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!

Loved it and want more?

Filofax rant part 1 – what I don't like about the design of The Original Filofax (video)

Filofax rant part 2 – coming up with solutions for the things I don't like about The Original (video)

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