers...





We also found some wonderfully broken down wooden fencing, with even more peeling paint. So I got him to stand in front of that too!







And another wall with, yes, more peeling paint..




Verdict: Is my boyfriend a converted Filofax fan?


Not really, no. But at least now I have a nice little collection of pictures in which I have both a Filofax and a handsome man to ogle!

So if you like my pictures, the more likes they get, the more chance I have of winning FREE Filofaxes to give away on my blog :) Just thought I'd put this out there! 

So click on the following links to support Filofancy and help me win those free Filofaxes for a blog giveaway...

Picture Number 1
Picture Number 2


Thanks for all of your support - and thank you to my wonderful and supportive boyfriend for modelling!


See you in the next post!

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How to develop a planner routine using to do lists and be more productive


To-do lists from Paperchase


Did you know that tasks become much easier to complete when you do them on a daily basis? This is because they become habits. Find out how to develop a planner routine using to do lists and be more productive ...

To do lists can end up being your worst enemy if you don't use them in a productive and sensible way. How many times have you written a list and then completely ignored or forgotten about the list? I do this ALL the time!

In this post we're going to look at ways to use to do lists in your planner in a more productive way.


Create daily habits to make tasks easier and get things done


I read an inspiring post on Linkedin about how much easier it is to complete tasks when you incorporate them into your daily routine so that they become a daily habit. 

It goes for all sorts of things in your life, like:

  • writing a post for your blog
  • establishing an exercise routine
  • cleaning your kitchen sink before bed

When you do something everyday, it becomes second nature. 

The task becomes SO familiar that you can even do it without thinking. It becomes part of your everyday life, rather than something you have to plan, remember or find the time to fit it in.

A planner routine can help you pay attention to your to do lists on a regular basis. 


Why to do lists fail


I am a to do list addict. I can't help it. I just LOVE making pointless lists. They are pointless because I make them and then never look at them again.

It got to the point where creating to do lists was actually stressing me out. They were bringing attention to all of the things I knew I was never going to get done!

It didn't help that my lists were long and rambling, full of unnecessary tasks that were completely unrelated to each other, and just causing chaos in my head. 

I was basically creating a lot of pressure and expectation, and I was left feeling overwhelmed knowing that I had lists and lists of unfinished business.

Something had to change.


How to make lists work for you


If you're like me and you love making lists but you'd also like to reduce the stress you are causing yourself and find a way to turn your lists into a useful habit, you have to come up with a planner routine to make sure that you're paying attention to your to do lists.


1. Separate your hobby lists from your immediate goals


'Hobby lists' are those lists you make just for the sake of it. They are called brain-dump lists, and the purpose of them is to just get everything out of your head and onto paper.

Hobby lists could be:

  • books you want to read
  • films you want to watch
  • things you want to buy
  • things you want to do
  • places you want to go
  • projects you want to start

It's fine to make pointless lists, as long as you separate the important tasks on them, and don't put any pressure on yourself to achieve everything on your hobby lists. 

Look at them as a way to clear your mind so that you can stop thinking about all of the things you dream of doing, and work out which of them are achievable.

Good practice is to go back through hobby lists and pick out anything that is actionable right now. 

If you spot an achievable goal, then this could be something you break down into a short to do list of tasks that can be filtered into your day, week or month.


2. Group your to do lists


For some people it's helpful to group to do lists. This way it's easier to focus your mind on one area of your life at a time.

Here are some category ideas for your lists:

  • Work goals/tasks lists
  • Project lists
  • Home goal/tasks lists
  • Shopping lists
  • Wish lists
  • Bucket lists
  • Fun lists
  • Don't forget lists


3. Recognise the difference between a goal and a task


A common mistake is to have a list full of long term goals. This kind of list is never going to get ticked off! If you have a list that looks something like this, you'll drive yourself insane ...

  • lose weight
  • get rich
  • get rid of junk
  • eat healthy
  • quit smoking

The problem with this to do list is that these are all long term goals that need their own lists of short-term tasks or actions. Without actionable tasks, you're not going to achieve anything – they help you to work out HOW you're going to achieve the long term goal.

For example, let's say you want to lose weight by eating healthy. Your to do list might look like this:

  • research healthy recipes
  • make a meal plan
  • create a shopping list
  • do a food shop
  • complete meal prep
  • track weight in a daily tracker


4. Establish a planner routine


It's very easy to make a list, file it away in your planner and forget it's there. But lists are only useful if you refer to them regularly, so you have to create a habit.

It's up to you what your planner routine looks like, but the most important things are:

  1. Keep it simple and achievable
  2. Be consistent
  3. Enjoy the process

My planner routine is quite simple. Once a week I transfer goals and tasks from a master to do list over to a sticky note list that lives on my weekly spreads. Then I move tasks from there into my days throughout the week and tick them off when they are done. That's it! 

I hope these tips and insights will help you to be more productive with your to do lists and come up with your own planner routine. 

Let me know in the comments what your personal experiences are with making lists in your planner!


See you in the next post!









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The time I bought my sister a Filofax... and KEPT it!




I was convinced that I could change my sister's life by converting her to share my secret love-affair with Filofaxes. So I bought her one, but had trouble letting go ...


Like me, my sister is a virgo, and in many ways we are quite similar. She also has the same strange interest in pens and paper that I have, and we both used to keep diaries and scrap books as kids, Although being my younger sister, perhaps she was just being a bit of a copy-cat. 

If I could just get a Filofax into her hands though, I knew it would be contagious.

So I ordered her a beautiful bright red personal Chameleon Filofax. 

I was so excited. Was this just an excuse for me to buy more Filofax Goodies and not feel guilty? Probably. 

The thing is, when my sister's Filofax arrived, I had the pleasure of unwrapping it, and as soon as I had it in my hands – I felt oh-so-confused! 

How could I possibly part with this beautiful thing now that I had seen it?

It was so vibrant, and when I placed it on top of my A5 Aqua Chameleon Filofax I saw something very special indeed. The colour combination was exciting and delicious. There was no way that I could part with it.






As you can see below, that bright vibrant red follows you as you open the Filofax up, it's everywhere. 

Now then, I'm not normally a 'bright red' type of gal – that has always been my sister's thing, which is why I chose the red one for her. 

But I was beginning to think that maybe I could be...






And inside it came with these tutti-fruity coloured numbered tab dividers. 

I was jealous. I wanted them, end of story.







The only thing I could do was go straight back online and purchase another red Filofax for my sister and keep this one for myself. Yes, I was officially purchasing two of the same Filofax. My addiction and insanity was finally confirmed. But what's a girl to do?

I gave my sister the second Filofax last Christmas and she laughed when she opened it, but I had faith that it would soon seduce her, and it did. 

It's all about the personalisation, as you dedicated Filofax lovers know. 

She gradually gave in and made it her own, and then one day she called me up and made me the happiest sister on the planet ...

"Zara," She gasped with angst in her voice, "Zara, I can't find my Filofax! What am I going to do? I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow!"

That's my girl, I thought with a big smile on my face :)






I hope you enjoyed my silly story :)


See you in the next post!


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